First long trip, only minor carnage

[Hedgehog]

In another thread I mentioned that a long unfulfilled dream would come into reality. I grew up in the Adirondacks and part of Adirondack lore is focused on the much loved Adirondack Guide Boat. A week or so ago I stumbled on a Guide Boat right here in Arizona. I made an offer for a trade and by golly the boat is mine. The only problem was that the boat was in Cottonwood Arizona, slightly over 200 miles (a minimum of 400 miles for a round trip) from Tucson.

A few days were invested in building a boat rack on the Jeep. Then the fluids were topped off and away went. While the CJ is capable of 75 mph freeway speeds I made a promise to myself to keep it down to 60-65mph. In reality the speed was generally 67 mph. Why 67? I honestly don't know. Since the CJ is open with a bikini top only I chose to use ear plugs. The trip was uneventful. At 2:30pm or so I stopped in a secluded desert spot for something to eat. After lunch I fired the CJ up and quite frankly it sounded terrible.

A quick check under the hood showed a dangling emissions air pump with a shredded belt. The pump was jangling away against the inner fender. Time for a roadside repair. The pump was secured and the trip continued. The boat was loaded and my rack looked ridiculous with the boat sticking way to far up in the air. It was my intension to stop somewhere for some fishing and boating, but the condition of the jeep required a direct line home making for a 400 mile day in an open jeep with low back seats. Amazingly enough I was tired but in good shape.

At home the next day I found that the air pump was frozen, some bolts were missing and the jeep had a tick down deep inside. Oh no, it sounded remarkably like a bottom end bearing was on the way out, but there was hope the sound was coming from a blown exhaust manifold gasket. On the way back home there was a minor exhaust tick, the next morning the tick was positively a hammering sound.

Off to Willys Works once again. Rob had a used air pump, an exhaust manifold gasket, nuts, bolts and belt.

The parts went on without incident. Then it was time for my verdict. The hammering would be gone, meaning the sound was a blown exhaust manifold gasket ..... OR ..... The hammering would remain meaning it was time for a bottom rebuild. Which would bring my second great jeep adventure to an end at some lonely lemon lot sale. So I held my breath and turned the key ...... Oh my goodness the sound of a healthy V8 is a beautiful song in itself. The jeep virtually purred with health. I am pleased. The jeep was essentially junk when I got it, after a years work it stood up to it's first long run remarkably well. I knew the air pump was on it's way out and was remiss in not keeping the header bolts tight on tight. This was a good day and a good trip.

 

[Torxhead]

Well, thanks for sharing that, glad to hear it all ended O.K. I remember those smog pumps freezing up also. I guess they were a good thing, since they blew air on hot exaust valves. Being able to cruise a '75 CJ at 75, sounds like you must have it set up quite well.

 

[Hedgehog]

Oh it will move right along at 75, but to say it would "Cruise" at 75 is an over statement of sorts. It did move right along at 65, but I must place a bit of a caveat there as well. This is Arizona with it's looonnnnngggg straight interstates. Make no mistake, when it gets curvy the speed goes down.

The smog pumps don't blow air on hot valves, it blows air into the exhaust flow to add oxygen for the cat's. I don't know if it actually works like that, but I like the theory and they don't use much power to turn, that is as long as thy aren't freezing up.

 

[mstar]

Good write up hedge-h. Nice to hear about trips like yours after all the hours you put in wrenching on the jeep project. Happy Trails, mike

 

[Hedgehog]

Thanks ....

I suppose this isn't the right forum for this write up, but it wasn't clear where it should be. Its not a parts story, it's not a trail report, lost I put it here.

 

[hole]

Glad to hear it ended up well! Sorry you missed out on fishing, but now your next trip can be all about fishing and boating!

 

[Hedgehog]

I hope so, sometimes I'm enough of a perfectionist I can't get out of my own way to have fun. The boat rack is too tall, mostly due to the shape of the boat. the gunnels are very low and the ends (it's somewhat canoe like) are tall. Putting the rack near the ends makes the middle WAY high. Lowering the rack puts the bow too low for safe driving. To move forward the rack needs to be redesigned. My design will call for the rear of the rack to be attached to the bumper. The bumper on the CJ needs to be replaced. To do that the PO's bumper needs to be cut, yes I said cut off the frame. For that to happen the gas tank needs to be removed. Then the rear of the frame needs to be restored to as close to original as is practical. Then the building can begin. The new 21 gallon tank needs to be installed, the bumper needs to be designed allowing for the really cool tire mount bearing I got from a poster here, then there will be receiver hitch, recovery points, gas and water cans .... the list goes on and on. Then the rack. In a way it's all very frustrating, in another I'm excited for the projects to move forward.



Picture added for reference.

 

[rr41mag]

I'm waiting for part II