TheSamba.com :: View topic - Had some time for the '64 T-34 today

Wed Jun 20, 2012 9:06 pm

Evening All,

Most of our trip today was under heavily overcast skies, keeping the temps Much more comfortable for driving.

"Wolfie" behaved himself for the most part, but...

At our secong fuel stop, once again refused to start up with the key! :roll: :evil: REALLY!!! So of course got some razzing from the guys, while we unloaded the rear seat and used the bypass method in my post above.

The Guys-"Thought you fixed that!"

Bob-"Hey, it is a Used Part."

Me-"Sorry guys, we're just having a "Wolfie" moment!" :lol:

"Wolfie" started with the key for the rest of the day!

Today's trip was challenging, trying to keep the group together, because of the what seemed to be nearly continuous construction areas.

"Wolfie" is still teething, it seems.

He pulled a "Christine" (the car possessed movie) moment today at our lunch stop. But instead of locking us IN the car, he locked us OUT!!!

Yes, we had the keys in our hot little hands. But we could not get either door to unlock, multilple attempts. :roll:

Finally, Dave "broke in" thru the wing window, very easily, I might add. :shock: Thank You Dave! Fortunately, we didn't have the latches in full lock position. So we didn't have to break anything. 8-[

Toward the end of our days' travels, we did run into some off and on rain. Sometimes heavy, sometimes not, but enough to wash off most of the dust, dirt and bug guts.

Free car washes, All around!

During the heavier rains, we discovered that the windshield, most likely, is not totally sealed. As we have a bit of a leak. I first noticed it on my side.

Being as we always use dish soap when installing the glass, I told Bob we have a Bullfrog in here. As a bubble of soap would form, grow larger, pop, reform, grow larger and pop. Just like a Bullfrog when it's making it's croaking sounds.

Once again, nothing major, just annoying.

Then the sun popped out for the rest of our trip to North Platte, Neb.

We've all had dinner, chit chatted, and are now settled in for the night.

Nite All!

Wed Jun 20, 2012 10:51 pm

I can't wait to meet wolfie! I hope he doesn't throw any more fits!

Thu Jun 21, 2012 4:44 am

SamSmith wrote: I can't wait to meet wolfie! I hope he doesn't throw any more fits!

I can't decide if "Wolfie" is acting like a tired little kid making a fuss, or a teenager who is being "forced" to go on a trip with the parents and is resisting just enough to be annoying- but secretly having fun, or like an old man, who is trying to prove He's in charge and we go when and where He says.

Bob and I are up early again today, 6:15AM Michigan time, sleeping in for me, as I would normally be up at 5:25AM to get ready for work back home. We're just waiting for the rest of the group to wake up for our breakfast gathering point at 8:30 AM.

Todays travel day is supposed to be a short one. Hopefully we will see FAR less construction zones!

More later...

Thu Jun 21, 2012 5:31 am

Sue I haven't met him yet, but my bet is old man. :)

Thu Jun 21, 2012 10:31 pm

Evening All,

Well in Mountain Standard time anyway, back home, it's after midnight.

Today was a Great day, a bit cool in the morning, but warmed up nicely, and sunshine all the way.

"Wolfie" behaved himself pretty well for our journey from North Platte, Neb. to Colorado Springs.

Only had to "jump start" him once. Bob figures the "new" used starter must have a flat/dead spot, cuz once you "bump" it, all is sunshine and blue skies.

Today was a nice laid back travel kind of day for all, I think. No real problems for any one, and far, far, less construction zones than yesterday. Though we did actually have to stop twice, as the road was closed to one lane literally, so you had to wait for traffic flowing down the hill to clear, before we were allowed to travel up the hill.

Took us a little longer to arrive, but we All made it safe and sound! There were quite a few folks here already, and more have arrived all afternoon.

We've all been fed now, most have their stuff settled into their rooms, some have turned in for the night, but....

There are still quite a few "Die-Hards" chatting it up out in the parking lot. Great to see so many familiar faces, and to put some more screen names with faces.

Some are headed to Pike's Peak tomorrow, others haven't decided how they'll spend their "free day" yet.

I hope to sleep past 5:25AM EST! Don't know what we're doing after that.

Bob has a short list of "issues" to work on, but nothing major.

