Well Monday is the day. I'll be driving my 46WP from Columbus NE to Buffalo WY. I'll be taking the back roads and figure 2-3 days. The weather looks like it will hold so plan on sleeping in the back and eating at greasy spoons all the way. Good times!
Pat
1946 PW Grain truck, 1966 C10 long stepside, 1972 C20 Custom Camper Big Block, 1975 C10 Silverado OE big block.
A couple years ago retrieved my '54 630 GMC from Kansas City to CO, had a nice drive across KS and CO in early September., on highway 36, had some rain, had to stop and install cardboard thermostat, 6 to 9 mpg according to mileposts, nothing fell off, nothing broke, nothing caught on fire. Had a nice time.
Ed
'37 GMC T-18 w/ DD 4-53T, RTO-610, 6231 aux., '95 GMC running gear, full disc brakes, power steering, 22.5 wheels and tires. '47 GMC 1 ton w/ 302, NP-540, 4wd, full width Blazer front axle. '54 GMC 630 w/ 503 gasser, 5 speed, ex fire truck, shortened WB 4', install 8' bed. '55 GMC 370 w/270, 420 4 speed, grain, dump bed truck from ND. Works OK.
Good luck. About 15 years ago I bought a 1972 427 C50 tractor in Phoenix and drove from Middle Tennessee with my son to drive the Chevy back from Arizona. The owner said the carburetor was bad and would not recommend driving it all that way. I asked him to change the oil and I would bring a carb with me. So we set out on Friday morning with the goal of being back Sunday night. We drove all night and was there Saturday morning. The old truck was in good shape being a truck used to haul cotton in Arizona (I didn't realize they raised cotton in the Southwest). So my son put the carb on we started the Chevy up and headed east. We took the southern route thru southern Arizona and then went North up to New Mexico. We got up to Tucumcari at which time the bottom radiator grommets loosened up and allowed the fan to come in contact with the shroud. We removed the shroud and limped into a motel. We then went to the local parts store the only one open and got an aluminum fan we thought that would fit. Back to the motel and tried the fan. It didn't fit (should have gotten an electric fan). We tried to straighten the damaged fan and put it back on. We ate and went to bed at the motel. Up the next morning at the crack of dawn and headed toward Texas. Right outside Amarillo the water pump came apart and the fan went into the radiator and tore up everything, This was on I-40 with construction going on with no place to go. We had to jump over about a 5 foot ditch to get off the road. It was hairy! I finally got a wrecker big enough to haul the Chevy to the wrecker yard. I payed them and we headed back to Tennessee because my son had to be back at work on Monday morning. They were charging me $75 a day just to store the truck at their yard (what a rip off bunch in Texas, don't look for cowboys to help you). So we got back to Tennessee and I called my dad and asked if I could use one of his trucks to go get the Chevy. My Dad had retired from the trucking business but still had one Kenworth left. I didn't have a commercial license so he decided to he would go along. I borrowed a fifth wheel hitch set-up from one of my Dads friends (it must of been made in the 40's or 50's and was pretty scary) We headed west to get the Chevy. We got there ok and I hooked the Chevy up payed my ransom money and headed out. I drove all night with my Dad in the sleeper and got up only to drive the rig across the scale stops. We made it ok and pulled in Murfreesboro let the truck down and my Dad drove to south Tennessee home. I got the Chevy running with all new parts. It was a hell of a trip. So good luck and make sure your cell is charged.
Sure hope I have trip like you did ED and not so much like the one you did icfman. I'll be taking the back roads and old highways the whole way so country folk will stop and help IF there are any. Sometime these back roads out west dont have a lot of traffic. I've got a bunch of tools and such but not a lot of spare parts. Cell phone charged and fingers crossed.
1946 PW Grain truck, 1966 C10 long stepside, 1972 C20 Custom Camper Big Block, 1975 C10 Silverado OE big block.
Road trip done. 780 miles, 40mph, 10.4 mpg. Had a nice ride. Nice and slow in some pretty country. Only issue I had was the loss of the drive end bearing in the generator. Not bad for a truck that old that sat for so many years. I was surprised get such good mileage! Here is a few pics.
The pic with the grain elevator is North Loup NE where my dad was born. The one with the old bar is Lost Springs WY The one with the old gas station and the one with the flag pole is Van Tassel WY. Interesting point, the flag pole and the marker is the site of American Legion Post #1. First one in the US.
1946 PW Grain truck, 1966 C10 long stepside, 1972 C20 Custom Camper Big Block, 1975 C10 Silverado OE big block.
Martin '62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress) '47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project) ‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily) ‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence) “I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one! Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop! USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
That was an epic trip and story. Thanks for sharing! More pictures and details please!
Phil Moderator, The Engine Shop, Interiors and Project Journals
1952 Chevrolet 3100, Three on the Tree, 4:11 torque tube Updated to: ‘59 235 w/hydraulic lifters, 12v w/alternator, HEI, PCV and Power front Disc Brakes Project Journals Stovebolt Gallery Forum
My job in NE was over so I was hauling all the furnishings home from my apartment. I had gone over the truck pretty well and it performed well on several short road trips. I was concerned about a few things. The front tires are a set of Wards Riverside, very old and weather checked but with good tread. The inside rears are old military with no treat left and in outer rears are pretty solid. The gas gauge didn't work, the water and fuel pumps are very old and completely covered in a thick layer of hard grease. I tried to pull the distributor cap to inspect but the plug wires are so old and stiff I was far afraid I would crack them if I tried to move it so I left it alone. The starter engaged about 20% of the time because the contact is so badly worn. If I'd had more time I would have repaired some of these...but what the heck, I just went with it.
