444 replies to this topic

[Jairus]

I picked Tuesday the 11th, but am thinking next Wednesday the 5th more likely if things continue as they are. But if you break down... and you might?

 

I'll stay with my original guess.

 

Sun is up, better get moving, Greg!   
 

[Cheater]

I'm probably throwing you guys a curve, but we're planning to stay overnight with friends in Nashville and relatives in Tullahoma, TN.

[Champion 507]

Guys, I think he will make it by Christmas after all. 

 

Hope you are able to pick up some good parts and advice in Denver.

 

The president of the local A club is checking around for a good used, reasonably priced crank for you.

 

Hope the day is a smooth, trouble-free one for you guys.

 

BTW, how's Geoff holding up? Is it fun for him, too?

[Pappy]

Pretty sure it's: "Foot to the wood" Jim.

 

No, I want him to push it all the way to the frame. 

[Michael Rigsby]

Greg,

 

Thanks for posting all the great pics and sorry that water pump shaft is giving you fits. 

 

By the way you are talking, the shaft is probably indeed scored. When I worked for my dad, we used to use a lot of Model A motors for irrigation pump motors in the orange groves, and this was a problem for us as well until we changed them all over to a sealed type pump. I always hated to get up in the middle of the night to drive around and check these things to make sure they weren't leaking while we were trying to keep the water furrows full during a hard freeze.

 

That scenery is fantastic.

[Cheater]

BTW, how's Geoff holding up? Is it fun for him, too?

I think he's enjoying it, especially the part abut me paying all his expenses. LOL! The evidence is that he's a little less crabby than usual...

Truth be known, he'd much be exploring these parts pf the country with someone else and at higher speeds, but he knows those options weren't on the table this time.
 

Thanks for posting all the great pics and sorry that water pump shaft is giving you fits.

Michael, it isn't that bad really. We just have to keep checking it and the good news is that today it has barely leaked at all. We tightened the packing nut a couple of notches just because we saw a single drop at a rest stop.

I think the key is we finally realized that the packing has to be greased to work without wearing. We didn't grease it the first day and it wore, requiring repeated tightening. Tom W. over at Ford Barn told me this and it didn't sink in until a day later. Will let you know if this supposition turns out to be accurate.

[Jairus]

Where are you at?

I only ask because I am tracking your progress on the wall maps down stairs with Post.it notes.

[Cheater]

I added another post to "The Longest Day" thread giving that info, but we are in Rawlins, WY, tonight. It was farther than we wanted to try to get to Laramie from Evanston.

[Bill from NH]

Pick yourself up a doughnut pillow and see if it helps any.
 
Do these old cars run on unleaded gasoline okay? Any particular grade or brand that is recommended?

[James Wendel]

Hey Cheater - I am glad that the tune-up trick helped out. 

 

I feel like I have made my own little contribution to your great adventure.

[Zippity]

Pick yourself up a doughnut pillow & see if it helps any.

 

 

Or stop at a Pharmacy and buy some hemorrhoid creme

[Paul5097]

Greg,

 

When you get to Laramie, you may want to consider taking highway 287 to Fort Collins and pick up I-25 there. It will cut a few miles off the trip, avoid telephone canyon (a steep up hill climb just east of Laramie, and avoid a lot of the truck traffic on I-80.

 

Just my 2 cents.

[Cheater]

We're doing that route, Paul.

[Cheater]

You know if you go I-86 to Pocatello drop down a little on I-15 catch 30 to Soda Springs then down to Montpelier to Kemmerer then to I-80 save a lot of miles and pulls on hills.

Rodney,

I didn't see this post until after it was too late or I would probably have taken your advice.

[Cheater]

Do these old cars run on unleaded gasoline okay? Any particular grade or brand that is recommended?

Bill, any of the gasoline sold today is much higher in octane than what was used when the car was new. I think I've read that gas in the '30s was around 50 octane. The car doesn't seem to notice any difference in brands or whether or not it has enthanol in it.

Interestingly, out west here a fair number of stations stock no-ethanol regular alongside regular with "up to 10% ethanol." The non-ethanol gas costs more, of course.

[Cheater]

Are you able to record some video while driving?

My digicam will do video but I suspect the amount of vibration in the Model A will be a real problem. Might give it a try and see.

[Cheater]

Maths wasn't your best subject, eh?
 
I can only count 3.

That was me, Zip. I habitually shorten consecutive emoticons to three and I did delete one of Pablo's.

[Pappy]

I've heard about race drivers leading the big race few laps from the finish hearing all sorts of noises in the car that mess with their minds. I can empathize with this now to a very large extent, as every rattle and vibration I hear seems to me to be a rod bearing going out or worse. LOL!

 
Greg, if you want to hear noises that aren't there try flying a single engine airplane over the mountains at night in instrument weather.     

[Pappy]

 I think I've read that gas in the '30s was around 50 octane. 

Greg, can't you just take a little water and thin it down? 

[DPmax]

My digicam will do video but I suspect the amount of vibration in the Model A will be a real problem. Might give it a try and see.

 

Ha... that should add to the realism!

[Cheater]

Greg, can't you just take a little water and thin it down?

Sure glad I didn't have to take you along as my riding mechanic, Butch...

[Jairus]

Just a thought, but Bar's leak is suppose to add a bit of lubricant to the cooling fluid.

[Jairus]

Heard from Greg moments ago via phone.

They are outside of Loveland, CO and plan to stay the night in Denver.

He said something about touristy things in Denver, so they may wait a day before going on. But all is well!

[JohnnySlotcar]

Watch out for the Amsterdam style party bus, gives you a tour of the "stores", samples included. ROFL.

[Bill from NH]

Loveland is a very picturesque area. The first time I was there in the mid-'70s was a July 4th. At that time of year, there was still a 12' snow melt left in the Loveland Pass. I always wondered how much snow they got the previous winter.