Death Valley Road Run

Thanks much for your photos and dialog. I enjoyed them very much, as they bring back fond memories of having made that tour years ago.
 
my old car does not like it above 70 i dont think it would make it more then a few miles before she had a fit... "over heat"
 
46fordnut said:
my old car does not like it above 70 i dont think it would make it more then a few miles before she had a fit... "over heat"
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That's why we went to Death Valley in February when the average daytime temperature is 75 instead of July when it's 117 (record high of 134° F on July 10, 1913, the hottest temperature ever recorded in the western hemisphere). Car probably doesn't mind the heat quite as much as the bodies inside the car do.:rolleyes:
 
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In the early spring of 1955 myself and a friend took a tour through Death Valley in my '36 Ford coupe... I was living in Vegas at the time, we drove the 90 miles to Baker, CA then into Death Valley. After touring around the Valley, including a stop at Scotty's Castle, which at the time was not open to the public because Johnson's wife had donated the Castle to a religious group..
We went onto Rhyolite.. there is a very large train station there which never had a train connection because the mine (s) went broke about the time the tracts were laid. From Rhyolite we went on to Beatty and then south on 95 back to Vegas.
In 1962 I was living in Ventura, I had made arrangements to join my uncle in Eastern Idaho for a deer hunting trip... We had a '55 Pontiac and my '36 Ford.. My wife needed the Pontiac for her and the kids so I loaded up my '36 Ford and headed for Idaho.
My favorite route to Idaho is via Bishop, CA then #6 to Tonopah and Ely.. Ely to Wells/Twin Falls via #93.. Twin Falls to Idaho Falls via 93 to Arco, then into Idaho Falls.. It is 1,040 miles Ventura to IF. I made this trip non stop except for fuel and eats... total elapsed time 18.5 hours... I got to IF at 2:30 AM.. I have done it in 17 hours in one of my modern cars.
One must keep in mind that my Ford has '42-48 suspension, a well built 59 AB engine and a '48 Columbia rear axle with 3.78 gearing... The car runs very well at 70 + mph with fuel mileage in the 18's.
It was not until about 1968 that all of the 'watering holes' along #6 & 93 started to close up... The 168 miles between Tonopah and Ely use to be broken up by Warm Springs (@ the junction of the road to Area 51) Current Creek, 60 miles from Ely , Black Jacks @ the junction to Lund about 20 miles out of Ely.
I love the Great Basin area of Nevada...I travel it about three times a year.. I dislike the Interstate through Utah and Vegas...
 
Just received a PM inquiring about what tires I ran on the trip maybe thinking I would run radials for such a trip but I ran the stock 6.00 X 16 bias ply tires. Here's why:

I like to use my car as a time machine to take me back to 1947 every time I get in it and it usually works pretty good as long as I keep it totally authentic original and know that it is. That way I get the exact experience driving it now that I would get driving it then. So, I avoid having anything on the car or in the car that would "destroy the illusion" for me and I've found that almost any intrusion that's not authentic will do that. It's like the scene from the movie "Somewhere In Time" where Christopher Reeves has so authentically reproduced his life as it would have been in a former time that he actually traveled back in time to that time that he recreated. It was all going so well until he pulled a penny out of his vest pocket from his future time. That was it. The end of his illusion that he was never able to get back. Now you know why I run the stock bias ply tires as much as radials would be easier to drive and more economical. They would not provide the realistic experience I constantly strive for.
 
Old Henry, that was some trip, your a real trooper and so are your passenger, I laughed and laughed with enjoyment reading your adventorous story. Very cool in the ol' Fordor.
 
Old Henry said:
The place is a ghost town called Lockes (http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/nv/lockes.htm). There is still a building and gas pump there but no gas being sold as far as I could tell.
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Henry, I don't think that's the place. The one I'm thinking of was on the left as you headed towards Tonopah. It was a small wooden structure about 100 feet off the road that sold sodas and candy bars. By the way, I took a quick trip to Orem yesterday. Next time I'll try to remember to holler at you beforehand. Wayno
 
Henry,
You are an inspiration to all of us with your travel adventures. They are exciting. Last year my wife and I (we are 73) decided to take an "adventure" and drive our 46 to Nova Scotia (1600 miles r/t). Scary we thought but so much fun we are planning another trip this year to?? The 46 never missed a beat). No fun sitting at car shows when you can be touring. I carried every spare part you could have (except a set of tire chains for snow) and a spare rebuilt engine at home. Only repair was to change spark plugs cause she pinged a little in the Maine mountains.

