Bill - 29 Buick Posted July 7, 2023 Share Posted July 7, 2023 Took off today, from Toronto, in the 29 McL Buick to the BCA’s National meet in Spokane, WA. My plans are to drive about 400 miles each day. This will take about 8 hours, as long as I don’t make eye contact with anyone in a gas station - which I have to stop at often, as the car only gets about 10 MPG. Tonight in Muskegon, MI so I can get an early ferry tomorrow across Lake Michigan to Wisconsin and miss Downtown Chicago. Car ran well with only a few vapour lock coughs - it was in the low 30’sC. Rain, at one point, cooled things down which was good - except when it rains the brakes don’t work too well. Tomorrow, I go to ‘Old Schoolhouse Restorations’ in Wisconsin, which specializes in late 20’s Buicks, where I’ll pick up a few parts that may be necessary on the road and get a few repairs I made recently, checked out. Stay tuned for more of Billy’s excellent (crazy, wife Marlene would say) adventure. Billy 14 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill - 29 Buick Posted July 9, 2023 Author Share Posted July 9, 2023 Day 2 - Toronto to Spokane Waiting for the ferry to cross Lake Michigan - heading West The 29 McL-Buick on the ferry Onto the ferry this morning after discovering I have lost my ‘Enzo Ferrari’ sunglasses. Rats! Parts that need fixing, so far: Turn signals, and emergency brake. Hopefully, this list won’t get too much bigger as I venture westward. Arrived at my friends, Tony & Joyce Bult’s place in Whitewater, WI and Tony and I went to work in the car. Timing reset, handbrake fixed, some parts selected from Tony’s vast collection for pickup on my return. Day 3 Go west young man ! Starting out on Day 3 - Headed West Day 3: Pretty uneventful. Car ran well. Brake lights are staying on some of the time. Will have to investigate along with turn signals which don’t work at all now. Spending the night in downtown St. Cloud, Minnesota tonight. Shortly after arriving in MN, my WASE directions to the next turn showed this: I guess I can just sit back and put the car in cruse control all the way to Spokane. We’ll see tomorrow. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill - 29 Buick Posted July 9, 2023 Author Share Posted July 9, 2023 Sorry, didn’t get pictures in last posting. 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Buick 80C Posted July 9, 2023 Share Posted July 9, 2023 2 hours ago, Bill - 29 Buick said: seems like a good plan 😉 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill - 29 Buick Posted July 10, 2023 Author Share Posted July 10, 2023 Day 4 Another good old car day (of course any day driving the 29 McL-Buick is good) ! Weather started off cool but warmed up quickly. Covered just under 400 miles, overnighting in Bismarck, ND. On to Montana, tomorrow. Had a nice lunch, in Fargo, ND with Francis McDormand. ND is flat - part of the Great Plains. You can almost see the Buffalo herds kicking up dust as they travel. Ran into a bit of rain this aft - funny how storms here are different - they have things spinning in them. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill - 29 Buick Posted July 12, 2023 Author Share Posted July 12, 2023 Day 5 & 6 First, a clarification on the tornado shot in my last email. I don’t know if it was a real tornado as I decided to give it a wide birth. But, I did see Dorothy hitchhiking at the side of the road. Day 5: Yesterday started well but ended badly - which was the reason there wasn’t a report, yesterday. I was just too tired ! It was very hot (32+) and the car heated up massively - enough to cause it to vapour lock - making it run badly and backfire. So, from about 2 to 8PM, I struggled along before getting to Billings, MT. Struggling means going 45MPH and 30 up hills while all the other traffic was going 80 - the legal max. in MT. Embarrassing ! Enjoyed some nice views as the great plains transitioned into a miniature Grand Canyon. And there was wildlife around. I pulled off and spent about 2 hours fiddling with things to try and improve the performance and also to let the car cool off, but everything I did, didn’t help much. Finally got to Billings, MT and after about 12 hours in a hot, uncooperative car, just crashed. Had a friend, Richard, advise that putting about 3% diesel into the gas will help lower the boiling point and help to prevent vapour lock. Who knew I could make my 29 Buick a hybrid. Day 6: If yesterday was difficult, today was GREAT ! Temp. was cooler / about 23, tops and car decided to run properly - including climbing up the 6,000 ft Mullan Pass on the Continental Divide. Didn’t stay in this rest stop long. One of many Funny signs here in MT. I pulled into to Kellogg, ID tonight, a ski