One last try, and I made the show!

[drooartz]

This morning, I was packing to take the new bike down to my club's annual show. I decided to give the Tunebug one more try to see if it would start. I took a hammer and tapped the starter a few times to see if it would free up, and it did! Fired him up, tossed in my gear, and drove down to the show.

Turns out the power connection at the starter was not good. Tightened up the connections at the show, and it starts every time now.

Made it home from the show in reasonable form, but did overheat 3 times coming up the canyon (steep grade, 2000' or so of elevation gain, 90+ temp, 15 miles--it's a killer). Brought along some spare coolant, and used it to keep things cool. Had some idling issues as well--by the end of the drive, it was idling at 3500! I've got some carb work to do. I think the connection betowen the 2 carbs has gone bad and won't stay tight.

So it was quite the adventure today, but well worth it. Don't think I'll do any big drives again any time soon, but at least I've done one.

 

[RobSelina]

you'll get it Drew!

 

[Morris]

You consider it a challenge before the whole BCF that you never lose!

Gotta go drivin, drivin, drivin...

You are the champion, my friend! And you keep on tryin' till the end.

You are the champion, you are the champion, no time for losers because you are the champion.... of the forum.

 

[drooartz]

Thanks for the song, Morris!

 

[aeronca65t]

Oh gee....Now I've got that dopey song stuck in my head!

Anyway, congrats on getting the Frog to the show!

 

[GB1]

GREAT!!!

 

[jlaird]

Do we have any pics of the show?

 

[tdskip]

Good going Drew!

 

[drooartz]

I got a few pictures, I'll try to get them posted tonight. There are a few shots on the club pages.

https://www.britishmotorclub.org/2006/BFD6-24-06/

 

[jlaird]

Drew, those shots were just fine. Looked so good and I am so pleased you made it there.

Now for your next trick you must compete in the autocross.

 

[drooartz]

People kept asking me if I was going to run the course, but I told them I was not going to push my luck, since I still had the 40 mile drive home, mostly uphill. Next year...

 

[jlaird]

Shoot Drew, I autocrossed with my Bugeye for years, drove there and back and to work the next day unless the wife was going shopping. These tough and reliable little cars, enjoy it.

 

[drooartz]

Next year, next year. By that time I'll have the carbs settled, and hopefully have some handle on the overheating thing. Parley's Canyon is a killer--2700' elevation gain, from 4500' to 7250' over about 12 miles. Add in 90+ degrees, heavy traffic as it's a major freeway (I-80) and it's just not a friendly LBC road. Unfortunately, it's really the only way to get home from the city to where I live.

 

[jlaird]

Don't plan on keeping up with the trafic up hill, you won't. Just tool alnong at your own speed, something above 40, that's all the law requires.

All the time remember how much fun it is to suck em into corners that don't concern you but put them all over the place.

 

[drooartz]

I do remember that, but on that grade about 30 in 3rd gear is all I can do, and I overheat tremendously at that. Somewhere in there are some mechanical issues to be taken care of.

I'd never thought I'd be happy for all the really slow semis inching up that grade, but they make it easier for a bitty little car like mine to be safe. Set yourself right behind one, and while folks might not see me, they will see the big truck.

Also helps that the Tunebug is cute. Goes a long way as you inch up the hill.

 

[jlaird]

That must be one heck of a grade. If you can keep up with the tractor trailors you are doing ok but it should not overheat I would think.

 

[drooartz]

I've always used Parley's Canyon as a good test of a new car. If I take the overdrive off, my Hyundai can just keep 65 all the way up. It's got to be one of the steepest/longest US freeway grades in the country. That said, running a bit warm would be normal, but the overheating I saw seemed excessive. I drove my TR4 up it twice, and had no overheating issues at all. I'm going to start hunting down the cooling issues as my next Tunebug project. Carb rebuild, radiator re-core, engine flush, and a good tune up and see where we are.