Good weekend. I had set a goal of driving my Hawk to Monterey for my birthday. So this weekend (although my birthday was last Monday) I fulfilled that goal. Kathy and I took the Hawk and left out Friday evening from San Luis. Here is a picture I took right before I left the shop to go on the trip. I was just admiring the carpet job she did.
Notice the vinyl edging she added to make it look finished. Filled up at about nine at night and got on the freeway and immediately wished I had finished the car a day or two earlier. Strong gas smell. Looking under the car revealed the gas tank sending unit was leaking. Not a lot but it doesn't take much to smell up the car. So being late adn cold I decided we should just role the windows down and drive up to the hotel and fix it the next day int he warmth and daylight. So here we are driving in 40 degree weather with the windows half way down and wrapped up in big coats and blankets over our feet and legs. But we made it and called it a day. A long day but a good one. Drove up in the 7-0 mph zone with the speedo sitting on 75 which is actually a little over 70 mph. Next morning I walked over to Wally World and got the parts I needed, sealer, thread and something to eat. Got to work sealing up the sender. Wife comes out and I hear her say "I need a picture of this". Comes back out with the camera and snaps these pictures.
After the sealer was applied and the stripped out screw was repaired (ala Mac Gyver style) I carefully and slowly turned the car around so the rear was facing downhill to allow the sealer to cure. That afternoon we took the car and went to the movies. Filled it up after the movies and recorded 12 mpg. Fuel leak and higher speed took its toll. Drove all around the Monterey area that day and so gas smell and a happy camper behind the wheel. Got the usual stars and pointing and some nice comments. Dinner that night at my favorite Bubba Gumps and all was right with the world.
Took ad road trip to Gilroy and Watsonville on Sunday. Filled up when we got back and recorded a corrected 16.4 mpg. A little surprising since most of that was around town driving. Everywhere we went it was the best looking car in the parking lot.
Drove home today and filled up right off the freeway. Recorded 17.6 mpg. Difference was no leak and drove with the speedo sitting at 70 mph which is 66-67 actual speed. Tach was sitting at 2700 rpm compared to 3200 at 71-72 mph. So over all I made a big list of all the things I like about the car. Made an even bigger list of all the things I am so glad the new frame and set up will correct. I could never drive this car on a long trip. These cars after 62 years you can put new tires and shocks and all that stuff and it still doesn't make them ride and handle like out late model vehicles. I feel very good about the changes I made to my frame and suspension and look forward to making this a truly fun car to drive. Right now it is border line scary. Freeway speed turns with a bump in the turn produces something I had not felt in fifty years. The dreaded wiggle butt syndrome. Now I can't wait to get it done and make the same drive with all the changes. Everywhere we went it was the best looking car there.
More as it happens.
- - - Updated - - -
Good weekend. I had set a goal of driving my Hawk to Monterey for my birthday. So this weekend (although my birthday was last Monday) I fulfilled that goal. Kathy and I took the Hawk and left out Friday evening from San Luis. Here is a picture I took right before I left the shop to go on the trip. I was just admiring the carpet job she did.
Notice the vinyl edging she added to make it look finished. Filled up at about nine at night and got on the freeway and immediately wished I had finished the car a day or two earlier. Strong gas smell. Looking under the car revealed the gas tank sending unit was leaking. Not a lot but it doesn't take much to smell up the car. So being late adn cold I decided we should just role the windows down and drive up to the hotel and fix it the next day int he warmth and daylight. So here we are driving in 40 degree weather with the windows half way down and wrapped up in big coats and blankets over our feet and legs. But we made it and called it a day. A long day but a good one. Drove up in the 7-0 mph zone with the speedo sitting on 75 which is actually a little over 70 mph. Next morning I walked over to Wally World and got the parts I needed, sealer, thread and something to eat. Got to work sealing up the sender. Wife comes out and I hear her say "I need a picture of this". Comes back out with the camera and snaps these pictures.
After the sealer was applied and the stripped out screw was repaired (ala Mac Gyver style) I carefully and slowly turned the car around so the rear was facing downhill to allow the sealer to cure. That afternoon we took the car and went to the movies. Filled it up after the movies and recorded 12 mpg. Fuel leak and higher speed took its toll. Drove all around the Monterey area that day and so gas smell and a happy camper behind the wheel. Got the usual stars and pointing and some nice comments. Dinner that night at my favorite Bubba Gumps and all was right with the world.
Took ad road trip to Gilroy and Watsonville on Sunday. Filled up when we got back and recorded a corrected 16.4 mpg. A little surprising since most of that was around town driving. Everywhere we went it was the best looking car in the parking lot.
Drove home today and filled up right off the freeway. Recorded 17.6 mpg. Difference was no leak and drove with the speedo sitting at 70 mph which is 66-67 actual speed. Tach was sitting at 2700 rpm compared to 3200 at 71-72 mph. So over all I made a big list of all the things I like about the car. Made an even bigger list of all the things I am so glad the new frame and set up will correct. I could never drive this car on a long trip. These cars after 62 years you can put new tires and shocks and all that stuff and it still doesn't make them ride and handle like out late model vehicles. I feel very good about the changes I made to my frame and suspension and look forward to making this a truly fun car to drive. Right now it is border line scary. Freeway speed turns with a bump in the turn produces something I had not felt in fifty years. The dreaded wiggle butt syndrome. Now I can't wait to get it done and make the same drive with all the changes. Everywhere we went it was the best looking car there.
