BCM Community
Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: Brian Diehl on February 21, 2007, 08:35:16 AM
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Well,
As many of you will remember I posted earlier this year about coolant in my oil. I decided to not rebuild my 6v92 and am instead putting in a Cummins 410hp ISM and Eaton 10 spd autoshift tranny. This Friday I will be picking up the entire assembly and hauling it home. I'm picking it up in Ogden, UT and should hopefully be back home on Saturday evening unless the anticipated snow storm gets bad. The motor has 78,000 miles on an overhaul and the tranny has 612,000 miles. Wish me luck as I'm borrowing a friends trailer and hoping I have no trailer issues! I've verified all brakes work, fixed the running lights and am getting the wheels balanced all to try and make sure I have no problems.
I'm leaving work early on Thursday afternoon and going down I35 down to Des Moines, IA and then head straight out to Ogden on I80. My wife and I will switch off driving during the night and hopefully arrive in Ogden around 1 - 2 pm on Friday.
Anyone know of any issues on I80 right now that I should be aware of?
-Brian
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That is one heck of a trip to make with no sleep. (At least it appears you won't have any time to sleep.) I would guess it will take you around 24 hours each way depending on how often you stop for fuel and how fast you drive.
My friends and I take I-80 out to Reno, NV and it takes us a good 32 hours each way with gas stops. (We only go 70 MPH to save on fuel and for safety.) We tried to drive it straight through on the way back with just two of us in 2002, but we had to stop for sleep only 150 miles from home.
We've always taken this trip during early fall so we never had to worry about snow/ice. I-80 from Des Moines to Utah isn't bad at all otherwise. If you are driving a gasoline vehicle, don't stop at the very first gas station on the edge of town as they tend to charge more than stations at the next exit. (30 cents a gallon more in one town!) Try to buy fuel in Wyoming before Evanston as Evenston charges more for fuel since fuel in Utah is more expensive.
Brian Elfert
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I'm taking my Jeep and will have a sleeping bag setup in the back for the non-driving person to sleep. It won't be the same as sleeping in my own bed, but better then trying to sleep in a chair.
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Brian-just check the weather first. Going through Wyoming can be bad. When you get into Utah, make sure you take the I-84 cut off to Ogden. You completely miss the big down hill into SLC. In fact, I used to take the I-84 cut off even when continuing on I-80, the hill is so steep. Then you also avoid down town SLC. Make sure you at least open the top of the transmission to inspect the gears. Make sure you get all controls, wiring, shifter, etc. Good Luck, TomC
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Brian,
Since YOU are doing the trip it sounds fun (what stories are made of to tell the kids).
Through this whole engine tranny process....
Please take lots of pictures and post them on your site. (trials, tribulations, and the good).
I supposed with all the power you will be mastering will you be considering trans usa racing?
Please be safe and if tired don't push. Night time and snowing in the rockies can be hypnotic.
Skip
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Brian, Good luck on your trip. When you get back how about a pic of your jeep and trailer with the load. I will be glad to hear when you are back. Be SAFE. Tom Y
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Brian, take a couple of spares for the trailer. Keep the trailer tires inflated to the max recommended pressures when loaded.
Got a jack that'll jack up the trailer with it loaded?
Wheel bearings are serviced on the trailer? ???
Be interested in how your project progresses! Sounds like a great adventure!
Post lots of pix.
Best, JR
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Thanks for the well wishes guys. I'll be safe and get back home in one piece. I'll definitely post a picture or two for the benefit of all those wishing they were going with! ;D
-Brian
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Are you also getting the wiring from the truck? Are you dealing with Shan? He's decent to deal with. I have had good experiences with him. If you need any help I'm available. Thanks Kent
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Brian,
No rush returning the trailer. I'm loaning the horse trailer to my buddy to move with. Sorry about the wiring problems. The wheel bearings were repacked two years ago and all we've done with it since is move a skid steer around out here in Wright country. We use the gooseneck for everything else. As was mentioned elsewhere in this thread notice that those are 65lb max inflation (cold) tires and I would put them at 65 for the return trip.
Fred
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There are a few better routes than down through Des Moines. Shorter distance and time.
Give me a call today. That's kind of my territory out there.
craig
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Brian,
If Craig's suggestion is to take I-94 don't follow mapquest turn south by Bozman go all the way
to Butte and take I-15. This way is an easy travel.
My 2 cents.
Skip
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Why not take I-80 from Des Moines to Utah and beyond? Is there a shorter/better way from Minneapolis to Utah?
From Minneapolis to Reno, NV all of the map sites say to take I-35 to Des Moines and I-80 the rest of the way. This is the way I always go on my yearly trip.
Brian
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For Brian Diehl it doesn't matter anyways, if the weather was good he should be there already. If he checks in before the return trip it might make him change the route back.
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Trailer Brakes MUST Work !
