WagonsOnly Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 ok I'm not trying to be nosy but what the heck is going on here???? I hear mention of a baja, a coupe, and an XT OK, let me try to start at the very beginning. (Long post disclaimer.) About a year and a half ago I lent my gray XT6 (the one I bought from svxpert on here) to a [former] friend. I drove it out to her in Cheyenne, WY, flew back, long story short she trashed it and I ended up having to go back to Wyoming to get it. We'll call that the "XT6". About six months after that I made arrangements with IdahoJak to make payments on his '75 2-door 1400DL Star Clipper sedan (hereinafter the "coupe"). Soo...when this former "friend" got out of the military, I drove out to pick her, her stuff and the car up in Cheyenne, had numerous problems with the XT6, drove out to Weiser, Idaho (right on the Oregon/Idaho line, perhaps 60 miles north of Nampa) and got the coupe from IdahoJak with Russ (Caboobaroo), drove 550 miles back to the Wyoming/Utah state line, and separated. That was the first mistake in a long line of them concerning the "coupe". About another hundred miles later the "CHG" light on the coupe came on. I called Russ and he came back and got me from the Little America resort, smack in the middle of Nowhere, Wyoming. The next day I picked up the coupe with the former XT driver. It took two fully charged batteries to get her back to Laramie, where she stayed with Russ until three days ago. The XT6 was left at a Toyota dealer in Cheyenne. The Legacy I brought out there, was driven home; and I picked up a cheap GL wagon for the trip back from said 'yota dealer ('86, working air, no rust, $500). Fast forward to this past Friday--my dad and I left Hartford at 6PM, caught a connecting flight in Cincinnati, made it to Denver for 9:45. ShawnW picked us up in his Baja (that's where that came in), took us to dinner, then brought us to our motel. He picked us up Saturday morning, we went to Wal Mart in Cheyenne and bought a cheap toolkit for the ride home (you never know, and there was no place else open). We picked up the XT6 at the Toyota dealer and Shawn followed us to Laramie and Russ's house. It was at this point that my dad and I realized the speedometer in the XT6 is not inclined to register speeds in excess of 75MPH--apparently the needle sticks. Since Shawn had been going around 5MPH over the speed limit (80MPH) all the way up to Cheyenne, I couldn't help but wonder why we were losing him on the way into Laramie...until we asked him how fast I was going (95+ :eek: ). Anyhow, we picked up the car from Russ...and decided to chance driving it to the DAS terminal in Denver. Shawn led, my dad followed in the coupe and I brought up the rear in the 6. (The coupe is insured, but has an expired Connecticut temp tag--and the state DMV won't give me another one. ) No problems until we coasted into Fort Collins; the alternator was no longer charging (again), the voltage regulator was no longer regulating; and the oil pump had apparently stopped pumping. The oil light was on with a full crankcase. We eased back into Denver with no further problems; Shawn very kindly and generously stored the coupe at CCR--inside--for two overnights (Saturday and Sunday) before bringing it to the shipping terminal for me. After getting back into Denver and storing the car (the battery needed to be swapped only once, upon going on the lift at CCR) we went out to lunch, topped off Shawn's gas tank after a very broad hint from him (I was totally out of it and not thinking at all, please forgive me :-\ ) and left for Connecticut. I drove from Denver to Lincoln, NE. My dad drove from Lincoln, NE to Iowa City, IA, where we stopped and took a nap; three hours later he was back in the saddle. We made it into western Illinois for breakfast, then he continued to the outskirts of Joliet, IL. I took over from there and drove straight through Indiana (one gas stop in 180 miles), and into central Ohio; dad took it from there and went from Vermilion to Weedsport, NY (about 60 miles from Buffalo, if memory serves). I took over from Syracuse, and we made it back through NY, MA and into northern Connecticut for 5:30AM Monday. My dad then finished off his nap and made it in to work for 8:30AM. I unpacked the car and had a nice long nap; then Shawn called me Monday night to tell me that the coupe was broken down in Denver, 35 blocks from the DAS terminal in Aurora and exactly halfway between CCR and DAS. Shawn used one of his AAA tows to get my non-registered car from the middle of Denver somewhere to an independent specialist in Denver, S-Wings-Stuff (I think). They're repairing the short in the ignition circuit--which I'm told is from the dome light--as well as the alternator and voltage regulator. So when I get the car back I'll only have to do the wheel bearings, the brakes, the cooling system [the thermoswitch is broken and the fan has been wired to remain constantly on], the engine [very unhappy headgaskets], and the tires. But it's a great