'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
Great story. I have to ask if you posted that you were going to go on the trip before you left. I know a lot of people on highway 11 from Hearst to North Bay that are car guys that would of offered assistance if you broke down. Timmins is about 30 miles from highway 11 on highway 101. Nobody more friendly than the people from Newfoundland or most true car people. I am willing to bet help would of been offered along the whole route from the Canadian Poncho community if it was needed.
We had the same type of problem with the 700r4 installation in a 64 chevelle with factory linkage. In hindsight it would have been easier to just buy a correct aftermarket bracket.
Al
Hey Al! Believe me, I did think about it but with work and then the on coming rush of getting things laid in place, it did go out of my head... And you know, I should have but didn't get there...Â
I am truly surprised that no one had the car tagged on the "spotted" thread... I was thinking for sure someone would have seen me!
Before we proceed to the second day of travels, lets backtrack to the Manitoba/Ontario border... I swear from that point to Thunder Bay, it is almost all downhill to that point... which is great for going but I knew the trip back would be a different story! But that may have been due to the long day I had and after checking, there is only @15 meters in the difference!
Another point in all of this is when you enter Ontario from the west, it is a 90kph zone till you get to the #417 divided highway just west of Ottawa... although pretty driving for most, the slower speed and single lane winding highway with few passing lanes make it tough going for the LS4 to hover around 60-65mph... There are many warning signs about the cost of going too fast in respect to $$ and the amount of points to be lost at above posted speeds....
Anyways, on we go...
Left Dorian @ 06:42 Aug 29th-- 6231mi
Wake up and get on the road before sun up and head to Nipigon for a top up of fuel for the next leg of the trip.... was a pretty sun rise.... Fill up at the Esso and cross a bridge under construction, turn left to take the #11 Highway, AKA, the Northern or truckers route... (aptly named)
Nipigon,On @07:05... 6251mi--15.3L fill (65mi travelled)
The sheer cliff rock face and the lakes on the other side are cool to see... Cell service is spotty till Long Lake and then to Hearst, it is non existant to say the least.... The Wagon motored along without issues except this old gal does have a pinging issue going up hills and under hot temperature loads.... I have been using regular fuel with twice premium with no real results... So, I eased off the pedal or if I left the TCC applied, the lower vacuum eased back the timing to reduce the pinging...
No troubles to Hearst with the exception of a slower driver in front of me with a little import that wanted to stick to 55... "I can't drive 55"... (lol) Passed him on the next straightaway and continued on... while in Hearst to fill up, I always checked the oils as with every stop.. belts, leaks, etc. The old cars are a great conversation piece and with this one, the oddity no doubt, it claimed its' fair share... with the hood up, 3 guys came over, speaking French and was eyeing the BB...
Once they knew I spoke very little French, the proceeded in English... They commented how they knew of someone that would really want the engine for their project of some sort but I had to deny that theory as it would be a shame to pull the engine from a number matching car... (Insert Carl S. here) One guy proceeded to grab the firm upper rad hose to tell me that the thermostat wasn't opening... I tried to explain that pressure was good and if the thermostat wasn't opening, the car would boil over! Chat a little more and I rolled on down the highway....
Hearst, On @11:15... 6496mi--47.51L fill. (245mi travelled)
Mathason, On @15:25... 6708mi--44.27L fill. (212mi travelled)
The road was terribly broken up to the next few towns and I felt sorry for the suspension... On the return trip, they had the pavement removed, gravel and they were in the process of laying down new blacktop. The temps that day were in the mid 20's and as long as I was on the move, I wasn't worried about the temps... BUT, that changed just south of New Liskeard... there is a series of steep hills here and to my dismay, they were doing road work improvements... There was a terrible long line up and this is where I was getting worried... The original old 4-blade fan with the hotter temps, it didn't go well with me.... finally moving at a snails pace, we were on the way... with a water truck ahead of us laying down a stream of water, whatever the gravel was, it was soup... I was pissed that the car was getting slobbered with this clay and during a conversation with a GM A.S.E.P. training course pal of mine, Paul, I let him know it with my potty mouth barrage of colourful well put together words of disapproval! Tell you what! The guy in the truck opposite of me heading the other was had an extremely large smirk on his face! I promptly rolled up the window and brought my voice down about 20db's... Paul later revealed that it was the most upset time he had ever heard me.... (lol)
Rutherglen, On @18:45... 6874mi--36.54L Fill. (166mi travelled)
Motoring on, I got fuel just east of North Bay and to be honest, that was the deciding point to see if I was going to continue... The car, more so the 454, was acting strange... lack of power, more pinging and basically, running rotten! I managed to get to Deep River and filled up once again... and was not happy with the whole affair! Pissed off and worried about going on, I decided to get a motel room for the night to ponder what the heck was going on!
