Big trip in 72E

724doorE · 08-11-2003, 06:53 AM

Well, it was 687 miles each way and I was alone. No radio or sound deadening material and no AC. Roughly, I went down 57 from Chicago to 70, then across to St Louis, caugth 44 down to Joplin MO. and then KS 166 west to the destination, Coffeyville KS. 687 miles and 9 hours including two gas stops and a few traffic jams. Me 1, the man 0.

Also of note, I have no front cooler (yet) and my temps were about 215 steady through big MO at 3800 rpms in fifth in the early evening, temp about 95ish. Its amazing what a huge draft big suv's give. I swear I could lift an 1/8 inch off the loud pedal when in a good tahoo tow, I bet his milage went from 8 to 5 too.

.....

About halfway there I noticed a slight exhaust leak. When I got to Joplin at 9pm and the storms were rolling in (this was last Monday) the leak was huge, it sounded like an old vw, but i wasn't about to stop, I had visions of tornadic activity in my head as i headed west on KS 166. I only saw 3 or 4 sets of headlights coming at me in the next 60 miles. It was black like a dark hole in space, and the fresh blacktop and no white lines didn't help. I kept seeing puffs of dust blowing around as I crested every rise in the road. I was seriously stressed. Oh, did I mention the lightening all around me ?? I made the last 30 miles from Chetopa to Coffeyville in 18 minutes, this is nothing but two lane state roadway. It was so dark and my lights so bad that I hit an armadillo and didn't even have time to lift before he wentunder, over and around.That little sucker really F'ed up my glass front spoiler too. Good thing he wasn't a cow

(I have seen cows and deer loose on this particular road as well.

Well don't look for P-car parts on C-ville KS, but in a pinch, you can use a header gasket for a small block chevy to get you home.

the trip was an emergency for my 82 year old grandpa's funeral, but the car and the visist were very pleasant.

I like to post this travel "data" stuff as people are always wondering what milage an old car should get and how hot should it run, etc.

Merry Christmas!!!

Jim Richards · 08-11-2003, 07:22 AM

Dennis, my condolences on the loss of your grandfather. No sympathy to the armadillo for munching on your spoiler at spped. The little buggers are spreading too far and wide. I'm going to take the 993 luxury cruiser on a big run later this month and I'll try the drafting strategy, too.

Glad those twisters didn't get ya.

724doorE · 08-11-2003, 07:31 AM

Thanks Jim, he was a hell uva guy He was aboard a tanker in WWII during the battle for Saipan and the Marianis (sp) turkyshoot. He told me several times of manning a deck gun on the tanker as they were attacked by Kamakzies while refueling a carrier. Wicked stuff....Guys like him give us a lot to live up to!

304065 · 08-11-2003, 09:08 AM

Hmm, 3800 in 5th. . .

mph = (rpm * cir) / (gear * final *88)

mph = (3800 * 6.425) / (.8214 * 3.875 * 88)

mph = 87.168

Not a bad cruising velocity! Early cars ROCK!

724doorE · 08-11-2003, 09:51 AM

Would you belive I got passed at that speed by a Peterbuilt in big MO, That dude was movin on