Seaway Cruisers Classic Car Club, Inc. February 2019 News letter Ask A Tech: Plastic Parts By Brandon Baldwin Have you looked under the hood and under the car nowadays? There is more plastic the newer the car! Plastic is now used for parts we wouldn't have thought of using plastic for just 20 years ago, but then, what did we use before plastic? The first cars had wood, steel, and iron. Eventually, aluminum came along to make parts lighter. Speaking of lighter, remember fiberglass body panels? Great stuff! Then we also got Endura for molding body panels such as the front of the 1980 Camaro. It was flexible, somewhat lightweight, and could take some abuse without permanent damage. But, now, there are various types of plastic in a car to accomplish almost everything we just mentioned. There are 13 types of plastic currently used. As examples, think of the black plastic that you typically find around fenders: it's somewhat slippery and scratch resistant. But the composite plastic of an SUV rear wiper is hard, almost like steel, and if you break it, the appearance is somewhat granular. On the interior, you find soft-touch plastic that you may believe to be a fabric over some other hard surface. There is clear, and colored plastic depending upon the desired appearance or if the intention is to have light pass through it such as your climate control buttons. Plastic has other valuable properties as well. Plastic is a good insulator for electrical components. It's a good insulator from heat and cold hence the plastic lined door panels (on the inside where you don't see). Because of the Insulation from heat, it is commonly used for intake manifolds on the engine. You will even find it being used as coolant piping. Radiator tanks attached to the ends of radiators employ plastic. This is an improvement over the old ones where the two dissimilar metals would corrode at the contact point. Plastic doesn't corrode. (I know, if you ever worked on an old Ford, you can count on the plastic electrical connectors breaking from becoming brittle). Part of why plastic is used on vehicles is also to reduce weight, and less weight equals less fuel consumption, and therefore, fewer emissions. Plastic is also used to increase aerodynamics of a car or truck. Now you find a variety of plastic covers underneath a car to make the bottom side smoother, which allows the air to move underneath with few eddy currents of air to restrict it's movement. Here is an extreme example: 2005 Dodge 2500 4x4 takes 22.5 hp to move it through the wind at 50 mph. A 2005 Malibu is around 12 hp for the same conditions. The differences are obvious. But, it's the use of plastic that can improve a vehicle's aerodynamics to reduce fuel consumption. Take a look at any hybrid truck, like a Tahoe, and you'll see the difference in its use of plastic to improve its movement through the air. Let's take closer look under the hood. You'll find plastic shrouds to direct air under the hood, plastic covers to keep the weather out of fuse panels, plastic hose connections, plastic fuel hose, plastic pulleys, even a plastic oil pan on some vehicles. You won't need to ever worry about that pan rusting through and seeping oil! One last thing about plastic: many of those plastic parts are made from recycled plastic, and once the end of life of the car is at hand, those plastic parts can be recycled again (hopefully, depends on the scrap yard). Many manufactures, such as BMW and Lexus, have that as their intent with their selection of vehicle materials. Enjoy your plastic interior! 1
March 1, 2019 for March Newsletter, Website & Membership Sandy Bigelow (315) 347-3945 news.seawaycruisers@gmail.com Seaway Cruisers Classic Car Club, Inc. ~ Established 1986 ~ PO Box 109 Heuvelton, NY 13654 seawaycruisers@yahoo.com www.seawaycruisers.com Farewell R. Mark Decker, 68, of 206 Corrine Street, Easley, SC, husband of Carlene M. Charlie Decker, passed away Sunday, January 6, 2019. Born in Binghamton, NY, he was the son of the late Ronald Frank Decker and Mabel Marie Jackson. Mark attended Cornell University and was retired from the marine industry. He attended Marathon Church and enjoyed antique cars and trucks, boating, cooking, and traveling. Surviving in addition to his wife of 23 years, are stepsons, Kevin S. Jennings of Easley and Christopher T. Jennings (Stephanie) of Maulding; a sister-on-law, Carole Maxwell of Easley; and his furry friends. A memorial service will be held