This time I filled up with premium to see if I could cure the problem. ( the problem I didn't Know)
Deep River, On @20:30... 6954mi--21.3L fill. (80mi travelled)
I stopped there with 6954mi on the clock... only 723 miles travelled for day 2...
l
-- Edited by 67Poncho on Wednesday 12th of October 2016 09:12:29 AM
Following along with interest. You've just gone through the area where I spent the first 58 years of my life. The pics sure do jog the memory.
Waiting for more.
Great road trip diary and photos. Loved the sunrise picture.
I had forgotten that I have videos taken as well... I went to them, took much better screen shots and replaced the one I had there already! I did that on the bridge pictures as well...
I would be a great idea if there was an attach videos option here too... (for the shorter videos)
Following along with interest. You've just gone through the area where I spent the first 58 years of my life. The pics sure do jog the memory. Waiting for more.
Great to hear! What town exactly? It is an indeed cool feeling to know that a trip like the ones we all have, bring along the personal side of the trip to the people having the trip as well as those around viewing it!
On a side note, I am surprised that no one has been figuring out the mileage (MPG)? Or, you guys have but are keeping it to yourselves? Please, don't be quiet on all points of the trip!
And before I get yelled at, I know I am not suppose to be taking pictures while driving! But it was either me or the car.... (I generally took in much less traffic conditions)
-- Edited by 67Poncho on Wednesday 12th of October 2016 08:32:02 AM
Hi Vince haven't calculated them all but I have seen 21 MPG and 17MPG over the most recent fillups, Thats not bad at all. Of Course that using imperial gallons for the conversion.
I'll have to check a few more.
I would guess your mileage wouldn't actually change too much as your speeds go up as that old big block is just idling along at the speeds you have to go in Ontario.
Following along with interest. You've just gone through the area where I spent the first 58 years of my life. The pics sure do jog the memory. Waiting for more.
Great to hear! What town exactly? It is an indeed cool feeling to know that a trip like the ones we all have, bring along the personal side of the trip to the people having the trip as well as those around viewing it!
Spent the first 25 years of my life in Kapuskasing ( minus time spent in University ) and then 33 years in Iroquois Falls.
Hint: break down my code name.
-- Edited by norontcan on Wednesday 12th of October 2016 09:18:08 PM
Great to hear! What town exactly? It is an indeed cool feeling to know that a trip like the ones we all have, bring along the personal side of the trip to the people having the trip as well as those around viewing it!
Spent the first 25 years of my life in Kapuskasing ( minus time spent in University ) and then 33 years in Iroquois Falls.
Hi Vince haven't calculated them all but I have seen 21 MPG and 17MPG over the most recent fillups, Thats not bad at all. Of Course that using imperial gallons for the conversion.
I'll have to check a few more.
I would guess your mileage wouldn't actually change too much as your speeds go up as that old big block is just idling along at the speeds you have to go in Ontario.
Do you still have the power problem?
She had gotten just as good if not better at time but the last fill really didn't agree with her at all... Yes, I use 4.54 as the litres for gallons. Like you said, it really didn't change much only in hilly conditions of if there was a wind on her snout!
As for the power problem, stay tuned!
-- Edited by 67Poncho on Wednesday 12th of October 2016 10:31:52 PM
A little recap of day 2 left me in Deep River pondering my drivability issue! Not sure about most of you guys/gals but on trips as such as these, I eat very little... I have myself so wound up and worried, I can't and prefer not to eat... I am like my own little computer, always performing internal repeat checks on how things are going... continuous self checking as it were.... Only thing is.... it isn't me that I am always monitoring! It is the car.... every little creak, twitch, click, moan, whirr, snap plus 50 other made up sound words you can imaging, went through my head... possibly the result of the near 30 years I have tallied in my working professional career with GM and my own shop, honing my ears to listening and detecting these noises...
