Drove the Metro from CO to TN.

Due to recent events in my life, I needed to relocate from CO to TN. I previously drove my (O/T)AMC Eagle to TN and needed to retrieve the Metro. I hadn't driven it much after getting it running but decided to gamble on the 1375 miles trip since I didn't have any money to have it transported and wasn't going to leave it behind.
I had to do a couple things to the Metro before I left. I installed new taillights and made and installed a new CVR for the gauges using Radio Shack parts that I found in a how to on the net. I also needed a spare tire. I had 245/75/16's that I had previously scored on Craigslist for $40 with wheels. I was skeptical that they would make it. While looking for a spare I found a set of 235/85/16 on wheels for $120. They were in excellent shape and I bought them for $110. i installed them and they made a big difference. I was able to go faster and/or keep my rpms a little lower with the taller tires. On Thursday afternoon I loaded it up and was ready to go.

I left Littleton, CO Friday at 6:15 am. I was amazed at how well it ran on the highway with the new tires. I actually got it up to 74 MPH a few times. When I got to my first gas stop, I was surprised by the amount of oil under it. About a half a quart. It appeared to be gear oil. A buddy of mine said the ice cream truck was leaving a trail of chocolate sauce from CO to TN.

I checked the engine oil and it was at the full line.
I went across the street to McDonald's and noticed the right rear axle was leaking.

Luckily it's a full floater axle and all I needed to do was tighten the bolts and it fixed the leak.

Back on the road and it was clear and sunny but cold. The Metro is really drafty. I would try to identify leaks and fix them with duct tape. Especially the dime size hole in the windshield.



About halfway between Colby and Hays, Kansas. I noticed a clanking sound on the front right side. I pulled over and found my front right shock mount was loose and held on by one bolt. It originally was held on by rivets but one was broken and the other loose and I had previously fixed it but I guess not good enough. I couldn't get to my box of bolts so I tightened the loose one and decided to fix it in Hays.
When I got to Hays I bought some gear oil to fill the leaking transmission which had to have lost a couple quarts by now. To my amazement it was full right to the bottom of the fill plug. Oops forgot to fix the shock mount.
About 50 miles to Salina, KS, I heard another clanking but it was much worse. When I pulled into Salina to get fuel, I noticed the shock mount was broken where the one bolt was holding it. I decided to take the shock off and use the one bolt to hold it on since it also holds the radiator and keeps it from hitting the fan.

At this point I also noticed the clutch was slipping under heavy loads. The stretch of road between Salina and Topeka has some really steep inclines for bad clutch. I was able to baby it though there by gaining as much speed as I could going downhill to help keep momentum. I also watched the tach to make sure it wasn't slipping.
My goal was to make it half way, which was St Louis, MO. When I got there at about 9pm cst, I was wide awake and decided to keep going. After encountering a few drunks on the highway even though I wasn't tired I decided to stop. I pulled into a rest area in Wright City, MO, Approximately 820 miles from my starting point at 1:15 am. It took me a little while to wind down. It was cold and I bundled up but I was already chilled to the bone from the drive. After tossing and turning in the passenger seat I decided this wasn't gonna work and decided to head back on the road. At that point I looked my phone and realized it was 4 am and I had slept for 3.5 hours. I thought it was 15 minutes.
It was great going through St. Louis at 5 am with no traffic. Illinois was uneventful and I cruised at 70 for about 10 minutes and then back to my 65-68 average. I stopped a couple more times to get fuel and it was using engine oil. So I figured it was leaking out the rear main and the front trans input seal. I stopped in Kuttawa, KY for gas and breakfast. I stopped at a Huddle House. I gobbled down a mediocre breakfast but absorbed the heat from the restaurant. I also added gear lube to the transmission. It took about a quart and a half.

With only 204 miles to go, I was determined. Stopped in Springfield, TN for fuel and had 3 different guys ask me about it the gas station.
Back on the road and on the home stretch. Driving through Nashville was also uneventful and I got about 40 minutes from my destination when I came upon on steep grade on I-65. I got about half way and was worried I wasn't going to make it. I had to pull into the emergency lane and by the time I crested the hill I was going 10mph with the clutch slipping bad. I was worried I got so close and was going to complete the adventure in a tow truck. I encountered a few more hills but was able to get over them. I was hungry but didn't want to chance toasting the clutch on one last on ramp.
Off the main highway and about 30 minutes to go.

Victory!!!!!!!!! I rolled in about 1:15pm Saturday.

