Art & Inspiration 2016 LA Roadster Show Express Smithfield, VA to Pomona, CA... we hope!

Thanks Al! I have baked under my blue top on 90 plus degree days before. I seldom put it up because it just seems like the noise level is higher with it up also. Probably from the top flutter. I had also noticed that the convertible is far from air tight and wandered if any AC would be able to keep it cool considering that leakage. The top only goes up when my old body has finally been exposed to too much sun for the weekend trip or one of those pouring cats and dogs type of rain.

 

Tom and I are in Bristol, Va. Will be home tomorrow.

 

Sure it would "Qualify"----Enter at "Speciality Parking"----Thats where all non 0pen top cars show up every year.

 

That was great to meet you at Roadster Registration, hope your pix turned out of you club banner!-----Don

 

Thats Tex Cox on the left-----Bob Barnes on the right.

 

Thats sunburned me & my lady friend on the right----We drove NO TOP from Bend,Oregon!

 

BIG THANKS to all of you guys giving your best effort from the East Coast to help make our LAR show another great success!------This year we registered 570 open 1937 & earlier cars!

 

^^^^Thank YOU and ALL of the LA Roadster gang for making the event the great success it was. I think we all had a great time and were just about overwhelmed by the great welcome and appreciation shown for our attendance.
Do you know how many specialty cars attended? There were great cars everywhere and of every description.
It being a special year for 1936s was the icing on the cake for me and I greatly appreciated my special plaque for 36s that attended.
I tried to thank every member for continuing this great tradition for 52 years so I could finally get to attend!!

 

Here is the special plaque the LA Roadster club had made for the 36s in attendance.


Well, we've been home a week and I've tweaked the initial draft of the trip out to Pomona.

I also fixed my Ford! Wait, you say, you didn't say you had any trouble with your Ford on the trip. That is correct. I drove my cabriolet all the way to Pomona and back at about 70-75 MPH most of the way without any problems. It did use about a pint of oil for the whole trip... I've got to look into that!! Understand that my engine is a crate 302 Ford engine from Summit that has GT40 heads and plays beautiful music through the tailpipes. I think my love of that music explains why my gas mileage went from about 15.5 mpg to about 11 mpg after I got to Pomona!!

Back to the story of trouble with my Ford. As I said, we drove there and back without any hint of a problem and I was so pleased and just could hardly believe it. Of course, I never even hinted of bragging about the car's performance until we were safe at home in my driveway after completing the trip... didn't want to jinx the situation or have to eat crow later!

After unpacking Shadow's stuff, I started the car and drove it behind my house and under the carport to finish unpacking the car. I noticed that it sounded a bit different when the starter engaged but thought I might be imagining things after two weeks of driving the car everywhere.

The next morning, I decided to back the car out into the driveway and clean it up a bit before driving it to breakfast. The starter made a racket but it started and I backed it up and cut it off and cleaned it up some.
When I hit the starter to go to breakfast, all I got was an awful sound of mechanical complaint and the starter did not engage!
I quickly decided to drive the 3w to breakfast.
I later got it on my Backyard Buddy with help from some friends and began researching the problem late Wednesday. After taking it apart yesterday and contacting TCI Starters about the situation, I realized the starter had been installed... what shall I say? ... "creatively." Worse yet, TCI Starters had no out of the box solution and neither did MSD from what I could get from the parts stores and on-line.
It turns out the starter had been installed by DRILLING a new hole in the transmission bellhousing to locate the top of the starter about an inch further inboard than stock. Then they used a genuine grade 8 quarter inch bolt in the bottom 3/8 inch hole to secure the bottom of the starter. Yep, there was room for a bit of play.
The car was built some 15 years ago and I have driven it a bunch in the last several years that I have had it and the starter never complained at all so I guess we've been quite lucky.
Anyway, I cleaned everything up and found a way to use a 3/8 inch bolt in the bottom hole to eliminate any potential play and put it all back together as I had no other real options at that point. I figured I'd try it and go from there if it didn't work.


