Back to the Track 2005

[Keith Webb]

Originally posted by Wayne Henderson
Euan and Mark have arrived and rebuilds are starting today.

Rick has had an oil leak problem with his Bedford and is still OE.

The Williams's have nearly finished their Crew Cab C60L

Midnight oil is in very short supply here in the west.

Yesterday I met a few of this years "Trackers", some QLD fellows and 2 couples from S.A. with jeeps and trailers.

People are now arriving everyday. The camping ground is a little bit moist but we expect fine weather for the next few days... the plan is coming together.

Thanks for the update, Wayne and great to hear they've arrived OK.

As for the midnight oil, the guys from the East burn it quite fast!

[Keith Webb]

Just heard from Euan as he was pulling the radiator out to get at the engine.

The last 730 Km was done in one session on 4 cylinders with lots of smoke in the cab, although a speed of around 80 Km/h was maintainable. Fuel consumption is at an all time high too, along with 2 litres per 100 Km.

So, prepared for the worst, he's armed with a new set of pistons, rings, gaskets and whatever else for a full-on one day reco job.

Although the problem may turn out to be as simple as a blown head gasket, Euan is prepared.

As for Mark, he's having carby trouble and the Toydodge is not idling. Then there's the oil leak to attend to.

Stand by for the next exciting instalment!

[Keith Webb]

Later that day...

The front shell is off, and the engine is about to come out.

Damage is broken compression and oil rings in 2, 4, and 5 cylinders, badly worn bores and hammered big end bearings. In the head, the valves and guides are also shot.

So by Saturday, the truck will have a totally rebuilt motor (remember it's the 292 "Mexican" Chev engine). Rebore, .30 thou pistons, crankshaft ground, new main and big end bearings, a reconditioned head as well as a new water pump.

Euan reckons the engine must have done quite a bit of work before going into the Blitz. I'd call that an understatement.

Mark currently has the exhaust manifold of the imitation Blue Flame from the ToyDodge in the resurfacing machine.

What an amazing effort.

[Keith Webb]

Jim Sewell sent these two images:

Some pics of 2 of the vehicles that have arrived at the staging point.

Chev C60L 43 model from Qld ( Bill )
Blue Flame motor
O/drive box fitted behind Trans Case ( Studebaker G/box ) for highway travel .
Long range tanks
1200x20 tyres
8 to 10 MPG

[Keith Webb]

Chev lend /lease
Original engine and trans type
Studebaker tray
6 stud rear wheels ( GMC or Studebaker ) Chev front wheels
Very original cab interior

[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by Keith Webb
Chev lend /lease
Original engine and trans type
Studebaker tray
6 stud rear wheels ( GMC or Studebaker ) Chev front wheels
Very original cab interior

Keith,

That would be Dave and Maggie Mottram from Vic. The Chev is a veteran of the original Back To The Track 95 and the 2000 trip to Alice.

Richard

[Keith Webb]

Yes, I thought it looked like Dave's truck. Good on him!

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally posted by Keith Webb
Later that day...

The front shell is off, and the engine is about to come out.

Damage is broken compression and oil rings in 2, 4, and 5 cylinders, badly worn bores and hammered big end bearings. In the head, the valves and guides are also shot.

So by Saturday, the truck will have a totally rebuilt motor (remember it's the 292 "Mexican" Chev engine). Rebore, .30 thou pistons, crankshaft ground, new main and big end bearings, a reconditioned head as well as a new water pump.

Euan reckons the engine must have done quite a bit of work before going into the Blitz. I'd call that an understatement.

Mark currently has the exhaust manifold of the imitation Blue Flame from the ToyDodge in the resurfacing machine.

What an amazing effort.

The lot of them have my undying admiration!

[Tony Smith]

Originally posted by Keith Webb
Later that day...

The front shell is off, and the engine is about to come out.

Damage is broken compression and oil rings in 2, 4, and 5 cylinders, badly worn bores and hammered big end bearings. In the head, the valves and guides are also shot.

