In order to get confidence on my build, I needed to get some miles on the blazer. I've never really taken it more than 30 miles away from home nor had it over 70 mph because of the issues I was having before I found out it was the speed sensor.
So, I wanted to take it somewhere at a distance and also see how it would drive at a constant pace.
Topeka, Ks is about 150 miles away and I decided to take it there knowing that I had AAA if something happened.
Greg, GWeakland620, invited me to his place if I wanted to have a meet and greet. I said "You Bet" so when Saturday came, I was off to the races.
I have met other CK5 brothers Oakknight aka Mike, and Kansas Twister aka, I think Ryan. Sorry, I'm bad with names. It's called sometimers disease.
Before I left, I told the wife that I probably won't go over 70 mph and that I won't be passing anybody. Wanna bet? I'm a NASCAR wannabe. I wasn't fooling anyone. Including me.
I cruised Kellogg to the turnpike at 65 mph. As usual it was a smooth ride. It's about 15 miles. Once on the turnpike I got up to 70 mph and held it there for about 10 miles. I actually passed a couple of semi's.
So........I got up to 75 mph and rode that all the way to Topeka. And I passed quite a few cars and trucks. I also got passed by a lot of faster drivers but I liked the way the blazer ran so I stuck with that speed. I stopped at the service area just north of Emporia to gas up and check for issues. So far so good. While I was getting gas a small Saturn pulled in at the pump opposite of me and a woman got out and asked if I would check the oil in her car because she was unsure where to do that. She was from California and taking her mom and car to Missouri, then flying back to Cali. I told her that it was no problem and that I would be glad to help. I checked the oil, showed her that it was full on the dipstick and she thanked me for the help. We chatted for a couple of minutes and off I went to complete my short journey.
I got back on the turnpike and up to 75 mph as before. I did notice that the tachometer needle would jump just a little bit. Nothing major, it would only move out of place one increment. And it didn't do it constantly, just once in a while I would notice it. The engine didn't rev any different and seemed to run great so I didn't worry about it.
I made it to Topeka in good time and headed to Greg's. I got there about 12:30. I was pretty excited about making the trip in one piece that I forgot to get some pics.
After getting out of the blazer a young man came over and introduced himself. You guessed it. The owner of the place. The head honcho. Building the 86 Jimmy, and a camper hauler? Greg aka GWeakland620. A very nice and friendly human being.......CK5 brother.
We started discussing our truck builds when his wife comes home. Very sweet and nice young woman. Along with their two kids. The oldest, 4 years old, stayed outside with us while the 1 year old went in the house with mom. At first, and please forgive me Greg because I am bad with names and can't remember your oldest son's name, but he was kind of shy. But it didn't take long, about 30 seconds, and he was full of mischief. His 4 year old was a "Goof". Well, that's what Greg called him. He was a pleasure to be around. He likes to sit in vehicles and pester dad about rolling down windows, turning on the key, turning on light switches, messing with the mirror. It was great. His son asked me if he could check out the inside of my blazer and I said sure. He wasn't going to hurt anything so why not. He was very well mannered but very curious. And who was I to tell a young learner "No". Brought back a lot of memories of when my kids were his age. Or maybe when I was his age. Either way, he was funny and a goof.
We talked a lot about anything to get to know each other better, played with his son and after a while it was time to go back to Goddard. Home. His son had went inside, I bet it was from being wore out from climbing inside dad's blazer, jeep, my blazer, and his dads camper. He was awesome. But it was time to go. I said bye to my CK5 brother, shook hands, said "see ya at Tuttle Creek in two weeks", and off I went.
I got in the blazer, started the engine and noticed my mirror was all out of kilter. That little Goof got me.
I got back on the turnpike and started at 75 mph as before. After about 5 miles I decided to see how much more it could handle. I climbed it up to about 78 mph and rode that until I got to Emporia. Then I hit 80 mph and held it there most of the time cruising up to about 83 mph tops. It ran superb. I didn't want to push it since I didn't think running over 80 mph was really necessary but I know now that it can handle it very well. There is a lot of road noise running Turbo Thrush mufflers and 37" BFG KM2s. The tires weren't really that loud, it was mostly the mufflers. When it's time to change the exhaust I will get quieter mufflers. But I still have nothing to complain about. I could still listen to the radio without maxing out the volume. A conversation might be a little challenging but if the wife is riding with me it won't hurt a thing.
I made it home in great time, checked out the underneath of the blazer, and only found that the top of the dana 60 is missing the vent tube so it lost a little bit of fluid. Everything else looked great. I was very happy and now feel very confident that this blazer should go anywhere I want and it be dependable.
The next run will be in two weeks when I drive it up to Tuttle Creek and see how it can handle the trails. It will be about a 2 1/2 hour drive and I look forward to it. No worries. I have AAA and I'm off that week so let's do some wheeling.
Greg, it was very nice to meet you and your family. I thank you for your friendship and hospitality.
