Attention: TDR Forum Junkies From a Real Low to a Real High and back to reality.....
Thank you all. I cannot tell you how much it means to us to have the support of everyone.
Believe me, if people read closely, and read between the lines on the TDR, all of the real speed secrets are out here and on everyones web sites. Some, you have to figure out for your application, but if nothing else, you will at least know who to call for help.
It still has not sunk in yet how cool it was. To go from the o-***** on Wednesday of breaking the input shaft and not being able to run, to running the 7 on Sunday is absolute opposite ends of the spectrum.
Now, to tell you how fast you can get back into the "bad luck"...
On the way out of LA, with the transporter, the throttle rod on the 95 Dodge Ram broke, right in the middle of the pass. Luckily, I could idle it over, and get it on the shoulder. I fabbed up a widget to hold the rod in one piece, and was back on the road in a hour. (nice to have the race trailer loaded with tools)... Only one hour wasted. No big deal.
I was be -bopping along at 75 around Needles CA, and noticed a trailer tire pass me. I am not very smart, but soon realized that I was the only one within miles on the highway and it might belong to me, or at least be handy to have. I pulled over, chased the tire down, and by golly, it matched nicely the 3 tires and wheels left on the trailer! How fortunate! Imagine the luck of finding a nice matching tire and wheel out in the middle of the desert.
Funny though, it did not come with the mounting hardware needed, the threaded part of the wheel studs, or the nuts! The press in half of the studs were nicely machined off smooth with the hub, making it a lot easier to slip the wheel on, but a bit difficult to keep it on!
After deciding that visegrips, tarp straps, or JB weld was not likely going to make a permanent repair, I pulled the hub, went to town, got a 2nd spare tire and wheel, and found enough studs to keep a second set for my next excellent adventure in the future.
Back on the road after only 2 hours lost. Noon. Having to be in Salt Lake on business Tuesday AM, I pushed on. Pretty quiet now.
At 10 PM this evening, 20 miles from Provo, no matter how much I turned up the satellite radio, there was a very annoying noise coming from the shifter. Darned if it did not get louder and louder. Soon I ran out of volume. I debated about wrapping it with insulation, to quiet it down, but thought that the fiberglass might get "Itchy". Finally, I slowed down from the 85 MPH I was towing with the old pig, and shoved it into 4th. Quiet as can be! Imagine that, losing 5th gear! I bet NO ONE OUT THERE has ever had THAT happen.
So now, I cruise along, into Provo, Midnight, looking forward to 800 miles from here, to SLC, to Rock Springs, and back to Denver at a whopping 65 MPH. Someone is trying to tell me someting.
Y'know what though? It was still worth it all... ... . Beers on Me at TIM 05... . !
Thank you all. I cannot tell you how much it means to us to have the support of everyone.
Believe me, if people read closely, and read between the lines on the TDR, all of the real speed secrets are out here and on everyones web sites. Some, you have to figure out for your application, but if nothing else, you will at least know who to call for help.
It still has not sunk in yet how cool it was. To go from the o-***** on Wednesday of breaking the input shaft and not being able to run, to running the 7 on Sunday is absolute opposite ends of the spectrum.
Now, to tell you how fast you can get back into the "bad luck"...
On the way out of LA, with the transporter, the throttle rod on the 95 Dodge Ram broke, right in the middle of the pass. Luckily, I could idle it over, and get it on the shoulder. I fabbed up a widget to hold the rod in one piece, and was back on the road in a hour. (nice to have the race trailer loaded with tools)... Only one hour wasted. No big deal.
I was be -bopping along at 75 around Needles CA, and noticed a trailer tire pass me. I am not very smart, but soon realized that I was the only one within miles on the highway and it might belong to me, or at least be handy to have. I pulled over, chased the tire down, and by golly, it matched nicely the 3 tires and wheels left on the trailer! How fortunate! Imagine the luck of finding a nice matching tire and wheel out in the middle of the desert.
Funny though, it did not come with the mounting hardware needed, the threaded part of the wheel studs, or the nuts! The press in half of the studs were nicely machined off smooth with the hub, making it a lot easier to slip the wheel on, but a bit difficult to keep it on!
After deciding that visegrips, tarp straps, or JB weld was not likely going to make a permanent repair, I pulled the hub, went to town, got a 2nd spare tire and wheel, and found enough studs to keep a second set for my next excellent adventure in the future.
Back on the road after only 2 hours lost. Noon. Having to be in Salt Lake on business Tuesday AM, I pushed on. Pretty quiet now.
At 10 PM this evening, 20 miles from Provo, no matter how much I turned up the satellite radio, there was a very annoying noise coming from the shifter. Darned if it did not get louder and louder. Soon I ran out of volume. I debated about wrapping it with insulation, to quiet it down, but thought that the fiberglass might get "Itchy". Finally, I slowed down from the 85 MPH I was towing with the old pig, and shoved it into 4th. Quiet as can be! Imagine that, losing 5th gear! I bet NO ONE OUT THERE has ever had THAT happen.
So now, I cruise along, into Provo, Midnight, looking forward to 800 miles from here, to SLC, to Rock Springs, and back to Denver at a whopping 65 MPH. Someone is trying to tell me someting.
Y'know what though? It was still worth it all... ... . Beers on Me at TIM 05... . !