4,000 lbs of Iron on that trailer will turn into a THRILLER when you try to stop.....
Lots of chains and straps capable of handling 15,000 lb ratings for/aft and side to side.
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For Brian Diehl it doesn't matter anyways, if the weather was good he should be there already. If he checks in before the return trip it might make him change the route back.
He wasn't leaving until this afternoon so he must have jet assist if he is there already.
We are suppposed to get a fair amoutn of snow here in Minneapolis starting Friday evening. The worst part of the trip might be getting home.
Brian Elfert
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Ooops, I was a whole day off. See what happens when you don't have real job, everyday is Friday. ::)
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Brian and Hillary called me tonite (Friday) around 5:00 CST. They left Mpls Thursday around 2. Drove straight thru and got to the truck dealer in Utah Friday morning around 11:00am. The shop was still taking the front axle and other components off. They hooked it up and fired it up; engine started and ran great with good oil pressure and no foreign sounds. (It only has about 75,000 miles on it). They cut the top off the cab and cut the frame rails off behind the cab and set it on the trailer. It needed blocking to clear the oil pan. When Brian called me they were 30 miles from Wyoming already and planned to drive until they got sleepy; sleep in the jeep awhile and then get going again.
The roads in Wyoming Friday morning were totally ice covered. He is expecting rain in NEbraska on the return trip. His drive home is quite a bit slower because of the load; every time they hit dip in the pavement the rear suspension on the Jeep bottoms out - so he's keeping it around 60 MPH.
He called me to let me know my trailer was OK and to complain about my out of round tires. I told him I never noticed that pulling it behind my F250D ;) I told him I would update this post.
FRed
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Hey Guys,
Yeah, that rain in Nebraska never materialized! We got the blizzard with lightning instead! It is something for it to be snowing at 40 degrees! We ended up stopping in North Platte and got a hotel room for the day/night. The snow is stopping, but the winds are still terrible and drifting snow is now the problem. We are hoping the insterstate will be better tomorrow and will try to leave early morning and see how far we can get. We wanted a blizzard this year, just not on the trip! :-) Before we got off I-80 we were encountering white out conditions where the trucks 1000' in front of us would dissapear. Then the trucks behind us decided they wanted to go faster than 25mph and decided to reopen the fast lane. UGH! The funny thing was is they would get in front of us and then find we had been following a whole line of trucks and they would end up having to pass a line of at least 10 - 15 trucks to go faster.
We are safe and sound, no problems to speak of and really love having all wheel drive! The brakes on the trailer have worked great and have had no problems stopping, even on the ice. We got about 14 mpg heading out to UT and gotten from 8mpg to 12mpg on the way back. Our first part of the return trip through WY was with a tail wind and that is when we were getting 12mpg. The Eastern most part of WY and NE has all been with the North wind and doing about 50 is about all we could do at about 8mpg ( before the snow started)!
Oh, and I was not calling Fred *just* to complain about the tires! ;D I really wanted Fred to know how much I appreciated him letting me borrow his trailer. It truly has done a great job.
We also got to meet up with another silent board Bus Nut -- Kent. It was great to meet another Nut and shoot the breeze for awhile. It was also great to have another set of ears with as we started and ran the motor to help me know what I was and was not hearing. Thanks a lot Kent for coming down. It was truly appreciated.
That Cummins is one smooth machine! I couldn't believe how there was no vibration from it even when running at governed speed. I can't wait to have it in and working. :-) This should be one great adventure getting it all to work!
-Brian and Hilary Diehl
Stuck in NE -- lovely North Platte.
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Before we got off I-80 we were encountering white out conditions where the trucks 1000' in front of us would dissapear.
Didn't I warn you about that? :) BTDT. Can't see the truck in front of you and you don't dare slow down or the one behind you will run you over.
Don't get in a big hurry tomorrow. The storm is just getting going up here. It put an inch of ice down last night, and now we're up to about 6 inches of snow, and the wind's blowing it all into big piles. There's been a couple hundred accidents around the state today, and you know how this state handles just a little bit of snow.
You might want to consider coming up I29 to I90 and across, or up 169. The news was showing it hitting pretty hard down I35 towards Des Moines.
craig
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Brian,
Glad you're all safe and sound, I've been thinking about you and Hillary all day! I would reinforce Craig's advice. It is now 12:46am Sunday morning and its blowing and snowing out there real serious. I ran through the driveway with the plow an hour ago and its drifting big time out here in the open. I heard 8 - 11" total accumulation before its supposed to taper off Sunday evening. Take your time; you got your favorite person with you.
Fred
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Brian and Hilary,
Glad you guys are in a safe place. Hope the weather clears for you. In CO, I70 is still closed on Sunday morning.
Isn't Kent a nice guy?
For those who are interested in the engine/transmission source that Brian used, you can go to:
http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=1372.0