The CK5 brotherhood is very strong and I hope to meet more brothers in the near future.
So, I wanted to take it somewhere at a distance and also see how it would drive at a constant pace.
Topeka, Ks is about 150 miles away and I decided to take it there knowing that I had AAA if something happened.
Greg, GWeakland620, invited me to his place if I wanted to have a meet and greet. I said "You Bet" so when Saturday came, I was off to the races.
I have met other CK5 brothers Oakknight aka Mike, and Kansas Twister aka, I think Ryan. Sorry, I'm bad with names. It's called sometimers disease.
Before I left, I told the wife that I probably won't go over 70 mph and that I won't be passing anybody. Wanna bet? I'm a NASCAR wannabe. I wasn't fooling anyone. Including me.
I cruised Kellogg to the turnpike at 65 mph. As usual it was a smooth ride. It's about 15 miles. Once on the turnpike I got up to 70 mph and held it there for about 10 miles. I actually passed a couple of semi's.
So........I got up to 75 mph and rode that all the way to Topeka. And I passed quite a few cars and trucks. I also got passed by a lot of faster drivers but I liked the way the blazer ran so I stuck with that speed. I stopped at the service area just north of Emporia to gas up and check for issues. So far so good. While I was getting gas a small Saturn pulled in at the pump opposite of me and a woman got out and asked if I would check the oil in her car because she was unsure where to do that. She was from California and taking her mom and car to Missouri, then flying back to Cali. I told her that it was no problem and that I would be glad to help. I checked the oil, showed her that it was full on the dipstick and she thanked me for the help. We chatted for a couple of minutes and off I went to complete my short journey.
I got back on the turnpike and up to 75 mph as before. I did notice that the tachometer needle would jump just a little bit. Nothing major, it would only move out of place one increment. And it didn't do it constantly, just once in a while I would notice it. The engine didn't rev any different and seemed to run great so I didn't worry about it.
I made it to Topeka in good time and headed to Greg's. I got there about 12:30. I was pretty excited about making the trip in one piece that I forgot to get some pics.
After getting out of the blazer a young man came over and introduced himself. You guessed it. The owner of the place. The head honcho. Building the 86 Jimmy, and a camper hauler? Greg aka GWeakland620. A very nice and friendly human being.......CK5 brother.
We started discussing our truck builds when his wife comes home. Very sweet and nice young woman. Along with their two kids. The oldest, 4 years old, stayed outside with us while the 1 year old went in the house with mom. At first, and please forgive me Greg because I am bad with names and can't remember your oldest son's name, but he was kind of shy. But it didn't take long, about 30 seconds, and he was full of mischief. His 4 year old was a "Goof". Well, that's what Greg called him. He was a pleasure to be around. He likes to sit in vehicles and pester dad about rolling down windows, turning on the key, turning on light switches, messing with the mirror. It was great. His son asked me if he could check out the inside of my blazer and I said sure. He wasn't going to hurt anything so why not. He was very well mannered but very curious. And who was I to tell a young learner "No". Brought back a lot of memories of when my kids were his age. Or maybe when I was his age. Either way, he was funny and a goof.
We talked a lot about anything to get to know each other better, played with his son and after a while it was time to go back to Goddard. Home. His son had went inside, I bet it was from being wore out from climbing inside dad's blazer, jeep, my blazer, and his dads camper. He was awesome. But it was time to go. I said bye to my CK5 brother, shook hands, said "see ya at Tuttle Creek in two weeks", and off I went.
I got in the blazer, started the engine and noticed my mirror was all out of kilter. That little Goof got me.
I got back on the turnpike and started at 75 mph as before. After about 5 miles I decided to see how much more it could handle. I climbed it up to about 78 mph and rode that until I got to Emporia. Then I hit 80 mph and held it there most of the time cruising up to about 83 mph tops. It ran superb. I didn't want to push it since I didn't think running over 80 mph was really necessary but I know now that it can handle it very well. There is a lot of road noise running Turbo Thrush mufflers and 37" BFG KM2s. The tires weren't really that loud, it was mostly the mufflers. When it's time to change the exhaust I will get quieter mufflers. But I still have nothing to complain about. I could still listen to the radio without maxing out the volume. A conversation might be a little challenging but if the wife is riding with me it won't hurt a thing.
I made it home in great time, checked out the underneath of the blazer, and only found that the top of the dana 60 is missing the vent tube so it lost a little bit of fluid. Everything else looked great. I was very happy and now feel very confident that this blazer should go anywhere I want and it be dependable.
The next run will be in two weeks when I drive it up to Tuttle Creek and see how it can handle the trails. It will be about a 2 1/2 hour drive and I look forward to it. No worries. I have AAA and I'm off that week so let's do some wheeling.
Greg, it was very nice to meet you and your family. I thank you for your friendship and hospitality.
The CK5 brotherhood is very strong and I hope to meet more brothers in the near future.
