MV Convoy on US Rt. 20 East coast to West coast

[Somemedic]

What would be just stupidcool is if someone, anyone, who would be making the entire trip had a lap top and wireless at&t or nextel or whoever card and could post updates and pics along the way... or even podcast it dare I say. It would be like being there inspirit for the unlucky who cant make the trip.

Just a suggestion

 

[Somemedic]

Any idea where these guys are now?? Where they are as of Aug 2nd?

 

[BobM]

Any idea where these guys are now?? Where they are as of Aug 2nd?

Sounds like one is down for repairs: http://www.steelsoldiers.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=24877

Can't wait to hear more!

 

[ARMYMAN30YearsPlus]

Wtrout had them safe and sound any word?

 

[Somemedic]

John said around 10am my time that they were goin to bed down in Auburn IN at the Auburn Mil Veh museum tonight and look at another duece gun truck.

 

[BobM]

Aw c'mon fellas. Us homebound folks want to hear/read/see what all the fun is about!

 

[YankeeDuece]

As of 1600hrs. EST. they made Auburn. JT had to repair a flat while the others enjoyed the MV Museum.

A fellow SS member joined the convoy and all is well.

Bob Howard stayed w/his M109 w/the blown motor and did not return home by air. The SS suport group found him a replacement Multifuel and should have him back on the road by Thurs. Athough he will be heading east by himself he is sure to realizes he is not alone.

JT fowards his appreciation to all that responded to his call, even if he could not return the calls personally.

 

[jatonka]

MV Convoy US Rt 20 coast to coast

Here is the latest update on our progress, Left Auburn Indiana with 3 vehicles and 6 people, all vehicles running well, people pretty well!
Made Galena Illinois by night fall. Met up with Craig McDonald and his Deuce and he escorted us around Chicago. Had Lunch, said so long and heade toward Galena.
Left Galena, crossed the Mississippi River, traveled all the way across Iowa on Rt 20, then met up with one our SS members, Scott Stanton (2027deuce), and traveled across the Missouri River into Nebraska and on to Laurel, Nebraska to his home. Wow, what a reception his family gave us!!!!!!!!! They are in the heart of Nebraska's corn country on a beautiful hill with a view to kill. We had electric hook ups, a great barbeque, bonfire in the evening and the greatest star show I've seen in years. They were the greatest hosts we could have ever hoped for. Right now we are all down to the local school learning center so I could get on line to post this
Todayis the 5th of August, we just lost a vehicle, the M35A2 with M105 trailer just went down, Engine all gummed up with thick crud terrible on dipstick , on the rocker arms, couldn't drain the oil, too thick, won't come out. Coincidentally,this truck is running on 100% waste vegetable oil. I don't know the answer and don't have time to hypothesize right now but you all know what I think happened.
We are now one M38A1 with Sherman Day and son William, and my M109A3 w/ M105 trailer w/ clothing repair shelter in it. Our trucks are doing well, our spirits are fine and our schedule is just fine right now. JT out

 

[maddawg308]

RE: MV Convoy US Rt 20 coast to coast

Sounds like your waging a war of attrition, and the vehicles are going down one by one. Glad you're still truckin', John. Got any pics of your journey so far?

 

[Recovry4x4]

RE: MV Convoy US Rt 20 coast to coast

Not that anyone coud have anticipated any of this but a wrecker and can motor would have been nice to have along for the ride. Congrats on your progress thus far JT. I'd love to pull that off when I retire. As far as the M35A2 that went down, is the FDC bypassed?

 

[cranetruck]

RE: MV Convoy US Rt 20 coast to coast

Sorry to read about your problems...do save a sample of the crankcase oil, it would be interesting to see the analysis report on it.
Is the veggie truck fitted with heated tank(s)? The viscosity of cold VO is many times that of diesel.......What is the level of the crankcase oil?......FYI, my leaky FDC leaks at a rate of about 1 qt/1,000 miles......

Thanks for the update.

 

[2027Deuce]

I talked to John this morning, they spent the night at Chadron State Park in western Nebraska. I have pics and will make multiple posts because I am having difficulty with this computer.

I met the convoy in Sioux City, Iowa monday at 1430. Took the secenic trip to Sgt. Floyds monument. Sgt. Floyd was part of the Lewis and Clark expedition. William Day's teacher had instructed him to find this monument so he is pushing for an A in that class.

After a quick fuel stop, they followed me home 40 miles and we set up camp.

Sherman and his son William gave several jeep rides and parked in the old corn crib. In that buildings 80 year history I don't believe it had ever been slept in so they took care of that.
My deuce is behind the jeep in pic 2.

