Trip away in the pickup

[Lawrie]

We are away in the pickup for a few weeks, unlike the 33 and caravan, this time we are in a tent, first time in years in a tent, but so far great,
We are out in the country (Roma), about 500 ks from home,on our way to Thallon for a few days,
The pickup has the Burtz engine , vac advance distributor, and goes very well,fuel so far about 10 lots per 100 klm,which is very good,
Will post more pics along the way.
Lawrie

 

[mercman from oz]

Safe travels Lawrie. Regards Mercman <><

 

[Chuck Dempsey]

Sounds like fun! Good Luck

 

[McMimmcs]

I had almost forgotten that you folks drive on the wrong side of the road, hahaha. Wayne

 

[Big hammer]

Keep the photos coming, tent livings not for me, keep it on the right side of the road, well left side, well keep the steering wheel closest the the center line

 

[Elmo Rodge]

Lawrie, we went through Roma on our way to your house.
Wayno

 

[Richard Knight]

Lawrie, could you tell me which vacuum advance distributor are you using ? And what the advance curve might look like. Thanks, Rick.

 

[Synchro909]

Lawrie, I also run a vac advance dizzy on my Burtz engine. It made a huge difference to the driveability of the car.
From what you have told me about that engine, you'll be home again just ion time to see yourself leave.

 

[Lawrie]

Rick, I make up the distributors from an import one, modify them to fit in the A engine,set the curve up ,and the amount of vac advance,
I’m away so when I get back can give you the figures, I’m still experimenting with the amount of vac advance, I have 5 deg at the moment ,it seems to work very well, but I will try more when I’m back closer to home.
This is the new bridge we drove over last year, it was flooded then,hard to believe the water was 3 meters deep on the road next to it and had been .over the bridge by about 1/2 meter
Lawrie

 

[Lawrie]

Wayno, I bet you were on a mission then,
How are you going, been to the salt flats lately.
Lawrie

 

[Elmo Rodge]

Lawrie, I was there in August and September. Rained out every time. Looking forward to this year.
Wayno

 

[Synchro909]

Rick, I make up the distributors from an import one, modify them to fit in the A engine,set the curve up ,and the amount of vac advance,
I’m away so when I get back can give you the figures, I’m still experimenting with the amount of vac advance, I have 5 deg at the moment ,it seems to work very well, but I will try more when I’m back closer to home.

Lawrie

I also want to know what you settle on, Lawrie. I'm currently on 6° so we are so close to the same that it doesn't matter. What CR head are you running?

 

[Lawrie]

So far on this trip, we have seen plenty of wild life, bustard,emus,kangaroos,spoon bill duck,goats,( you want to see them take off when you hit the horn), lots of goanas, and snakes,dead pig,and a huge dead gonna,Wedge tail eagles, an$ red back wren,
Also painted silos, and yard art.
Plus a sample of old A parts at a 5 stand shearing shed,
Also a disused winery that operated from 1863 until 2011, we snuck inside this and man you should have seen in there, still full of all the barrels that were also full( we did a taste test to be sure) it was vert nice,
The A is going great, we did a couple of hot days travel in 38c, no drama ,window open and drink lots of water, engine never got over 89 c
Fuel usage great, and have not had to use the Jerry can yet,
Most places are 200 klms apart and we are on the backs roads so travel is very relaxed,
My tyres tell a story though,start of last rip I fitted two new Firestone’s to the front, and two no name brands ones to the rear, they have done 3649 miles, the no name brands are toast and will be surely bald by the time I get home, the Firestone’s on the front are still like new,
Travelling in hot days are really no problem, with the front screen opened on the first notch, side windows down and drink lots of water, engin3 uses no water or oil.
More later

 

[McMimmcs]

Sounds like a very enjoyable trip. Thanks for the photos and the narrative. Wayne

 

[Synchro909]

Lawrie, We envy your trip even though it's only been a few months since we got back from a trip to Karuma in the A with more planned especially now that I have the new engine in the tourer. After reading your posts, my mind's eye has me behind the wheel again and those long straight, flat roads that disappear to the horizon. Magic!

 

[Richard Knight]

Thanks, Lawrie I will look forward to your thoughts on the distributor. I have modified a Lucas 25D distributor with adjustable vacuum advance to fit in my burtz. Have a good and safetrip.

 

[Lawrie]

Richard, if you have an adjustable vac advance it would be easy, I change the ones I use as they are for a modern high reving engine, I change the curve, advance max, and vac adv
amount.
I set them up on my distributor machine,it takes a while, but I have now a pile of lighter spring# and know to make a stop for the vac advance,this I make adjustable using MSD advance bushes
Pic is theWild Emus in the paddock that had just been havestered
Lawrie

 

[Chuck Dempsey]

Great pics! Enjoy the rest of your trip....

 

[Lawrie]

Another great day today,we stopped at a Showgrounds for the night, then were asked by a local if we could stop into the local old folks home,what a great time we had,let two lovely ladies sat in the A, one 89 and the other 99, both firing on all cylinders,man we had a laugh.
So instead of heading off at 8.00 am ,we got away at 11.30.
Only did a small drive at 220 klms, but went on a real backroads, scenery was something else.the A liked the hills and dirt roads,lots of large long semi,s, some with four trailers,counted the wheels on one 58?
Lawrie

 

[David in San Antonio]

Lawrie, I had to look up goana on Wikipedia. I wonder if goana hide makes good cowboy boots?