Event Coverage Des Moines Good Guys Heartland Nationals Coverage and Trip

CTaulbert · Jul 7, 2013

In sort of a last minute decision, we decided to run down to Des Moines this past weekend for the Good Guys show. I checked the host hotel the week before, and they had some rooms become available, so I quickly got one booked. I had attended it several times growing up, but hadnt been back since I moved to Michigan. I prepped the 40 the week of the trip to make sure it was set for the 622 mile trip.

 I loaded the tool tray up with the tool kit and some spare parts, and packed the trunk with our travel stuff. We set out Thursday morning, and made it down with no issues at all. We fought a headwind most of the day, but still managed to get 18mpg.

Stopped to get some fuel and make a sandwich somewhere across Illinois

After we got to the hotel in Des Moines, we cleaned up the 40. I ran over to the fairgrounds, and noticed the car was missing out some under load. I took it easy getting the car up to speed, and it cleared out after a few minutes of steady driving. Once I got back to the hotel, I pulled the distributor to check the points. Unfortunately, I had left my feeler gauges at home, but my friend Steve Mallory was there at the hotel and happened to have a set. We regapped the points, and put in a new set of plugs.

Steves 40 standard coupe, with a 284ci flathead:

CTaulbert · Jul 7, 2013

That next morning (Friday), we headed for the fairgrounds and the car ran just fine.

CTaulbert · Jul 7, 2013

Leaving the show that day, we idled a lot waiting to get out. By the time we made it out onto the road, the car was back to missing under load. I pulled over and swapped out the condenser, which made no difference. A little frustrated and hot from the heat, I just eased it up to speed again, and sure enough, the issue cleared up. At that point, I knew it was related to having a hot engine bay (the engine was running the normal temps). Once we got back to the hotel, I swapped the coil.

Saturday, the run back to the fairground went well (just like the day before).

Saturday afternoon, we left the fairground to head back to the hotel to cool off and relax a bit before returning for the big fireworks show. The car did well this time, so I think the old coil was starting to break down under the high engine bay temps.it was pretty hot in Des Moines which explains why the issue hadnt popped up before.

Sunday morning, we got up and made the return trip back home. It took 10 hours, and we averaged 19mpg (not to bad for a 3 carbd engine). Overall, it was over 1,500 miles in the 40.

We met some great people, and got to see some great friends again.

47Plym · Jul 7, 2013

Glad that all went well on the trip. Thanks for posting the pics.

Roadsir · Jul 7, 2013

I checked your sedan out... What a cool little car, and that flatty sounds great!

HOTRODPRIMER · Jul 7, 2013

Beautiful sedan,,sits right and look great. HRP

1badbaker · Jul 7, 2013

Great Pictures, thanks for posting

alchemy · Jul 7, 2013

Loved your sedan, it reminds me of my first hot rod. It looked just like yours when you first got it.

I drove the red '32 tudor you took pictures of. Wish we'd been able to talk.

DirtyDan · Jul 7, 2013

Great coverage... Thanks for posting.

RHRH3P · Jul 7, 2013

It was nice meeting you. Thanks for the use of your multimeter.

redzula · Jul 7, 2013

Where were you parked on Saturday. We were parked right across the street from your spot on that grass hill almost all day on Saturday. I remember seeing that T and having a look at it but don't remember seeing your 40 the pics look good and you had pretty fun trip from he looks of it.

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Rocket's Hot Rod Garage · Jul 8, 2013

Cool pictures & words. Thanks for the story.

evil clown · Jul 8, 2013

CT,

Thanks for the coverage! It's always fun to follow along.

We had a great trip also. My car ran well, but was a little hard starting while in Iowa. As soon as I got away from the Ethanol (hard to find anything else in Iowa) and got good Premium in it she cleared right up. Just a thought, but could your problems have been Ethanol related?

CTaulbert · Jul 8, 2013

56FordVictoria said: ↑

It was nice meeting you. Thanks for the use of your multimeter.
Click to expand...

It was nice meeting you as well, and I'm glad you guys got the ignition issue sorted out.

redzula said: ↑

Where were you parked on Saturday. We were parked right across the street from your spot on that grass hill almost all day on Saturday. I remember seeing that T and having a look at it but don't remember seeing your 40 the pics look good and you had pretty fun trip from he looks of it.
Click to expand...

We parked on the same road, but toward the south end on Saturday since we decided to sleep in a little that day.

evil clown said: ↑

CT,

Thanks for the coverage! It's always fun to follow along.

We had a great trip also. My car ran well, but was a little hard starting while in Iowa. As soon as I got away from the Ethanol (hard to find anything else in Iowa) and got good Premium in it she cleared right up. Just a thought, but could your problems have been Ethanol related?
Click to expand...

That's a good point. I remember last year when we drove through the northern part of Iowa, I had a hard time finding anything higher than 89 octane. My roadster was starting to detonate some pulling grades in 5th gear, and I was having to downshift until I was able to get some better gas.

