The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Driving Old Bert from Seattle to Portland

On April 13th, Friday , I'll be driving the truck to Portland. I'm picking up some parts for my 261 at a metal cleaning place. I might even try to hit the big swap meet if I get a hall pass from the sheriff.
Since I took the same trip a year ago, I've added the 16" wheels with radials, HEI, and a new instrument panel with full gauges. Before I go, I'm installing new shocks, rebuilding the rear suspension, and having the front end aligned. The 1st trip last year was a white knuckle experience with the small tube types on splitrims. I had just installed the O.D. and drove there at night. It was windy and raining and my wipers were working poorly yet I still averaged 65mph. (Oh yeah, I'm also intalling new wiper arms and blades before I go this time ) I'm also looking to better the 15mpg I got last time.
Last year I went alone. This year, we are getting a babysitter and my wife is going with me. We are going to hit downtown Portland Friday night, stay in a hotel and come back the next day.

bigmacdaddy,

Sounds like a 2nd honeymoon. I never get to go anywhere....any chance you could adopt me?


Stuart

Could you mean April 13th? The big Portland swap is the 13th, 14th and 15th. Of April.

By truck I presume you mean your '62. I'll be watching for it. I plan to attend the swap meet too. I don't know my exact schedule yet and haven't decided what to drive but almost certainly it will be a Chevrolet of some sort. I've already taken the 13th as a vacation day so I'll either travel Thursday evening or Friday morning.

The first night of my honeymoon was spent in a hotel in downtown Portland. Long ago.

Yes, I meant April. Oops. It's changed now. Thanks Oldsub. And yes, my 62.
Atomarc, if I adopted you, you would be staying home with the kid.

Sounds really great. 15 isn't bad! Enjoy!

Hey bigmacdaddy,

You haven't checked in yet. Hope the truck performed well for you and the wife. Maybe you picked up some items at the swap meet you can share with the rest of us? Did you ever get that manifold split for your 261? I have to thank you again for that water outlet. I never thought those things would be that hard to come by.

Mike

15 MPG is great. Folks don't believe me when I tell em I can drive Ginger at 65 MPH and it's as quiet as a new vehicle inside. I hope you had a blast! Enjoy the youngun, in the blink of an eye their gron and gone. I walked my daughter down the aisle last year, I ain't got nobody to watch baseball with anymore :-(

The trip went very well. Aside from one near accident anyway. Let's just say I see disc brakes in the future. I mostly drove 70 -75 mph. 15.9 mpg average over the last 600 miles which includes some city driving. I couldn't keep out of the left lane or my foot off the gas, it was riding so well with the new tires and shocks. A far cry from last year.
Didn't get to the swap meet. We were having too much fun otherwise. I also decided not the split my manifold and stick with the fentons and water heat. The reason is aluminum intakes like the one I will be using just get clogged with carbon deposits over time with exhaust heat. I did meet with a guy who lives near Vancouver WA that will split them. I gave him my extra core and checked out his amazing shop. I will post his info for anyone wanting him to split manifolds at the driveline shop and at inliners in the near future.
Last but not least, I have an rpm report for the Overdrive. 4th gear - 60 mph @ 2800rpm, 65 @ 3000, 70 @ 3200 and 75 @ 3400. 4th over - 60mph @ 2200rpm, 65 @ 2400, 70 @ 2500, 75 @ 2650, and 80 @ 2800.