You can see where they drilled the new top mounting hole and inserted a bolt from the back side to serve as a stud to mount the top. They did grind the bolt head a bit so it would not turn which was a good thing.
Note the new 3/8 bolt installed in the lower mounting hole... a grade 8 AND I it was long enough to put a lock washer and nut on the back side of the housing to boot... I did not want it to come loose!
The car started right up just like in the past.
I don't like having a "creative" installation but it works once again so I am thankful.
The root of the problem is believed by the TCI Starter folks to be caused by the engine having a 157 tooth flex plate instead of the 164 tooth plate supposedly normal for that C4 transmission housing. A friend tells me there are THREE C4 options!!!
Anyway, I'm thankful it is working again and hope it will last. Otherwise, I'll have to remove the transmission and do lots of fun things to get it back to a "normal" configuration of parts.

I feel I can still brag and say truthfully, "I drove my car to Pomona and back without any problems."

AFTER the trip is another matter!!

It also reinforces my belief in the motto, "I'd rather be lucky than good any day.

 

Thanks for update - always better to break down at home

 

Well we're all home and I'm still running down pictures. I think the team, especially Larry (winduptoy), did a heck of a job of documenting the tour days as they happened and also covering a good bit of the swap meet and show.
I'll begin with some additional pics from the show without being repetitive.
Here is a picture Frank Williams took of our New Mexico contingent, Rick and Larry(winduptoy), then me with LA Roadsters member Bill Krebs. Then a picture I took of Frank with Bill.

 

Mike Truman (Mike in AZ) made it a point to find us and it was great to finally meet him and thank him in person for all his help over MANY years to find and run down every 36 Ford convertible sedan in our quest to find out just how many of each model was produced between slantbacks and trunk models. Thanks again, Mike.


I also saw Pat Ganahl and got to thank him for all his excellent journalism over the years and express how much I appreciated his many contributions to the sport.
Here he is sharing information about what has to be his car. What a beauty!

Did I mention it got hot?

Good thing I was parked in the shade.

 

Al are you running an AOD???

 

No, just a C4 with a 3.00 gear. I'm thinking of swapping in a 2.89 gear that I have but maybe not.
My speedometer is off a few mph. At 70 on the clock, I'm actually running pretty close to 75 mph.
If this transmission/starter combination acts up again I may have to consider removing the trans in order to complete repairs. If I have to remove the trans, I will consider going to an AOD.
Opportunities!

 

An AOD is 1/4 of an inch longer than a C4. You will have to move the rear cross member back about 2.5 inches. If you have an early C4 now you will have to check for clearance as the AOD has a bigger bellhousing. I will be putting one in my Roadster this winter. Last year I put an AOD in my Fairlane what a neat deal 70 mph is 2000 rpm with 3.55 rear gears and it gets 20 mpg!!!!!!

 

Fuzzy, I'm guessing my C4 has a bigger case than some other C4s because it was supposed to have a 164 tooth flex plate according to the TCI Starter guys. I don't know how that case compares with an AOD but a ruler and a close examination of the underpinnings of the car should tell the tale. I was running close to 2500 rpm at 70 mph and getting about 15.5 mpg. Thanks for sharing the information and it was great to get to meet you and put a face and a handshake with a name.

As to sharing information, after further reading in my copy of the book, "LA Roadsters, A Retrospective," I believe Ted McMulllen's 36 phaeton shown earlier on the 36 Ford thread was actually built by Gene Winfield.

The book is great reading as it shares the stories and cars of many of the members and associate members.
Some of the stories are hilarious! If you don't have a copy, I suggest you consider getting one from the club.
What a great legacy these guys have put together. I was honored just to be there and meet many of the guys and gals that have made the club tick for so many years.

 

This has been a great thread all the way through, dialog and pictures.
Thanks again.

 

A tweak on the previous picture to bring the cars closer.

There were great cars everywhere.

 

It was really neat to see the cover shot from long ago recreated with the SAME cars!!

A speed 33 car with unusual taillight treatment.



That bumper sure is tucked in tight to the body.

