Old Gen Caravan to WCSS?

[BoxerRebellion]

Did I miss this?

[capn_r]

Not unless it's after Sept. 6-8 

[marcusgl10z28]

 

Actually Marcus it was your excellent suggestion on the Tacoma Mall. I am hoping I can count on you to help for any setup activities we may need to do at the Mall lot. I want to scout an area in the lot where it is fairly open so as folks pull up to join, they can park and we can talk. I am thinking once everyone has arrived, grabbed some grub we will then depart. Are you on board with that idea?

[marcusgl10z28]

I think crispy cream area at the mall is best as everyone seems to do craigslist meets there... and the donuts kick a$$!!!

[marcusgl10z28]

I can help people with some authentic bullet holes if they want them... I've got a del sol I cut up to take to scrap with my parts sedan (rip)... ill post a pic for advertisment... you could come up with somecool stories about them!!!

[MR_Loyale]

I think crispy cream area at the mall is best as everyone seems to do craigslist meets there... and the donuts kick a$$!!!

 

Yes. I have just returned from a scouting mission to Krispy Kreme at Tacoma Mall. Of course I had to sample the product to make sure it is up to WCSS Caravan  Subie Trek standards LOL. The area right across from Krispy Kreme  near the blue donation bin seems perfect. I will update the instructions to make this the official "place".

 

Just to get an idea, if I buy the double dozen deal, all you folks are going to eat them aren't you? Cause I ain't gettin no wheat grass juice!

 

Just updated our itinerary post. Everyone please review.

Edited August 13, 2013 by MR_Loyale

[MR_Loyale]

Ok folks here is the official plan for our WCSS Subie Trek

 

COMMUNICATION:  Cell phones for long distance. If you are in Ellensberg and running 20 mins late because your radiator hose broke, call me and we will wait for you.  ON THE ROUTE: FRS radios. If you are not familiar with these, they are similar to walkie talkies but with a 2 mile range. No license required, no monthly minute plan. A pair can be had for about $25.  I am willing to loan some but if you can afford it I ask you to buy a pair. The link below is a good source:

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B004RG0YMM/ref=sr_1_8_olp?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1375735183&sr=1-8&condition=new

 

NOTE: Do not buy from Packet eCommerce Solutions (one of the vendors in the above link). They do not ship from California as they say in their Amazon listing. They ship from Ohio.

 

RENDEZVOUS: Tacoma Mall parking lot between 12:30 and 1:30 pm  Friday Sept 6.  Meet across from the Krispy Kreme(4302 Tacoma Mall Blvd) in the Sears parking lot.  I figure this will give us time to meet each other while waiting for others to arrive. I will have FREE FOOD - doesn't get any better than that.   Longview is about 1.5 hours away. 

 

Directions to the Tacoma Mall

 

Southbound I-5: Take exit 133 onto S  38 st. Turn left at the first intersection ont Tacoma Mall Blvd. and keeping going straight until you see Krispy kreme, about .75 mile on your right.  You will see us with a big Subaru Flag just beyond.

 

 

Northbound I-5: Take exit 130 for S 56th St toward Tacoma Mall Blvd. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for Tacoma Mall Blvd and merge onto S 56th St. Turn right onto Tacoma Mall Blvd. Keep going about
 

 

 

ROUTE: Tacoma Mall to Longview/WCSS site. Time about 1.5 hours. Arrive at WCSS around 3PM.

Edited August 30, 2013 by MR_Loyale

[Twitch de la Brat]

Thank you, for your excellent scouting and mapping!

My trip may be in trouble, as my EA82T did, what every EA82T does. Blow headgaskets.

I don't have time/money to do a full HG job on the car, so I'll be testing Blue Devil's claim this week. I don't feel like dealing with a miss and having to stop every 200 miles to add more coolant. Nor do I like risking overheating in slow traffic.

 

Twitch

[Bighorncrag]

Just a heads up for those who don't often travel I-5 southbound between Tacoma and Olympia: traffic is often brutal on your average Friday afternoon. 3 lanes wide stop and go for approx 15 miles, particularly through DuPont and past JBLM.

 

Hoping you travelers hit the traffic lottery and experience smooth sailing.

 

Jerry

[91_EJ_22]

Well you can. Cut behind jblm and its faster

[marcusgl10z28]

we could always take a nice drive through yelm using pacific... i could be quite a spectacle for yelm residents to see a group of subies running through town plus it dosent risk getting all jammed up and sitting in the heat... it my town!!!!  hook spanaway loop then pac ave to roy y and straight through to lacey then back on i5... traffic diverted!!!!

but if we stick to leaving at 1:30 honestly i pretty sure we should just miss gridlock and fly right on by... 

 

do we even really have a head count on here or what? who is all planning to make it im curious to have a count... did i miss it or not?