CTaulbert · Jul 8, 2013

alchemy said: ↑

Loved your sedan, it reminds me of my first hot rod. It looked just like yours when you first got it.

I drove the red '32 tudor you took pictures of. Wish we'd been able to talk.
Click to expand...

Your tudor is great - I'm sorry we couldn't have talked either.

toms37gmc · Jul 8, 2013

I ran into that bad Iowa gas also. Had to sit and let the engine cool for about an hour once before she would start. Glad to got back to where I at least have a choice to buy better gas without ethanol in it. The exhaust even smelled weird with some of the gas I bought in Iowa.

chubbie · Jul 8, 2013

toms37gmc said: ↑

I ran into that bad Iowa gas also. Had to sit and let the engine cool for about an hour once before she would start. Glad to got back to where I at least have a choice to buy better gas without ethanol in it. The exhaust even smelled weird with some of the gas I bought in Iowa.
Click to expand...

You guys from out'a state need to read the pump. It will tell you witch pump is pure gas and if it has ethanol in it. You want pure gas 91 oct.?? Not hard to find. Read the signs overhead... or look for pumps with 3 fillers as you drive by. Yes i was there too, and we had NO problem finding gas.

haychrishay · Jul 8, 2013

chubbie said: ↑

You guys from out'a state need to read the pump. It will tell you witch pump is pure gas and if it has ethanol in it. You want pure gas 91 oct.?? Not hard to find. Read the signs overhead... or look for pumps with 3 fillers as you drive by. Yes i was there too, and we had NO problem finding gas.
Click to expand...

That's right and usually it causes vapor lock !
And Cory, it was great to meat you and Ashley and get some pics of our cars together. Your car is truly a cool car and you are obviously talanted !

VA T · Jul 8, 2013

Cory, glad to see you again and proud to park by you and Chris. Thanks for story and photos. And again, that 284 does not sound like a flathead!! Vance

corncobcoupe · Jul 9, 2013

evil clown said: ↑

CT,

Thanks for the coverage! It's always fun to follow along.

We had a great trip also. My car ran well, but was a little hard starting while in Iowa. As soon as I got away from the Ethanol (hard to find anything else in Iowa) and got good Premium in it she cleared right up. Just a thought, but could your problems have been Ethanol related?
Click to expand...

Regular ( non Ethenol) unleaded 87 Octane
Ethenol Unleaded 89 Octane
Premium ( Non Ethenol) Unleaded 91 Octane

All Quiktrips and Kum and Go have the three pumps
Most BP stations do also and have ( 92 Octane)

Caseys General Stores sells only has the regular 87 Octane and the Ethenol blended 89 Octane

Pretty much EVERY pump will state which is Ethenol ( sticker above the pump )

Like another poster typed - look for a station with 3 pump nozzles.

Premium gas or non Ethenol gas is not hard to find in Iowa at all. It only is when you wait too long to gas back up and close to being on empty.
A GPS will tell you where every station is where ever you are around the state.

corncobcoupe · Jul 9, 2013

Nice post CT and the pictures too.

sololobo · Jul 9, 2013

xclnt coverage bro, love your sedan. You caught three Omaha rigs in your viewfinder, Nicks roadster, Gary's 36 coupe, and Dan's new 32 three winder with the 409. Awesome! thanx ~sololobo~

911 steve · Jul 9, 2013

My group had 8 cars along. Black 55 Chev150, beige 37 Packard roadster, teal 64 Merc (great-grandad bought new), maroon 63 Pontiac 421 4speed (sold at show), bright yellow 31 Chev coupe, orange/blk 56 Chev sedan delivery with a 392 hemi, black 63 Ford Galaxie, gold 66 Chrysler300 (grandad bought new). Things went well til the trailer hauling the Packard lost a wheel bearing on I80 Sunday morning. When we jacked it up, you could pull off the wheel without unbolting anything. Imagine if it would have come loose at 70mph.

Mertaw · Jul 10, 2013

Loved ur '40 I was the guy with the old man in the McCoy Flamed '40 Sedan we parked across the street from u on Sunday. (Dad's 1st car circa 1958) he never misses chance to point out a '40 Ford! Glad urs made the trip!

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corncobcoupe · Jul 12, 2013

Bttt

HEMI32 · Jul 12, 2013

CTaulbert (Cory) [& ash (Ashley)] - Great post & pics! ... Thanks for sharing!

fab32 · Jul 12, 2013

Great read on the road trip. Nice to see you posted the warts along with the smooth sailing. It's the unexpected things that make a trip memorable as long as no one gets hurt and the car makes it back to point A.

Frank

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Event Coverage Des Moines Good Guys Heartland Nationals Coverage and Trip

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Event Coverage Des Moines Good Guys Heartland Nationals Coverage and Trip

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Roadsir
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from Down by the river

HOTRODPRIMER
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from Anderson, S.C.

1952-59 Ford Social Group

HAMB Old Farts' Club

H.A.M.B. Chapel

1badbaker
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from North Lawrence, Ohio

alchemy
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DirtyDan
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from St. Louis, MO

RHRH3P
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