John
 
oldford2 said:
Henry,
You are an inspiration to all of us with your travel adventures. They are exciting. Last year my wife and I (we are 73) decided to take an "adventure" and drive our 46 to Nova Scotia (1600 miles r/t). Scary we thought but so much fun we are planning another trip this year to?? The 46 never missed a beat). No fun sitting at car shows when you can be touring. I carried every spare part you could have (except a set of tire chains for snow) and a spare rebuilt engine at home. Only repair was to change spark plugs cause she pinged a little in the Maine mountains.

John
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You have done our dream trip - Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Green Gables, etc. But, for us it's a 6,000 mile round trip. Even if we don't take the old Ford that far we're going to fly there and rent a car to see that part of the world someday soon. Sounds like you've really got you car running reliably. Sure makes for a more comfortable trip rather than spending a lot of time on the side of the road that I did in my previous trips on Route 66 and Pike's Peak.
 
Elmo Rodge said:
Henry, I don't think that's the place. The one I'm thinking of was on the left as you headed towards Tonopah. It was a small wooden structure about 100 feet off the road that sold sodas and candy bars. By the way, I took a quick trip to Orem yesterday. Next time I'll try to remember to holler at you beforehand. Wayno
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I know the place you're talking about. That's the place I was talking about. I thought it was Lockes but maybe not.
 
Old Henry said:
You have done our dream trip - Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Green Gables, etc. But, for us it's a 6,000 mile round trip. Even if we don't take the old Ford that far we're going to fly there.
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Henry, thanks for sharing your trip with us.
Newfoundland is also a great place to visit, beautiful scenery and nice down to earth people.;)
 
Henry, next time I take that road I'll look closer. I tell ya, some of these roads in the West are fairly desolate. On my 2004 trip to Bonneville from Southern California on the way home I went West from Austin, Nevada on 50 to 361 South through Gabbs. Once I left 50 I never saw another car. The 10 gallon tank in my '36 was getting a little low. There have been other times too. Wayno
 
56 fairlane,
We just might head to Nova Scotia again this summer. Would like to take the ferry to "Newfie" land (please correct my spelling. I know you folks are great (Bugs and Debbie have a song about Newfoundland) Maybe you have heard about them. They used to entertain on the ferry. Are you in the EFV8 club roster?
John
 
larry/Texas said:
What broke in Chuck's drive line? It would be good to know and maybe some of us need to take a look.
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It was as we had supposed. Here are the pictures:

Small puddle in the bottom of the differential. That's all the oil that was in there. The pile of metal next to it is the pinion gear teeth.
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What's left of the pinion gear. You can see where the teeth were from what's left of them at the left edge. The pinion gear bearing is also totally frozen up.
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Some damage to the ring gear.
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Fortunately, as soon as Chuck had some idea what was wrong I looked on Ebay and found a complete rear end to replace his for way less than buying new gears. He's just waiting for that to come then we'll be "On The Road Again."

I'm thinking Chuck probably won't go to that lube service again that didn't check his differential oil before the trip.
 
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Great story Old Henry and well written. I'm a bit of a running nut (as well as a Flathead nut). The place has fascinated me since back in the late 70's a New Zealander (ex pat Brit really) by the name of Max Telford ran Death Valley both ways in the height of summer (but Im not that much of a running nut). He can be googled.

GB
 
You are an inspiration!!! I want to congratulate you for taking those lovely ladies on such an adventure and commend them for having the desire to do it. That is cool!!! I am still planning my Route 66 and also sent you a separate email.

Joe
 
slyck14 said:
I want to congratulate you for taking those lovely ladies on such an adventure.
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They came to be known as "The Queen Mothers." Betsy (the 92 year old on the left) brought along "Bob" and "Ray", her oxygen tanks to help get her through the night. At time of departure.
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At the bottom three days later at "Bad Water", the lowest point and only perpetural standing water in Death Valley.
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I've been to Death Valley many times and am familiar with the places you have mentioned. It must have been a great trip, and I'm glad it came out incident free for you and your venerable passengers.

Mart.
 
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