 

I'm going to try to tell the tale of the trip home now. We had a return trip home tentative plan before we left VA but while we were still going to use it as a guide, we agreed we were not likely to follow the original overnight stop plans for a number of reasons.
I think I left out that Dickie had already left a day or so earlier to get back to VA for some business reasons. Alabama Scout was going off blazing new trails in another direction but hoped to catch up with us again at somepoint east. I never saw him again but don't know if he got up with Jack or not.
That left seven cars.
The initial plan as of late Sunday, after the show, was for Tom T, Larry, and Rick to head out at 3AM in an effort to beat the desert heat by the more "open air" cars. Jack and Jerry were going to leave at 4 AM and George and I were to leave at 5AM.
Tom T was going to stay with some friends and Larry and Rick were hoping to make it all the way to Zuzax, NM by day's end. A later report from Rick said they made the 759 miles to Zuzax and managed to sleep in their own beds.
All three groups stayed in touch and occasionally saw each other as we played leap frog down I 40 heading east.
The parking lot was empty when we got up so I presumed we were all off on schedule, more or less.
We took off about 5AM and were soon rolling down the highway.
The first picture was taken at 5:24am and the next 3 were taken at 6:11am as we followed that greyhound.
At our first gas stop, George and Randy were concerned that their car was having some issues with vapor locking with the AC blowing so they said for us to continue at the usual speed while they ran a bit slower, maybe without the air, to see how the car responded. Their intent was to catch up to us later at one stop or another.
We all left and Shadow and I ran up on these guys near Needles that seemed to be headed home as well.

I've often sung the song about "the purple mountains' majesties" but hadn't seen them in person until now. It was Shadow who noticed them first. There were many beautiful sights along our way... going and coming home.

About an hour later, we stopped in Winslow, AZ for some tourist pictures. I posted one earlier of me in the car and Shadow taking the picture while "standing on ANOTHER corner in Winslow, AZ!!"
After a quick snack, we were on our way and finally stopped in San Jon, NM for the night.
I think Jack and Jerry stayed in Gallup, NM.
George called earlier in the day and said they had decided to stop in Kingman, AZ and get a room to cool off and rest some as they were still concerned about vapor lock. Their plan was to leave about 9PM and drive all night.
I forgot to mention that Jack and Jerry caught the early group and spotted them off I40 on an exit ramp. Jerry stopped and they said they were fine but Tom T was having some vapor lock issues but had it under control and for the rest of us to keep rolling. Jack or Jerry, or both(CRS)!, called me with the update and a bit later Shadow and I passed them about 3PM as they seemed to be getting rolling again among some tumbleweed that was blowing pretty briskly. I this was about the time that Tom T started to be known as Tom TUMBLEWEED... something about him dragging a fair sized bit of tumbleweed for some miles.
We caught up with Tom Tumbleweed and company again around 4PM, again as they were coming onto I40 from an exit. Shadow said he didn't think they saw us. Tom got to his friend's home and Larry and Rick continued on to Zuzax and their own beds.

 

Some trivia:
On the way out we drove right through Knoxville and Nashville on way to LA and got held up by traffic in both cases. On the way back, we took the 840 southern bypass around Nashville, which had virtually no traffic and was a much more pleasant drive. Also on the way back, we took the 640 northern bypass around Knoxville which had less traffic and not any real traffic slow downs. Anybody that goes west to the LA show in the future and follows I 40 should make note of these bypasses and be sure to follow them if you prefer open roads and much less traffic.

On the way out, we made 25 stops for gasoline. This was due to a number of extra stops where we knew we could buy gas at one spot but were not absolutely sure about how far the next spot was down the road so we opted to get gas often after we picked up our NM contingent; one of which that was gas tank challenged.
My average purchase was 7.8 gallons on the way out and the most I bought at one time was almost 11 gallons... in a 15 gallon tank.
On the way back, flying more solo, we made 17 stops for gasoline that averaged 9.7 gallons with the most purchased of 11.8 gallons.
Going and coming back we tried to stick to our plan of stopping every couple hours or so to stretch our legs and make a pit stop. To the best of my knowledge, that worked for everybody... at least I don't remember any complaints but I do remember several guys saying, "I was ready for this pit stop."

I drove right at 400 miles during the week we were in Pomona going on tours and running around... and the top stayed down!

 

Thanks for updates

 

Rick Barakat, Tom T, Ron , Jack

 

I got a report from Scout Jack about their return trip. They did spend the first night in Gallup, NM, which was a part of the original return trip plan... not sure how that happened! That was 633 miles for their first day.
They spent the next night in Shamrock, TX; another 529 miles down the road. Wednesday they must have stepped up the pace considerably as they travelled 740 miles to get to Jackson, TN for the third night. I think in the hullabaloo brought on by the weather and the normal leap frogging with gas stops, Jack and Jerry ended up taking different routes home after they hit VA. I'm sure of Jerry's route but Jack's route, as I understand it, required him to cover a whopping 825 miles the last day in order to get home by 7:30PM. I'm sure Jerry covered a similar number of miles; maybe more, depending on the final route but he was home by 9PM.
I've still got to get a report from George and Randy but I think Jack and Jerry get the gold stars for most miles covered in one day.

