Driving from California to Illinois--with 2 X H.A.M.B. friendly vehicles

WingNutz: Yeah-- I never noticed the tire--and if it was low at that point due to air pressure or whatever--I'm glad it blew when it did.. But, the N.A.P.A stores along the way were helpful along with the rest of the local auto parts traps.. And yes, I said.. "i'll need more parts, and some tools pulleaasseee"...

Tim: Yeah-I don't imagine that Beresford is very big... But I took off from 46 right onto 29 headed Southeast??? Headed right outta town after grabbing some gas in what I'd say was one of the nicest small truckstops I'd ever been to.. (I'm comparing my images of truck stop bathrooms...) The only thing missing from the bathroom was a gold-plated statue of Caesar sitting in a fountain--what a urinal that would have made..

Dude,
they are all in my album!!

or here, on photobucket.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v697/hemifalcon/California to Illinois Car Poaching October 2011/

 

Sounds like one bad ass trip

 

It was a BAD ass trip.. Glad to have taken it, glad to have it over..

and..the saga continues..

So, i was using the truck for it's intended utilitarian purposed for a couple days this past week, hauling lumber and working on some projects at my moms house.. She was behaving, but making some grumbling, squeaking, crunching noises from the rear of the truck.. Got to figuring it was the rear u-joint after a couple pumps of grease calmed down the sound--but not entirely..
So, i changed them out today--and when I wanted to take Mayhem for a test drive.. She cursed at me.. Meaning--she spit antifreeze out the overflow while cranking--and wouldnt' fire.. I kept trying, and trying--but she kept pissing out her antifreeze, as the radiator and cooling hoses were getting pressurized..
So, looks like somehow, while she sat over the past 36 hours, the head either cracked due to the cold (not likely, didn't get below 30 degrees here), or the head gasket unsealed itself.. Strange--

So, i think that the old girl will go into hibernation, unless I can get a couple nice days on my days off from work to yank the engine and trans for the winter...

Any thoughts??

 

And now a message from the hero of all of ours. You just can't go coast to coast and then dissappear. I just bought a 1962 with the 235 and thought of this thread. How about an update? Hell, if you don't feel like typin' post some photos of the oil lines on the Chevy. I am looking for an alternative.

 

Excellent thread just a great read, this is what real hot rodding is all about. Congratulations on making it, so much fun for all us readers. Your the man a great car guy with the "BRASS BALLS" way to go.
Oh, by the way California wants it's farm Suburban back now that's it's running so well.

CRUISER

 

hah....
haven't given this thread any attention back.. But, if you look at the other thread of the Suburban--you'll know the truck has gotten it's time of getting a facelift and a little revival work.. The head finally succumbed to life with all the cracks in it from time doing it's thing and so--here now is how she sits.. Truck will be getting a complete re-do. I'll be doing a 5-lug conversion to it and it'll get disks up front with a bit of an assist from a vacuum boost and dual circuit master cylinder.
From THIS in October...

to THIS today...


The 292 will be going back along with the original 4 speed. All the old farm-dents will come out of it, and some rust repair will occur. Other than that--It'll get a White/Teal paintjob, and a matching interior of sorts (still be determined.)

Oh--and that god-awful farmer-hitch will come off of the back of the truck as I'll be lowering the truck with some 2-3" springs and I would prefer to have a "legit" hitch setup bolted to the frame vice all the hacked in welding work that someone did through the years..

 

Looks like fun! This has been an enjoyable read all the way through.