I didn't take a lot of pictures as I drove quite a bit at night. One pic is at the gas station in Monroe NE and the other was taken by my nephew after he brought me a front generator bearing from Douglas WY down to Lusk WY after my break down. The third is at the only diner in Dunning NE late on the first day.
Last edited by Playher; 01/10/20204:28 AM.
1946 PW Grain truck, 1966 C10 long stepside, 1972 C20 Custom Camper Big Block, 1975 C10 Silverado OE big block.
Thanks for the update! We want to hear more about your trip.
So did you drive I-25 from Lusk to Buffalo? Or took the long way on back roads?
Don
1967 GMC 9500 Fire Ladder Truck "The Flag Pole" In the Stovebolt Gallery '46 2-Ton grain truck | '50 2-ton flatbed | '54 Pontiac Straight Eight | '54 Plymouth Belvidere | '70 American LaFrance pumper fire truck | '76 Triumph TR-6 Of all the things I've lost in my life, I miss my mind the most!
I took Highway 20 from Lusk to Orin Junction then the Old Orin Highway to Douglas, the Ross Road (County road 93)out of Douglas to the Tank Farm Road to Glenrock. Highway 26 from Glenrock to Casper, Salt Creek Highway to 259 to Midwest, 387 to Old Highway 87 to KayCee then continue 87 to Buffalo. I could have taken I25 from Orin to Buffalo, boring!
Last edited by Playher; 01/10/20204:55 AM.
1946 PW Grain truck, 1966 C10 long stepside, 1972 C20 Custom Camper Big Block, 1975 C10 Silverado OE big block.
I would love to take mine further than the 7 miles out I've had it out so far. Getting close to going further, with a couple fixes. I just don't want to get like 500 miles from home, because it cost me $800 to have it hauled that far from Kansas when I bought it. Out on the road it is hard to miss, and if I have any trouble I have flashing lights, and a siren. Many times I wish I had a Slow Moving Vehicle triangle, since most modern tractors get going much faster with a thousand+ pounds of torque.
Last edited by 4100 Fire Truck; 01/11/202012:51 AM.
I have a rotating amber light on the rear of my '69 Chev fire truck. I use it when on the freeway, since I normally only drive about 50-55 and traffic is usually moving much faster. 3 friends went with me to bring it to Minnesota from North Dakota, about 500 miles. I use it in Minnesota whenever I get on the freeway, no problems with that. The light has about 2000 miles on it with no comments from government agents.
Mac :{)
1962 K10 short step side, much modified for rally 1969 T50 fire truck, almost nos, needs a few things
This has the makings of a great Feature Story ... If you'd like to write it up (a Word document would be great) and send it to me with the pictures while its all still fresh, I'd love to include it with the site refresh that I'm working on.
Thanks, John
~ John
"We are not now that strength which in old days Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are"
1948 International Farmall Super A 1949 Chevrolet 3804 In the Legacy Gallery | In the Gallery Forum 1973 IH 1310 Dump 2001 International/AmTran RE3000 "Skoolie" 2014 Ford E-350 4x4 (Quigley)
I second John's suggestion. It's A great story and the nuanced details will add another dimension for those of us who live vicariously through others. The line about sleeping in the back deserves a page or two for sure.
John, I will write it up and send it to you. Should include the fire, drunken disorderly, two run-ins with vice at the gentlemans club north of Casper or not...JK
1946 PW Grain truck, 1966 C10 long stepside, 1972 C20 Custom Camper Big Block, 1975 C10 Silverado OE big block.
Saw Ed's mention of Athol, ID, as well as some of Playher's towns he drove thru.
I was in Athol last spring on my road trip collecting parts, but the F250 I was driving wasn't near as cool a rig as Playher's. We went thru Wyoming, then up into SD to Mt. Rushmore to show that to the wife (I had been there as a kid) but the weather was crap. Saw the outline of the 4 presidents thru the clouds for about 5 sec. Then we dropped down thru Chadron and Alliance, NE stopping to see Carhenge (that one was for me. ). From there we headed down Highway 2 aka Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway, over-nighting in Thedford, and passed thru Dunning the next morning. Then to Grand Island and East to Hampton where my dad was born, and over to Gresham, my mom's birthplace. Down thru the center of Nebraska, there isn't much other than sandhills, and the towns aren't far from drying up and blowing away. Cool route though, definitely more laid back than any Interstate.
Would love to see Playher's full story of his road trip.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
Congrat's on your successful trip.
). From there we headed down Highway 2 aka Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway, over-nighting in Thedford, and passed thru Dunning the next morning. Then to Grand Island and East to Hampton where my dad was born, and over to Gresham, my mom's birthplace. Down thru the center of Nebraska, there isn't much other than sandhills, and the towns aren't far from drying up and blowing away. Cool route though, definitely more laid back than any Interstate.