The Great Hershey Road Trip begins...

[bamfordsgarage]

Hello All, Day Seven, Ann Arbor, MI to Cleveland, OH, 258 miles.

No overheating today either — but I'm glad I spent a day last month getting the vacuum wipers working at their best. Heavy sidewinds and rain from Toledo to Cleveland. We have only 150 miles ahead tomorrow, it will be nice to dawdle on the way.

We thought that would happen today, but woke up late to a flat RR tire and were busy until 3 PM getting it repaired and remounted. (Would you believe that Firestone Service Centres do not work on tube tires?) Discount Tire in Ypsilanti saved the day for us and refused to charge anything for their work.

We tried to get a 180 deg thermostat at O'Reilly's Auto Parts but were unsuccessful, even with all the cross-reference numbers on the P15-D24 site. They did have a 195 stat, but I think lower would be better for this weather. Young Ed echoed an opinion held by many that restricting/slowing the flow of coolant through the rad with a thermostat will improve heat transfer and reduces coolant temperature. This seems counter-intuitive to me, but we're going to give it a try in the interests of science.

Our main purpose in visiting Detroit was to visit the former Packard plant on East Grand Ave (Jerry is restoring a 1923 Packard Opera Coupe that used to belong to my father). This massive, 3.5 million ft2 building(s) housed Packard from 1907 to the end of the company in 1956. The 40 acre site has been vacant for many years and is thought to be the largest derelict industrial structure in the US.

Pictures: Looking half way down the east face; interior shot; we believe these were the executive offices across the street; a wedding party arrived to take pictures at the site and newlyweds Bill and Kaylie wanted a photo with the Dodge; I salvaged a brick and some heavy screen mesh from along the west side of the plant — the brick is marked CLIPPER (who else do you know that picked up an original Clipper from the Packard factory?), and I have a couple future projects in mind for this souvenir screen.

[TodFitch]

Maybe in stead of dash placques, the Tall Pines POC could have static cling stickers made up for their Labour Day week end national tour? I usu. end up losing my dash placques, but clings, I'd display for a while. Just a thought.

I will be agitating for window cling decals to be made for the Pacific Grove meet in July.

[bamfordsgarage]

A few more pictures from downtown Detroit — how can they possibly turn that place around? So sad.

[Frank Elder]

A few more pictures from downtown Detroit — how can they possibly turn that place around? So sad.

Robocop.

[55 Fargo]

Chris's adventure should be a feature article in Hemmings Classic Car Magazine, someone should let editor Richard Lentinello know about this incredible journey.

I have read a lot of Hemmings Classic Car Mags, but have not read a story such as whats on this htread in there, Furd and Chebbys eat your hearts out............

[1940plymouth]

Fred,

I second that motion, it would make for some FANTASTIC reading.

Chris, I think you have to give Fred's idea some thought:)

Bob

[1940plymouth]

I may have overstepped my boundries, but I just sent this link to Richard Lentinello.

Bob

[Andydodge]

Chris, what was that building in the 4th pic in the last lot of pics, an ornate church? in front of a huge monolith?........andyd in Oz

[Young Ed]

Hello All, Day Seven, Ann Arbor, MI to Cleveland, OH, 258 miles.

Young Ed echoed an opinion held by many that restricting/slowing the flow of coolant through the rad with a thermostat will improve heat transfer and reduces coolant temperature. This seems counter-intuitive to me, but we're going to give it a try in the interests of science.

Find a napa and get part # thm155

[bamfordsgarage]

Andydodge: that was Michigan Central Station, at one time the main railway station in the state.

Young Ed: we'll do just that. We'll be in Youngstown in a couple hours, should be able to find one there.

Rockwood & '40Plymouth: {blush}

[Young Ed]

When we visited the packard plant we were told flat out if you value your life don't go inside. Glad to hear you survived. And what an odd backdrop for a wedding.........

[Don Coatney]

Good find on the "Clipper" brick.

Ever watch the movie "THE LONG LONG TRAILER"

[bamfordsgarage]

Hello All, Day Eight, Cleveland, OH to Clarion, PA, 170 miles, only +/-200 to Hershey!

A pleasant, uneventful drive to western PA, a bit of sun but otherwise overcast with frequent rain. We arrived at George Asche's place near Venus, PA mid-afternoon, and were treated to a grand tour of many of the buildings and cars on site. George has been at this location since the 70's and bought a number of neighboring properties as they come available. I counted five houses and at least two shop/garages. The starter/alternator rebuild shop (his sons do this) is in one house, George does his carburetor and overdrive work in another, one is actually still a residence, etc.

Merle, my Day Seven post should have referenced your position about the lack of thermostat, not Young Ed (although he too may feel the same way). We have a 180 deg stat arriving at Advance Auto Parts tomorrow AM. Don: yes, once long ago and again last year. Great movie.

Today's photos: We don't see these road signs in Alberta; scenic PA secondary and the trees starting to turn; the Asche estate; George with his swap meet demo tri-carb and dual-exhaust setup; Jerry and George with his Flathead-powered rear-engine dragster.

[jd52cranbrook]

Beautiful,,,,,,,

[michael.warshaw]

if the flathead is a 6 or 8 cylinder how do you get drag power out of it, none the less very cool, i hope to meet ga one day.

[greg g]

seems the number of exhaust outlets would provide fairly conclusive evidence of the number of cylinders.

[Captain Neon]

North Central Missouri is also Amish country. I see buggies almost every day.

[TodFitch]

Good to hear the trip is going well. And your photos look great.

This one reminds me of a few times when I came up behind one of those black buggies with no reflector on the back when driving my 6v VW Beetle with the corroded wiring. Had to really stomp on the brake. I hope they are required to put reflectors on them nowadays.

[Niel Hoback]

In North central Indiana Amsh buggies must have lights and a slow moving vehicle emblem on the rear. Many have voluntarily installed turn signals.

Edited October 4, 2010 by Niel Hoback
second thoughts

[Captain Neon]

In North central Indiana Amsh buggies must have lights and a slow moving vehicle emblem on the rear. Many have voluntarily installed turn signals.

Same here.

[TodFitch]

In North central Indiana Amsh buggies must have lights and a slow moving vehicle emblem on the rear. Many have voluntarily installed turn signals.

Same here.

I don't know if Pennsylvania had that on the books or not back in the 1970s but I am glad to hear that at least some places have that now. A slow black vehicle with no lights can be very hard to see on a dark country road. And even if it was on the PA books back then, there were certainly carriages out there without even a reflector.

[40plyrod]

What an excellent adventure! Thanks for posting the pictures. I hope to take my plymouth on a run like this, if or when I ever get it finished.

[1950 Special Deluxe]

As I follow this thread, it reminds me of going to work Monday morning and seeing what the young single fellas did on the weekend. We call it living vicariously through them. It seems like a lot of us are living vicariosly through the two of you.

From Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Thanks for letting us share your adventure.

Neil

[fstfish66]

following your adventure,,exellent,,,

that packard plant was just featured on a dumb motor cycle show on cable,, it was there dream to arrive from LA,CALIF and do tricks on motor cycles in front of the old packard plant,,,,

maybe some pics of your O,D install, ill look for you guys at hershey,,,hope i dont see a slow buggy sign for sale at your swap space,,,

[Merle Coggins]

I'm supprised you didn't see any signs like that in Wisconsin, because there are many of them. Which route did you take from LaCrosse to Hartford. There are several Amish communities between LaCrosse and Tomah.

And yes, they must have an SMV sign on the back at minimum.