71K5 - BP71K5's Just for fun build

[bp71k5]

Left yesterday, and made it to Needles, Ca. Had to grab a hotel since the campground doesn’t rent cabins after 4pm and we pulled in about 10pm.

Anyone recognize the reference I was going for? The chair only lasted up there about 6 miles and I had to reposition and secure it down better.



Forgot that Bakersfield and that area are super dusty so I may need to get a dust mask or bandana to keep from breathing dust all day. Made my throat and nose all irritated.


Kinda neat seeing that.


We have a lot of repacking to do though. I brought about 300lbs of ammo and several rifles and so I’d like to leave them in the suburban rather than bringing them into the hotel every night. (Looks a bit suspicious) plus hauling in all the personal effects, my daughters cat and fish) is exhausting enough without having to unpack the suburban to get at everything. Need to pack the blazer with stuff we don’t need to remove on this trip and then trash some other stuff in the suburban.

Next stop is somewhere around Gallup, NM.

 

[mrk5]

I'm guessing Beverly Hillbillies

 

[Greg72]

I’m guessing Chevy Chase / Family Vacation.

(Though it looks like Grandma already blew out of it)

-G

 

[bp71k5]

I was going for the Beverly Hillbillies, but I forgot about the Chevy chase vacation. Will count both.

And looks like we’re going to try for Albuquerque tonight. 7.5 hours. The blazer is doing really well, but doesn’t like those long inclines in overdrive. I have to keep shifting into 4th to have the power, but I have to be very diligent about my gas consumption. Got to plan out where there’s a gas station every 150 miles

 

[Greg72]

I was going for the Beverly Hillbillies, but I forgot about the Chevy chase vacation. Will count both.

And looks like we’re going to try for Albuquerque tonight. 7.5 hours. The blazer is doing really well, but doesn’t like those long inclines in overdrive. I have to keep shifting into 4th to have the power, but I have to be very diligent about my gas consumption. Got to plan out where there’s a gas station every 150 miles

Kind of like driving a Tesla ... but with dinosaur juice instead of electricity!!!

#1STGENRANGEANXIETY

-G

 

[ashman]

And looks like we’re going to try for Albuquerque tonight.

Don't get lost!

 

[bp71k5]

So now I have some overheating issues with the rear end and the transmission. Blowing oil out of the vents again. Hoping I can slow it down to keep it cool enough to make it to Albuquerque without running out of gear oil.

 

[SpeedlabDan]

Yikes that's no good

 

[Greg72]

So now I have some overheating issues with the rear end and the transmission. Blowing oil out of the vents again. Hoping I can slow it down to keep it cool enough to make it to Albuquerque without running out of gear oil.

.....and the adventure begins in earnest.


It's annoying now, but you're going to have great stories to tell for years to come.


-G

 

[bp71k5]

Yikes that's no good

Looks like it’s just the heat and fast driving. I’m about an hour away from Albuquerque and so I think it’ll make it. I have a backup plan for tomorrow I’m going to have to bring in. We’re a day behind already.

 

[bp71k5]

.....and the adventure begins in earnest.


It's annoying now, but you're going to have great stories to tell for years to come.


-G

Yep, got some lightning bolts and a bit of rain and I actually had to put a coat on it’s got cold enough. I keep getting guys asking about the blazer and giving thumbs up on the highway and gas stations. That’s kinda fun.

 

[Truckman4life]

Don't get shot in Albuquerque. Lol. My sister in law lives there.

 

[Truckman4life]

Oh and watch your chit so it don't get jacked.

 

[AJs72K5]

Take lots of pics. This roadtrip is awesome

 

[bp71k5]

Made it almost halfway of our journey. 1073 miles total. Blazer started getting 13mpg once we got out of the California gasoline. That’s impressive as I didn’t think the mileage difference would be that bad.

Couple neat shots across Arizona and New Mexico.


And our “camp” in Albuquerque.


Fortunately it’s looking like the cooler weather might hold for a couple more days so the overheating gear boxes might have been manageable. But our plan to be in Knoxville by the 20th is now the 21st at the earliest, but our moving truck gets there the 22/23. I don’t know if it’s the weight of gear loaded down, but this thing can’t hold 70mph on any kind of grade. Most of the time it seems to be happiest at 60mph, which is too slow for what we’re doing. What was supposed to be an 8 hour drive yesterday turned into 11 hours, which will put us into Knoxville way too late if I can’t go faster.

Plan is in the works to have the blazer shipped there from here and I’ll go rent a car, fill it with gear and drive it out. Will see how this plan works out.

 

[ashman]

bummer to hear about not being able to hold speed. The fun of driving an undergeared brick. I feel your pain.

 

[Z71paramedic]

Is it carbureted? May need jet changes as you change altitude/climate. Would definitely cause some driveability issues.

 

[bp71k5]

Is it carbureted? May need jet changes as you change altitude/climate. Would definitely cause some driveability issues.

Nah, the tires are too big or the gears need to be 4.88 or 5.13. There’s a ton of wind as well and it always seems to blow the opposite direction that I want to go. It’s got TBI, which has been doing great. The engine itself isn’t leaking a drop of oil, and the radiator isn’...... never mind don’t want to jinx it. I even turned on the hiway cruise mode which may be what’s helping mileage a bit as well.

 

[imiceman44]

Kind of like driving a Tesla ... but with dinosaur juice instead of electricity!!!

#1STGENRANGEANXIETY

-G

Yeah I remember the 100 mile range with you

 

[bp71k5]

Backup plan begins now. The guy let me drive it up the ramps to straighten it out. Had to put it in 4low to make it easier to avoid crashing into the Mustang.