With that, I was in a constant ear shot of every different sound the old gal was making.... From North Bay east to almost Ottawa is another downhill hike just like to Thunder Bay.... or it is my eyes playing tricks on me after sitting another 10+ hours behind the wheel and then everything looks down hill? Just as a quick chat to "Siri" on my iPhone, it is indeed a drop of elevation from North Bay to Ottawa by 130 meters, at 69! Unfortunately, the wagon performed at her worst in that stretch with one of her poorest mileages to date... something was wrong!
Remember, with the exception of the 700R4, this car is near factory stock... Did I forget to mention that this 700R4 is out of an '89 1/2 p/u and although it looked really clean including a nicely blue painted converter, ATF really clean, I paid a grand total of $100 for it... I drove it for a couple of months to get a feel for it and I gave it my stamp of approval for it to go on tour!
Not including the plugs and wires, it is still running points and condenser... not only that, it is still running its' own factory numbered carb and with the exception of a timing chain/gears that Cheviac installed, the engine, for all that we know, hasn't been opened. During the complete time I have owned the car, I am freely able to play with the timing via a loosly snugged distributor... Before I had left, I had my GM shop foreman of 20 years my senior, set the dwell on the points... first time in the period I owned it... I have NEVER done this because due to me being a Centennial Baby, this technology had already sailed before I got of age... HEI's were the norm for me and in 1991, at the age of 24, 4 years after it was installed on the fullsized trucks, I installed my first modified GM injection into my '70 2-dr h/t Parisienne in Goose-Bay, Labrador, my '67 2+2 Rag in '95 and my '67 2+2 Coupe in '97 with everything being stock GM parts. TBI was the injection of choice! (no selection back then)
So the next morning of August 30th, I was a sheer micro-second on flipping a coin to see which way I was to crank the wheel of the wagon.. left, backtrack west or right, to continue east and beyond... I went and visually inspected the car, oils, coolant belt and most importantly, to see how bad of a spot of oil the rear main was leaving behind on the motel parking lot! Oh yea, forgot to mention... The LS4 is like an old male dog.... leaving a squirt behind where ever she stopped.... SAME!
Loaded up the car and started east... Left Deep River, ON @06:30 Aug 30th--6954mi
A few miles east, stopped on the side of the road, downhill slope, popped the hood and brought back the timing a smidge.... she was really unhappy with acceleration and the ring of "ping" was telling me just so! Thanks goodness that it was still downhill before slowly leveling out into more flat terrain.... Stopped again at a bridge that was under construction and while that gal had her sign flipped to the stop position waiting to allow for on coming traffic, I quickly jumped out, popped the hood and tweaked the distributor back another smidge to hopefully appease the little men with tiny hammers to take a break and ease up on the crown of my pistons! Closed the hood just in time and proceeded... the gal actually had a smile on her face as I drove by... not sure why but I hope she saw something she liked! No doubt, the Wagon! I waved and smiled back at her! No need to be rude...
Since my focus was now 100% listening to the car, memory of the next while uncounted miles must have been the norm as my memory serves me no real detail to speak of... I know I stopped at Subway along here somewhere but the name of the town eludes me at the moment!
FINALLY! #417.. Divided highway, baby! And maybe that was some of the issue as well.... slower speed with the extra load... I doubt it, but one must try to summize answers to questions... time to wind this puppy up! Loved being back to my 70-75mph and having the feeling of making time... Nothing to report and coming into Ottawa, all was well.... Typical traffic jamming but I wasn't doing much lane hopping to try and get the edge... no passenger mirror and the amount of shoulder checking I did do, I had my neck snap and eye peel down to a science... I'd say no longer than 1/2 a second and I had from the passenger window to the tailgate scanned and processed! (lol) Buzzed through the city with the usual looks and stares.... I would love to have known and recorded all that was said as I passed or had been passed by all involve! (haha)
Continuing on to La Belle Province and getting close to the border, a very strange thing happened.... I was passing a trucker and before I started over taking him, this arm and a thumbs up the size of one of a baseball mitt, dashed out through the drivers window..... tooting the horn as I drove past, this huge, stupid as I called myself later as I went by, wave of emotion swooped down on me and I started to well up as though I just had put down my favourite pet of 20 years!! I have no explanation for it other than the fact, this was the first time my sweet adorable wagon had ever gotten that reaction on the road!! Odd to say the least!
