greg g Posted July 10, 2011 Report Posted July 10, 2011 I got a call from Mark A, and his plan was to leave St.Louis, on his way to Columbus, Ohio. His stop in Ohio is to pick up a hitcher who will trave along to the W P Chrysler event in St. Johnsbury Vt. They may take a side trip to Niagara Falls on the way throug the area. I am expecting them to arrive in our neck of the woods some time tomorrow. I have my car cleaned up and packed, gotta check the air in the tires, give the oil a quick check, and top up the tank. We go to a weekly trivia contest at a local watering hole with a group of friends, and I assigned them to stop somewhere and get the latest People, Us Entertainment Weekly, and Enquirer to bone up on pop culture and celibrity issues, as they will be guest of our team. I have not of course forwarned of their impending presence. Tuesday AM we will be leaving the Central NY area for the wilds of North East Vermont. Travelling through Saratoga Springs to take in the display at the Auto Museum, the wind our way through the Green Mountain state. Hopefully Mark will check in from wherever he might be, and I will follow up with posting of our trip and activities with the WPC ers. Quote
1940plymouth Posted July 10, 2011 Report Posted July 10, 2011 Greg, Have a safe trip and a good time. Please take lots of photos if possible. Bob Quote
randroid Posted July 10, 2011 Report Posted July 10, 2011 Greg, Again, I'd like to be there to meet you and see the cars but I won't make it. I'm sending someone in my place, a friend named Jerry, who lives very close to St. Johnsbury. He's an interesting person and a bit of a motor head who doesn't know much about our cars but is interested in learning. Hope you two run into each other. -Randy Quote
1940plymouth Posted July 10, 2011 Report Posted July 10, 2011 Greg, Did you know that St Johnsbury is the home of Bag Balm? There is one big sign there that I know of, when we drove thru there about 15 years ago Quote
oldodge41 Posted July 10, 2011 Report Posted July 10, 2011 Greg, Have a safe and fun trip. looking forward to hearing about it.......Tim Quote
Don Coatney Posted July 10, 2011 Report Posted July 10, 2011 I am a day or two late again. I am heading to Columbus on Tuesday morning. Quote
greg g Posted July 10, 2011 Author Report Posted July 10, 2011 Just got off the phone with Mark to say they have had an eventful day is an understatment. Flat tire, spare shredded after only a few miles, supporters in Columbus provide two previously enjoyed tires on 14 inch rims. One more bites the dust. They pull of the road to change the tire and notice the fuel pump glass bowl is leaking, tighten same. Try to restart car, no joy, out of gas, get gas, now fuel pump not sucking, carbs dry. Then battery dies after heavy cranking. They have been sitting aside I 90 outside Erie Pa since about 2 this afternoon waiting for a tow truck. He rang off as the tow truck had just appeared. Headed for repair shop, Fairfield Inn, AC and cold beverages. He has a spare fuel pump, which he will install in the AM, along with a new fuel filter, and a back flush of the pump to tank line. He says he is going to call Coker to ship some tires to VT. (were it me since he has had several problems with Cokers in the past, I would be swapping to some other brand) but he has 16 in wheels so Wally World or Poop Boyze Cheapies are out for the size. Oh well he says they will keep moving forward and not admit defeat. I offerered to load up the Exploder with tools and spares but he says they will GIT ER DONE in the AM and get back and get back on the road. Hopefully I will hear from them in the morning with positive results. Quote
oldodge41 Posted July 11, 2011 Report Posted July 11, 2011 Wow! Rough start to the trip. Hopefully all will be ok now. Quote
Mark D Posted July 11, 2011 Report Posted July 11, 2011 ... and here I was afraid of making the 4 hour trip from central mass. Seriously thinking of loading the car Friday AM and skipping outta work for the day. One issue, my spare is a piece of cr*p... don't think it's had air in it for 40 years. All else seems to be in working order. Do they sell cheapo radials for those old rims? Oh, yeah... no hotel reservations might be an issue I should think about as well. Quote
greg g Posted July 11, 2011 Author Report Posted July 11, 2011 (edited) Go to a pick and pull and get a temp spare for 15 bucks, just make sure the bolt pattern is 5 X 4 1/2. Have hotel room but other bed is already spoken for. Could get a roll in or bring your sleeping bag We're flexible, be glad to have you. Edited July 11, 2011 by greg g Quote
