Event Coverage DAILY COVERAGE!! RODFATHER TOUR From NorCal To INDY Goodguys - 17 Days - 5016 MILES!

Kool - Thanks for all of the updates & pics

 

What a trip! And the square bird rules!

 

Thanks for posting all the pictures! I had a great time in Indy and it felt like I was there again.

 

DAY FOURTEEN........


**** **** **** **** ****!!!!!!

Today started out great. A cool morning great for cruising. We added a last minute stop at an insane private collection. My pics don't even begin to scratch the surface. Seriously, it's so amazing it's surreal.

Then we hit the road for Alburqueque, NM and the Al Unser museum. It was small but cool and I had decided to cancel my rooms for the rest of the trip and do like I normally do on a roadtrip and drive as far as I can and then get a room wherever. I finished shooting the museum and hit the road.

About 5 miles west of town I heard a whizz and the a squeal. I immediately looked down at the GEN light, yep it was on. ****! I pulled over, opened the hood and sure enough, the generator was siezed solid. Luckily it had just started to eat the belt and it's still good. The ****ty part is that the generator and the fan share the belt, so I couldn't limp it along.

AAA came fairly quick and I got towed back to town to a shop. Meanwhile I called every parts store in town to find a replacement. The closest I got was one that could be in in 7-10 days. My next call was to a starter/generator shop. The garage took it over there for me and it MIGHT be ready tomorrow by 11AM. ****! That doesn't put me on the road until noon at best. I was set on being home late tomorrow. Oh well. Now I'm sleeping in Albuquerque.

I guess the good thing is that since I decided to leave today, it broke today and not tomorrow.


Pics.....



This was actually yesterday.




























Flathead powered!







More below....

 

My last meal before...


This!

 

So what's to do in Alburqueque?

 

I hear ***** hose will make a make shift belt any size you like.

 

The belt isn't the problem.

 

Had I seen this earlier (than 6;10 PM), I may have been able to give you a couple of phone numbers to some friends down there that may have been able to help you instead of dialing up AAA and having to go thru the trouble of rebuilding a generator...

On the north side of town, there's a real nice '50's style restaurant called "Famous Dave's"...the owner has a pretty good collection of cars near there. There is the famous "Owl" drive -in on old Route 66 thru town...I think that's where some car guys hang out...

R-

 

Any possiablity of getting a gm 1 wire to fit your mounts,maybe swap around the lower or such? Much easier to find at this time of night,local auto parts store should have one,and maybe able to deliver it too the hotel.

 

That was one of the things I wanted to do before I left. Oh well. I'm locked into the rebuild now.

 

"The ****ty part is that the generator and the fan share the belt, so I couldn't limp it along."

 

Not digging waking up and waiting around in Albuquerque. I should be on the home stretch
Right now. Ugh!

 

what happened to Lawson's trailer? Sounds like they left you in the dust! Let's see...you got to go on the tour and get paid as well- makes all the minor T Bird problems seem insignificant to me.............

 

Yep, overall it's been awesome! I'm just ready to see my family and I would have been doing that this afternoon. Now it may not be until Saturday.

 

Just got the call from the generator rebuild shop that its ready. I may be on the road by noon!

 

You got my number if you have any issues in AZ

 

Can you pm it to me just in case?

 

Good luck, KIRK! If you need a replacement, I think I have one. I'll check for you.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kramer
The belt isn't the problem.

Gotcha, It was late and I wasn't thinking.

 

12:30 and the garage still hasnt picked up the generator. ****ing amazing. Id have been better off taking a cab to get it myself. I could have put it on myselfand been on the roqd.

 

any news Kirk, you still alive?

 

Relax Kirk. It's all part of the joy or traveling with a cl***ic. Don't let it take years off your life. You'll be just as happy when you get home a day late (maybe even happier).

 

Made it to Mojave about 11pm. Going great. Just five hours or so tomorrow.

 

You have had a real trial by fire on this trip. You will be home soon and have all kinds of stories to share. Thanks for sharing the good and the not so good with us.
Later,
****

 

glad you got it all sorted out. sounds like a pretty successful trip for the most part. a 5000 mile trip will expose the weaknesses you need to fix to make it a bulletproof driver. thanks for taking the time to post your trip, it was the first thread I would go to everyday to see how things were going.

 

OK, made it home. Man the 'bird is puking oil like crazy. I half expected it to fall into pieces when I parked it.

 

IF you want to find out how good a builder you are, take the car on a 1000 plus mile trip when you get it finished...it'll show what you did correctly and what you need to work on to make it "bulletproof" as C. Montgomery says...!!!

Glad you made it home OK Kirk!!! Now what're ya gonna do with the "bird...???

R-

 

I actually like it. Gonna start improvements.

 

Glad you are home. Snuggle with the family. Take care.
Later,
****