Speedo and speedo cable first, we've been offered a loaner till we can see what we can do for ours.

A clutch adjustment.

A look at the door lock issue.

Adjust the drivers seat, seems Bob fixed it too good, keeps trying to slide all the way back...

Adjust the front hood latch, so it opens easier.

I think that's most of it.

I'll let you know how things go tomorrow, it's Waaaayyyy past my bedtime.

Having a Great Time, but glad to be off "the open highway" for a couple of days.

Nite All!

Sat Jun 23, 2012 6:18 am

Morning All!

Let's try this again, I started writing an update around 1:30 this morning, hit a wrong key, and got booted offline, so I gave up till I could get some sleep.

Yesterday was another beautiful sunshiney day, seeing Bob and I getting another early start.

After part of the group headed for Pike's Peak:

First thing Bob did was a clutch adjustment on "Wolfie", took out about 2" of free play.

After that, he helped a fellow, Dave, adjust the idle speed in his T34 Ghia.

Then Bob worked on installing the loaner speedo and cable into "Wolfie".

While we were watching Jim Adney diligently working toward getting Leo's '69 Square to run for the first time in 20 yrs, Bob was working on getting the loaner speedo to work properly. It was "sticky."
With Jim and Bob bouncing ideas off each other, on how to "unstick" it.

Then Dave, with the previous mentioned T34, rolls up and says he's stuck in 3rd gear.

While waiting for his car to cool down- for diagnosis, Bob finished getting the loaner straightened out. And started taking apart the soon -to -be parts speedo, a bug unit.

They weren't sure of the exact problem, but dad took Dave over to get a clutch kit, while Bob finished getting the 1/2" or so of broken speedo cable out of the parts unit.

Bob, Dave, Dan and a couple of other guys, dropped the motor, discovered immediately that the throw out bearing was "smoked". Ball bearings running all over in the bellhousing.

They all made quick work of changing out the throw out bearing and reinstalling the engine. 8)

Shortly thereafter, Toby's car came in on the rollback. :cry:

With dinnertime fast approaching, everyone started finishing up and getting cleaned up, to head over to the brewery. I'd guess by the time all things were said and done, there were probably more than 60 folks who showed up. Great food, great company, and put more screen names to more faces.

Later, back at the host hotel, hoping for the best, a large part of the group decended upon Toby's wounded Squareback, to begin the diagnosis process. Hours later, it wasn't looking good, but with so many minds working together, ideas shared and plans made, things started looking up a bit.

Sometime during this process, Jim Adney gave Bob and I, our own little tech session, while he repaired "Wolfie's" speedo, with parts from the bug unit. No warranty implied or expressed, they joked. We'll see how it goes, hoping successfully, so we can return the loaner stuff.

Then everyone called it a night.

Sun Jun 24, 2012 12:29 am

Morning All,

Another looooong day here in T3 land, I'm still getting up according to Mich. time and getting to bed Colorado time. But, it's all good, everyone's trying to catch up on what's been happening with everyone else.

Lotsa' ups and downs today.

Bob and I were up early, he got "Wolfie's" rebuilt speedo put back in, and it works great, and we think it's pretty accurate. 8) A Big Thank You to Jim Adney!!!

Had fire dept. and paramedics here, checking on one of the invaders. Was fine, but dehydrated.

The day at the park was great, with Lots of visiting, a F.I. tech. session by Jim Adney, a silent auction, and special awards handed out to a few lucky folks- including a Russ Wolfe Memorial one. A good time was had by all.

The rather unnerving part was when folks noticed A Lot of smoke up in the mountains beyond the park.!!! ( Still burning)

Just before dinner, the afore mentioned invader was taken to hosp. for tests and observation. We do hope and pray that he is fine.

Dinner at the Airplane resturant was great, lots of neat stuff inside.

Back at the host hotel, saw someone else doing a clutch adjustment, Jim Adney Did get Leo's '69 Notchback running! (the one that hadn't run in 20 yrs.) One of the guys, "Shaky", leant the motor out of his Square to Toby, so Toby can get his "Baby" and sick motor home. So he, Brian Fye and a handful of other guys, got the engine pulled out of one Square and into the other.

Still gotta finish hooking up the electrical, but that's a job for tomorrow (later today- after they get some sleep.)

