Need Help - Driving in Snow
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Need Help - Driving in Snow
My Vette has trouble driving in snow deeper than 6 inches due to the front air dam and limited ground clearance. I also tend to get pulled around a little when hitting deep snow at speeds over 60 mph. We're expecting 2 feet of snow here today, so I need suggestions on what to do. Should I fit a plow to the front of the car, or will the air dam work as such? I just drove 60 miles on ice and snow to get to work this morning, but I have to drive another 60 to get back home in the deep stuff. I went ahead and put the top on the car - I thought that would be a good idea. Any other ideas on how I should manage this?
Lars
Lars
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
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From: Columbia Missouri
My Vette has trouble driving in snow deeper than 6 inches due to the front air dam and limited ground clearance. I also tend to get pulled around a little when hitting deep snow at speeds over 60 mph. We're expecting 2 feet of snow here today, so I need suggestions on what to do. Should I fit a plow to the front of the car, or will the air dam work as such? I just drove 60 miles on ice and snow to get to work this morning, but I have to drive another 60 to get back home in the deep stuff. I went ahead and put the top on the car - I thought that would be a good idea. Any other ideas on how I should manage this?
Lars
Lars
Man you are brave. Our C3s were not meant for snow. Under the circumstances...I think getting a set of chains is your best option. Make sure you get a set for both the front and rear. Rear so you have traction and can push through the snow...and fronts to help you stay stable and steered in the right direction. They may be hard on the tires...but they will keep your car out of a ditch and out of other people's bumpers when stopping.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Forked River NJ
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 851
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From: Palm City, FL
My Vette has trouble driving in snow deeper than 6 inches due to the front air dam and limited ground clearance. I also tend to get pulled around a little when hitting deep snow at speeds over 60 mph. We're expecting 2 feet of snow here today, so I need suggestions on what to do. Should I fit a plow to the front of the car, or will the air dam work as such? I just drove 60 miles on ice and snow to get to work this morning, but I have to drive another 60 to get back home in the deep stuff. I went ahead and put the top on the car - I thought that would be a good idea. Any other ideas on how I should manage this?
Lars
Lars
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,377
Likes: 6,377
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
DW - You are truly twisted. I like how you think.
If I do that, people around here will think I'm from Texas or California (or that I'm a soccer mom in a minivan), and we can't have that - I have an image to maintain, you know...
Not a bad idea.... I do have rear window defroster, but no rear window wiper... Do you recommend I drive with the windows rolled down and a set of goggles so I can keep my head outside, or should I just look through the wet rear glass and aim the car for the tail lights in front of me..? How fast will my Vette go in reverse? I need to be able to do 60 in the snow to pass the idiots in the 4WDs...
Yeah, the top-on is pretty wimpy... I'm even running the heater... I'm hoping the 30 mph winds will keep the build-up on the roads to my 6-inch max tolerance...
...Yeah, I'm laughing now, but in 4 hours, I'll be out there rubbing fenders with the F250s... 
All my friends are here in C3 Tech... The situation is real.. I really am driving in this stuff today. But we can still have some fun with it...
If I do that, people around here will think I'm from Texas or California (or that I'm a soccer mom in a minivan), and we can't have that - I have an image to maintain, you know...
...Yeah, I'm laughing now, but in 4 hours, I'll be out there rubbing fenders with the F250s... All my friends are here in C3 Tech... The situation is real.. I really am driving in this stuff today. But we can still have some fun with it...
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,143
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From: Leander Texas
Two feet of snow may submerge a Corvette I think the top of the front bumper is barely a little higher than 2 feet. Tire chains that break a link or come loose would shred the fenders. I say stay at work and drink beer with a hot secretary if one is available.
I say stay at work and drink beer with a hot secretary if one is available.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
I know you don't like the image of chains...but you really don't have any other options. They do make snow tires for most rim sizes, and they have these tiny little cleats sticking out of the rubber...but I doubt a local place would have them in stock and get them on your car before you left for your 60 mile trip. At least the chains are easy to find, and can put them on in the parking lot of an Oreilly.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,383
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From: Redondo Beach, California
What about those Polish guys that mounted a Corvette body on a 4 wheel drive truck chassis? {An mounted that giant turbocharger in front of the engine). Maybe that's something to start thinking about.