My dad had KFC waiting on the table and I tore into it. Hot shower and then bed. I slept for 12 hours and woke up at 2:30am and back to bed at 4:30-10.
There were times going up some of those hills that I thought I shouldn't be able to make up the hill.
The old Metro is going to sit until I can get to the oil leaks. It also developed a squeal. Most likely the alternator. It was a blast.

 

Dang it! I miss the adventure days.

 

Ha ha ha,,,love a road trip in an old truck! Congrats on making it with your clutch still attached.

 

Good story and adventure!! Glad you got it there.It will mean something to you when its done

 

Dude, that's awesome......... a trip to remember for sure...

 

Welcome to TN!!

JH

 

Traditional broke dude driving a POS old truck story! I love it!! Lived it many times myself, hahaahaa

 

Out of sheer curiosity what kind of fuel economy did that thing get? Congrats on making the trip safe.

 

You must have been running on 115 Octane Willpower! Great story.

 

Damn!!!

That`s one hell of a story!!!

Thanks!

 

Ha ha, duct tape to cover holes around pedals. Been there, done that. I put new tape on for special occasions...gotta keep it looking clean. Congrats on making it....10mph hill climbs give you a chance to appreciate the scenery.

 

Welcome To TN great story!!!!

 

cool story, hate to see a hot rodder leave colorado though, good luck.

 

Nothing like a road trip in an old truck! I did a similar drive a while back in a bone-stock 50 Chevy pickup. The butt-pucker factor is pretty high most of the time, thinking about all of that old stuff spinning around and going up and down. I got kind of lost in your timeline, did you go through St. Louis twice? From your post:

"My goal was to make it half way, which was St Louis, MO. When I got there at about 9pm cst, I was wide awake and decided to keep going. After encountering a few drunks on the highway even though I wasn't tired I decided to stop. I pulled into a rest area in Wright City, MO, Approximately 820 miles from my starting point at 1:15 am. It took me a little while to wind down. It was cold and I bundled up but I was already chilled to the bone from the drive. After tossing and turning in the passenger seat I decided this wasn't gonna work and decided to head back on the road. At that point I looked my phone and realized it was 4 am and I had slept for 3.5 hours. I thought it was 15 minutes.
It was great going through St. Louis at 5 am with no traffic.

 

I love those "by the skin of your teeth" road trips. Those are the experiences that you'll always remember. Glad you made it safely to your destination

 

Cool story -- glad you and the Metro made it home safe!

I've done a few trips like that, myself..



Malcolm

 

I think the Metro has earned a new roll of duct tape.

 

cool man

 

cool man

 

Cool story. Glad you made it OK.

The first week of November, flew out to John Wayne (Orange County) airport to
keep a friend company while driving home his new e-bay purchase, a 1986 Chevy
retired military Blazer. The vehicle had spent it's life on a desert army base, so
hardly any rust on it. The diesel V8 was noisy, but ran pretty good. Stopped
at a Wal Mart store a few miles down the road and got the tires balanced.....which
improved it's ride and handling.

The farther we drove, the better the thing ran. Went down the interstates at
70 to 75 miles per hour. Left CA at about 3 pm on a Monday, travelled 1700
miles back to Joplin by about 11 am on Thursday. Drove til 8 or 9 pm before
finding a motel for the night. On Tuesday of the trip, even stopped for
lunch in Scottsdale, AZ with my sister-in-law and her family. We considered
it very fortunate and were sorta amazed there were no real problems. And
the weather was on the hot side at first, cooler closer to home...but just
as good as you could ask for. Sometimes you get lucky.

 

Congrats on a safe trip and thanks for a great read. Makes me want to get out there on that road!

 

Neat story, Thanks for taking the time to share.

 

What a cool story. I just came in from the shop; I was mocking up some modifications to the engine cover on my 1960 International Metro. What are the odds that there is a post about another one?

I don't know what it is about these old vans but I really love them. They are like a big toaster on wheels.

Sounds like a great road trip. Bravo!

 

Great story, cant wait to make a road trip in my Divco but I'm hoping to
make it trouble free.

 

Great story, I love the adventure of a good road trip.


CBB

 

Great road trip! Hmmmm where do I "need" to go

 

cool truck,cool story well done thanks for sharing

 

Cool Story. Love them skin of the teeth road trips! Been on a few myself.

 

Great story & cool truck. Thanks for sharing

 

What a great saga, you are officially a member of "The Brass Balls Club", a guy couldn;t leave a vehicle like that behind!! One of our local shop owners Weaks Automotive put a very similar one together for his Dad, and it is so friggin cool!! Congrats man, good luck with your new adventure in "T" which is for Texas unless your from Tennessee!! Rock on! ~Sololobo~