greg g Posted July 11, 2011 Author Report Posted July 11, 2011 Mark called, the tow truck guy knew a guy, who knew a guy that has Hudsons. So the battery on the charger, and the trouble shooting commenced. The dripping at the fuel pump was caused by a deteriorating gasket (blame ethanol) between the glass bowl and the fuel pump. When Mark tightened the bowl it spun and tore the gasket. The hole was then big enough to suck air insted of gas. New gasket fashioned and installed, and its up and running. A Search for some tires in the morning should have them back on the road by mid morning. Couple new tubes should have the 16's ready for parade and show duty. So barring other problems they should be arriving here in the afternoon tomorrow. I have a couple 15 in stock rims and a pair of 205 75 radials to go along with them if he wants them as backup. Quote
1940plymouth Posted July 11, 2011 Report Posted July 11, 2011 Greg, Just wondering if Mark has arrived yet, or if he has called to let you know where abouts he is? Please take some photos to share this evening with both cars, it would be greatly appreciated:) Quote
greg g Posted July 11, 2011 Author Report Posted July 11, 2011 He left a voice mail about noonish saying they were on the way but taking it easy. Haven't heard anything since, going on the no news is good news theory i expect them around 5:00 or so. I gues finding new 14 inch tires these daays is not easy. In this day of skate board wheels 13, 15 and 15 are getting scarce being pushed out by 16, 17, 18, 20 and 22 inch rims with rubberbands. Quote
greg g Posted July 11, 2011 Author Report Posted July 11, 2011 At 330 they are 60 miles out at a thruway rest area, looks like a 5:00 ETA maybe just about correct. Quote
greg g Posted July 12, 2011 Author Report Posted July 12, 2011 Arrival was just after 5:30, no further mechanical issues on this leg. Vermont beckons in the AM. More from the road, as we have fun without you. (ya buncha posers as per Mark A) Quote
Don Coatney Posted July 12, 2011 Report Posted July 12, 2011 Is Mark running tubes in his tires? Seems he has a lot of flat tire issues both on this trip and his out west trip. Quote
1940plymouth Posted July 12, 2011 Report Posted July 12, 2011 Greg, What route are you and Mark taking? Just wondering if you are taking the thuway to Albany then up the northway to cross Lake Champlain via ferry near Fort Ti, or cutting cross lots? I wish you both a safe trip and good time, keep us posted, Bob Quote
Mark D Posted July 12, 2011 Report Posted July 12, 2011 Hold that spot on the floor for me Greg... I'm in. Looks like a Thursday night departure will get me 50% of the way up there after work. Send me your route and I'll plan to meet you (with some great vermont brew)... Quote
greg g Posted July 14, 2011 Author Report Posted July 14, 2011 (edited) We left Home about 8:30 Am after having to give Marks car a jump start, dead battery, he thought he may have left something on. ( I'm thinking what is there in a P15 to leave on other then the head lights???) but any way the car started right up and we headed out east on NY route 5. We Went about 35 miles and Stopped for gas for Mark's car, again no start and jumped. Amp gauge shows a slight positive charge but not a lot of movement, so he says lets just go and find a place to buy a new battery as his is 3 or 4 years old. So the car is driving fine, and we head into Utica looking for Advance or auto zone or NAPA. Nothing on that road, so I know that are a couple places in Herkimer, so we press on. We are following a small detour for construction in Ilion NY, and I am about ready to rejoin the highway when a check of the rear view shows Mark to be conspicously absent from my tail. Quick u turn finds him in the parking lot of a bank. I thinking its an odd time to need the ATM, since he filled his wallet at the bank in out village on the way out. I pull in and find him with the hood up as a rather large and spreading puddle of fluid under the car. His copilot who was driving at the time was just given an OPEC hot foot from oil. Observation show it to be the flex line from for the OP gauge has split and treated to firewall and bellhousing to a hot 10-40 Spa treatment. No problem, spare in travel box, installation completed crankcase topped off and we headed around the corner to a Carquest place, where Mark bought a battery to replace his now dead