Today the prep work began for the removal of the engine and transmission assembly.

The radiator, hood, head lights, and horn all had to be removed in order to open the cavity up for the removal of the engine and transmission. When the fluids were checked, we found coolant in the oil which means the engine will have to be taken apart in order to find why this is happening.

Things are coming along nicely!

The clean up has begun, degreasing the underside of the vehicle and getting rid of any debris that shouldn't be there. The underside and other components will be freshened up with a coat of black paint so it all needs to be free of contaminants.

Check out the comparison below for the brake setup on the Model A versus modern day drum brakes. You can see how there are more hard parts like levers and rods to help everything move whereas today's setups use more hydraulics, springs and fluids to make the brake system do what it needs to do.

Get winter tires.

That's it!

The discount can vary from insurance company to insurance company, but RateLab has a great little breakdown that details for you the discount some of the more popular insurance companies offer for having winter tires as well as what they require of you to get the discount!

I know what you're thinking - that's expensive! Well you're right ... they CAN be expensive. This is where the expertise in your trusted garage can help you find one that can fit your budget.

Don't have winter tires yet? Now is the time to get them. Even Consumer Reports says so!

When looking for winter tires, there are a few things you should consider. Here's a list of the most important things to note when looking for and installing winter tires.

1. Temperature! Temperature! Temperature!
If you live anywhere where the temperature stays consistently at or below 7 degrees Celsius, you need winter tires! Lower temperatures decrease the elasticity of the rubber compound found in tires, resulting in reduced traction. Instead of thinking of winter tires as "snow tires", think of them as "cold weather tires".
That magic number is also when you should be changing your tires over to winter tires. Look at the weather trend and make sure temperatures are staying steadily at or below 7 degrees Celsius.

2. Your Regular Driving Conditions
Do you drive on icy or snowy roads, or are the roads mainly dry but cold? Different road conditions may mean you'll need a different tire.
Live where there's lots of snow, ice, and slush? A winter tire with studs may be best for you.
Is it cold where you live with mainly clear roads? Get a winter tire that doesn't require studs.
Do the temperatures fluctuate a lot in your area but stay around the 7 degree mark? Get an all weather tire (NOT an all season tire).

3. Do You Drive Every Day?
The amount of time you spend on the road can help you determine the kind of tire you'll need for the winter. If you aren't driving a lot, you may not be able to justify spending a lot of money on a high quality winter tire and may opt for a more budget friendly brand. If you drive a lot and on a daily basis, getting a high quality winter tire will ensure you're vehicle is going to be able to handle the cold, snow, and ice that comes with the colder temperatures.

4. How Many Winter Tires Do You Need?
For whatever reason, there are people out there that think you only need 2 winter tires. This is a HUGE misconception and can actually lead you to a false sense of stability, leaving the other half of your vehicle without winter tires to do what it wants. When you put winter tires on only the front of your vehicle but not on the back, it increases the grip in the front but with decreased grip in the rear it can cause the vehicle to spin out and completely lose control. When winter tires are only on the rear of the vehicle, the front of the vehicle that steers around corners now has decreased traction and can cause you to go into oncoming traffic or into a snow bank when cornering.
It is ALWAYS best to install 4 winter tires! This is where you will also get the most refund on your insurance rates!

Want more evidence about why getting winter tires is best for cold weather? Check out this video below from Motormouth Canada actually test driving two identical vehicles, one with winter tires and one with all season tires.

The more it works and runs, the hotter it gets! If it doesn't cool down, the eventual overheating will cause your engine to break down and damage other components of the vehicles engine. To cool it down, the cooling system activates as soon as it's told to in order to circulate coolant, a specialized fluid to cool down the engine.

Now for the fun part ... how it works!

The cooling system is made up of MANY parts and works much like the human circulatory system!

The essential brain of the whole system is the thermostat! The thermostat is what measures the temperature of the fluid (coolant) in the engine block.

Once that fluid gets to a predetermined temperature the thermostat opens, allowing the water pump (the heart of the cooling system) to push cooled coolant to the engine block, out of the engine block through a hose, through the radiator (where it passes through little ribs that are cooled down by the forced air that goes through it when you drive) and back to the engine through another hose where it continues to circulate and cool. Once the engine gets back down to a cooled temperature, the thermostat closes and that fluid circulation from the engine to the radiator and back to the engine stops!

With the hot weather here, this is one of the systems you'll want to have checked when you have your vehicle in for summer maintenance! Just like all the other fluids in your vehicle, your coolant needs to be checked for condition as well as level. If it is old fluid, it won't do a proper job of cooling your engine and it should be changed out.

Bell City Motorworks can do this for you! Starting at $149.99, you'll have your old coolant flushed out of the system, all new fluid put in, and a conditioner to help it do it's job easier! In about an hour, your vehicle will have fresh coolant ready to combat the heat! Call today to book your cooling system appointment! (519) 304-8000