More as it happens.
Notice the vinyl edging she added to make it look finished. Filled up at about nine at night and got on the freeway and immediately wished I had finished the car a day or two earlier. Strong gas smell. Looking under the car revealed the gas tank sending unit was leaking. Not a lot but it doesn't take much to smell up the car. So being late adn cold I decided we should just role the windows down and drive up to the hotel and fix it the next day int he warmth and daylight. So here we are driving in 40 degree weather with the windows half way down and wrapped up in big coats and blankets over our feet and legs. But we made it and called it a day. A long day but a good one. Drove up in the 7-0 mph zone with the speedo sitting on 75 which is actually a little over 70 mph. Next morning I walked over to Wally World and got the parts I needed, sealer, thread and something to eat. Got to work sealing up the sender. Wife comes out and I hear her say "I need a picture of this". Comes back out with the camera and snaps these pictures.
After the sealer was applied and the stripped out screw was repaired (ala Mac Gyver style) I carefully and slowly turned the car around so the rear was facing downhill to allow the sealer to cure. That afternoon we took the car and went to the movies. Filled it up after the movies and recorded 12 mpg. Fuel leak and higher speed took its toll. Drove all around the Monterey area that day and so gas smell and a happy camper behind the wheel. Got the usual stars and pointing and some nice comments. Dinner that night at my favorite Bubba Gumps and all was right with the world.
Took ad road trip to Gilroy and Watsonville on Sunday. Filled up when we got back and recorded a corrected 16.4 mpg. A little surprising since most of that was around town driving. Everywhere we went it was the best looking car in the parking lot.
Drove home today and filled up right off the freeway. Recorded 17.6 mpg. Difference was no leak and drove with the speedo sitting at 70 mph which is 66-67 actual speed. Tach was sitting at 2700 rpm compared to 3200 at 71-72 mph. So over all I made a big list of all the things I like about the car. Made an even bigger list of all the things I am so glad the new frame and set up will correct. I could never drive this car on a long trip. These cars after 62 years you can put new tires and shocks and all that stuff and it still doesn't make them ride and handle like out late model vehicles. I feel very good about the changes I made to my frame and suspension and look forward to making this a truly fun car to drive. Right now it is border line scary. Freeway speed turns with a bump in the turn produces something I had not felt in fifty years. The dreaded wiggle butt syndrome. Now I can't wait to get it done and make the same drive with all the changes. Everywhere we went it was the best looking car there.
More as it happens.
- - - Updated - - -
Good weekend. I had set a goal of driving my Hawk to Monterey for my birthday. So this weekend (although my birthday was last Monday) I fulfilled that goal. Kathy and I took the Hawk and left out Friday evening from San Luis. Here is a picture I took right before I left the shop to go on the trip. I was just admiring the carpet job she did.
Notice the vinyl edging she added to make it look finished. Filled up at about nine at night and got on the freeway and immediately wished I had finished the car a day or two earlier. Strong gas smell. Looking under the car revealed the gas tank sending unit was leaking. Not a lot but it doesn't take much to smell up the car. So being late adn cold I decided we should just role the windows down and drive up to the hotel and fix it the next day int he warmth and daylight. So here we are driving in 40 degree weather with the windows half way down and wrapped up in big coats and blankets over our feet and legs. But we made it and called it a day. A long day but a good one. Drove up in the 7-0 mph zone with the speedo sitting on 75 which is actually a little over 70 mph. Next morning I walked over to Wally World and got the parts I needed, sealer, thread and something to eat. Got to work sealing up the sender. Wife comes out and I hear her say "I need a picture of this". Comes back out with the camera and snaps these pictures.
After the sealer was applied and the stripped out screw was repaired (ala Mac Gyver style) I carefully and slowly turned the car around so the rear was facing downhill to allow the sealer to cure. That afternoon we took the car and went to the movies. Filled it up after the movies and recorded 12 mpg. Fuel leak and higher speed took its toll. Drove all around the Monterey area that day and so gas smell and a happy camper behind the wheel. Got the usual stars and pointing and some nice comments. Dinner that night at my favorite Bubba Gumps and all was right with the world.
Took ad road trip to Gilroy and Watsonville on Sunday. Filled up when we got back and recorded a corrected 16.4 mpg. A little surprising since most of that was around town driving. Everywhere we went it was the best looking car in the parking lot.
Drove home today and filled up right off the freeway. Recorded 17.6 mpg. Difference was no leak and drove with the speedo sitting at 70 mph which is 66-67 actual speed. Tach was sitting at 2700 rpm compared to 3200 at 71-72 mph. So over all I made a big list of all the things I like about the car. Made an even bigger list of all the things I am so glad the new frame and set up will correct. I could never drive this car on a long trip. These cars after 62 years you can put new tires and shocks and all that stuff and it still doesn't make them ride and handle like out late model vehicles. I feel very good about the changes I made to my frame and suspension and look forward to making this a truly fun car to drive. Right now it is border line scary. Freeway speed turns with a bump in the turn produces something I had not felt in fifty years. The dreaded wiggle butt syndrome. Now I can't wait to get it done and make the same drive with all the changes. Everywhere we went it was the best looking car there.
More as it happens.
)
Comment