As I crossed into Quebec, there is an overpass shortly after. I got my first well known pit in my stomach! No, not cramps! Out from under the overpass, a walking QPP with radar in hand was approaching the highway and although I was in the outside lane, crap, I said to myself.... a Kojak with a Kodak was starting to motion me to pull over.... or was he? NOPE! The car behind me got nabbed... he was waving him in as I went by and I was waving bye, bye as I continued on! I thought it strange as I was only doing @73mph! On to Montreal....
Since I was getting close to the City, and with the lack of ease to get access to fuel, I figured it was time to fill up and take one of the worries out of the mix and go through Montreal with a full tank.. I will just take the next exit that will assist me in just that...
Ever notice that when it's time to fuel up, you always say, next one? YUP! The next one was Rigaud but there was no towering fuel sign in the distance like the one I just clearly freaking passed but I had better pull in here.... Off ramp we go and I am going into town and I begin to wonder.... where the heck is the gas station? Down town streets I go and no fuel.... Heck with this... Illegal u-ee and back track! On the highway and not nowhere distance, gas station! There is a nice information center there and after filling up, another chat to what looked like a father and son pair! Chat about the car, again, the oddity of it and off again we go....
I was really paying attention here for exit #80S..... It's amazing what goes through you mind when you are wall to wall traffic and, to be honest, I was the odd wagon out! They know where they going while I was forever scanning every sign for #80S... I barely remember any of it till I got to my exit, expelled a sigh of relief when I got on #25S towards the tunnel... Before I got there, it seemed so long getting to that exit that I had the map live on my phone so I could track my progress! To my utter dismay, for some reason I had thought I passed the exit? WHAT THE FU%K! Where am I going to end up? I swear, the temperature in the car immediately raised an extra 30C... But, all was good! Headlights on, and through the tunnel we go.... YAYYYYYY.... My biggest traffic worry was now in the rear view!
Backing up 30 years, I took this near same route, all be it the #20 and then through the tunnel, when I drove my recently purchased '82 Honda CB750F from Brampton, Ont back to Newfoundland alone in June of '86! Strange how, with a recent purchase of a rainsuit before I left and near nothing else, I left Brampton without a care in the world..... no freaking gloves,no tools, parts or the never leave home without it, cell phone! Here I am in the wagon with nearly every spare part imagineable, tool, oils and cell phone and I am worrying myself sick! Is this what they call, your getting older? I really want no part of that.... (too late)
Not sure if it was the stress of the morning or through Montreal, for some reason, I stayed in the left lane and while bluetoothing my brother, nearly went left to Quebec City at the division of the #20! With a quick snap of the neck, shoulder check, I flipped the right signal and graciously slipped back into the proper lane that was to take me to Montmagney... I said to myself that if I had missed it, I would have pulled over, thrown it into reverse and backed up! (lol) This is where I made my first stop on the motorcycle and this is where I stopped for fuel once again! Pulling back onto the highway, I pulled a reverse of the Rigaud off ramp mishap and this time missed my on ramp... For the Love of God, Man!
Continued on with some rain heading to Riviere-du-Loup but all went well....
Made it into New Brunswick and into the hills once again..... Since the Deep River episode , premium/supreme was now the fuel of choice... Another one of my slight fears are round abouts! Not many of those here in my neck of the Prairies and especially ones I am unfamiliar with while it is dark! Got through the one there and while I was unsure I took the proper exit, I revisited my map app on the phone that reassured my decision!
Then, the rain started... Got fuel once again and continued.....
West Florenceville, NB @18:32... 7609mi--48L fill. (231mi travelled)
That's when the annoying nails across the chalkboard squeak started! Great, the squeezable clip that held in my passenger wiper blade was barely hanging on, the wiper refill had fallen to the inside of the blade and the metal blade was squeeling against the windshield.... Enough! Time to pull over! Fix blade in rain that lasted all of 5 minutes.... Found a motel at Jemseg, NB and pulled in for the night! Had to laugh, the guy behind the desk says sheepishly to me, it will be $85? I promptly said, "I don't care"! (lolol)
Jemseg, NB @20:40 with 7724mi on the clock... 770mi total miles travelled.