 

and not to start crap but can we not call it a caravan????... i like the term convoy or something... caravan makes it just sound like a bunch of minivans...right?... no offense mr loyal

Edited August 13, 2013 by marcusgl10z28

[Turbone]

we could always take a nice drive through yelm using pacific... i could be quite a spectacle for yelm residents to see a group of subies running through town plus it dosent risk getting all jammed up and sitting in the heat... it my town!!!!  hook spanaway loop then pac ave to roy y and straight through to lacey then back on i5... traffic diverted!!!!

but if we stick to leaving at 1:30 honestly i pretty sure we should just miss gridlock and fly right on by... 

 

do we even really have a head count on here or what? who is all planning to make it im curious to have a count... did i miss it or not?

 

and not to start crap but can we not call it a caravan????... i like the term convoy or something... caravan makes it just sound like a bunch of minivans...right?... no offense mr loyal

Going thru Yelm on a Fri afternoon is like being stuck in I-5 traffic at JBLM 

I've been making the trip from Bonney Lk to Rochester every day for 3mo+, plus the wife occasionally took that route from Lacey to BL if I-5 was messed up.

It usually took her just as long if it was Fri and during the commute hrs its horribad.

I bypass Yelm by going towards Lk Lawrence and come out on Hwy 507 just outside the town of Rainier.

Then its a straight shot to I-5 and Rochester.

[Mykeys Toy]

I am going to guess 8-10 but head count really doesn't matter we would be a group uneventful or not we got one anothers back.  my wife and I are planning to be a part.. two seperate cars though.  One old gen (me ) and one new gen.  Sounds like Twitch may not make it but He is trying.  I think there are one or two others from Idaho and whomever joins there group on the way through the east side of the mountains.. I hope they have a meet up point to go as a group instead of every person for themselves over there.

 

The other Alternate keeps everyone off of I-5 till centralia .. Goes via mountain highway and head towards Randall head west from there.  It is how my wife and I will be returning.. Sunday  afternoon traffic always sux and it is fairly scenic.

Edited August 13, 2013 by Mykeys Toy

[MR_Loyale]

we could always take a nice drive through yelm using pacific... i could be quite a spectacle for yelm residents to see a group of subies running through town plus it dosent risk getting all jammed up and sitting in the heat... it my town!!!!  hook spanaway loop then pac ave to roy y and straight through to lacey then back on i5... traffic diverted!!!!

but if we stick to leaving at 1:30 honestly i pretty sure we should just miss gridlock and fly right on by... 

 

do we even really have a head count on here or what? who is all planning to make it im curious to have a count... did i miss it or not?

 

and not to start crap but can we not call it a caravan????... i like the term convoy or something... caravan makes it just sound like a bunch of minivans...right?... no offense mr loyal

 

I am not hitched at the hip to the name Marcus. And you'd have to try much harder to offend me .  Convoy brings recollections of a movie old timers will remember long before you were born (10-4 rubber duck): 

 

 

And no, it wasn't a porn movie. The image above is very misleading. LOL.

 

The only synonym for convoy I get is ....wait for it...

 

Escort.  LOL.

 

On the plus side though, we would have a theme song:

 

Edited August 13, 2013 by MR_Loyale

[MR_Loyale]

I prefer we keep the route simple. Not everyone knows that area as well as those that live right there. The goal isn;'t to see how fast we can get there, it is the trip that is the adventure.   A straight shot down I-5 is easiest to remember.

 

As for a head count I am planning on getting an official one soon. Lots of folks are still trying to get time off etc and so cannot give a final answer. I suspect about 10 days or so prior I wll ask everyone to PM me with some info so we can know who is going along and also so they have my contact information. We are stilll three weeks out.

[Twitch de la Brat]

I'm making it. If my car is reliable enough to drive back and forth to work, its reliable enough to drive to Longview.

Hell or high water won't be stopping me. Even if I have to do a full headgasket reseal on that goddamn XT I will before WCSS.

I work at a Napa for crying out loud. I have a bunch of parts and a machine shop at my disposal.

I WILL MAKE IT. Blown HG's or not.

 

Twitch

 

PS: The XT is cooling off right now so I can apply the Blue Devil treatment.

[MR_Loyale]

I'm making it. If my car is reliable enough to drive back and forth to work, its reliable enough to drive to Longview.

Hell or high water won't be stopping me. Even if I have to do a full headgasket reseal on that goddamn XT I will before WCSS.

I work at a Napa for crying out loud. I have a bunch of parts and a machine shop at my disposal.

I WILL MAKE IT. Blown HG's or not.

 

Twitch

 

PS: The XT is cooling off right now so I can apply the Blue Devil treatment.

 

Was that the engine you just put together recently?

[Twitch de la Brat]

Was that the engine you just put together recently?

 

No, its a car I recently purchased. 162K on it as of this weekend.

Completely stock, all factory stuff, aside from wear items, such as belts, hoses, fluids, etc.

 

Twitch

[TOsborn]

Well shoot this looks like a ton of fun, I'm going to start looking into a time off request for work.  

[MR_Loyale]

OK it is now officially renamed and henforth this enterprise shall be referred to as Subie Trek. No extra charge for the double entendre.