So by Saturday, the truck will have a totally rebuilt motor (remember it's the 292 "Mexican" Chev engine). Rebore, .30 thou pistons, crankshaft ground, new main and big end bearings, a reconditioned head as well as a new water pump.

Euan reckons the engine must have done quite a bit of work before going into the Blitz. I'd call that an understatement.

Mark currently has the exhaust manifold of the imitation Blue Flame from the ToyDodge in the resurfacing machine.

What an amazing effort.

There's never a good time for a "Fail to proceed" event:dh:, but it's certainly better for it to happen on the way to Perth, with it's hospitable natives and workshops, than it to happen out in the desert somewhere. Some of the Aboriginal outback communities have absolutely stunning vehicle graveyards filled with often late model (and usually inappropriate) vehicles that can't be fixed locally and are uneconomic to transport. These are not always owned by unlucky travellers, but sometimes are government funded and provided to communities, and are driven around without maintenance until they fail. (Maybe Euan could replace the Mexican 292 with a diesel engine from an ATSIC LandCruiser thats been run on Avgas?)

[Wayne Henderson]

The motor pool is filling fast.

I saw Dave's Chev on Albany Hyway roaring down the hill (he didn't see me as my C15A is in a camo jobby).

Great week for train/blitz spotters.

Tony, Wiluna now sell BP Opal (kind of like lite beer) same great taste but won't get ya pissed.

[Graeme Stephens]

Hi All, G7s here, OIC - "Camp Discrete " otherwise known as the Darling Range Horse and Pony Club, the gathering point of the 2005 Track.
Just left " Camp Discete ", after dinner, the Trackers seem to be happy and some a little over excited.
Dave Mottram is there with his Dad, - Ray as navigator, their tent got flooded in the storm Monday night, then Dave stept in a doggy doo first thing Tuesday, they were enjoying baked beans on toast tonight.
Bruce Campbell & Neil from Vic. have their Jeep in a local Auto Eletricians workshop tonght, they tried to start the Jeep this morning and it sang " Smoke on the Wire ".
The New South Welsh men - Graeme, Mick & Derek have taken control of the Club's Bar B que and the TV, the Victorians Win & Alan Carpenter have taken control of the kitchen and hall. The NSW mob upset the Vics, by letting their BBQ smoke set off the hall alarm tonight.
Euwan (?) and extended family turned up after dark, and left again, their tent and Corio trailer is on site, everyone was smiling !!!
The Toydodge is on site - Mark & Rob. they said they were there last night? came in late left early ?
A mad bunch of Queenslanders, Charlie A / Roscoe / Darren & Dad ( Barry ) have taken over the workshop and are redoing all their spare tyres (4) - which were flat when they arrived.
South Aussies - Bob Kenny & Lorraine, & Sam and wife Paula had their Jeeps in the Club's workshop yesterday, one changing shockers front to rear, etc ( miscalculation) the other spark plug / cylinder head attention.
Bob Dimer has his Toydodge ready for his son in law, and hopes to have the Austin ready ( by Saturday morn. )
Shaun from SA. trained in, looked at the rain situation and tookover the veranda with his Jeep and trailer, the Vics said "hey that was a good idea - why didn't we think of that"
In the UN Landrover - Stuart (NSW) & LES. (Canada). Seem to be staying out of controversy.
The group went to the Official Start of the Track today, which is the home of Veteran Car Club of WA, "my " Military Section is - is a section of that Club. They had the run of the very large spare parts complex there. , Charlie A picked up yet another spare wheel & tyre. From there a convoy to the Army Museum at Fremantle. A big day which didn't stop some from seeking out the local Tavern for Beer / Dinner.

A sleep at home and back at " Camp Discrete " Thurs Morn.
G7s O. I. C.
Mrs Win Carpenter is Duty Officer tonight, she is /was sober, and knows the alarm cancel code.

[Keith Webb]

The engine is out and receiving the "works".

The crankshaft is being ground this morning, the resized conrods being assembled to the new pistons, block has been rebored and a NOS camshaft and bearings being fitted. Attention is being given to the head - new valves and guides - the old ones having several thou of slop.

Euan is also making a new adaptor for the oil filter bypass after discovering the old one made of a welded-up oil filter.

