Texas-Big Bend

[sprdv1]

Enjoyed the lunch. Great to meet another EB nut. Safe travels!

Nice.. Glad he got to meet up w/some of us

 

[lonesomecur]

UPDATE #2:

I started to get a howl/whistle sound. Couldn't really hear it cause wind was whipping so bad. Checked into it and rear axle was low on gear oil. I had changed it months ago and haven't driven bronco hardly at all so I didn't recheck level before I left. Stupid mistake! Added some oil and it's still whining. Couldn't decide what to do. I'm a gambler so I said what the hell im going. I'll shift t case into front high and rear to neutral until I need 4x4. Well my atlas with 7,000 miles won't shit into front high with rear in N. I can shift front low with rear in N. So I remove rear driveshaft and leave rear t case engaged. The t case is rattling and grinding. Screw this! I remove pinion to look at bearings and they seem fine. Ring and pinion seem fine. So now I question is the howling coming from my t case. It's also hotter than hell and the rear end isn't. Anyway, I'm going to San Antonio to visit family and will get something figured out Tuesday.

 

[Pa PITT]

I WAS going to say I believe you rear end will be fine after adding fluid .I'd rather have the Lucus brand but it doesn't have the additive you need to add it extra. The Pennsoil has the additive for Positive trac in it.
GOOD LUCK.

 

[sprdv1]

Good luck.. Stay safe

UPDATE #2:

I started to get a howl/whistle sound. Couldn't really hear it cause wind was whipping so bad. Checked into it and rear axle was low on gear oil. I had changed it months ago and haven't driven bronco hardly at all so I didn't recheck level before I left. Stupid mistake! Added some oil and it's still whining. Couldn't decide what to do. I'm a gambler so I said what the hell im going. I'll shift t case into front high and rear to neutral until I need 4x4. Well my atlas with 7,000 miles won't shit into front high with rear in N. I can shift front low with rear in N. So I remove rear driveshaft and leave rear t case engaged. The t case is rattling and grinding. Screw this! I remove pinion to look at bearings and they seem fine. Ring and pinion seem fine. So now I question is the howling coming from my t case. It's also hotter than hell and the rear end isn't. Anyway, I'm going to San Antonio to visit family and will get something figured out Tuesday.

 

[Jeff10]

Hey,

Hoping you made it home safe and sound. (Or, that you're still having fun in Texas.)

When I read that you were driving from northern Indiana without a top, all I could think of was that you're one tough guy.

I hope you had a great trip!

Jeff

 

[Pa PITT]

Any updates on this trip yet. I've thought how cold I believed it to be.

 

[lonesomecur]

FINAL UPDATE:
I made it to my Aunts in New Braunfels New Year's Eve. Mentioned to her my sister had extra Sugar Bowl tickets. Aunts says "you only live once". So her and I got up at 6am new year day and drove her new explorer to New Orleans. Bama took care of business with Clemson. ROLL TIDE! Tuesday morning I called BC Broncos and asked if they could fit me in Wednesday morning. They did and rebuilt my rear end and installed a soft top all in a day. My doors didn't have weatherstripping and heater didn't put out much heat but it was much better than no top. Coming home was 4 degrees and inside truck was about 18. If I stopped and idled I'd get up to 30 inside.

Overall this trip was exactly what I wanted: ADVENTURE! I learned I'm older and softer than I used to be. But also more financially mature cause years ago I'd had to sleep on the ground and drive home topless. I'm planning to go to Big Bend new year same time.

 

[Pa PITT]

so just how old are you now.. I've plowed on an open tractor for 2 weeks one time back in about 1980 I was bundled up in a lot of Hunting gear. I really didn't get to cold. I plowed until Midnight each night. It was snowing a few nights but I just kept plowing . I couldn't do that now in my cab tractor if it was under 45.

 

[lonesomecur]

Pa Pitt
I'm a heavy equipment operator. Member of IUOE Local 150. I've ran many open cab machines in sub freezing temps all day or all night. That's exactly why I didn't think this trip was such a big deal. Well a Cat D8 dozer puts out much more heat than a Bronco and the cat doesn't travel at 75 mph. I hadn't been that cold since I was an apprentice who hadn't learned to dress for the cold. I started the apprenticeship when I was 18. I'm 46 now...... Old enough to know better still to young to care. LOL.

I wore wool long johns, flannel lined jeans, Carhartt bibs and coat. I didn't have the Arctic Carhartt's like I wore before we had cabs on equipment. That would have helped some. But for most part I needed different boots, something better than stocking hat and more time so I didn't have to travel interstate. Hell, driving across Texas gave me a respect for the cowpokes and outlaws that were doing it just 100 years ago. Their bronco had no heat, doors, or windshield. They didn't have a motel 6 with the light on either.

 

[Pa PITT]

Great story there .. & Yes those old timers were tough .. I don't know how they kept their feet warm.