resort, and onto Spokane and tomorrow on the car show, about 60 miles from here. Lots of old cars guys stopped to say hello at my many gas stops. Most of them unable to fathom an old guy in an older car cruising the continent. But many of them supplied names of reliable (?) old car repair guys in case had a problem - kinda nice. More tomorrow’ish - after all it’s an old car meet and I’ll be kept busy with important stuff like talking about engines and searching for need parts + getting the car ready for the return trip home next week. Enough for today. Sunset at Kellogg, ID Billy 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuickTom87 Posted July 12, 2023 Share Posted July 12, 2023 Give you a lot of credit for doing this , I don’t have the nerve yet with my 29 to leave ny is a headache Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill - 29 Buick Posted July 13, 2023 Author Share Posted July 13, 2023 Day 7 After an oil change this morning, made it to Spokane and the car meet, mid-day. Now 4 days of rest checking out things around Spokane and the parts flea market and seeing old car friends before I start the 6 or so day’s journey home. And, Sunday, when I leave it’s supposed to get to 38 here. Sounds like an interesting day for riding in a 29 McL-Buick. More if there are in things here. Otherwise, on the return trip. Billy 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 13, 2023 Share Posted July 13, 2023 Good to hear you doing this, I just got an old buick and will be setting her up for distance driving all over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted July 13, 2023 Share Posted July 13, 2023 Congrats on another completed trip Bill. Good to see you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
364nailhead Posted July 13, 2023 Share Posted July 13, 2023 Wow! Thank you Bill for the ride! Glad you made it! Way cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill - 29 Buick Posted July 17, 2023 Author Share Posted July 17, 2023 Day 8 - The Trip Home Four days at the meet, 160 Buicks, 1 other 29, won the Pre-War Long Distance Award and Spokane is nice. Now, the return trip. I’ve started out early today (5 AM) as Spokane’s expected high will be 38 and I know the 29 will grumble even when things get to 30. Heading to Yellowstone to see Old Faithful. Bill 17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NTX5467 Posted July 17, 2023 Share Posted July 17, 2023 Have a safe and enjoyable trip home. After one "Old Faithful" meets another "Old Faithful". NTX5467 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill - 29 Buick Posted July 17, 2023 Author Share Posted July 17, 2023 Day 8 - More So, it started off wonderfully at 5 AM at 17C - the 29 was passing Mario Andretti. But then, around 11 AM, the sun warmed things up to 36 and things started to go downhill. Lots of vapour lock so I had the electric axillary fuel pump running, the heater fan on, the choke pulled 1/2 way out and one side of the hood was open and I was barely able to make it to Ennis, MT (390 miles), on the way to Old Faithful, by 5 PM. The good news is the car found a nice old car Museum along the way. And, as I strolled down the Main Street of Ennis, MT looking for a scuzzie bar for dinner, there was a junior deer crossing the road and wandering through town. Neat, not like the coyotes eating small dogs in the park behind our house, in downtown Toronto. More tomorrow. 23 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill - 29 Buick Posted July 19, 2023 Author Share Posted July 19, 2023 Day 9 - Old Faithful Forgot to tell you that 6 motorcycle babes (inc. 3 Blonds) from Vancouver, BC were at my hotel last night. Marlene kept telling me to keep away from blond motorcycle chicks. This morning, headed off for the 1 hour’ish hour drive from Ennis MT to see Yellowstone’s Old Faithful in WY (driving in, I guess, my old faithful 29 McL-Buick) which took almost 4&1/2 hours. Road construction and traffic. Car, of course, heated up but didn’t let me down. Arrived at Old Faithful and parked behind a hotel that reminded me of The Seigniory Club / Chateau Montebello’s log construction. I must admit, that the hours on the road weren’t really rewarded with a Cirque du Soleil experience. Before the Geyser During the Geyser Lasted about 4&1/2 minutes. Fortunately, there was an old hotel transport bus around to rescue the situation. And, the country side in WY was impressive. You can almost see the varmints hiding behind the rocks ready to pounce on the unsuspecting stagecoach (or 29 Buick) passengers. And tomorrow, on to Sturgis (google it to see what it’s famous for) and Mount Rushmore, SD. Oh, and sitting in a nice steakhouse in Cody, WY, I watched