Hotwheels Build-up

[cgbexec]

It so nice when something works out. I am very glad you didn't have to turn it into a planter. ;D

 

[HotWheels]

Hey guys changed the jets in my 670 cfm Holley Truck Avenger. Soooo much nicer, better fuel economy and and no stinky gas smell. As this trip gets closer I am looking more forward to it. ;D

a/c is now functional, just need to stick the vents onto the dash.

and bolt down my 3-point seat-belts now that the bungs are welded in.

 

[sprdv1]

Great to hear bud...

 

[HotWheels]

Finalizing the trip-prep changes now:

Amsoil fluid swap-out (dual filters soon).

#-point seatbelts are now in: Thanx NixTricks!!

PGR Starter in Now in: Thanx Ray2!!!

A/C now works: Thanx Chuck!

Venting the tranny cooler with West Marine ABS vent

Changing to Derale's fixed pitch fan courtesy BCB

Installing Perma Cool's Water/Fuel Separator to ensure the HTA gets nuttin but clean fuel.

The carb is running soooo nice with the smaller SJets.

Thanx for posting those pics Mad.

 

[1975stroppebaja]

I would make a new thread for those

 

[HotWheels]

Hawaii to MD in our Bronco

I was going to do a write-up but realized that will not happen as I am retiring from the Army, taking on a new job, working on my Masters degree and looking for a new puppy pal as you all know Nick (along with my g-mother and father) have all too recently went to the crossing at the end of the trail.

I decided to post some pics of the trip for those of you that are planning to ever (and you should!) drive your bronco x-country. I will post the pics and come back and do a write-up for each one after I have them all arranged. I hope you enjoy them as much as Sandra and I did.

So we say Aloha to our Son, Granddaughter, Madguyver and the islands for now....

 

[HotWheels]

First Stop Seattle!!

We chose to ship the Bronco to Seattle instead of just installing a long snorkel or larger tires:

ahhh...wonderful sunny Seattle..%)

 

[HotWheels]

Oregon

Space Holder for Oregon and SOB Photos

 

[HotWheels]

Kalifornia

Drove down to WildHorses to pick up part I never received. Not a very friendly bunch (that day anyways) so we headed out quickly. Then off to San Francisco.

 

[HotWheels]

The Mojave Dessert

Thank goodness for BCB and a/c!!

 

[HotWheels]

Vegas baby vegas!

Never been to Las Vegas before. So we stopped in to visit some Hawaiian friends of our 27yo son (that's right I'm going to be 47 this weekend!!):-X

Sandra would kill me if I let on how old she was...

We stayed at the Venetian Hotel...that's the picture with the Bronco in front of it. Soooo many ppl were given us the thumbs up and one guy tried to right me a check for 20k.

The Bronco trip ALMOST ended there...

On the way into vegas there were alot of security check lines as there was a prison breakout of 8 inmates

I tell you this if it wasn't for the BCbronco A/C we woulda been toasted.

The view of the sunset from our hotel was beautiful.

Had to go across the damn dam on the way out...you know we had to throw some silver dollars off THAT.

 

[HotWheels]

El Mariachi!

La Musica! Good music...Hurricane Gustav brewing in the background, lightning, thunder, winds and rain heading our way

The first photo is called the Star of El Paso. It's was constructed on the tail end of the Rocky Mountains and stays lit until our troops our home; crap camera, sry.

You can see our Bronco in the background. She fits in at any fiesta!

Another great thing about Texas....Sonic!!!

 

[HotWheels]

BCBronco's Vendor with heart!

These people are a reason to move to Texas with your Bronco. Never have Sandra and I felt so welcome. Went to lunch with he whole gang; a day well spent.

 

[HotWheels]

Change in Plans

We were going to go into Louisiana then Florida and up the coast but due to a slight issue of 1000's of people evacuating the area we deciding to turn North.

 

[1975stroppebaja]

Great pics Mick! Keep 'em comin!

 

[HotWheels]

It was night time when we decided to get outta the hurricanes path and try and avoid the mass exodus of people from Southern Texas. There we cars tuned over like strange looking turtles on the sides of the roads as Sandra and I drove through Texas in 60mph lightning strikes, winds, heavy rain. The police officers on the scenes just stared as our little Bronco chugged by at 40mph through the carnage.

I was scary, dark and late or I'd have pictures.%)

Here's something funny:

I let Sandra drive (yeah she loves trucks!). As shes pulling out of the gas station off of I-10 out of El Paso we see flashing light and hear the whoop-whoop of a police car!

SHE gets pulled over for not using her turn signal!!

We did however stop in San Antonio for the night...Texas is BIG!!!

Does she try and get out of the ticket? NOPE!! She tells the officer (and not very politely) that she ALWAYS uses her turn signal and he was mistaken or couldn't see the light very well.;D

I get out and check the light. It was burned out due to the heavy rains and 120dg weather most likely (by the way this was the only malfunction the entire trip).:-*

So she got a warning.

Here's the kicker:

The noobie officer wrote the ticket for a 1977 JEEP!!!!! :-X

Well, had we been driving a Jeep we woulda deserved the warning I think.

(I'll probably scan the warning he gave in to show ya'll I'm not joshin')


We did however stop in San Antonio as anyone who's ever been knows Texas is BIG!

 

[HotWheels]

So we got outta dodge safely and after a good nights rest we made a bee-line for Suzy's place. We got there late but she's a hard working gal. She even gave us a tour of the new facility. Again, Suzy is a stellar individual...the apple does NOT fall far from the tree in that family.

..and since we where there...u gotta eat SOMEWHERE...

 

[HotWheels]

Time to Bivouac

Then it was time to find a place and pitch our tent, set out the us flag and call a place home again by the Chesapeake Bay (last photo).

During this trip we said aloha to some awesome peeps for a bit, visited my mom, went to SOB for some dunes (still waiting on t-shirts mr. Cheney ), Sandra shot craps for the first time, visited a 95yo godchild of Poncho Villa, sang and danced with mariachis, ate ALOT of junk food, ate BBQ, out raced hurricane Gustav, payed respects to Bruce Lee, Jimi Henrdix, Elvis, visited fellow bronco brothers and sisters, found a new place, went to the MEB round-up (great meeting everyone and doing some trails!), retired (after 28 years-finally-July 4th was actually my Independence day).

Many thought I was crazy for building this old rig for a daily driver. There we're arguments with Many on what I was doing. Many of you also contributed time, blood and karma to the realization of a vision I had. I worked on this while preparing for deployment to Iraq, when injured and in foot casts and after shoulder surgery.

With the maiden voyage of Hotwheels I call this thread now complete; for what is a build without a comprehensive test to prove itself.

Hotwheels is no garage queen; so in your face non-believers!

Aloha and Mahalo to you all.



Mick-n-Minn

p.s. w/o a true friend like Seabiscut this would have NEVER have been possible.