-- Edited by 67Poncho on Thursday 13th of October 2016 08:28:09 AM
It just gets better each chapter but I will make one personal comment, Vincenet, since I've talked to you before. I am surprised you end up worrying as much as you do. You being the talented mechanic you are and having checked out most of the car before you left I expect you would be confident in the old girl. I must admit when I head out for the first half a day or so I listen to everything but after that I don't ever give a second thought, it's as if I'm driving my pickup. You are the guy I would like to have with me if anything did happen though. Last trip to California last summer it was a broken bolt for tightening my alternator and that was 3 hours from home along the trans Canada. Took me close to 15 minutes to swap out alternators as the engine was pretty warm. Enjoying the story and getting that unexplainable feeling that only a road trip brings. Thanks for all the little details.
It just gets better each chapter but I will make one personal comment, Vincenet, since I've talked to you before. I am surprised you end up worrying as much as you do. You being the talented mechanic you are and having checked out most of the car before you left I expect you would be confident in the old girl. I must admit when I head out for the first half a day or so I listen to everything but after that I don't ever give a second thought, it's as if I'm driving my pickup. You are the guy I would like to have with me if anything did happen though. Last trip to California last summer it was a broken bolt for tightening my alternator and that was 3 hours from home along the trans Canada. Took me close to 15 minutes to swap out alternators as the engine was pretty warm. Enjoying the story and getting that unexplainable feeling that only a road trip brings. Thanks for all the little details.
Well, you know what they say... You, (I) am my own worst critic! I guess my issue is the fact that I possibly know way too much, if that is conceivable! (lololol) Nothing to do with what I have done, it's what I may have missed or out of my control that worried me... It really wouldn't matter if the vehicle was brand new... just one of those curses of the job! Maybe the fact that there is so much wide open spaces....
Other people go off into the wild blue with piano wire holding things together with not a worry in the world... unexplainable I know.... Appreciate the kind comments!
-- Edited by 67Poncho on Thursday 13th of October 2016 02:11:27 AM
I can completely relate with you Vince. After 30 years as a service advisor I constantly monitor for any strange noise in the car while I'm driving.
Me too, and that's driving a "new" car.
__________________
Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
I do not have a radio in my 55 even though I have one sitting on the shelf that has been converted to am/fm. I am like Vince am constantly listening for odd noises expecting the worse but luckily not a problem this summer. The little town with the spaceship just past Kapuskasing is called Moonbeam. Keep the story coming this has been an enjoyable read. I set the points and dwell all the time with my antique Snap On meter and am always get guys showing up at my garage to get their distributors checked because no younger mechanics have the tool or even know how to check it. There is nothing wrong with a points system as the points in my 55 are over 10 years old and my friend Paul's 70 Camaro still has the heavy duty GM points in his car that are over 30 years old. A little filling and setting every few years and you are good to go.The HD GM points were good for 8000 rpm without failure.
I can completely relate with you Vince. After 30 years as a service advisor I constantly monitor for any strange noise in the car while I'm driving.
Me too, and that's driving a "new" car.
I know, right! It isn't that I/we have to force ourselves into doing that, it is a natural to me a breathing... Now, with that, in familiar surroundings, I seldom ponder... I was ok even to the Ontario border... then it's like an on switch.... Crazy feeling to try and describe!
I do not have a radio in my 55 even though I have one sitting on the shelf that has been converted to am/fm. I am like Vince am constantly listening for odd noises expecting the worse but luckily not a problem this summer. The little town with the spaceship just past Kapuskasing is called Moonbeam. Keep the story coming this has been an enjoyable read. I set the points and dwell all the time with my antique Snap On meter and am always get guys showing up at my garage to get their distributors checked because no younger mechanics have the tool or even know how to check it. There is nothing wrong with a points system as the points in my 55 are over 10 years old and my friend Paul's 70 Camaro still has the heavy duty GM points in his car that are over 30 years old. A little filling and setting every few years and you are good to go.The HD GM points were good for 8000 rpm without failure.
Al
I NEED music! On trips like these, must have, even if it is just slight background, the hint of something... no country or anything fancy! Good old, '50's--'80's rock.....
One guy proceeded to grab the firm upper rad hose to tell me that the thermostat wasn't opening... I tried to explain that pressure was good and if the thermostat wasn't opening, the car would boil over! Chat a little more and I rolled on down the highway....
(I generally took in much less traffic conditions)