a Browning Shotgun commercial showing how their gun shoots cleaner and kills quicker. Wow ! More tomorrow. Billy 17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Buick 80C Posted July 19, 2023 Share Posted July 19, 2023 Sturgis... sounds like you aren't listening to Marlene very well cool bus! 1 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill - 29 Buick Posted July 20, 2023 Author Share Posted July 20, 2023 Day 10 - What A Day ! My journey out of Cody, WY towards Sturgis and Mount Rushmore started off fabulously. At 5:15AM, I pulled out and began the 350 mile, 7&1/2 hour trip to Sturgis, ND. I expected to see the motorcycle museum and the town of Sturgis (home of the world’s biggest motorcycle rally each August) and then motor on to Mount Rushmore where I’d spend the night. What I didn’t expect was the gradual climb up to 9,000+ feet in the colourful mountains of Wyoming. Car didn’t enjoy it at all and thankfully there were no other cars on the road as I ascended at about 20MPH. Finally got over the peak and descended to find lots of animals in the fields beside the road. First, 3 teenage moose, then baby deer, then a full grown moose, then another baby deer and not far away a wolf (hope she survived) and more deer and another very baby deer that did a hop skip and jump across the road in front of me and back again. Going up the mountain, the car had heated up and the vapour lock was back. Now, I was shooting to get to the Sturgis museum, after all of this, at about 3 PM. Well on track with carb adjustments, etc., I was about 20 minutes away and BANG, a HUGE blow out. Front right tire went pop and the lock ring that secures the tire on the rim went shooting off into a field, never to be seen again. Called CAA who transferred the problem to South Dakota’s AAA and they were there in under 1/2 hour (unlike another roadside service company who stranded us for 5&1/2 hours last fall and eventually didn’t come). Will try to get wheel / tire fixed / adjusted tomorrow morning. If not, will motor home on the spare. So, people are now starting to wonder if I’ll make it back home (about 2,000 km). The betting has started ! More tomorrow 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted July 20, 2023 Share Posted July 20, 2023 Sorry to hear about the tire, but you have the right attitude -- carry on! I'm betting that everything works out and you'll make it home in the '29 (eventually)... 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted July 20, 2023 Share Posted July 20, 2023 (edited) Sending good Buick vibes... you certainly handled the situation better than I might have. 🤣😵 Edited July 20, 2023 by NC-car-guy (see edit history) 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Buick 80C Posted July 20, 2023 Share Posted July 20, 2023 4 hours ago, Bill - 29 Buick said: So, people are now starting to wonder if I’ll make it back home (about 2,000 km). The betting has started ! More tomorrow What's the Vegas odds and where do I place my bet on you making it home! I think it has to be some karma thing relative to the blonde motorcycle babes you were going to run into at Sturgis... 😆 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill - 29 Buick Posted July 21, 2023 Author Share Posted July 21, 2023 Day 11 Had nice dinner last night in the Fire Hall restaurant in Rapid City, SD with new friends from Chicago, Larry and Kim. Spent the morning at a Goodyear Truck tire centre getting my wheel & tires sorted after the blowout yesterday. Then, off to Mount Rushmore - the mountain is quite impressive, but not so much the town. Full of typical tourists trap attractions. A bad selfie with the Prezs in background Then, travelled though the Badlands of SD which were quite green and didn’t look too bad to me. In the town of Wall there’s a store called Wall’s Drug Store which spreads down both sides of a city block or two, and sells everything - sort of like Honest Ed’s in TO. Heat was a continuing problem today. When I stopped in Oacoma, SD at 7 PM it was 31C. Lots of vapour lock but ‘old faithful’ kept on motoring along. It was interesting this morning as I didn’t get onto the hwy until about 9:30 but in the last couple of days, driving east and leaving at Sunrise, you literally can’t see when driving into the sun - and most of the roads are under construction which makes things worse. Pressing on. Billy 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
