Shake down / Shake off run? 11/26/10

[Metal Twister]

Wow what a day, and night for that matter.

My day started at 6:00am at the shop putting the finishing touches on some longer front brake lines. At 6:30 Moorehouse showed up to help bleed them off and help get ready for the day. At 8:00 Just Chad, JD Jamul, & a non member friend that will be call J.J. for now arrived for departure. We weren't sure how three of the rigs were going to work being it was the maiden voyage for all but J.C's rig. As it turns out the Hippo should of been the only concern. But more on that later...

We caravaned out to Vejas and took the Vejas grade up to Boulder Creek road into Julian. We all topped off with gas while I did some transmission shifter adjustments.  We headed down the Banner grade to the Oriflame turn and followed it to the turn off to the watertank where took a coffee break. That's when we noticed a good fast drip from the lower radiator hose on the Hippo it wasn't quite a steady run. Tried to tighten it but with out any luck. On the way down the grade there was more than the usual amount of traffic coming up so we took advantage of the wide switch backs to pull over and watch the traffic go by. It was all good being it was a beautiful day and the boys had never seen the Oriflame. it gave us some extra time to enjoy the views. From there we went so. on S2 to Butterfield and took another break while I filled water bottles and topped off the radiator. We then ran south S2 to the Sid turn off and did the El Diablo drop through Split mountain. On that little stretch I took a damage report and came up with 2 missing front clip bolts (The main ones), missing one head light ring with screen, Front driver side wheel well Rocker clearanced by tire, major radiator hose leak, and a loose shifter.

After leaving Split mountain at night fall we bee lined it to the ranger station for more water. After the flash lights were busted out we started finding more damage. The fan shroud had come loose and fallen into the radiator killing the fan and radiator in the process. All that we could think of doing was to pull the radiator and JB weld it and see if it would work. Couple of hours later we found that it didn't. We topped it off and reassembled it without the fan and started towards home. It was freezing last night and that helped keep the rig at 230 degrees all the way home. Short of stopping once because of a vibration, and finding 2 broken off lug nuts flopping around in my wheel covers it was a fairly standard ride home. Got in around 10:00pm


But enough about my rig...
Thanks to the guys for all the help and their patients through out the day and night. Without them it would have been a disaster. I was so in tune to listening for failing off parts that I didn't get a chance to wrench on anyone elses rig. Oh wait, they didn't need any wrenching   J.d.'s Toyota did great. He brought up the rear most of the day pulling C.B. radio duty. Dust in his face all day his rig never missed a beat that I noticed. J.C. ran a flawless day in the diesel and reported using 1/2 gallon of fuel for the day. Why do you even Carry tools Chad?   And J.J. Did wonderful with his first desert trip in the C.J. of coarse how can you do better than a small block Chevy. And hats off top Moorehouse. He rode shotgun with J.C. and was always the first with a wrench in his hand ready to do surgery on the hippo. Thanks again Dave next time we work on your rig.     Thanks again guys and I hope you write your interpretation of your day as well. I had a great time with good friends and enjoyed myself beyond my expections. Now that it's all over and I'm thawed out and had a good night sleep Id do it again tomorrow. I have a feeling I would have to pay the support crew though if I were to do it again. The rig works really well, when it worked. It handled well and flexed a little better than I expected. There was a few places where it was a bit wide, but I got over it. J.D in his yota and J.J. in the C.J. slid right through with ease.     I will post up some pics later in the day when I get to the shop. Post up yours if ya get a chance John.    








Looks like the front clip was loose here already

[Metal Twister]

High on the right, center, and low on the left... working our way down Oriflame.

[Chief Gunner]

WishI would have made it, but when I showed my Mom the thread where y'all got back at 10:00 she said she was glad that we missed it.  I don't think she is cut out for this type of sport.  Sounds like you will need another shakedown run soon enough.  Hopefully I will make the next one.  Great pics by the way.

[Metal Twister]

Great pics by the way.

Thanks, Dave took them!

[moorehouse77]

Twas a great day.  I think we all had fun but none had as much fun as MT an Lexus.  They had matching smiles all day.  Oriflamme canyon was spectacular.  The rains have turned the mountains really green.  Arroyo Seco Del Diablo was a nice drive as always.  It always surprises me how much the desert changes after a storm goes throught.  I think the Hippo despite her issues was right at home and seemed to just want to run all day.  Couple more tweeks and she'll be just fine.  Wish I had my Jeep but that headache would have been too much to handle on top of the Hippo radiator issues.  Thanks for all who showed up it was a great time.

Wish I had taken more pics but we actually were driving most of the time so not many chances for pics.



Dave.

[jdjamul]

Great day with great people, i had my share of problems to M.T. the s-wire keep coming off the starter and with no thermostat in the truck the heater didn't work it got cold in there here's a few pics ill try to put more up latter.

[Metal Twister]

Now those are some good pics.

[Mikegyver1]

Glad the Hippo made it. 

[SNOTROCKET]

great pics guys. glad to hear the hippo did all right out there.  

[jdjamul]

Looking at my truck today i found my damage on the pile of junk might have to sell it now, and here's a few more pics.

[jdjamul]

Here's all the pics i got, still learning this photo bucket thing.
http://s364.photobucket.com/albums/oo83/jmdjamul/frist%20run/

[JustChad]

I had a great time.  With Moorehouse as a co-pilot we met at Bengals at 8:00 and headed out to Viejas.  I never knew that road existed but it was sweet, especially when MT had to yell at the cows that were blocking the road.  I couldn't hear what he said but they took off running.  I figured it was something about needing a nice leather interior for the Hippo.   Made it to Julian without a problem and waited for those that needed to top off on fuel.  Caught up with MT at the school to see him under the Hippo messing with the shifter.  Got that fixed and headed out to Oriflame.  First time out there too.  That is a pretty sweet trail.  Heading up to the top was cool but going down was awesome.  The Blazer had to hug the side of the trail the couple of times it got narrow.  Dave was there to make sure I didn't go off the side.  He was quick to tell me how long a drop it was if we went over the edge.  It was a beautiful day to be out there.  The hills were green and the sky was blue.  Made it down without a problem and then headed down the S2 to go down the droppoff.  Always a good time.  Made it to the ranger station and tried to help get the Hippo back on the road.  Finally got it good enough to make it home and after filling up in Ramona, a total of 16 gallons of diesel the whole day , made it home about 10:30.  Thanks to MT, JDJAMUL, Moorehouse and J.J. for a great trip.  Any time in the dirt is a good time.

[DavidWymore]

COOL 

[chad reed]

cool pics .looks like you guys had a great time ..