Hot Rod Power Tour 2022 - June 14-17 - Memphis, Nashville, Birmingham, Pensacola, Atlanta

[bkdunha]

Shoot. Wished I knew you stopped in Chattanooga on the way back. I am just south of the city and a nice backroad ride off I-75 before you hit the spilt at I-75 and I-24 which is usually a mess. Could have talked cars. Glad it was a safe trip for you. Congrats for making the long haul.

 

[Fabrice]

The total miles driven were 2,865 and not 1,865.

And just a broken belt, not bad at all for a 50yo big stang!!
I don't think many can claim to enjoy their 71-3 as much as you do!
I wish I could!

 

[Tnfastbk]

Glad you made it back safely. My trip was much more eventful and not in a good way. My external fuel pump started acting up about 20 miles from Memphis day Zero. No big deal spare pump on hand and fairly easy swap. Turns out the pump was not the issue. It was a combination of heat and just plain ole overworking it. After pump number two is when we figured that out and to just let it cool. So pump issue dealt with. Morning 2 I think, when we left the clutch felt odd. After driving a bit it would feel normal. So we decided to bleed it, after one crack of the bleeder no fluid. Checked master cylinder it was completely dry. Refilled and bled the system, all good. NOT. Checked fluid level on the way to Hoover it was extremely low. Refilled again and checked just a few minutes later low again. No external leaks. Got under the dash and found the master cylinder rod seal was pouring out about as fast as we poured it in. Again no big deal just top off at each stop. so with the fuel pump cool and the clutch topped off we are off to Pensacola Fl. Hit a traffic jam on the interstate and car overheated. My car has never overheated in the whole time I have had it on the road. Raised the hood and found the radiator had a pin hole. Had the crush stop leak pills. We waited on it to cool down and put them in and topped the system off. Went to the next exit to check things. no leaks all good. Drove into Pensacola at about 185 degrees, as soon as we made the turn to the main venue. Probably 5 miles of traffic back up the temp started climbing, as it turns out my electric fan had shut off. Before I could get out of traffic and into a parking lot it was smoking hot. Unfortunately it split the Griffin aluminum radiator. Where it happened was right at a Napa service center. I thought well get this one repaired or just put a stock one in. It turns out that evidently you cant get any things repaired or replaced in that town. After trying most of the day had it hauled to my buddy's brother who lives there. Packed as many parts as we could in my wife's car and my buddy's and left it there. After doing the Atlanta stop we headed home on Saturday as soon as we arrived I packed an overnight bag and headed back to Pensacola. Rented a trailer Sunday morning and brought it back home. Long week, extremely hot at every stop. New radiator and tank with pump inside is already sitting in the garage but have had no desire to fix it yet. I'm not sure if the traffic getting into the venues was normal or not but it was absolutely a joke. But we still had a good time but I don't think we would do it again.

 

[timachone]

Sorry to hear the journey turned out the bad way, tnfastbk...

 

[Tnfastbk]

Sorry to hear the journey turned out the bad way, tnfastbk...

As the saying goes S**T Happens. We still had a good time. Probably will not do it again. For about the same money I can set on a beach in Cozumel being waited on hand and foot.

 

[Fabrice]

@Tnfastbk, sorry to hear that, that's a bunch of unlucky events. And they of course occur the day you don't want them to happen...
The Griffin radiator split? How thin is that thing? Aren't they supposed to sustain pressures no engine would ever reach?

"Got under the dash and found the master cylinder rod seal was pouring out about as fast as we poured it in."
The booster is likely enjoying a bath of brake fluid too..

 

[tony-muscle]

Glad you made it back safely. My trip was much more eventful and not in a good way. My external fuel pump started acting up about 20 miles from Memphis day Zero. No big deal spare pump on hand and fairly easy swap. Turns out the pump was not the issue. It was a combination of heat and just plain ole overworking it. After pump number two is when we figured that out and to just let it cool. So pump issue dealt with. Morning 2 I think, when we left the clutch felt odd. After driving a bit it would feel normal. So we decided to bleed it, after one crack of the bleeder no fluid. Checked master cylinder it was completely dry. Refilled and bled the system, all good. NOT. Checked fluid level on the way to Hoover it was extremely low. Refilled again and checked just a few minutes later low again. No external leaks. Got under the dash and found the master cylinder rod seal was pouring out about as fast as we poured it in. Again no big deal just top off at each stop. so with the fuel pump cool and the clutch topped off we are off to Pensacola Fl. Hit a traffic jam on the interstate and car overheated. My car has never overheated in the whole time I have had it on the road. Raised the hood and found the radiator had a pin hole. Had the crush stop leak pills. We waited on it to cool down and put them in and topped the system off. Went to the next exit to check things. no leaks all good. Drove into Pensacola at about 185 degrees, as soon as we made the turn to the main venue. Probably 5 miles of traffic back up the temp started climbing, as it turns out my electric fan had shut off. Before I could get out of traffic and into a parking lot it was smoking hot. Unfortunately it split the Griffin aluminum radiator. Where it happened was right at a Napa service center. I thought well get this one repaired or just put a stock one in. It turns out that evidently you cant get any things repaired or replaced in that town. After trying most of the day had it hauled to my buddy's brother who lives there. Packed as many parts as we could in my wife's car and my buddy's and left it there. After doing the Atlanta stop we headed home on Saturday as soon as we arrived I packed an overnight bag and headed back to Pensacola. Rented a trailer Sunday morning and brought it back home. Long week, extremely hot at every stop. New radiator and tank with pump inside is already sitting in the garage but have had no desire to fix it yet. I'm not sure if the traffic getting into the venues was normal or not but it was absolutely a joke. But we still had a good time but I don't think we would do it again.

I am glad we were able to connect. Actually, right at a good time for me to use your help. Sorry your experience was not as good but it is what makes memories. That heat was definitely a good test for these old cars. I am concerned about your Griffin radiator cracking. I wonder if it was a manufacturing defect. How old was your? Was it rusted?

 

[tony-muscle]

The total miles driven were 2,865 and not 1,865.

And just a broken belt, not bad at all for a 50yo big stang!!
I don't think many can claim to enjoy their 71-3 as much as you do!
I wish I could!

And the belt is really my fault. It is the second time it happened in a drag race. I am sure my alternator is not properly aligned so I just purchased a pulley alignment tool to properly align it as well as checking the A/C and steering pump pulley alignment.

 

[Kilgon]

Glad you made it back safely. My trip was much more eventful and not in a good way. My external fuel pump started acting up about 20 miles from Memphis day Zero. No big deal spare pump on hand and fairly easy swap. Turns out the pump was not the issue. It was a combination of heat and just plain ole overworking it. After pump number two is when we figured that out and to just let it cool. So pump issue dealt with. Morning 2 I think, when we left the clutch felt odd.

Sorry to hear you had so much trouble. Sometimes that what makes the memory, not the trip itself but the challenges faced. Hope you get everything fixed ok.

 

[Tnfastbk]

And the belt is really my fault. It is the second time it happened in a drag race. I am sure my alternator is not properly aligned so I just purchased a pulley alignment tool to properly align it as well as checking the A/C and steering pump pulley alignment.

t was new when I put the car tgether but thatr has been a while and my car hits a decent lick so some vibrations over the years. I have a new one as well as a tank with a new in-tank pump. I was glad we finally caught up when we did. Crazy busy for sure.

 

[Tnfastbk]

Sorry to hear you had so much trouble. Sometimes that what makes the memory, not the trip itself but the challenges faced. Hope you get everything fixed ok.

Thanks