We had a great cook-out complete with sweet corn and spent alot of time around the campfire. What a great bunch of people.

The highlight of the visit for me had to be when my son Austin drove the M38A1. Now this boy in only 11 and has only driven our forklift around so this was all new for him. Well I'll tell you the gas peddle went way down and the clutch came way up and that little jeep laid a patch around a corner practically on two wheels that would have made Dale Jr. proud. I was terrified as the jeep weaved back and forth up the driveway headed toward the large landscape boulder I use to keep UPS off the lawn as $$$$ signs went through my head wondering what an M38A1 costs. Thankfully William crabbed both the steering wheel and the kill switch risking his own life by letting go of what ever he was holding on to, and the little jeep missed the rock and rolled to a stop. William jumped out and yelled I'm done! and Austin was smileing from ear to ear, "Dad we need to get one of those!"

Here's just one small piece of campfire talk. Some of you know that the last year has been pretty hard on me with my disability, and after spending a good share of that time flat on my back the word passion came to mind. Whatever your passion is (for sure its MVs) whether its your family, your business, your hobby or your faith... THROW YOURSELF INTO IT. What this group is doing by convoying across country and back is showing its passion for MVs. As most of you know this is quite a journey in an MV, and I can tell you that these people are representing the MV community very well.

One of the greatest things I have enjoyed about SS is members helping members. If you are in the path of these guys going cross country, do what you can for them, they are a great group.

I will go update the post on the truck broke down in Ohio and I will post here next on the truck that broke down at my place.

 

[2027Deuce]

Bob and Karen made it 1300 miles from New York to my place in Nebraska. Yesterday morning when Bob went to check the oil he could hardly pull the dipstick out. When he got it out it looked worse than road tar. He pulled the drain plugs and less than a coffee cup came out. Bob was able to get it started to warm the sludge into something that would drain and it came out with the consistency of black mashed potatoes!

I have never seen anything that thick come out of an engine and the engine live. We went to town and Bob purchased a 5 gal bucket of slightly used oil and we added some kerosene to that. This was run in the truck for about 30 min and then drained and new spin on filters were added. More clumps came out when the oil was changed.

Bob took the deuce into town and sucked out all the WVO and ran straight diesel. They left my place about 1400 and were planning on driving all night if they could. I told Bob that I would change the oil again if they made 500 miles and then they may have a good chance of making it home. They have not called so I don't know how far they got.

Two thoughts were going through my mind during all this. First I was glad it wasn't my truck with that gunk in it and secondly it appears to me that $4.50 diesel here in Nebraska is cheaper than free WVO. I am no expert but if I had to use WVO I would most likely limit it to 10 - 15% with the balance in diesel.

Bjorn we did not take a sample but there is plenty of guck still stuck to the bucket so if you would like a sample let me know.

 

[JeepMan]

A posting on Dodge Power Wagon says theres 2 young guys in slightly modified WWII jeeps are making a coast-to-coast trip. Wonder if they're going to the same destination?
How is the old man JK enjoying the trip??

 

[cranetruck]

.......
Bjorn we did not take a sample but there is plenty of guck still stuck to the bucket so if you would like a sample let me know.

Yeah, save a cupfull, I have gone thru hundreds of gallons of veggie oil and biodiesel without problems directly related to it, so I'm interested.
I'm sending you my address via PM...

Bjorn

 

[sprucemt]

8 pm eastern, Jatonka is on the phone from Shoshoni (sp) Wyoming on US Route 20.

 

[Somemedic]

When i was about 4-5 my mom and dad took us out there by Wall Drug. Someplace along the way we were driving and there appeared to be a huge fire burning out of control and it was coming towards us or so we thought. The smoke was thick and black and getting closer. As it approached there was a set of rail road tracks and some old train went right in front of us pulling 2 old wooden passenger cars full of tourists. I had seen trains since I was small but that was my first working stem loco and it was bad azz. Wish I could have made that trip with them

 

[5tonpuller]

I run 50% bio. The oil is still the same. My FDC is bypassed. So after that I do not know. Still wish I could have gone. Good luck guys.
Bob keep going? or did he head home?

 

[sprucemt]

Bob M is on the way back home.

 

[JeepMan]

I run 50% bio. The oil is still the same. My FDC is bypassed. So after that I do not know. Still wish I could have gone. Good luck guys.
Bob keep going? or did he head home?

What is the FDC valve??

Perhaps Bob can by-pass it, change out the oil in the engine, cut the fry oil w/diesel and make the trip!!

Perhaps someone can intercept him before he gets to far back east.