car! Seriously, though, I cannot thank the board members that have helped me with this trip, especially Shawn, enough. You've all gone way above and beyond what I could have ever expected from a couple of people I'd never (before this summer) met in person, just names off a BBS to most of the people that come through here...I salute you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WagonsOnly Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 congrats on getting it home buddy, glad she made it! Thanks, but I think you jumped the gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subeman90 Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 and I thought I was nuts for taking my dad's chevy PU and a rented trailer to Rockford Ill to get a 92 legacy turbo and towing it home out and back nonstop. Good for you guys and mad props to all that helped with the saga! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WagonsOnly Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 and I thought I was nuts Why thank you! (This is the fourth and hopefully last time I've made this trip nonstop.) Edit: Without a functional muffler on either car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caboobaroo Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 ok so I was close. At least YOU made it... again:grin: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WagonsOnly Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 Yes, sir, we both did...and I'd like to thank you for your concern for the coupe's safety if not ours Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
75subie Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 Andrew, just got home and saw your message. any possibility you could come 2pm or later? i left the brat at my uncles tonight because i am waiting for someone to pick up this loyale i just sold so there will be space for the brat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IdahoJak Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 Wow, Andrew, I can't believe all the problems you've had with the coupe. I sure was lucky when I picked it up in Portland and drove 400 miles to Idaho without a single problem. Then I drove it every week or two around here, for short drives, until you came and got it. That car must have been afraid of my wife. She was with me when we drove it from Portland, and told me that if that car breaks down on the way home she was going to be really mad (She didn't like the fact I bought it in the first place, part of the reason I ended up selling it). I sure wish you luck in getting it in good shape, and sorry for all the trouble you've gone through. Appreciate the phone message you left today. Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShawnW Posted November 9, 2006 Author Share Posted November 9, 2006 Its not every day you get to drive a 75 coupe across Denver. Even with 50 HP on its finest day, and auto trans, bad brakes, the volt light on solid, voltage so low the turn signals dont want to Flash, etc...that car is fun to drive around cuz everybody looks at it in awe. Dare I say "chicks dig it" but we all know better...somewhere theres one that will dig it though...KEEPER!!! Especially if shes younger than the car. The guy that towed it from where it died to S-Wings was a total nut but he towed it safely on a flatbed no less. That car was strapped down tight and snug and he really thought it was cool. He looked the other way on the expired tags and the fact that it isnt mine...and why wouldnt he...he gets paid to tow it either way. Mike at S-Wings hung around his shop till 7:00 just to be around for the coupes arrival and to lock it inside his shop for safe keeping...above and beyond again. Hes seen a lot of oldies before but was still impressed by it. As for the engine the hard part will be finding the cyl head gasket rings along with all the rest of the genuine parts that unfortunately have probably been tossed by every dealership in the country. The water pump has a weephole leak. We fixed the oil pressure problem and the engine sounded consideribly happer at idle. The mid section of the exhaust has had 3 different resonators installed on it which makes me laugh a little...at the thought of somebody thinking THIS little car was too loud. The carb is also in need of some work but these are all little things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShawnW Posted November 15, 2006 Author Share Posted November 15, 2006 Update on car if anybody cares. Two days late on the update too..sorry. Picked car up at wings. A little hard to start but got it going and drove it across town. Temp gauge at around 2/3 unless heater is on (which cooks you like bacon and was lovely on a 20 degree day!). This car doesnt like driving in Denver at altitude, stopping on incline street corners, etc but it made it in typical Subaru style. The people at the auto shipper seemed to really like the car and asked which old guy died so I could get my hands on it and I told em its not mine. Too shay too shay! Makes me wonder if the people that work at funeral homes get a hold of these old rockin condition cars....not worth working at funeral home for it but hmmmmmmmm dirty thoughts. Just squeaked into the auto shipping terminal at 5 till 5. Lady inspected it for dings, dents, scrapes etc and we bolted out of that ghetto area of Aurora....not good area during day even. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subeman90 Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 very cool! shawn you are a heck of a guy! Andrew: let me know when it gets there...maybe a road trip to CT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucky92 Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 I agree with Matt..I want to see it too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WagonsOnly Posted November 17, 2006 Share Posted November 17, 2006 Update on car if anybody cares. I care! Thanks so much, again, for taking care of her... maybe a road trip to CT Will do, the car will be in storage in Massachusetts, fifteen minutes further than my house...but if it's PA people coming, mostly, maybe Connie would be willing to host one last meet-n-greet? She should be here in about ten days. I think that warrants a if nothing else! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucky92 Posted November 17, 2006 Share Posted November 17, 2006 I care! Thanks so much, again, for taking care of her... Will do, the car will be in storage in Massachusetts, fifteen minutes further than my house...but if it's PA people coming, mostly, maybe Connie would be willing to host one last meet-n-greet? She should be here in about ten days. I think that warrants a if nothing else! I am sure I can host another meet and greet ..no problemo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WagonsOnly Posted November 18, 2006 Share Posted November 18, 2006 Great, the car will be here by Dec. 1st (but that's not a guarantee). Or I can see if my aunt is up to it (she with the garage space) and you guys can have a look-see at the FF-1, the '70s wagons and the 360 as well... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WagonsOnly Posted November 18, 2006 Share Posted November 18, 2006 Another quick update: The FF-1 is now on its way, Patrick's dad let me know that the DAS truck picked it up about five hours ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucky92 Posted November 18, 2006 Share Posted November 18, 2006 :banana: :banana: :banana: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moosens Posted November 18, 2006 Share Posted November 18, 2006 Great, the car will be here by Dec. 1st (but that's not a guarantee). Or I can see if my aunt is up to it (she with the garage space) and you guys can have a look-see at the FF-1, the '70s wagons and the 360 as well... Probably going to be tough to get us together up there....but worth trying.I know I'd do it,but I'm abnormal.:-p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WagonsOnly Posted November 18, 2006 Share Posted November 18, 2006 c'mon, if Matt's willing to drive 4+ hours from PA the rest of you guys can make it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucky92 Posted November 18, 2006 Share Posted November 18, 2006 Hey I am only an hour and a half away from You...plus like mentioned you can always use my place as a meeting spot..door is always open Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
75subie Posted November 18, 2006 Share Posted November 18, 2006 how long did it take you guys to get to my place from Connie's? if you guys are having a meet up, please let me know, and i'll ride down in the new brat. also, if paul will be there, i'll bring the fe motor and exhaust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucky92 Posted November 18, 2006 Share Posted November 18, 2006 how long did it take you guys to get to my place from Connie's? if you guys are having a meet up, please let me know, and i'll ride down in the new brat. also, if paul will be there, i'll bring the fe motor and exhaust. Its only something like 60 miles to your place from here...give or take...we left from Rorys house which is about 12 miles from mine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WagonsOnly Posted November 19, 2006 Share Posted November 19, 2006 The problem is not so much the drive to your place as it is driving two cars at once to get there. (FF1 and coupe :-/) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WagonsOnly Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 Tracking is on: The coupe is in Wolcott, Iowa and the FF-1 is in Troutdale, Oregon. Estimated arrival dates are 12/1 for the FF-1 and 11/25 for the coupe! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WagonsOnly Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 Coupe is in Valparaiso, IN and FF-1 is in Vancouver, WA if anyone wants to have a look...and if anyone cares the tracking nos. are 3175190 (coupe) and 3185774 (FF-1). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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