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The Great Smaug

Overview Gallery Discussion
In the morning we split different ways for the trips back home. 5 or 6 of us took the opportunity to see Whitefish Point, since we were so close. No more trails, just pavement pounding.

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There she is.

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We've been here a number of times now, so we did not bother going to the museum. We just enjoyed the beach.

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Hello, Superior. And goodbye. Until next time!

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We all left at the same time (because I still needed a pull-start), but headed in 3 different directions. We convoyed with the 4Runner for a bit, but the newly-raised 65MPH speed limit wasn't fast enough for him. So he blew past after a few miles. And then he broke down again! :rolleyes:

We turned South towards Lake Michigan, which rewarded us with more rain. Because Michigan.

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Our drive home was about 4 hours. No planned stops, because no starter and no companions. By the halfway point the baby was adamantly demanding service. So, reluctantly, I stopped in Manistique. I was nervous about stopping with no starter motor. But I managed to avoid stalling it and we made it all the way back home without any more issues.

At the end of the day, we made it back safely, had a blast, and can't wait to get out and do it again next year! :saweet: :burnout:

:popcorn:
 
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campfire said:
In the morning we split different ways for the trips back home. 5 or 6 of us took the opportunity to see Whitefish Point, since we were so close. No more trails, just pavement pounding.

View attachment 325038

There she is.

View attachment 325039

We've been here a number of times now, so we did not bother going to the museum. We just enjoyed the beach.

View attachment 325040
View attachment 325041

Hello, Superior. And goodbye. Until next time!

View attachment 325042
View attachment 325043

We all left at the same time (because I still needed a pull-start), but headed in 3 different directions. We convoyed with the 4Runner for a bit, but the newly-raised 65MPH speed limit wasn't fast enough for him. So he blew past after a few miles. And then he broke down again! :rolleyes:

We turned South towards Lake Michigan, which rewarded us with more rain. Because Michigan.

View attachment 325044


Our drive home was about 4 hours. No planned stops, because no starter and no companions. By the halfway point the baby was adamantly demanding service. So, reluctantly, I stopped in Manistique. I was nervous about stopping with no starter motor. But I managed to avoid stalling it and we made it all the way back home without any more issues.

Last year, after I slammed the rig together in 10 days, Luke asked me if my rig was sponsored by Roadkill. At the time I figured my work was higher quality than that (I'm not intentionally hacking things together). But after three years of breaking down on the trail, three broken tow straps, three trailer rides, two submersions, one broken crankshaft, one failed braking system, several hundred miles of pull starts, and having to run 220 consecutive miles without the ability to stop my engine, the description now seems more appropriate. Maybe this really has been hack work, eh? :dunno:

At the end of the day, we made it back safely, had a blast, and can't wait to get out and do it again next year! :saweet: :burnout:

:popcorn:
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Nothing like trail time to point out obvious issues with ones build. Having some of the same on mine as well.
Such is life
 
Last year, after I slammed the rig together in 10 days, Luke asked me if my rig was sponsored by Roadkill. At the time I figured my work was higher quality than that (I'm not intentionally hacking things together). But after three years of breaking down on the trail, three broken tow straps, three trailer rides, two submersions, one broken crankshaft, one failed braking system, several hundred miles of pull starts, and having to run 220 consecutive miles without the ability to stop my engine, the description now seems more appropriate. Maybe this really has been hack work, all along. Eh? :dunno:

I remember our first long trip through the Canadian wilderness, back in 2013. The starter solenoid was failing in the blue truck, so I threw an extra solenoid in the toolbox and hit the road. I just figured we'd fix it wherever it finally broke. That has always been my approach to traveling. Know your rig and have the right tools to fix whatever breaks. Not like that worked out when I needed a new long block. But basic stuff like brake calipers and fuel pumps should be easy roadside fixes for the weekend warrior driving an ancient rustbucket.
 
GWeakland620 said:
I’m just here for the cold start videos. Lol
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Hahaha. You'll have to wait. At the end of summer I bought a different GM product that turned into a time-sucking headache. So I have not spent the time to change out the starter yet.

I do plan on installing a remote solenoid, so the motor is easy to jump start in the future.
 
Bent77 said:
Those 10.5" ring gears are, in fact, designed by a boat anchor company, Or so it would seem
Looks like y'all had fun
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Yes, it is crazy how far they hang down. At the lowest dangling point, the pumpkin casting is more than 2" thick. Trimming the bottom sounds quite sensible for someone looking to rock crawl.

6 years ago, I chose this axle because it's really easy to work on. And I didn't care about rock crawling. I still don't, mostly. But I am coming to appreciate the rigs with appropriately-sized axles. They can go places that I simply can't.
 
campfire said:
Yes, it is crazy how far they hang down. At the lowest dangling point, the pumpkin casting is more than 2" thick. Trimming the bottom sounds quite sensible for someone looking to rock crawl.