at a later date. MEETING & MINI-CAR SHOW President: John Miller III (315) 347-3414 Vice President: Linda Brown (315) 375-6788 OFFICERS Construction Lab Nevaldine South SUNY Canton 6 p.m. Thursday, February 21st Secretary: Brandon Baldwin (315) 265-2717 Treasurer: Glory Martel 404 Mansion Avenue Ogdensburg, NY 13669 (315) 393-4436 DIRECTORS John Amell (315) 344-7025 Dean Marshall (315) 344-6422 Pat Matthews (315) 393-3810 Mike Hirsch (315) 344-6339 Scott Sutherland (315) 386-3455 Ron Day (315) 344-8823 Frank Howie (315) 394-0259 Are you interested in joining member Richard Douglas on the If you are, HOT ROD Power Tour June 8th 14th, 2019 Starts in Concord, NC call Richard at 315-323-2712 2
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2019 Event Calendar DAY DATE TIME EVENT DESCRIPTION Thursday Feb. 21 6 p.m. Meeting & Mini-car Show; Construction Lab, Nevaldine Hall, SUNY Canton. Club will provide pizza & soda. March Thursday May Oct. 5-8 p.m. Meeting & Valve Cover Races Highway Legends Car, Truck & Bike Club Cruise-In, P & M Construction, 759 Starbuck Ave, Watertown across from NY Airbrake Tuesdays May Oct 6-8 p.m. Malone Auto Club Cruise-in, host venue TBA Wednesdays May Oct. 6-8 p.m. Cruise-in at Twin Leaf in Hogansburg Fri-Sun May 3-5 Fri-Sat May 17-19 Sat-Sun June 8-9 Fri 4-9pm; Sat 10 am - 9pm Rhinebeck Car Show 2019 hosted by Hudson River Valley Antique Auto Assn.; My Classic Car will be there all 3 days! For info visit rhinebeckcarshow.com Two Nation 1000 Islands Extravaganza in Clayton, NY, hosted by Highway Legends; for info visit www.1000islandscarshow.com St. Lawrence Power & Equipment Museum Annual Spring Exhibition, for info visit slpowermuseum.com Sunday July 27 9-4 Seaway Festival Car Show, Bridge & Port Authority Grounds, Ogdensburg, NY Get Ready for the Valve Cover Races 1) Get a valve cover from a junk yard, repair shop, flea market, etc. 2) Acquire some wheels from a roller skate, skateboard, or roller blades. Or get creative and make your wheels. 3) Make a chassis out of wood, scrap metal, or plexiglass plus some bolts, screws, shelf brackets, etc. 4) Use magnetic strips or fishing weights to make your racer go faster but make sure you stay under the weight limit! Rules Covers must be actual valve cover from an automobile engine Wheels can be attached in any manner but cannot extend past front of cover No propulsion weights No moving weights Valve cover must have four wheels contacting the ground SPECIFICATIONS: 30 inch max length 15 inch max width 11 inch max height 10 pounds max weight 3/4 inch ground clearance Appearance alterations encouraged 4
Member contributions are a big hit! Please send them in any time. If you need help getting started, use the ideas below. Or find a photo to prompt your story telling. MY FAVORITE TOOL IS BECAUSE ONE DAY WHILE TRAVELING TO FUN FACTS ABOUT (anything automobile related) I NEED HELP WITH 2019 Membership Form Seaway Cruisers Classic Car Club, Inc. Seaway Cruisers Classic Car Club members share an interest in classic or antique automobiles. Annual membership is $15.00 and includes a monthly newsletter! Name Address City, State, Zip Phone # Mobile # Email I prefer to receive my newsletter via Email Postal Mail Vehicle(s) you own (Year, Make, Model) Mail this form with a check for $15.00 made payable to Seaway Cruisers Car Club to Glory Martel, Seaway Cruisers Treasurer, 404 Mansion Ave., Ogdensburg, NY 13669 My age group is: 18-25 46-55 26-35 56-70 36-45 71 + Contact me about helping at the car show: Registration table Setting up field Tickets at pedestrian gate Parking show cars 50/50 raffle tickets Basket raffle Flea Market/Yard Sale Covering lunch breaks 5
Answer to puzzle on page 3 Final Reminder Have you renewed your membership? Check Your Label All memberships end December 31st Membership Paid Thru 2018 Chris Cruiser 123 Automobile Lane Hometown, NY 12345 2019 MEMBERSHIP FORM IS ENCLOSED Seaway Cruisers Classic Car Club, Inc. promotes interest in antique, classic and customized vehicles and aids in the restoration, preservation, and enjoyment of these vehicles. The Club is organized exclusively for social and recreational purposes including the increase of communication and fellowship among persons interested in these objectives through social activities. Annual membership is open to anyone who supports the organization s mission and submits an application. Seaway Cruisers Classic Car Club, Inc. PO Box 109 Heuvelton, NY 13654 6