We're supposed to go to another park, for a while later, some invaders already headed home today, I think, more will leave from the park after the morning activities.

Overall a Great Day, with a few hitches. I hope things turn out well for all. Safe travels to all making the homeward trek!

Sun Jun 24, 2012 11:53 am

Thanks Sue.

It's almost as we were on-site, despite being almost on the other side of the globe.

Sun Jun 24, 2012 12:58 pm

Afternoon All,

Well, Bob, his dad, Toby, Brian Fye, Dave and Anne Hall, Dave W., Disco Dave and Euronut, Peg and Marion McD. and I are all that's left here at the host hotel. Maybe the hospitalized invader and his wife (haven't seen her since early this morning.)

Toby and Brian, and a few others finished getting the electrical done on Toby's car before breakfast, and fired "Baby" off!

Some of the assorted Invaders, gathered this morning at a nearby park. Got in a little more visiting, while watching the fire burn in the mountains. We were able to see planes and maybe a couple of helos, fly over dropping fire retardant- most likely.

Chad dropped by to see/ update us, his home being in the mandatory evacuation area. Fire at that time was a 1/2 mile from his house! :shock: :cry:

Just before noon, it seems the wind shifted, Don't Quote ME-- but it looked like it shifted back toward the area that has already burned. So hopefully, that will help the fire fighters to get it under control and put out more quickly! [-o<

No tech sessions today, it was already quite hot when we got up this AM, and temps continue to rise.

John J used his paints to "customize" one or two of DC's "toys" for their new owners.

Having already packed and checked out of the host hotel, John J, Jim A, Keith and Mrs. Russ, began their trek homeward a bit after noontime after the goodbyes all around. Pedro and Co. also started their journey at that time. Most of the rest of us will begin our travels tomorrow.

Those still here are going to relax a bit. After it cools down, Toby still has to get the muffler off his sick motor, get the oil drained, and get it loaded into the back of the Square for the journey homeward.

Bob still has to play with the driver's seat in "Wolfie", as he fixed it too good, it keeps trying to slide ALL the way back to the rear seat. His arms an' legs just are Not that long! :lol:

Sun Jun 24, 2012 4:50 pm

Mlnl update:

Our hospitalized Invader and his wife are back, he's doing ok, but hosp, dr. says he should get checked out when they get home. The Mrs. will be doing the driving. They'll be leaving tomorrow also, making their trip over two short days (averaging 5 hr driving periods each day.)

Sun Jun 24, 2012 11:22 pm

We're all turning in for the night, prepping up for our journeys homeward tomorrow.

We all walked to dinner, a bit longer trip than expected as the place we chose was closed, due to the fire, several places in the area along our route followed suit.

It's finally cooling down a bit, but wind shifted again, as we can smell the fire again. Expect the cars will have a light layer of ash on them when we awake again in the morning.

Night All.

Mon Jun 25, 2012 8:50 am

Bob, "Wolfie", and I are getting ready to hit the road. Talk to you all soon.

Mon Jun 25, 2012 9:04 am

Suesanctuary wrote: Bob, "Wolfie", and I are getting ready to hit the road. Talk to you all soon.

Have a safe trip!!! I'm glad the hospital invader is all right. 8)

It was really nice meeting you and Bob and hanging out at your table. hopefully Wolfie is done giving you guys crap. :lol:

Mon Jun 25, 2012 3:25 pm

JSMskater wrote: Suesanctuary wrote: Bob, "Wolfie", and I are getting ready to hit the road. Talk to you all soon.

Have a safe trip!!! I'm glad the hospital invader is all right. 8)

It was really nice meeting you and Bob and hanging out at your table. hopefully Wolfie is done giving you guys crap. :lol:

All Right, Everyone All together now....

How Hot is it?

Bob says, " You know it's hot when the bottoms of your feet are sweating, and you are in sandals!"

Great meeting you as well. We have stopped in Hays, Kansas. We're just too tired, and hot. So is "Wolfie", when we pulled in and Bob shut him off to go check in, and came back so we could pull around to our room. "Wolfie" wouldn't refire. So we're tryting to cool off in the room, will go back and try to fire him off in a bit.

