The Stovebolt Site Forums The Side Lot Rocky Mountain Bolters Road trip San Jose, CA to Denver

Well I'm packing up the last of my shop stuff into a small trailer, hooking it up to my 3800, and heading out of this hellish place called California.
I should be leaving sometime next week. I'll be traveling out I-80 since I'm hauling a trailer and don't want to hit any of the passes hauling a tail behind me.

Drop me a line if you want to meet up for coffee or some such.

Jeremy

Drive careful and make sure that camera is in the cab with you.

Welcome Home!

Drive safe and I sure hope the trip is a good one for ya!

The camera never leaves my side! Stay tuned here and I'll keep posting.

Jeremy

Apparently I'm getting closer than It hought to leaving...
I have two motorcycles to finish up and a Old SAAB wagon.
One of the bikes has a frame that is bent, and I don't have the time to straighten it. Sooo looks like that project is out of my hands.

On to the other bike I guess.

Looks like I'll be stopping at speed week at Bonnevile on the drive out. I helped get a 350 Velocette running and prepped for itts shot at the MVG350 record.

More soon.

Jeremy

Did you make it?

maybe longer drive then he thought..

If he is leaving San Jose and going up I-80 to avoid any mountain passes, perhaps a history lesson on the Donner expedition or the purchase of a map should be in order first. Between San Jose and Reno there is about a 60 mile 8000 foot pull from sea level at Sacramento to Reno Nevada. Also I think that Denver has a nick name as the mile high city. Not trying to be a smart A@@ but just saying... not sure if there is a route to take to avoid all the mountains. Good Luck Jeremy. Let us know how the old girl did.

Well it's been a longer start than I thought it would be but I'm making the finishing touches as we speak.
1-My trailer plate got stolen when it was in storage.
Getting a new one involved having to unload it and taking it to the CHP and having it weighed inspected. Etc.
It would cost me more than I had in the cost of the trailer. So I had. To find a friend in INdiana to re-register it. Finding a friend who is willing to waste their time at a DMV is a trick.... Mostly because I didn't want to impose. But it got done. Trailer is officially plated.
2- As I was about to embark, I decided to bleed and adjust the brakes.
No worries there, everything is in good shape.... Except for the growling in the hand spun left front wheel bearing.... That. Doesn't. Sound. Good.
How hard could it be to find a wheel bearing set for a 1950 1 ton truck?
Pretty darn hard
The Timken bearing I wanted to use is out of stock..... At TIMKEN. So I had to go with the NOS balls I found at a place in Sacramento. $188 dollars! For th inner and outer bearings. The the guy says ..."that's your cost.. retail is $327" I nod my head in defeat took the bearings in hand and went to the shop to replace them.
Meanwhile....
3-I'd been adjusting the carburetors and synching them and just plain making the truck run better when I noticed the truck seemed to be running cooler... According to the gauge. (that's foreshadowing y'all)
I'd just leaned the carbs and frankly the engine in theory should be running hotter, not cooler. Well, I decided to take a look at it after I dropped off the heater core to be repaired..
4- heater core... The repair was event less. Really. Fast, i had it back in an hour. Cheap too. $45
Install was fast. About 4 gallons of distilled water, a bottle of water wetter and a bottle of Barr's... I burp the system at the water heater and fire it up. No leaks, but I'm getting a little weirded out by the temp gauge NOT MOVING!

Here's where things get frustrating...
I had to machine a fitting to hold the sensor in the head of the 261. The fitting on the 216 was smaller, and it dribbled anyway. So I machined a holder that took an o ring. Nice fit and finish, and no leaks. Worked great.
I pulled the bulb and set it in a bowl f water and heated the bowl with a torch with the infrared gun reading 167f and the needle not budging, I set out looking for a good electric gauge.

This is getting long.. And I got an errand to run but I'll ad more when I get back...

Still in San Jose. Leaving today.

Jeremy

...Now this is starting to sound like one of my moving experiences!

On the road

In Salt Lake City getting breakfast and mending the cover on the truck as best I can. It got torn up last night getting hit by the 30 mph winds at bonneville. Yikes.
Tuck is doing well, though I scared myself coming out of Auburn and thought the truck was overheating. The new gauge said 200, and I thought, from looking at the old gauge for so long the next line was 220. Truck is fine though and I. Disconnected one carb to cruise down the freeway.
It's running rich still and wish I had some smaller jets but do not.
55mph is EASY even with the occasionally wagging trailer behind. I'd go faster but need to mind the small tires on the trailer.
Speedo is off by 12mph.... There are some measued mile posts on 80 between the rest area and. Salt lake.. At indicated 52 a mile passed in 57 seconds...

Posted some photos..
If you are on Facebook I'm Here

Call if you like or are along the way
4o8.. 771.. 8254

Back to it.
Jeremy

Well, I made it!
No issues, except for a vent hose from the fuel tank working its way loose.
Now to unpack.
Wonder how long it will be before I have a working shop again.

Jeremy
Aurora, CO

Glad to hear ya made it!

Welcome to Colorado Jeremy, loved the pics on facebook.

Welcome to Colorado from Fort Collins!