65VerdeGS Posted July 21, 2023 Share Posted July 21, 2023 You are a brave man indeed to tackle such a long trip in an almost 100 year old car! We met briefly at the BCA meet in Spokane. It was nice to meet you and see your McLaughlin Buick. Here you're chatting with fellow Canadians John B. and his son Jacob, hailing from Edmonton, AB and Kelowna, BC respectively. Hope you make it home safely to Toronto. GO BUICK GO! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 21, 2023 Share Posted July 21, 2023 I plan on driving my new Buick at least as much as you drive yours. I have been thinking about the vapor lock issues you have been dealing with, and assume I will have a similar situation which I would like to avoid. Do you think a reversal of the intake and carb changing to downdraft, complete removal of the preheat, or cycling of the fuel in a return to the tank might be possible solutions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Shaw Posted July 21, 2023 Share Posted July 21, 2023 2 hours ago, swab said: cycling of the fuel in a return to the tank might be possible solutions? IMO, bypassing back to the tank will work best. The carburetor float stops flow to maintain the correct level and causes the fuel to wait too long in the hot engine compartment. Bypassing back to the cool fuel in the tank via an electric fuel pump works very well. There is no need to change to a downdraft system if you simply block off the exhaust to the heat riser. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill - 29 Buick Posted July 21, 2023 Author Share Posted July 21, 2023 Mark: Send me a diagram of how you’d set this up when you have a chance. thanks. Bill 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill - 29 Buick Posted July 21, 2023 Author Share Posted July 21, 2023 Day 12 Rolling … Rolling … Rolling … … all day long. Not a great deal to tell you about today. Did 515 miles. From the Center of SD, all the way through MN and on, into WI. Repaired wheel held together nicely. Luckily, I had a spare tube. Now. I need to replace the missy snap ring. Lots of vapour lock but I seemed to over-come it with the electric fuel pump and choke in dexterous moves - somewhat like brain surgeons performing their duties. Am holing up (note the western talk from too many days out west) tonight in Wis Dells, WI, about 2 hours from Tony the 29 Buick repair specialist, where I’ll pick up some 29 Buick parts and hopefully get some vapour-lock advice, tomorrow. Then, on to the ferry to Muskegon , MI, on the east s side of Lake Michigan. An overnight there and home on Sat. to my sweeties (Marlene and LuLu). So, the odds of completing the journey change once again. More tomorrow. Billy 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill - 29 Buick Posted July 22, 2023 Author Share Posted July 22, 2023 Day 13 - Parts, etc. Today was a short driving day. 2 hours to Tony’s for parts, then 1 hr to the ferry back across Lake Michigan to Muskegon and 10 min. to a motel. Picked up lock ring so spare tire can really become a spare, again. Car ran as yesterday - vapour lock but controllable. Tomorrow is the last long haul - 400 miles to see my sweeties - Marlene and LuLu. Car will need a full cleaning, oil change (did one near Spokane) and about 15 things that have stopped working properly, fixed. These Buick fixes will have to wait until Sept. as the 37 Cord needs to become drivable before Labour Day, so I can take it to Auburn, IN to have the engine rebuilt. But that’s a story for another day ! Billy 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KAD36 Posted July 22, 2023 Share Posted July 22, 2023 17 hours ago, Bill - 29 Buick said: hopefully get some vapour-lock advice, tomorrow. Curious if you got any additional advice, it’s certainly unnerving when the surging and sputtering starts until the electric pump kicks in, but it sounds like sometimes the pump isn’t enough? The recirculating fuel idea sounds promising. Enjoying the ride in your 29. Safe travels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill - 29 Buick Posted July 22, 2023 Author Share Posted July 22, 2023 No additional responses. Bill 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill - 29 Buick Posted July 22, 2023 Author Share Posted July 22, 2023 Day 14 - Home At 3:30 this aft, I arrived home and was greeted by my lovies - Marlene and LuLu. Drove 400 miles today. It was cool and had rained during the night so first couple of hours this morning was wonderful. Car ran perfectly on mech. pump and stayed at 160. After the sun came out, the temp slowly increased to 180 with the electric pump needed at about 170 and the choke at 180. Time to look for a real fix. It’s too hard on the nerves to have to juggle everything to keep car running down the road especially through the ‘down to 1 lane’ road construction stretches. Just put ‘Old Faithful’ in the garage and will start a minor cleanup tomorrow and then a major fix-up on everything that stopped working in