there will be a Roadmaster work party Monday Jan. 11, 2016 in Jonesville, NC at Ken Nick's shop:  Eclectic Rods and Restorations  134 Bluff St.

We hope to fix:  fuel gauge and the heater valve leak

and several other niggly things if time allows:  courtesy lights, rattles, leaks, holes in floors & "trunk" area,

Ya'll come  PJ

RM jobs done Jan.-11-2016

Used black roof flashing caulk to seal holes underneath. This should help keep water out temporarily. We are beginning to see a rust bubbles on the rockers near the back of the doors.
Welded exhaust it no longer leaks or rattles
Fixed fuel leak at carb fitting
Adjusted headlights
Tightened alternator belt
Fixed windscreen washer ;  it is our opinion that the windshield should be replaced PJ can get this done for about $350 in Winston-Salem poor visibility driving into the sunset or the sunrise.
Recently new rear tires oil changed and lubed diff  & tranny oil ok
Claybar cleaned waxed and polished carpets cleaned vinyl seats cleaned   Added 2 USB ports on portable cigar lighter adapter
An old semi-smart phone was donated   it has an eclectic mix of music and you can text or email if you're in Wi-Fi
A big thank you to all of the following: Carl Floyd, Ken Nicks, Patricia Nicks, Clyde Hollar, Lance Harrington, Danny Jacob. And anybody else I might have forgotten.


A good time was had by all.



Submitted by your somewhat dyslexic scribe



the director of transportation for badass



also known as RoadMeister

PJ

Dan & Jim, here are a few things we did not complete yesterday:

Rm to do list as of January 12, 2016

Carl thinks we would need to pull the dashboard to fix some of the following:
Heater defroster control cables
Power to the fan for heat and defrost
Gauges (parts and a new capacitor are in the car)
Install the steering column (it is in the car)
 map light or courtesy light located near the radio
Installing under the dash radio antenna
Not related to the work in or near the dashboard but the other big job is to replace the cooling system overflow tank with a smaller one fabricated by jim Blackwood in order to fit the new bonnet.

I'd be happy to do the work on the tank if you guys will mark it up and send it to me. Might even anodize it.

Jim

OK Jim will do, I'm going to try to twist Carl's arm and get him to drive over to NC again in Feb.

BTW do you like Cuban cigars, I'll get you one, we r going there next week

RM performed fine sans coolant overflow tank these last few s as I drove from Jonesville, NC thru Winston-Salem then to Danville, VA and on to Moss in Petersburg, VA.  Just missed a tornado in Waverly, VA on my way to Zuni, VA and finally to Yorktown, VA.  Today I'm visiting a former HS teacher I haven't seen in 50 years.

PJ

It may continue to do so if we are fortunate, due to the large radiator. However, the high spot in the coolant system is the top end of the engine so any air in the system will accumulate there. This is OK as long as three things remain constant:

1) the flow from the water pump is sufficient to push most of the air into the radiator on start-up and;

2) the heat output from the cylinders does not exceed the heads' ability to transfer that heat across any bubbles to the surrounding coolant.

3) you maintain the coolant system in as close to full condition as possible.

Even so we may be developing hot spots above the combustion chambers and that would not be good for valve life.

Please don't let anyone push the engine hard until we get the surge tank reinstalled. We could end up with warped heads. The damage could be done long before the engine shows signs of overheating because it is a local effect. I hope to have the tank done within about a week, I'm waiting for some sheet metal that should be here in the next day or two, then I need to form a piece for the tunnel in the bottom (clearance for AC hoses) weld that in, weld the new top on, polish, anodize, leak check and seal. Then it will take a few days for shipping. So a 2 week estimate should be reasonable at this point. I have already removed and relocated all of the fittings, cut down the tank, cut a tunnel in the bottom, formed and welded a new top and smoothed the welds, and welded on the filler neck. About half of the work is done. The tank will be about 1-1/2" shorter and have maybe a half gallon capacity estimated. If the volume is not adequate we can add an overflow bottle, but I think it should be OK.

I added another 1/8" port for the 2nd vent line that was "T"d into the drain fitting, it will now be separate and can run along the fender lip. Put the heater and one vent fittings on the side of the tank for more direct routing of hoses. Also the chromed hexagonal cap was a casualty I'm afraid. I have a standard octagonal one I can send back with it though, or if anyone knows where to get a chromed octagon cap that'd be pretty cool.

Jim

Jim,
RM never overheated, I did add a little coolant almost every time I stopped  
 as it would expel a little onto the ground.

 And I watch it temp gauge like a hawk.  The single largest discharge of coolant was one time when the car was parked with the nose slightly lower than the rear.  That was from backing in at a motel.  Next morning it took 2 qts.

Highest temp was 200 in some city traffic in a construction zone.  I stopped and added a Qt or so.

1290 miles and a total of 2 gals total.  99% of the time the temp gauge set on 185-190.

cooling fans working as they should.

It was a good road trip and the gas milage and gas prices were favorable.

