Post date: Jul 23, 2016 1:30:41 PM
9:12AM
And we're on the road again! This time to Vernal, Utah. We're finally heading into the mountains and closer to home. Lola's not quite loving the thinner air but she's still chugging along. There's a good chance we'll stop at the Dinosaur National Monument.
10:00
Well, we just adjusted Lola's carburetor! She was starting to run a little rich so we thought we better go ahead and do it. Let's hope we did it right!
11:00
After much trial and error… we're still in the same spot and I think a few flies bit me. It sounds a little better now though so we're hoping we can limp along and make it to a gas station.
12:20
We stopped in Idaho Springs to get some advice at a car shop. It turns out it was just vapor lock from the heat and mountain inclines. We got some advice for a better route and we are on our way!
~5:00
We stopped in Steamboat Springs to pick up some smoothies. It's raining on Lola. Hard. I've got three washcloths stuffed in various corners of Lola's dashboard. Remember when I said she's not waterproof yet? This is what I mean. Despite my efforts, water is pouring down onto my speakers and into the floor. I put a towel where the drips are going so I hopefully won't have to replace Lola's floor one day. Again.
Post-Mexican food
After dinner I had to be my dad's designated driver. He had a massive margarita. Lola's engine is still acting funky but more importantly… my headlights aren't working. I spent the past 30 minutes or so on the Lola's floor, feet slung over the seat and head under the dashboard checking Lola's fuses. Apparently at least two of them are dead. We've fixed most of them but the breaklights still aren't quite cooperating. We'll fix them tomorrow. Or when we get home. Whichever comes first.
Dad's Post Script
Had problems with how Lola was running as soon as we hit the big grades on I70 just west of Denver. Limped up to just short of Idaho Springs, where we pulled off side road/frontage road and started puttering with the carburetor.
Tech Moment: Because we had access to internet and we had a data plan (picked one up from Horizon for a month - 2 GB for $50) we were able to surf the forums and various websites.
Ended up learning a bunch more about parts of Holley carbs and puttering our way methodically through a number of adjustments - idle, accelerator response, and fuel adjustment .... trying out various adjustments on the grade of the side road. Really made no progress and we were unsure whether to go forward or back (downhill). Called Paul (another tech moment) and got some suggestions from him - loosen gas cap, change fuel filter, run on premium unleaded .... and don't mess with the carburetor. While we were doing all this, guy drove up to ask us if we needed any help. He lived in a house above the road and had been watching us. Told us that it was downhill from our spot to Idaho Springs and his neighbor was one of 2 or 3 mechanic's in town.
So ... we returned all adjustments back to their original positions, lowered the hood and headed ahead to Idaho Springs. Looked for a garage where we could talk with some folks more experienced with running a car at this altitude (at this point we were near 7000 ft and headed even higher). Was a busy Friday so it took us 2 tries. They told us it was probably vapor lock and suggested it was due to a combination of altitude, ethanol in the fuel, and having a metal fuel line running close to the engine. When we asked about the grades ahead - they said that we had Eisenhower Tunnel in from of us (4000 ft up!) but because we were headed to Vernal by way of Steamboat Springs the grades would be more manageable. At their suggestion we put in a can of fuel conditioner and fueled up on premium unleaded. Crossed our fingers and headed out.
Limped over/through Eisenhower Tunnel (11,000+ ft) at just over 35 MPH with great relief. Things went better (carburetor wise), but not great, all the way to Vernal, Utah. Lola seemed to run better as we hit lower altitudes.
East of Vernal (vast area with no services after you leave Steamboat Springs) we went through a huge thunder storm ... exposing the leaks we have yet to deal with in the rubber (new) around the windshield.
Made it into Vernal. Fueled up (once again on premium). Checked in to our hotel. Had dinner at a great Mexican restaurant (I had a large Patron margarita). On the way back from dinner - Shaelyn was driving of course - we noticed that the lights seemed pretty dim. It was almost dark by the time we realized they were not working. Right before we pulled into the motel parking lot we were passed (slowly) by a Utah State Trooper. Turns out we had some blown fuses (from water leak?). We carry spares, so Shaelyn replaced them. Got the taillights working (yea!) but not the brakes (maybe a short).
Up in the room researching our route for tomorrow and vapor lock.
Wonder what tomorrow will bring. That said, was grateful we had made it to Vernal .... and that I found a place to have a great margarita in Utah/Morman country).