Sept. Total mileage driven was 4,596. Perhaps the Peking to Paris rally next ? All for now - it’s sure nice to be home. And sorry to those that bet against me. Billy 16 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted July 22, 2023 Share Posted July 22, 2023 27 minutes ago, Bill - 29 Buick said: Day 14 - Home At 3:30 this aft, I arrived home and was greeted by my lovies - Marlene and LuLu. Drove 400 miles today. It was cool and had rained during the night so first couple of hours this morning was wonderful. Car ran perfectly on mech. pump and stayed at 160. After the sun came out, the temp slowly increased to 180 with the electric pump needed at about 170 and the choke at 180. Time to look for a real fix. It’s too hard on the nerves to have to juggle everything to keep car running down the road especially through the ‘down to 1 lane’ road construction stretches. Just put ‘Old Faithful’ in the garage and will start a minor cleanup tomorrow and then a major fix-up on everything that stopped working in Sept. Total mileage driven was 4,596. Perhaps the Peking to Paris rally next ? All for now - it’s sure nice to be home. And sorry to those that bet against me. Billy So glad you're home. Thanks for taking us along. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 22, 2023 Share Posted July 22, 2023 2 hours ago, Bill - 29 Buick said: No additional responses. Bill May sound goofy but without any modifications you could try making your fuel "worse" and cut it with say 2 stroke oil at a ratio of say 50 or 100 to 1. Basically lowering the octane rating allowing the preheat to do it's job. Addition of a little oil wouldn't be that bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Buick 80C Posted July 22, 2023 Share Posted July 22, 2023 Amazing Bill!!! Always a pleasure to see you my friend and glad you're home safe. You always astonish me, bravely trekking the '29 to and fro. Enjoy the ACD event, see you in Hershey. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 22, 2023 Share Posted July 22, 2023 1 hour ago, Bill - 29 Buick said: Perhaps the Peking to Paris rally next? Let me know if you need crew. . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted July 23, 2023 Share Posted July 23, 2023 Great tour Bill. And great to see you too. Relax for a day or so, if you can. Haha...I 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NTX5467 Posted July 23, 2023 Share Posted July 23, 2023 Glad you and your McLaughlin Buick are back home for a well-deserved rest! NTX5467 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill - 29 Buick Posted July 23, 2023 Author Share Posted July 23, 2023 21 hours ago, swab said: May sound goofy but without any modifications you could try making your fuel "worse" and cut it with say 2 stroke oil at a ratio of say 50 or 100 to 1. Basically lowering the octane rating allowing the preheat to do it's job. Addition of a little oil wouldn't be that bad. I used a gallon of diesel with about 12 gals of gas each time I filled up to cope with the ethanol and 87 octane gas. Not sure if it helps or not. I used about 2 qts. of oil on the trip with an oil & filter change in Spokane. I also lost 5 lbs - so when Marlene tells me she has to lose weight, I'm going too tell her to come on a long trip in the 29 with me. Billy 5 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NTX5467 Posted July 24, 2023 Share Posted July 24, 2023 (edited) In two other threads in two other forums, using outboard motor oil, 1 oz to 5 gallons, is supposed to work wonders with keeping things clean and possibly improving fuel economy on modern vehicles. One forum mentioned the SuperTech brand at Walmart and the other one mentioned the Pennzoil Synthetic product. Both come in gallon jugs, but I found some in 2oz bottles at the local Walmart. Easier to carry than diesel, I suspect. Especially as modern diesel is supposed to have similar lubricity as prior, slightly-higher sulphur versions, but I kind of doubt it. Just some thoughts, NTX5467 Edited July 27, 2023 by NTX5467 (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Welch Posted July 29, 2023 Share Posted July 29, 2023 Bill : enjoyed seeing the '29 in Spokane. You are a brave man. Unfortunately, I was so busy, I never ran in to you out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill - 29 Buick Posted July 29, 2023 Author Share Posted July 29, 2023 Hello All, Once Again: Our friend Dag, spotted a wonderful surprise in a photo I sent out from Ennis, MT on my way home. She figured out why the deer in the photo was crossing the road. He was on his way to the “Elk Mall” ! Billy 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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