I Don't Need No Stinking Truck!!!

[Frank Lee]

Yup. Twas a distress sale. Only one person on this Earth, maybe two (you?) would have bought it. Overheating, smoking, steaming, knocking, leaking, heater was bypassed, you name it, to the uninitiated it looked like it was ready for the crusher.... so to me, it was perfect!!!

Found out after much diagnostic fooling around that the PLASTIC water pump impeller imploded! And the oil filter was LOOSE and dripping oil on the hot exhaust.





Look at that broken up pile of poo on the left, while the replacement is made of good ol' CAST IRON!

I don't know for sure yet but I think she's good to go. There's a good chance the head(s) are cracked, what with all the severe coolant loss and overheating, but it isn't throwing clouds of steam out the exhaust so maybe I dodged a bullet? It has the hot rod 24v Yamaha engine.

It's a 30 mile drive so I think someone else can have the remaining tarps if they want 'em.

[Christ]

Of course I'd have bought it.

Remember Cara? She was in similar straits, owner suggested (in his infinite knowledge) to just "replace the engine". $80 later, she ran perfect.

Water pump impeller had sheared the shaft (somehow, never figured that one out), and was causing overheating of the engine. Also, the t-belt was missing a few teeth, and there was ice in the heater core (no damage).

2 days of sorting it out, and I drove her for something like a year, more than 10k miles, and still got $2500 from her when she was totaled, after working the piss outta her hauling stuff (like the 'Wing that I've got.)

PS - You interested in some pics of that hitch setup?

[Frank Lee]

Sher.

I'd never in all my decades of wrenching come across a water pump failure like that, so I had to thrash around quite a bit before it came to me. There were NO external signs of water pump failure at all- no noises, no seepage from the weep hole, nothing. I finally disconnected an upper rad hose and started it, expecting to see water shoot out all over, and water did come out but not with much force. Since I'd already R&R'd the thermostat and it passed the boiling pan test, I was at the end of my rope and decided to pull the pump... not real easy on this buggy! Those Sables are something else; just about all the cooling system work gets done from underneath, after you pull a chin pan, inner fender, and various braces and such out. Can't even pull the rad cap and look into the rad to see flow, blockage, etc.; the "overflow" tank takes care of all that now.

[Christ]

LOL - I just about had to pull the engine to get to the 2.4's water pump. There's 1.75" clearance between the front of the engine and the frame rail, and that's not even enough to get the mount removed without lifting the engine slightly after loosening it. Damn Chrysler for their tight-fitting jeans.

I'll get you some crappy celly pics tomorrow while I'm at my Father's, taking pics of my new Golf Diesel. (Long story, that one.)

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Sadly, I'm only getting average fe with the Honda. The tires and suspension are over-inflated, the carbs' idle jets leaned and idle speed minimized, stereo removed, brakes serviced so no excess drag, etc., but so far ave fe is 32.22 and I hear 32 is average for these.

That is sad, because I average 26-27 mpg in the '88 Toyota 4WD - and (since I mostly drive the Insight) almost all of my driving in it involves rough dirt, loads of firewood or hay, or deep snow.

[Frank Lee]

I have to endure a lot of city driving here. I'm used to 1) getting in vehicle 2) going to destination. Here, I 1) get in vehicle 2) accel, slow down, brake, stop, wait, repeat ad infinitum.

It will be interesting to see what it would get if I only ran down the freeway for a tank. I've been maxing out at 60 mph.

[Christ]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I have to endure a lot of city driving here. I'm used to 1) getting in vehicle 2) going to destination. Here, I 1) get in vehicle 2) accel, slow down, brake, stop, wait, repeat ad infinitum.

It will be interesting to see what it would get if I only ran down the freeway for a tank. I've been maxing out at 60 mph.

Should be right at 40-ish, I think.

Better gearing and some real aero packaging of the luggage, fairing, etc... would net you nearly 60 in the same conditions. That bike has alot of A that's "technically" hidden, doesn't show in a frontal view, but the air still sees it as it closes in around the fairing edges, then hits the bags with a vengeance.

[Frank Lee]

I'm not that optimistic. I don't think the drivetrain is up to high efficiency, even if the gearing and aero were all sorted out.

Cruise rpm is about 3500 at 60 mph.

This thing is sposta weigh about 700 lbs., so with fuel and me it's pushing 1/2 ton. I should try to figure the frontal area- it's gotta be massive. And to make matters worse, I really need to fit the taller aftermarket windshield (that's sitting in MN ) as now I need to crouch down to get out of turbulence. Of course even better from an aero perspective would be to lower the seat so that the std windshield becomes the right height for me. But the seat is nice and cushy and I ain't gonna mess it up. Plus, my legs will only fold up so far.

I'd expect a noticeable gain if auto tires were fitted. It just doesn't seem to coast all that well and I don't think aero is the culprit. I know the brakes aren't the culprit either- well, any worse than any old disc brake is.

I think averaging a sorta consistant 40 would be a miracle.

[ATaylorRacing]

My neighbor used to have too pick up trucks and used them a lot as both dailey drivers and vehicles to move various furniture and appliance items. I bought a 3 banger Geo Metro to use as a delivery vehicle for rims/tires (8 can be transported at once and the doors still close) back when gas was @ $5 a gallon. He did some hunting around and traded a 2002 V6 Chevy 1500 truck even up for a low mileage 2005 Neon. He bought a trailer a bit bigger than that one in the photo (has 13 inch tires) and he uses it nearly all the time now instead of the dually that he still has. He is VERY happy with the huge savings he now gets!

[Christ]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I'm not that optimistic. I don't think the drivetrain is up to high efficiency, even if the gearing and aero were all sorted out.

Cruise rpm is about 3500 at 60 mph.

This thing is sposta weigh about 700 lbs., so with fuel and me it's pushing 1/2 ton. I should try to figure the frontal area- it's gotta be massive. And to make matters worse, I really need to fit the taller aftermarket windshield (that's sitting in MN ) as now I need to crouch down to get out of turbulence. Of course even better from an aero perspective would be to lower the seat so that the std windshield becomes the right height for me. But the seat is nice and cushy and I ain't gonna mess it up. Plus, my legs will only fold up so far.

I'd expect a noticeable gain if auto tires were fitted. It just doesn't seem to coast all that well and I don't think aero is the culprit. I know the brakes aren't the culprit either- well, any worse than any old disc brake is.

I think averaging a sorta consistant 40 would be a miracle.

You're probably right, actually. 60's may be a bit too generous for that bike, partly because of it's size and weight... no advantages there, I say.

Boat tail it :P