"Wolfie" was Very well behaved to that point, (a 5 1/2 hr run) but it is very hot out. We hope to turn in early, and head out Real early to try and beat the heat- at least for a while.

Mon Jun 25, 2012 6:23 pm

Shortly after my last post, we went outside to see about getting "Wolfie" around back where our room is.

Marilyn (Mrs. Russ) called to say she had just arrived safely at home. 8)

Alas, "Wolfie" is still too pooped to pop. So Bob and I pushed him round back. I don't know what the high temp for the day was, but when we went outside at 5:30- 6:00, it was still 110 degrees! Yikes! It was difficult to find somewhere to put our hands on "Wolfie" so we could push him.

We're hoping it's just heat soak and that when the temps cool down into the 70s tonight, "Wolfie" will be invigorated and ready to continue tomorrow.

Hope all those still on the road are having safe and trouble free travels!

Mon Jun 25, 2012 8:44 pm

Suesanctuary wrote:
We're hoping it's just heat soak and that when the temps cool down into the 70s tonight, "Wolfie" will be invigorated and ready to continue tomorrow.

My guess is that you're probably right and Wolfie will behave normally tomorrow morning.

If not, try Russ's trick of shorting across the big solenoid studs with a quarter. Just make sure the tranny's out of gear when you do this. #-o

Sorry you weren't with us on the trip home. We got lots of curious glances and a few cheery thumbs up from passers by. Wolfie would have rounded out our group.

Mon Jun 25, 2012 9:50 pm

Sorry to hear Wolfie is still being ornery, but truth be told WE are having a hard time with this heat wave too! 2 more days driving to return home....who knew Colorado was so far from NY?........lol

Tue Jun 26, 2012 4:46 am

Morning All,

We've been awake since about 3:30AM local time, finally got up around 4:30AM, but I think we were both asleep by 10PM local time, last night. It was great to have AC that actually worked!!!

Went out to check on "Wolfie", still won't start with the key, Bob figures the new "used" starter is done, bumped up the idle a bit, we'll probably be push starting it this morning. Will be starting the next leg of our trip soon.

Tue Jun 26, 2012 2:19 pm

First off, when we went outside readying to leave Hay(de)s, :wink: we saw the Fasty belonging to the couple (formerly known as the hosp. invader). So not sure what time they rolled in, but they had made it to Hays sometime after we did. What are the odds we'd end up at the same hotel, being as they left a couple hours before us, and we didn't talk about which hotel everyone was using?!?!?

We did have to push start "Wolfie." But it was no problem, we all just wanted to get outta Hay(de)s before it reached their forcast high of 113!!!

Then we had our "Mastercard Moment":

Bob, "Wolfie" and I

Early Morning Serenity

The Open Highway

70 degree outside Temperature

"Priceless"

Since the starter is no longer working, (it was used to begin with- had a "dead" spot- So I guess we got the last of the "good" out of it) we never shut the engine off. It took us about 7 1/2 hours to arrive back at the Wolfe Estate, 2:20PM CDT. We made excellent time. We left the overwhelming heat far, far behind us. The average temp. for the Whole days' travels was 70-80. Sooooooo much better than yesterday!!!!

Our only scary moments today were:

1. Nearly getting squished between two semi's, we were on a two lane stretch, passing a semi (it was in the right hand lane), when another came at us from a lefthand side on ramp. :shock: Don't think he saw us at first, we ended up speeding up and squeaking thru! Didn't want to be the fluff in the Oreo cookie!

2. We were nearly ready to exit Missouri when Bob noticed his wing/vent window "fluttering" a bit. Using only one hand, he managed to get a hold of it, enough to get it fully closed. We pulled into the next rest area, so he could fix it properly.

Keeping in mind, he never took the wing/ vent windows apart during the rustoration of "Wolfie." The upper hinge/ pivot point must have shifted just enough from all of the wind/ road vibrations and use over the past week, that the pin/ glass part started dropping out of the stationary part!!

"Wolfie" behaved Most Excellently today.

When we got to Marilyn's, she let us know that the above mentioned couple made it safely home. He had posted to the vwtype3.org list.

Marilyn is becoming such a die-hard lurker!

:twisted:

Tue Jun 26, 2012 11:58 pm

We too got out of the heat today... isn't it wonderful?