Dang! I just checked my miles per day and found that Shadow and I drove 797 miles the first day to stay the night in Moriarty, NM. I think that might get us honorable mention but the NM fellows went nearly that far to get home in one day so maybe not so much! And, George and Randy may have had a very long run when they drove overnight and into the next day.

I don't think any of us viewed it as a contest. We just wanted to get home!

Our second day, we managed to get to Russellville, AR and stayed at that same motel that got us a room at ANOTHER motel because they were full on our way out to LA. I told them we were staying there because they looked out for us last time... and we got to park outside our room which seemed nicer to boot!!

Our third day, we worked to find bypasses around Nashville and Knoxville and they worked great.
The bad news is that we were so focused on following I 40 when we got to the other side of Knoxville that we MISSED the turn to go north on I 81!! Heck, we were so spent after travelling about 690 miles that day that we just missed it. We didn't even realize we had missed the turn until the next morning when we passed a sign that read "North Carolina State Line!"

Before we left we did notice this odd signage by the men's room where we filled up before leaving.

"Not an Exit?" Those TN folks don't want anybody to be confused in case of an emergency, I guess.

The good news is that missing the turn, we ended up following I 40 to I 85 and then north to VA route 58 and then home to Smithfield and MISSED all the foul weather that the rest of the gang encountered on their way home.
We drove about 75 miles out of our way but missed all the rain and did not have to stop due to the severe weather as some of our compadres had to stop. The others reported they got a thorough washing by Mother Nature.
Jerry called it the "Natural Bridge High Pressure Car Wash!"

As I think about it, Shadow and I drove all the way to Pomona and back and never turned the wiper on!! We got a few raindrops a couple times but not much. Yep, "I'd rather be lucky than good any day!"

 

So......an average travel day must have somewhere around 12 to 14 hours? You guys were right up there in miles traveled per day with the interstate truckers. Freeways must have been the road of choice? What is your opinion of the condition of our nations freeways? Did condition vary from state to state?

 

Twelve hours or less would be my guess. Our plan to stop every couple hours or so seemed to work out pretty well so you didn't seem to notice so much just how long you had been traveling. We definitely were more focused on getting down the road on the way home. Going out, we pretty much stuck to our original planned stop areas and didn't seem to be too taxing on anybody. Remarkably, our experienced travel times pretty much matched what my trip software had projected.

I'm sure the roadways in some states were better than others but we stayed on I 40 and the road, while often less than perfect, did not offer any serious potholes or other destructive hazards... other than the occasional upside down wheel barrow sliding along at 65 MPH in the next lane or two over! There were a few big truck treads to dodge but I think you find that anywhere. And, of course, the usual hazards involved with having other drivers on the road!
I commented to Shadow many times that we needed to tell folks that the MOST frequent sign observed on the whole trip was, "Road Work Ahead!" It seemed to be never ending at times. Unfortunately, sometimes in the jockeying for position around upcoming roadwork, the cars and/or trucks sometimes got tangled and then all heck broke loose!
Generally, folks were reasonably courteous except one stretch where folks seemed to be less cooperative with merging traffic.
One BIG problem that spoiled an otherwise great bypass was the southern bypass around Nashville. The roads were superb and the bridges were superb but the TRANSITION from one to the other invariably wanted to sent my car flying on both ends of the bridge!! We quickly learned to slow a bit when entering or exiting a bridge; and there were many bridges on that bypass so while it was a pleasant drive with little traffic otherwise; you did have to pay attention approaching or exiting bridges. They were consistent... every bridge transition was bad!!

 

I hate those bridge transitions.

 

I think I discovered the reason the scouts only made 529 miles on the second day...

Yep, I think they "took a little time to eat" as they say.
They look like they've had a long, hard day on the trail; don't they?
Those must be Texas hats... when in Rome... er, Texas...
Handsome, for scouts, ain't they?