We must know more.... and if nothing cool happens...make stuff up.

Oooh cool, please do update us as it progresses.


Joseph




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Is it my imagination or are the SU carbs very sensitive to ambient temperature? When I adjusted these carburetors last it was about 85F. Since then I've noticed a bit of lean stumble when the temperature is down around 60F. When the day warms up to 75 or so the car runs great.

I started out on June 1, from Marion, VA at 07:00. About 20 minutes later I had to stop. The carpet in the trunk had to go. I just couldn't tolerate the gas fumes any longer. I stopped and cut the carpet out above the tank. I left the remainder for sound deadening.

I had lunch in New Market, VA, where I had peanut soup for the first time in my life. It's isn't bad once you get past the idea that peanuts are a snack or sandwich filler. Such a delicacy is not available at Mickey D's. I got my first cup of peanut soup at the New Market Cafe. If you want to try some, exit at New Market, VA off of I-81 or do as I did and follow US11 into town. The cafe is on the south side of town right on US11.

The last 500 miles fell behind me at a rapid clip; 62MPH average. I got to Waterbury, CT in time to share a pizza supper with the wedding party.

The wedding was a grand affair as is right and proper. The ceremony was a mixture of Jewish, Christian, and secular traditions. I thought that was a bit odd; as far as I know, the bride is an agnostic. Oh well, best to cover all bases and make as many guests comfortable as is possible, I reckon.

The car continues to purr along. I pulled a hill today that seemed much steeper in the Amazon that it ever did on my Kawasaki. ;-) The scary noises continue but have not worsened. The starter still doesn't work when it is cold or even sometimes when it is warm. It doesn't take much of an incline to start it though so it isn't that big a deal. Yet.

BTW, Connecticut has the most expensive gasoline between here and the Gulf of Mexico: $3.30.

Sunday morning breakfast was at the Prospect Dairy Bar. The Dairy Bar used to be a summer only business, family run by a local farmer. Sometime after I left CT, the place changed hands. It is now open year round. They have gone a bit overboard with the nostalgic decor (peddle cars hanging from the ceiling) but the food is still excellent. If you are on I84 going through Waterbury, I highly recommend exiting at CT69 South. Head to Prospect, less than five miles from the Interstate. The Prospect Dairy Bar will be on the right.

Sunday afternoon I was at a party at a friend's home. Once I alit there sometime just before noon I didn't move again until Monday morning. Beer, ribs, and chicken do that to me. ;-)

I said my goodbyes and started for home around noon on Monday.

My only meal Monday was at the Town Diner in Milford, PA. The Town Diner is a real diner; a dining car. There are no peddle cars hanging from the ceiling. The Rock-O-La stations have been removed from the tables. The place is barely getting by. The only other customer while I was there ordered a hot tea and left. I had a most excellent Ruebin sandwich. I also had fries; not so excellent. If you want to visit a real diner, the Town Diner is at the first PA exit after you cross the Delaware heading west on I84. Just follow the signs toward Milford. The diner will be on the left about a mile and a half from the exit. The food is uneven but the interior of the diner has not changed one iota in the 30 years I've been stopping there for lunch or supper. There is a motel right next to the diner that was built before WWII. I've stayed there a couple of times over the years. It is clean but not inexpensive. On this trip I still had a lot of daylight left. I needed to move along.

I followed US 209 out of Milford down to the Delaware Water Gap, along the Delaware Escarpment. The road passes through a National Scenic area and past some of the Pocono resorts. The speed limit is 45MPH for about 20 miles. It is a most pleasant drive. But I needed to make some time. At I80 I jumped on the interstate and headed west to I81, south for a few miles and then back on US 209 to Millersburg, PA.

As the sun began to set on Monday I found the Red Rose Motel. The Red Rose is a small family owned and operated motel with a trailer park behind. It is located on PA Route 147 just south of Millersburg, PA. I counted 8 rooms but there may be more on the backside of the building. Regardless, it is exactly the kind of motel I really enjoy giving my money to. There won't be a "free" Continental Breakfast. In fact, there wasn't a coffee maker in the office or the room. There is no internet connection so I can't post this update. It does have a good TV though and Enterprise is on the SciFi channel.

The motel is pretty old. My guess is it was built just after WWII. But, it is clean and it is the livelihood for a family with at least three kids that I saw. Yep, I would much rather stay here than in any chain motel.

I had intended to cross the Susquehanna on the only paddle wheel ferry still in operation in the USA come morning. For the first time on this trip I changed my plans because of the car; I decided I didn't want to risk having the car blocking the ferry landing if it wouldn't start. Instead of crossing the river on the ferry I drove down PA147 and crossed by bridge to US11. The ferry crossing will have to wait until the next trip.

I stayed on US11 most of the day Tuesday. I used I81 to bypass major metro areas. In Chambersburg, PA, I smelled gasoline. I thought the sending unit must be leaking again. But no; it was the front carburetor. I pulled the float assembly, blew through the pipes, and reassembled it. That seemed to clear the problem. About 100 miles later I smelled gasoline again. This time I removed the float and pulled the needle out. I found a tiny bit of what looked like rubber. Maybe the rubber gasket at the sending unit? I had that apart when I had the leak last week.

BTW, the thing I thought is a heat shield to keep the exhaust heat off of the carburetors apparently is actually a safety shield. The gasoline erupting from the vent on the front carb never touched the exhaust because of that shield.

Last night I stayed in Bristol, VA at a Comfort Inn. There are dozens of old motels on the Lee Highway (US11) near Bristol. I've stayed at several of them over the years. Last night I elected to stay where there is an internet connection to post this update. I could make it home late tonight but I will do two days instead. This has been the most leisurely trip between TX and CT I've ever done. I want to keep it that way.
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Mr. Shannon DeWolfe -- (I've taken to using Mr. because my name tends to mislead folks on the WWW. I am a 51 year old fat man ;-) -- KD5QBL