The battle at the moment is being a Chev workshop the crew want to paint the engine "Chev red" but commonsense may prevail and it will probably be painted black.

[Graeme Stephens]

G7s , OIC.
Didn't see Euan here again today, but Katrina & the girls are enjoying being 'somewhere' with friends. The girls are riding their bikes around the camp and park, doing 'school work', and this afternoon they were entertained by my wife and her "lovely" white horse. tonight the Toydodge guys report that Euans engine is near to reassembly.

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

More pictures from "Camp Discrete" please! Love to see some of the rebuild(s) too!

This is proving to be a remarkable exercise...

[Graeme Stephens]

G7s , OIC, 2005 Trackers gathering camp.
A couple of photos - Internatonal truck manned by Bob, Alan & son Adam from NSW
Herb's Blitz from Queensland

[Graeme Stephens]

The bonnet was open for minor tuning

[Graeme Stephens]

Charlie and crew set off from Queensland with " good spares ", but were all flat on arrival at Perth. The camp workshop has been his home working on wheels / shockers / radiator / engine / ? Apparently this is all normal procedure for "them".

[Graeme Stephens]

Perth to Alice Springs, I like the wind in the face / feel of road / sense of challenge. My vehicle.....

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

This is better than sex.
Bob

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally posted by Bob Moseley
This is better than sex.
Bob

I reckon it depends on the sheep, then, doesn't it?

[Wayne Henderson]

It's now Friday morning, August 5, and tonight there will be a BBQ at the clubrooms for the Trackers. This will be the first "official" party (but not the last) of "Trackers 2005".

As of today there will be 49 vehicles in all. Tomorrow we set off at 0830hrs and head to the Pinnacles and Cervantes, some 276kms North of Perth.

Bob has done a remarkable job organising this trip. His efforts will now start to unfold at tonights Dinner. Thanks also to OIC G7 (Graeme) for his outstanding efforts catering to the Trackers at Camp Discrete.

My part is done, the book is printed, the truck is packed, the wine rack full. Goodluck to all the other Trackers.

Lumpy has left the carpark.

[Keith Webb]

The freshly black painted engine is about to go back in... even has special running in oil. Euan hopes to drive it out later today...

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

All of you blokes are bloody amazing. It's a privilege to know you all.

[Keith Webb]

Engine bolted in, anciliaries going back on...

A comment from the local Perth race-car building team: "You've got the engine in the wrong end, there's a bloody diff under it."

[Keith Webb]

A message on my phone with the sound of a Mexican Chev in the background.

Euan's voice, or what could be heard over the engine consisted of enraptured comments like "Beautiful!" and "Power!"

What a great effort - this must be some kind of record, surely.

[Tony Smith]

Originally posted by Keith Webb
A message on my phone ......
Euan's voice, or what could be heard over the engine consisted of enraptured comments like "Beautiful!" and "Power!"

OH NO! They've gone and put in a Ford V8!

[Col Tigwell]

Should also fix the fuel consumption problem

Well dne all

Regards

Col Tigwell

[Keith Webb]

Euan and family have decided to spend another day in Perth to sightsee and catch the main group on Sunday - shouldn't be a problem catching them now.

Euan's comments were the truck is much smoother and even quieter now, not to mention 80 Km/h is effortlessly maintained on 1/4 throttle rather than flat out.

When I spoke to him the group were assembling for the start of the trip - he counted 9 or so CMPs around him and there are about another 5 registered to do the trip.

[Max Hedges]

Originally posted by Keith Webb
A message on my phone with the sound of a Mexican Chev in the background.

Euan's voice, or what could be heard over the engine consisted of enraptured comments like "Beautiful!" and "Power!"

What a great effort - this must be some kind of record, surely.

Sounds like Euan would be a jolly handy fellow to have on a trip. It was a real challenge to recondition the engine in such a short time. Good on ya! Any trips we do in the future, you're booked as our mechanic!

Originally posted by Tony Smith
OH NO! They've gone and put in .... V8!

Geez, even knows that TOMATO JUICE will kill an engine! :