[MR_Loyale]

2013 Subie Trek Pre-Trip Checklist Suggestions



1) Hoses and Belts - Check your hoses and belts to ensure they are strong, flexible and not cracked, checked or brittle. If your belts are over two years old replace simply as a matter of preventative maintenance. If your hoses are over six years old, consider replacement. For non-turbo  EA82 engines, replace that 1/4 inch bypass hose that goes between the thermostat housing and the block. Hoses and belts are relatively inexpensive and preemptively changing them is cheap insurance.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/12/how-to-inspect-belts-and-hoses/index.htm




2) Fluids - Before you leave and at every gas fill up, check and top off your oil, coolant, transmission and wiper fluids. Check the power steering and brake fluids and top off as necessary. You should know your car well enough to know if it uses or leaks oil and keep topped off appropriately. A small bit isn't a problem, but if your 1979 Subie leaves an oil slick larger than the Exxon Valdez down the interstate, you might want to bring it on a trailer rather than drive it.

http://www.wikihow.com/Check-the-Fluids-in-a-Car



3) Tires - Now is a good time to have your tires inspected for safety.  Check tire inflation and inspect the tread for uneven wear, indicating the need for wheel alignment. Also look for bulges and bald spots. Did you remember the spare? Do you know where the tire iron is located? Does the jack work?

4) Brakes - This is an absolutely essential safety device.If your brakes squeal, grind or the pedal is mushy, you need to get that repaired. If the brake hoses are cracked and brittle, they should be replaced.

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/the-essentials-of-checking-and-maintaining-your-ve.html



5) Pre-Road trip shakedown drive - Take your Subie out and drive it at least a 100 mile trip to ensure it will perform properly at least two weeks before. Note any grinding, shaking or other unusual noises. If your prized 360 hasn't been out of the garage in 20 years, firing it up on trip day and just driving it is a recipe for problems.

6) Have a contingency plan. If you just changed your belts, keep the old ones in the trunk just in case. Carry extra oil and coolant. Some basic tools such as a regular and phillips screw driver, pliers, flashlight and perhaps an inexpensive socket set are always good to have. Does the flashlight actually work?

 

Got any additions? Reply to this post and add em.

Edited August 13, 2013 by MR_Loyale

[Twitch de la Brat]

If you suspect a part to be failing, as long as its not major (like your transmission or engine) bring a spare. Its a lot easier to replace and axle on the side of the road if you don't have to hit a parts store when it breaks.

Also, grease all of your greasable fittings. Ball joints, u-joints, etc.

And check ALL of your fasteners before taking off. I personally lost a shifter detent bolt on my way home last year, and had it not been for Jerry, I may not have made it home.

So check all the bolts before you go!

 

Twitch

[MR_Loyale]

Ok folks. Less than three weeks to go. If you are coming from a long ways away, you should be road testing your vehicle in the next week or so in case a major issue arises so you will have the time to fix it and still make the trip.

 

Some more checks you can do:

 

 

 - Jack it up so the front  wheels are off the ground. Grab the wheel with two hands and try shaking the wheel to see if there is any play:  top and bottom - possible ball joint. Left and right - possible tie rod.

 

 - Check belt tension. A squeal when you hit the AC means the inner belt is loose. Adust the tensioner to remove the squeal. If any belt is over 2yrs old, replace it.

 

 

 

Free thing you can do to help a bad idle:

 

- Sometimes the distributor cap gets lots of carbon build up and the posts and rotor tip are not optimal. Unscrew the two screws on the cap(do not disconnect the wires) and lift it up and wipe the inside clean with a lint free rag. If the posts and rotor contacts are dull and tarnished, you can scuff them with a piece of emery cloth or fine sand paper to improve the surface.

Edited August 25, 2013 by MR_Loyale

[MR_Loyale]

Can you believe it is only twelve days until WCSS?  I need to start getting a final headcount of people and some contact information. Please PM me this information, do not post it on this thread. I will give you my contact information in response.  This is necessary so I know who is coming and if we should wait for anyone who may be delayed. It is also necessary for the food selection. I wouldn't want to bring a batch of peanut butter cookies for someone allergic to nuts. I also want to know how much food to bring. I also don't want to bring a bunch of food people won't eat. If you are trying to lose 40 pounds and avoid things like pizza or soda and chips, please say something in your PM. I could just go with Subway but again I am not Houdini, so if you don't say something I will not know. If you eat anything put in front of you, let me know that too. Makes the food selection easier. Also, if you are a prolific procreator and your Brady Bunch are all coming, give me a headcount so little Bobby isn't left without a sammy while Cindy and Marsha are enjoying theirs.

I will keep a running list on this thread of who is confirmed by USMB alias only. I will not repost your contact information. All contact information sent to me is kept confidential.  



PM me the following info:

1.    Name(first, last):
2.    Vehicle you will be arriving in
    (Color,Year, Make and Model):
3.    Arriving from(City, State):
4.    Cell phone:
5.    Do you have an FRS radio?
6.    Dietary restrictions(vegetarian, gluten intolerence etc):

7.    How many mouths to feed?



 

Edited August 25, 2013 by MR_Loyale

[Mykeys Toy]

PM sent