6 years ago, I chose this axle because it's really easy to work on. And I didn't care about rock crawling. I still don't, mostly. But I am coming to appreciate the rigs with appropriately-sized axles. They can go places that I simply can't.
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Just giving that lip the saw zall treatment saves almost an inch. That's a substantial amount, especially on stockish tires
 
Monty5150 said:
I most have missed a post......Bad engine......hmmm... have to do some searching...
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The issue with the engine has me slightly flummoxed. Over the course of the two trips (~1200 miles), it has consumed at least 5 gallons of coolant, without any obvious large external leaks. Also without obvious white steam in the exhaust. The radiator builds gas pressure like a head/block/gasket issue. But the pressure doesn't leak down after the engine stops. 6 or 8 times I popped the radiator's safety cap on a cold engine and had cold gas rush out. Once was after sitting for 2 weeks. It's not water vapor. I could picture a cylinder wall crack opening when the engine is hot and sealing when the engine cools, so I bought a combustion gas detector kit (link). But it did not find any combustion gas leaving the radiator (engine hot and running at idle, per the instructions).

So, it looks like a duck, smells like a duck, and walks like a duck. But it doesn't leak down, doesn't show water in the exhaust or oil pan, and the vapors don't trigger the test fluid. So is it really a duck? :dunno:

I do have pressurized air in the intake (turbocharger), and these engines are famous for minor cracking on the valve stem guides. But they're not famous for leaking there. And at very worst that should be no more than pressurizing the crankcase with intake air (which would dump out via the CDR valve). The water jacket should never contain non-condensables.

I just don't know what (if anything) I should do about it. This hasn't affected either trip, aside from adding water. But last season the truck did not have this issue, and it seems like something that will grow into a problem in time.

:1zhelp:
 
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Have you considered taking a coolant sample Ethan? Worth your time to figure it out. They’ll tell you whether you’re getting combustion in the coolant for sure. It’s cheap enough to be worth a shot.

Also thank you for finishing out your trip report! Atleast you made it without too much issue, the starter situation could’ve been much worse!

If there’s a run for 2020 I’m 100% down this year. Will probably have a friend with a superduty along for the trip as well if there’s room for one more and he’s got enough time off
 
78K30 said:
Have you considered taking a coolant sample Ethan? Worth your time to figure it out. They’ll tell you whether you’re getting combustion in the coolant for sure. It’s cheap enough to be worth a shot.
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How is that different from the test I just ran?

Last thing I did after the combustion test was flush out the water and install fresh coolant. So I'd think the coolant hasn't been run enough to have hydrocarbons built up.
 
78K30 said:
If there’s a run for 2020 I’m 100% down this year. Will probably have a friend with a superduty along for the trip as well if there’s room for one more and he’s got enough time off
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Cool. I'll be out there. We're aiming for at least five Yooper camping weekends this summer. Nobody has officially volunteered yet to organize the UPO trip this year, but I have new route ideas for a day or two in the central U.P. region. We'll see what the rest of the group wants to do in a few more months. We've hit the Superior coastline umpteen years in a row. Time to explore the southern sections, eh?

Though it's hard to imagine choosing to skip superior. :dunno:
 
Routes also change every year. One of the critical bridges from this year's trip washed out a few weeks ago. Bypassing the puddles just got a bunch harder. And I don't yet know if the state intends to rebuild it. The Brown's Creek culvert has been gone long enough that the forest is reclaiming the trail. It might be permanently gone.

One of last year's camping sites is now off limits. Two of UPO's favorite large group campsites are well on their way to commercial development. We may not have them much longer, as they're becoming popular RV spots.

As much as I want people to enjoy these spots, I don't enjoy commercial development and the high people density that comes with it. Defeats the whole point of heading into the woods. If I wanted to camp right next to a hundred other people I'd just stay in my own city. :rolleyes:

The last night's campfire talk underscored the split between those who want to see amazing points of interest (like Kitch-iti-kipi) vs. those who prefer the solitude of the wilderness. It's always a balancing act.

One thing I think everyone agreed on is the desire for new trails and points of interest next year. This round of scouting should be fun. :cool:

:popcorn:
 
campfire said:
How is that different from the test I just ran?

Last thing I did after the combustion test was flush out the water and install fresh coolant. So I'd think the coolant hasn't been run enough to have hydrocarbons built up.
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run it for awhile and give it a shot. They’ll tell you in parts per million, I brought it up because it’s cheap enough and easy enough to try out.



even if there isn’t a full length run that happens, I’m sure we’d be game for a long weekend type run. Would likely be easier on the PTO time anyways while still yielding fun.
 
campfire said:
Do you have a link to such a service?
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Any cat dealer is an option, think we charge $15 now for a sample. You have one nearby? Either them or any large truck dealer should have the option to have a sample sent off
 
Monty5150 said:
Sounds good. I do need to do some work on the jeep, but we can do some scouting this year.

So West and Central U.P scouting for the official UPO?
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That idea gathered approval around the campfire. But in reality the group will follow whatever gets scouted ahead of time. Last year that was one trip from Luke and one trip from Luke & I. I think the middle trail section was just winging it (hence the confusion with the split group).

You and I already proved out sections of the old ELF line trail, but we only followed them as far as needed to reach the nearest dirt "road." Tying together some more dead ends might provide a day's worth of wheeling. Or it might just lead to endless backtracking. :dunno:

The DNR has a couple official routes close to the WI/MI border, in addition to the endless supply of low-quality roads. But the biggest draw for me is that nobody from the group knew much about that region. So it will be new stuff rather than leftovers. Last year's snags were at points where old trails no longer went through, as we were initially relying on old known routes. We didn't blaze a significant number of new trail miles. We also didn't include enough interesting stops. Too much driving, without any hiking. Things to fix this year.

Speaking of which...have you started that engine swap yet? "Some work" is a vague description...
 
Did you ever lift this? I forgot what you've done
 
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