At the stroke of midnight tonight, we begin an odyssey, the Road to the HRR in my flattie powered 40 Ford coupe with a buddy of mine riding shotgun. It's nearly 1600 miles one way, no big deal for many and I'm no stranger to some long runs but 1600 is a long, long way, especially running a flattie. Well, it IS all about the ride .... Of course, there are always some last minute issues before leaving - when does that NOT happen? We'll be going by way of I85 through Greensboro, NC to Charlotte, NC, then on to Atlanta, ending in Montgomery, AL for our first nights stop. There we will meet up with some HAMB folks (thanks Kinky6!), hang out for a bit, and the next morning we're off to Houston via I65 to I12/10 where we'll meet up with some family of my buddy's. On Friday AM we again meet up with another HAMBer Nonstockphoto (thanks!), visit a shop or two, then off to Austin to check out the A.S.S. kickoff party. Saturday is the big day and the weather looks like it is really trying to cooperate. Sunday we begin our ride back although our exact route is open as yet - hopefully we will be cruising with some other HRR attendees, perhaps making a few stops along the way to visit other HAMBers. My cell is 757-817-7517 should anyone need help. We'll post updates and our progress here .....
Thanks one and all - got all my"issues" squared away and we are a go!!! Skotz and Chickenhead -we'll see you there! Zibo, lookin' to visit San Diego with the wife sometime in March. Maybe we can hookup and shoot the breeze for a bit .....
There's a cold front moving through Houston, but it should be a little warmer by the time you get here. Well, 40's and 50's warmer. Be safe!
Well, we made it to our first stop, Montgomery, AL. It started out warm and cloudy and ended up cold, rainy, and WINDY! After multiple stops we finally got the timing down on my car. It again had no power, popped throught the carbs, gas mileage in the toilet. Then, by accident, we stumbled on a timing place that was totally unexpected, wayout of the bounds I would have ever thought. But, who am I to argue with the flathead Gods? I also lost my speedo cable - I'm running the stock 40 gauges and it came undone, slid down, dragged on the ground untill it wore through. Someone pointed it out to me and I removed the remnants. We also had a high idle issue - my 2-carb linkage was slipping ot he back carb, causing me to idle at 2200. It was a simple enough fix but cutting across 4 lanes of traffic to the shoulder for the repair was a pretty good trick! Our biggest problem to date is a slipping clutch - I'm presently trying to make arrangements to swap out the clutch before we make our way home, hpefully nursing it through the weekend .... Of course, it's the T5 to flattie special clutch disk, hard to come by locally. I have a spare disk and needed parts all sitting at home - nice place for them, huh? It's always the stuff you don't bring that breaks .... Hopefully pics of the Mont, AL HAMBers meet and greet tonight will follow later if I don't fall asleep ... zzzzzzzz ....
I'm jealous, Tom! Wish I could make the trip out with you guys! Maybe one of these days! Say hey to everyone for me!
That sounds like a lot of fun man. have a fun and safe trip. Not sure if my buggy could run that kind of mileage.
After a long day, we met up with John (Kinky6 here on the HAMB) and 3 other local buddies of his, Barry, Ron and Brian, at the Dreamland BBQ place in downtown Montgomery. Cool place, great food, and the company well, its what the HAMB is all about. We all had a great time talking cars, life, and our present builds. They asked why would we pick Montgomery, AL to stop at and not a larger Burg our response was that it was a pretty good half way point and it was. They just think others would look at Montgomery and think it a little, small, perhaps insignificant place. Well, its the people that make a place and these HAMB folks were the best. We now have some great friends in Alabama . The first pic has, from left to right, Ron, Brian, myself, John, Barry and my buddy Earl . The 56 is Brians and a great, simple, cool custom. It was great hearing that solid lifter cammed engine as Brian and Ron dropped us back off at our B&B. We must have talked for another hour standing outside in the freezing cold I think we could have been there all night talking if it wasnt so cold! A great night and a great start to our trip thanks Kinky6 for setting it all up. So, we had a great nights sleep and a super breakfast at the B&B, we go out to load up and the coupe is loaded w/frost I had to scrape the windows off. My car has never been out in that cold in the 14 years Ive owned it I was hoping it would start. Go in to start it and to my surprise - no fire! Here we go again but no, it just seems my starter button is a bit flaky. Maybe all the rain yesterday? Who knows after fooling with it, it now functions but is hanging out of the dash as it wont work in the dash go figure. Another small fix to do when time allows .. As I write this, Earl is driving and were on our way to Mobile, AL on I65 as Brian had said last night, theres a whole lot of nothing out on I65 and he wasnt kidding. Its us, a few trucks and cars, tress and farmland but it sure is pretty country. Our destination tonight is Houston and, barring anything unforeseen (LOL), we should get there around 6 PM .. in actuality, we got in around 7:30 PM Heres a question for you have you ever sat in any other seat of your car besides the drivers seat? Funny thing, its a pretty different view and perspective from that side of the car really. I had never been in my car unless I was in the drivers seat so this was a first for me maybe its not such a good thing. I made up a long list of things I now need to do since I had the time to check stuff out while riding shotgun .
More pics from our run to Houston today - car ran great adn we were running anywhere frfom 65-75 all day long, clutch is still slipping but once we got rolling it was OK, and no further starter button probs .... geez, almost an uneventful day! The last pic was taken with very little light left - but there is a sign there that does say, WELCOME TO TEXAS!
Oh, man, David - I wish I could have picked up your offer during the day but with no I-net access, I didn't get it until tonight. No, thanks man, but I ordered a the Austin Speed Shop - but really, thank you very much for the offer .... I'll see you there!
Hey Breezy, come 'cross the pond and you can ride shotgun next year as Earl will probaby have his car ready to make the trip and I'll have an empty seat .... TexasHardcore - what are you driving so I know how to find you? Madhouse - oh, man, a 32 tudor build is on my "bucket list" for sure - see you there!
Yep, it's cool but not too bad - as long as it's not wet! Thanks for the heads up .... Love your avatar, dude!
TomT, My daughter and I will be leaving Houston in Tuffy around 10 and meeting Brokenspoke in Brenham. We will keep an eye out for you!
Yep...left about 10:30 yesterday. At Dallas now. Only a slight water pump leak. Running good so far. It was 22 degrees when I left Missouri yesterday.....burrrrr!!! Leaving to meet up with Ddooce (DW) in Desoto (south Dallas) this morning to have head on in to Austin. See ya down here! Andy
So, Friday was a bit of a lay back day as it turns out, with the A*S*S kickoff party the end of a great day. We took our time going to Austin and ended up making two unexpected stops, each one at opposite ends of the spectrum car wise. Our first stop was at the Timeless Texas Classics on Rt 71, owned and operated by Lance Herrington. Big into T-Birds and Fords in general, he had some fine looking cars and some nice restos in progress. As you look through the pics check out the Rambler wagon, a soon-to-be parts getter, the the 56 Victoria. Lance was kind enough to give us a tour and spend some time with us, just talking about cars. Thats Lance with my 40 He definitely has some rare/different cars, and he mostly is centered around Ford car restorations with a lean towards comfort, quite, and cars done right.
The Jalopy Journal
