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Successful Trip, Lessons Learned and Marvel Mystery Oil [message #142463] Mon, 05 September 2011 13:06 Go to previous message
Michael Leipold is currently offline  Michael Leipold   United States
Messages: 318
Registered: April 2011
Location: Greensboro NC
Karma:
Senior Member
So, I made it from NC to NorCal on technically my first trip since bringing the GMC home.

Wednesday:
I have done a few fixes to her and left my house Wednesday night. Water temp gauge reads 280 at idle, I am assuming something is wired wrong, I have a Mondello 160 washer installed instead of a thermostat. The climb up 40 into Ashville was not as bad as I was expecting.
Somewhere in Tennessee, my speedometer decided to stop working completely, the GPS was my saving grace. And I did not have any transmission shifting problems, so I kept going. I have no low beam headlights.

Made it to Knoxville, I think before I decided to call it a night.

Thursday:
Replaced the water temp sensor, still reads 280 at idle. Tried to get the low beams to come on and gave up.
Experienced vapor lock outside of Nashville, then I hit traffic, it was hot and miserable, and I just sat there, did I mention that the generator will not run when you have boiling fuel, which means no air conditioning since my motor does not have it.

Engine would only run with the electric fuel pump and the tank switched to reserve, I guess that tank was cooler.

Made it someplace in Oklahoma before calling it a night.

Friday:
Installed air deflector behind grill on passenger side. Fan ran less during the day.

Had catfish at exit 200, yummy.

Ran out of gas in the desert around 8pm, they brought me the AAA alotted amount of 2 gallons, I had to pay the tow truck driver to go and get me more, took 2 hours total from running out of gas to getting moving again.

Made it someplace in New Mexico before calling it a night.

Saturday
At 2pm the vapor lock was so bad, I just pulled over, decided to rewire my dash, while I waited for it to cool down. Installed the new water temp gauge and it was accurate. Trans Temp gauge is not working now, but it never got above 200 while I was moving, so I am not worried about it.

Made it to Kingman Arizona before calling it a night. Researched vapor lock on my phone and enjoyed a Mickeys Malt Liquor before going to bed.

Sunday:
Replaced the headlight connectors and now I have low beams.

Marvel Mystery Oil. Added a large bottle to the tank when I filled up in the morning. I did not experience any vapor lock. Added a second bottle when I filled up in Bakersfield CA, again, no vapor lock the rest of the trip. Whether it works or not is a debate, it was in the high 90's the entire trip through California.

So, I am now in Stockton California, will be heading to JimK's probably Wednesday to drop off some stuff and buy even more. Last minute preps for the wedding on Saturday, the moonshine made it. Then next Monday my wife and I will be heading back. I will be dropping her off in Albuquerque on next Friday.

And now I am tempted by this $1000 GMC in Gilroy. I would love the roof pod and newer windows.

So other than the vapor lock, I did not have any real issues. I saved the sight seeing for the drive home.

I am sure I have more to say, but I am a bit exhausted still, and have errands to run.

Ps, the brake pedal pressure came back on it's own after a few hours of driving in the heat, maybe I boiled the air out of the lines Smile

1973 GMC 26' Glacier - Unknown Mileage - Has a new switch pitch transmission with Powerdrive Smile

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