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Made it back from KY, but with a ton of help from some new found friends – read on for the full story…..
First to bring those of you, who don’t have the full story up to speed, I drove my black 86 apx 900 miles from Western Mass to the Reunion. Averaged between 22 and 25 MPG. Car ran like a top. During Sunday’s Auto-x, I ran the AM session only (car #10). During the last run I began to notice a noise from the topside of the engine. It sounded like a lifter/cam follower problem, so after the event I pulled the valve cover and had Professor Flemming and Pat-in-LA take a look. Everything seemed normal (including engine temp and oil pressure), even though the clatter persisted. So Monday AM, I pulled out along with Mutant (Dana and his wife), Gyrhead (Paul Fisher), and Mr. Pink (Jason and his wife). My car ran normal albeit with the clackity-clack for about 300 miles (reminded me of a sewing machine). Then the clackity-clack turned to a more noticeable rappity-rap!
Everyone in our convoy pulled off the next exit to take a look and the general consensus was that the car should not be driven any further to avoid catastrophic engine failure.
Here is the coolest part – Mr. Pink made my wife and I the offer of a lifetime – he trailered my car all the way to my in-laws house (in NE PA) and he let me drive his car. I estimate that he went out of his way by 4 to 5 hours! I can’t say how appreciative my wife and I are to Jason and his wife Kim for this gesture. We pulled into NE PA about 9:00 PM Monday night, swapped cars (made sure Mr. and Mrs. Pink had dinner and full tanks of gas) and then they pulled out bound for Maryland (he was pretty adamant about finishing his trip to his home in Maryland). I JUST WANT TO STATE IT AGAIN THAT I AM SO APPRECIATIVE OF JASON – I STILL CAN’T BELIEVE IT! THANKS A BUNCH!
We completed our portion of the journey from NE PA to Mass this afternoon, running my 88 “SVO Wannabe” (it’s got an 86 Thunderbird TC drivetrain that’s been completely rebuilt) for the final 200+ miles – this one ran like a top. No problems, pulled in to our home at about 5:30 PM tonight.
2 thoughts as a final parting words:
First - the people of the SVOCA are the coolest, nicest bunch that I have ever met. This was my first reunion and I hope it will be the first of many more.
Second – Hats off to the directors and members of the SVOCA that put this event together. It was a blast. It was also good to finally put faces to the guys that you read about and communicate with on the board.
I’ll keep everyone posted what I find out with my 86’s engine woes. I’ll be back in PA this weekend to tear into the problem and see what’s wrong. Worst case, the engine may have to come out. If it does, it will be taking a trip to Ritter Precision Machining in Lehighton PA – he rebuild the engine in my 88 and it’s bullet proof.
Thanks again - Joe Turbo
First to bring those of you, who don’t have the full story up to speed, I drove my black 86 apx 900 miles from Western Mass to the Reunion. Averaged between 22 and 25 MPG. Car ran like a top. During Sunday’s Auto-x, I ran the AM session only (car #10). During the last run I began to notice a noise from the topside of the engine. It sounded like a lifter/cam follower problem, so after the event I pulled the valve cover and had Professor Flemming and Pat-in-LA take a look. Everything seemed normal (including engine temp and oil pressure), even though the clatter persisted. So Monday AM, I pulled out along with Mutant (Dana and his wife), Gyrhead (Paul Fisher), and Mr. Pink (Jason and his wife). My car ran normal albeit with the clackity-clack for about 300 miles (reminded me of a sewing machine). Then the clackity-clack turned to a more noticeable rappity-rap!
Everyone in our convoy pulled off the next exit to take a look and the general consensus was that the car should not be driven any further to avoid catastrophic engine failure.Here is the coolest part – Mr. Pink made my wife and I the offer of a lifetime – he trailered my car all the way to my in-laws house (in NE PA) and he let me drive his car. I estimate that he went out of his way by 4 to 5 hours! I can’t say how appreciative my wife and I are to Jason and his wife Kim for this gesture. We pulled into NE PA about 9:00 PM Monday night, swapped cars (made sure Mr. and Mrs. Pink had dinner and full tanks of gas) and then they pulled out bound for Maryland (he was pretty adamant about finishing his trip to his home in Maryland). I JUST WANT TO STATE IT AGAIN THAT I AM SO APPRECIATIVE OF JASON – I STILL CAN’T BELIEVE IT! THANKS A BUNCH!
We completed our portion of the journey from NE PA to Mass this afternoon, running my 88 “SVO Wannabe” (it’s got an 86 Thunderbird TC drivetrain that’s been completely rebuilt) for the final 200+ miles – this one ran like a top. No problems, pulled in to our home at about 5:30 PM tonight.
2 thoughts as a final parting words:
First - the people of the SVOCA are the coolest, nicest bunch that I have ever met. This was my first reunion and I hope it will be the first of many more.
Second – Hats off to the directors and members of the SVOCA that put this event together. It was a blast. It was also good to finally put faces to the guys that you read about and communicate with on the board.
I’ll keep everyone posted what I find out with my 86’s engine woes. I’ll be back in PA this weekend to tear into the problem and see what’s wrong. Worst case, the engine may have to come out. If it does, it will be taking a trip to Ritter Precision Machining in Lehighton PA – he rebuild the engine in my 88 and it’s bullet proof.
Thanks again - Joe Turbo
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