RM will be parked for the next couple of weeks.  The we'll install the tank.  You can mail it to me at 715 Jersey Ave, Winston-Salem, NC  27101


PJ

PJ, the tank is assembled. Still requires buffing, anodize and sealing.

Jim

pm Best to send it to Ken's shop:

Ken Nicks,
Eclectic Rods & Restorations
134 Bluff st
Jonesville, nc  28642

Ill be out of town for the next 2 weeks, the work party will be at Ken's on Monday March 21, 2016

Now we need a consensus on prioritizing the tasks to do

Number 1 is the surge tank

#2   ?? pull the dash fix gauges, heat defrost, steering column???

let me know

PJ

Just a reminder we will have a work session in Jonesville, NC for RM in two weeks

Sent from southern Oregon, having some grandson fun

coming up soon

10 am Monday 3-21-16 a Roadmaster MG work session

134 Bluff st Jonesville, NC

  Ken Nicks shop  Eclectic Rods & Restorations

hope to see you there

surge tank recently redesigned by Jim Blackwood, is now back in the RM.
just a few of the tasks completed at Ken's this winter:

exhaust leaks welded

tires, battery replaced

all fluids checked and or changed, lubed

Coolant temp steady at 190 F at idle or at 75 MPH no rise in temp in stop & go after a 45 minute high speed drive ambient temp 54F.

So what is the schedule? I know Dan Masters and Jim Watson are going to be picking up the car soon and it should be at Townsend, then they are taking it to Louisville for MG 2016 right? Then what? Where does it go after that?

I asked to take the car at that point but nobody ever responded.

Look, I know there is a big push to sell it. Maybe some of you guys have come up with a buyer. I know Steve DeGroat had an offer several years ago for around $15K. But please keep in mind that Tony Gentile just invested $42,500 in Greg Beishir's car. If it sells this cheap, I would not be surprised to see it on BAT or Ebay a week later for 3 or 4 times the money. This car would probably do well at the Barrett Jackson auction because it has a history.

But that's not the question, just a mindful caution. Every time you get in a hurry it costs you. What I'd really like to know is, what is the touring schedule for the summer? Should I make plans for garage space or not? I intend to reorganize the Lab and it would really help to know.

Jim

QuoteSo what is the schedule? I know Dan Masters and Jim Watson are going to be picking up the car soon and it should be at Townsend, then they are taking it to Louisville for MG 2016 right? Then what? Where does it go after that?  

Jim and I are picking it up on the 16th. We will take it to the Street Rod show in Knoxville may 6, then to the V8 meet May 8-11, and then to the local Car Gathering may 13-15. After that, Jim will be driving it to Louisville for MG2016 and leaving it there for the next person. While i't's here, we'll be taking to the local Friday night Cruise-ins.

I don't know what happens after that, but if you want it at that time then it's a settled matter as far as I am concerned - you should have it.

The Roadmaster really needs to be in Louisville for the entirety of MG2016 to give it exposure to as many enthusiasts as possible.

Let's talk about this.

Makes sense to me.

I was really only planning to go down on the 16th but I'm only an hour and a half away so it's no big deal.

Jim

Jim and Dan successfully drove RM from the car show in Dobson, NC to TN yesterday, April 16, 2016.
You guys let me know if I can help with any one way shuttle trips.
Brenda & I are fortunate that even after the merger/aquizition of USAir and American we still have stand priviledges.
So I am willing to help with transporting RM when my schedule and the weather are in favorable sync.


I hope siri and auto correct get the grammar & spelling all sorted

Thank you, PJ!

The car is home in Maryville. We topped up the tank shortly after leaving the show and topped up again after 109 miles with 4.5 gallons. That was all interstate driving at a steady 65 mph following a Toyota on cruise control. That's 24.2 mpg if anyone is counting..

After I got off the interstate headed for home, I got a little, how should I say - exuberant? and ran into the fuel pump starvation problem PJ talked about. The new fuel pump should solve that.

The steering problem MUST be solved, once we find out what the real problem is. Jim and I are certain it's not the steering column, but we'll report back when we learn more.

The car does get attention!

On the 6th, the RM will go to the National Street Rod show in Knoxville. On the 8th through the 11th it will be at the V8 meet, and on the 14th, it will be at the local British Car Gathering, both in Townsend.

re: On the 6th, the RM will go to the National Street Rod show in Knoxville. On the 8th through the 11th it will be at the V8 meet, and on the 14th, it will be at the local British Car Gathering, both in Townsend.


Who is bringing the car to Louisville?

I hope it will be there for the entire event (June 13th-16th)

As it stands right now, Jim Watson will be taking it to Louisville. It is my understanding that Jim Blackwood will take it from there, but that's not confirmed as far as I know.

At the Street Rod Nationals in Knoxville today.

Is that "The Potato" beside "the Roadmaster?  I like Russett.

QuoteIs that "The Potato" beside "the Roadmaster? I like Russett.

It is indeed.