Had a nice drive down to Reno from Vancouver, BC for the air races. Made the averaged 61mph including stops. Trip home started off nicely, had our teams trophy along with other stuff and a cute girl with me. 3 hours out of Reno, on the cruise control at 75mph, state trouper decided we was going to fast to he flashed us. I pulled over and waited, the girl with me hiked up her skirt before he got to the passenger window. We said hello, gave him the license and stuff. He looked at me, the girl and the car, give me my license back and said "have a nice day, please slow down"

That part was allright, we stopped for a burger just out of portland. I was backing out of the parking lot, when I touched the brake. It made that awful grinding noise that I"ve heard before, caliper grinding into wheel noise. I stopped, popped the hood, and sure enough. One of the mounting bolts for the ZR-1 brakes that I installed and torqued to 70 foot/lbs wasn't there anymore. 7pm, and I don't even know what city we are in.... there just happened to be a Nappa down the street still open, and he just happened to have a bolt that would fit. So I bought 2 of them, locktite and a wrench and fixed it.

Life is good, back on the highway, 70mph on the cruise control. Not 30 minutes later (it's dark now) everything goes quiet, like RIGHT NOW. What the kiss is going on, full tank of gas and the motor just stoped. I just make the exit, and come to a stop. The engine will crank but not fire.... Nuts.

Next day get the car to the GM dealer in Portland, they put a new fuel pump in it (the old one was putting out 2.5psi when he tried testing it). From there it was an uneventful 5 hour drive home.

If your car has more than 100,000 miles on it, and you haven't changed the fuel pump, you might consider it. It's a really easy job to do, 4 bolts on the gas cap cover, and 6 or 8 more to get into the fuel tank. Much easier than getting towed.

Other than that it was a great trip, did 2000 miles, averaged 25mpg, and had a ball.


[Modified by yak driver, 5:33 AM 9/19/2003]

 

Lucky you on all counts: brakes, pump and girl... hope she lift the dress hiked up after the cop left... :cheers:

 

Thank you
tony
:flag

 

Ack,
I experienced that "silence" today too. Really eerie, out in the middle of nowhere, vette goes silent.......all around is dead silent except the occasional passing car huh? I know, I know. :crazy:
Figured it was the FP, but I had my fuel pressure gauge with me. FP was ok tho. Much more serious than a pump :cry
So 70 ft. lbs. is the spec but not enough? How tight did the new one go?
Did I hear a new 500+ mph record for one of the planes? A P-51?
Pics of the cute girl? :D :jester

 

Glad there was a happing ending !!
Was your overnight stay in portland REWARDING :D
:cheers:

 

Sorry about your road trip problems. It sounds like it all ended well, though. Look us up (or vice versa) at the Air Races - my wife and I have gone every year since 1997 (except 2001 of course :mad ) We're in box 107 hanging out with our friends, family and coworkers in boxes 105 through 108. We'll buy you a drink.
:cheers:

 

Sounds like a memorable trip! :thumbs:

 

Somehow I think you planned the over night stay

W

 

I've almost recovered from the trip. The temporary bolt I put in was a little short on threads so I made up for it with lots of locktite. All of the mounting bolts are gonna be coming out and getting the same treatment.

The Race week was Fantastic, Dago Red (P51) was the first team to do a 500mph lap speed.

I was crewing for Race 64 (The Red Knight) we managed to get 2nd in the Bronze for the T-6's. One of the heat races, we lead the whole race against a faster airplane, and ended up losing on the line by 2 inches.

I ain't sayin nothin about the hotel room stay. :blueangel: