jp-234
New member
- 23
- 0
- 0
- Location
- Canby/Oregon
First off, I just want to say what a great site and I along with the other new folks appreciate the wealth of information that is available here.
I have been a member since March, that’s when I picked up my M35A2 in Calif, near L.A. You know how the story goes, starts good, runs good, stops good, must be good! LOL
I flew out of Portland on a Tuesday with 3 day’s worth of clothes, my debt card and $500 cash Who needs tools, right?
I made it out to the truck location around 1 or 2 in the afternoon and gave David the rest of the money for the truck. I got on the road around 3 pm heading for the Grapevine; fat, dumb and happy! I got up to blistering 45 mph I started getting water drops on the window. I’m thinking there’s not a cloud in the sky hmmm, that’s about the time I see coolant running over the left front fender and flying all over the windshield. I pulled over at the next exit which is the first exit after getting on the freeway. I’m thinking what kind of fool picks up a truck he’s never seen and plans on driving a thousand miles? I had to raise my hand at this point and confess. I called the guy I bought it from and he said drive it back. So I let it cool down for a bit and drove it back. We changed out the thermostat and took it for a short test drive all looks good at this point and off I go heading towards home again. Still Happy, Still Smiling.
Second attempt at heading north got me past where it over heated the first time plus about 10 miles but I had a mechanic with a service truck from where I purchased the truck who was following me because he lived in the same direction. We pulled over and removed the thermostat and topped it off with water and I went on my way. I made it part way up the grapevine and it started over heating again, I’m thinking this is really going to be a long trip. I finally made it near the top of the grapevine and said screw it, got me a motel . Next morning I made it down the other side and as soon as I got on the flats and poured on the coal it overheated again. Ok were not talking miles per gallon more like miles per overheating and I’m not doing very well. Good news! David calls me while I’m letting it cool down and asked how’s it going, my answer was I have had better days, and he says bring it back we’ll change out the radiator, not an offer I want to refuse. Now I’m only about 70 miles north and it takes me 4 hours to get back 45 min to change out the radiator and I’m on my way again. I drove until about 1:30 in the morning before I called it a day.
Things were looking up until I hit a snow blizzard north of Redding. Did I mention there is no heater in this truck? I had 3 inches of snow packed against the passenger window and I was keeping my window somewhat clear using my hands to warm the window up enough that the windshield wipers could wipe away the snow. It was tunnel vision, but, hey I’m having fun!!!
Next day I drove over the Siskiyou summit in 6 wheel drive while everyone else was putting their chains on. The rest of the trip was uneventful but I hated to stop at my house-- just wanted to keep on going… l
Would I do it again? In a heart beat!!
I have been a member since March, that’s when I picked up my M35A2 in Calif, near L.A. You know how the story goes, starts good, runs good, stops good, must be good! LOL
I flew out of Portland on a Tuesday with 3 day’s worth of clothes, my debt card and $500 cash Who needs tools, right?
I made it out to the truck location around 1 or 2 in the afternoon and gave David the rest of the money for the truck. I got on the road around 3 pm heading for the Grapevine; fat, dumb and happy! I got up to blistering 45 mph I started getting water drops on the window. I’m thinking there’s not a cloud in the sky hmmm, that’s about the time I see coolant running over the left front fender and flying all over the windshield. I pulled over at the next exit which is the first exit after getting on the freeway. I’m thinking what kind of fool picks up a truck he’s never seen and plans on driving a thousand miles? I had to raise my hand at this point and confess. I called the guy I bought it from and he said drive it back. So I let it cool down for a bit and drove it back. We changed out the thermostat and took it for a short test drive all looks good at this point and off I go heading towards home again. Still Happy, Still Smiling.
Second attempt at heading north got me past where it over heated the first time plus about 10 miles but I had a mechanic with a service truck from where I purchased the truck who was following me because he lived in the same direction. We pulled over and removed the thermostat and topped it off with water and I went on my way. I made it part way up the grapevine and it started over heating again, I’m thinking this is really going to be a long trip. I finally made it near the top of the grapevine and said screw it, got me a motel . Next morning I made it down the other side and as soon as I got on the flats and poured on the coal it overheated again. Ok were not talking miles per gallon more like miles per overheating and I’m not doing very well. Good news! David calls me while I’m letting it cool down and asked how’s it going, my answer was I have had better days, and he says bring it back we’ll change out the radiator, not an offer I want to refuse. Now I’m only about 70 miles north and it takes me 4 hours to get back 45 min to change out the radiator and I’m on my way again. I drove until about 1:30 in the morning before I called it a day.
Things were looking up until I hit a snow blizzard north of Redding. Did I mention there is no heater in this truck? I had 3 inches of snow packed against the passenger window and I was keeping my window somewhat clear using my hands to warm the window up enough that the windshield wipers could wipe away the snow. It was tunnel vision, but, hey I’m having fun!!!
Next day I drove over the Siskiyou summit in 6 wheel drive while everyone else was putting their chains on. The rest of the trip was uneventful but I hated to stop at my house-- just wanted to keep on going… l
Would I do it again? In a heart beat!!