one, and I borrowed a couple cups of speedy dry to attend to the spillage at the bank. So now with things back in order, we head ever forward. We stoped for a break at the Saratoga auto muesum, and spent about an hour looking at the collection of Italian cars onthe first floor and a retrospective of motor racing in NY on the second floor. Also sharing the museum grounds were some Ford afficionados. So we pulled into there area and showed them our Mopar Muscle wih a hasty departure. We continued on with out incident, traveling up Vermont 100, other wise know as the leaf peepers highway for its popularity among the tourists in teh fall. Some where along the way this time with me in the trail position, I steped on the gas and the Vroom Vroom was gone. Engine was still running but at idle only, threw it ito neutral, flashed the lights to attract Marks attention and pulled of the road. A quick inspection showed my throttle linkage had come adrift at main connection from the bell crank. Reconnected started and continueed ever forward. Now Vt 100 is a nice road and all, but its location in a river valley does not lend itself to retaining daylight after the sun slips behind the wester ridge. Normally no big deal but Remember Mark is travelling on battery power only and headlights would be an iffy proposition. But following the ever forward creed we pressed on till we say a sign anouncing St. Johnsbury 20 miles. We must have passed that sign at least 3 times because those 20 miles felt like the longest string of miles ever strung together. We arrived at the host hotel without furter delay and with sufficient daylight left to avoid using lights. When I went start my car to get some dinner, my battery cranked down before my hot heat soaked engine and carbs reacted. A bump start worked a treat and we were of. After dinner with nightfall and cooler temps, mine started just fine. As a precaution, I positioned it in my hotel lot so that If I had to I could bump start it in the AM. Except for the Car that pulled right up to my front bumper. Battery fine start effected, but I took a tour of the auto parts places in town and located two 6V batteries. I also had the battery tested and it tested good, and the genny was putting out 7.2 volts, so the major pieces of my system are in good order. I did some searching and found my fan belt a bit loose so I tightened that this morning, and everything seems fine through the course of the day today. But there are at least 2 6V batts in town if I decide to replace mine if furter problems arise. Just in case I parked in the same spot as last night and will hope the other fellow will not be there in the morning. I did have one unexpected expense today as I went to the hardware store and bought a jam nut for my throttle linkage to keep it from backing out again. So my total repair cost for the trip so far totals 43 cents. The Walter P Chyrsler diagnosis committee has ascertained that Mark's problem is seated in his VR cutout circuit. A jury rig now provides constant charging, which is controlled by keeping the headlamps on while driving. A new regulator will be at the local parts store at 7:30 tomorrow. The parts store is a regional operation that still has books going back to 1939, what a pleasent surprise. I did take some pictures but the wy fi is sketchy so I will try to post them later. But tomorrow is a day for moving forward, ever forward.... Edited July 14, 2011 by greg g Quote
steveplym Posted July 14, 2011 Report Posted July 14, 2011 Wow you guys have had quite a trip so far, but you have made it there safe and sound, that is the important thing. Glad to hear most of the issues have been minor and can be fixed on the road. Good luck in your travels and hope you guys have fun and enjoy the show! Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted July 14, 2011 Report Posted July 14, 2011 nothing like a few stops to tweak to make the end of day journey a welcome event and give you somethng to discuss over dinner..sounds like you are having some fun..drive carefully.. Quote
BobT-47P15 Posted July 14, 2011 Report Posted July 14, 2011 Ahhh......the joys of traveling in an old car. But, it sure is fun. Quote
1940plymouth Posted July 14, 2011 Report Posted July 14, 2011 Good to hear that you both are there safe and sound, have a good time Quote
greg g Posted July 14, 2011 Author Report Posted July 14, 2011 A few views of the trials and trevales of Mark A's trip. Quote
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