Event Coverage The LaSalle Adventure

The water pumps are being reproduced now,not sure if you want to put one on,Speedway has them listed for about 225.00,maybe try loosening the rad cap to lessen the pressure on the system,i do that with mine as i have a small leak in my rad,but i dont drive 3-400 miles a day.Myself i would try a bottle of bars leak,if you can find it. Good Luck Harvey

 

Very cool Jim. Best of luck to you & David.

This reminds me of one of several cross country (CA to MD) drives I did 30+ years with variety of vintage cars.
One was with a '60 Buick that had myriad of cooling problems, including some corrosion created pinholes on the timing cover/water pump housing, clogged radiator, etc, not to mention I was pulling an old VW on a tow-bar (L.A. to Roanoke) and had a tight schedule. Having to stop every 20-30 miles to cool the engine off a bit and refill with water, which by the second day I carried several gallons of, sure made that +/- 2500 mile distance seem very long and tiring.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. It's still soggy out. We have five gallons of water with us, and it's usually no problem getting more, when the gas station clerks see the car.

The motel room in Vandalia.

We have been trying to stay in dives, as it seems more fitting to have a real metal room key.



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This morning we can see that a heater hose was leaking. Moved the clamp and tightened all the rest of them. I bought a mirror on a stick, so we can inspect stuff more easily.

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Was that the cause of the woes?

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I am enjoying your ride and your ingenuity. I think you secretly enjoy overcoming the challenges to keep the interesting old rides on the road along the travels as much as the journey. It is good to get out with the brother as well. My brother moved to the west coast and does not travel so it is up to me to do the drive.

I know this is nothing new to you and you can bark at me. A pc of card board in front of the rad with a pie sized hole where the fan sits will bring the temperature up. Adjust the size of the hole to get the temp where it should be. I had a 76 Ford truck that I could not get warm so I had the same card board that I slid in every winter with a 10 inch hole. It gets to 40 below here so the card board went in when it snowed and it comes out easy when it is warm.
Thanks for sharing. Happy travels!

 

I guy called and tried to sell me a coffin; I told him that's the last thing I need.

 

Seems squirrel is tough and does not need a warmer heater
I wonder if raising the cars temp with cardboard would allow the engine to run smooth enough to blowup? Or maybe slow down the intake leak

Same time, I know Jim is ten staeps ahead of me and simply say, have fun and am enjoying the ride along.

 

Jim, I looked through my stash of FlatCad gaskets, the only manifold/exhaust gaskets I have are on my engine. You mentioned that it's one of the exhaust crossover gaskets, so a pretty basic shape. Could you fold over a sheet of aluminum foil a dozen times to build some thickness, then chisel the bolt and exhaust holes through it? It should be a bit compressible and might work out for you.

However, given your huge brain, you've probably already thought of the pros and cons of all the possible roadside options.

Best of luck on this adventure!

 

I'm sure a man of your talents and engineneweteee will prevail!

 

GO JIM GO!

 

Solder Seal Block Saver is another good one. A few packets of that sliver stuff may hold it.

 

What PATTERG2003 said. I was raised in North Dakota, a sheet of cardboard is a good friend. Adjust the temp by cutting larger holes is it. And, I am enjoying this trip as much as the build & the drive with the Barracuda.

 

getting 9 to 10 mpg.

Hope you have a big gas tank in that beast.

 

i have seen gaskets "fixed" with strands of copper wire. i took a motor apart one time and found the wire embedded in the gasket, in the pitted areas of the mounting surface.

 

I like the way you approach vintage travel.
While I've been known seek out "old school" over night accommodation during "vintage-style" road-trips, I prefer "old world" luxury over "dives" but sometimes one has no choice.

 

"vintage travel"- I like that.

 

Not only are the vintage Motel/Hotels better, the price is right too... My wife and I do this sort of thing when we travel.

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Why does this LaSalle have a 1936 Ford grille on it?

 

DIKE, not DYKE!

I figure those DYKES stop each other up

 

Made it to the hotel in Joliet. Yay.

And a couple pics of the heat cross over gaskets.

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@squirrel Ah, THAT exhaust crossover. I thought you meant the one in the photo below. Yeah, that one on the bottom of the intake is a little more difficult to make a gasket for. Maybe some of that high-heat exhaust silicone stuff?

 

I am sure Loctite has a temporary cure for that if you have enough time for it to set and dry.

 

the car runs and drives ok, so we can live with it.

 

Sounds like you are going to make it. Have fun man...have fun.

 

Bet that thing feels pretty comfy after the last trip. You should have some magnetic door signs made up, might pick up a side job along the way.

 

David had that covered

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Blanked mine off when I installed new header pipes.

 

Olsen Gaskets should have any of the gaskets you need. Love your travel tales Squirrel. Always an adventure.