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Old 03-30-2013, 01:06 PM   #401
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So this morning I took the first trail run towing the Trade Wind with the '69 Oldsmobile. Last weekend my neighbor built and installed a receiver hitch for this car. I spent the week wiring the brake controller and trailer directional signal and tail/side marker lights. My early consensus is that The Buick is a stronger tow vehicle. The Olds shifts more often and on steep grades struggles more. The Buick struggles very little on steep grades.....both engines are 455s. Towing was effortless today except for what I believe is the excessive shifting and the best news is that I can get a gas nozzle into the fill tube which on both cars is located behind the rear license plate in front of the hitch. Putting gas into the Buick requires an extension nozzle tube that I carry. All said the Olds will be a good tow vehicle once I get used to the different shifting issues. BUT, the deal breaker for this trip to Bodega and Casini is the Olds needs to have the large 4 row radiator. After a 10 mile moderate climb the radiator was boiling. I could switch the big radiator from the Buick for this time...not difficult but kinda messy. I have the week to take another more intense trial run to decide. We really want to use our 'new' car.

See you in one vehicle or another..
Neil
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Old 03-30-2013, 07:12 PM   #402
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Looks nice Neil. You sure put alot of work into this so I want it to work for you. Does the fan clutch work anymore? Can you hear the fan come on? Is this a three speed transmission? Is it just coming in and out of third gear? You might be able to adjust the modulator so its not so sensitive to loss of vacuum pressure under load. You dont want to risk a overheat but the weather should be on the cool side. Maybe not a Jackson rig quite yet until you get this figured out. Keep up the good work.

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Old 03-30-2013, 08:23 PM   #403
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I like this combo to Niel! I wonder what rear end gear ratio the Oldsmobile has versus the Buick?
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Old 03-30-2013, 08:27 PM   #404
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Site Map update:)

Adding several more!
Ag Sag and friends from Oregon brings the total to 50!
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Old 03-30-2013, 11:04 PM   #405
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I like this combo to Niel! I wonder what rear end gear ratio the Oldsmobile has versus the Buick?
Hi, my thoughts exactly; Probably about 3:00 to 1:00 gears now. Maybe a 3:73 or 4:10 would bring this huge car to life and help with the egine temps too.
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Old 03-31-2013, 08:12 AM   #406
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Looks good Neil. We had a heating problem on the 455 in the Olds 88 first time it was the fan clutch next time a hairline crack in the radiator cap that I was lucky to find. Hope it works out. Dave
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Old 03-31-2013, 09:05 AM   #407
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Looks good Neil. We had a heating problem on the 455 in the Olds 88 first time it was the fan clutch next time a hairline crack in the radiator cap that I was lucky to find. Hope it works out. Dave
Thanks for all the input. The tranny (TH400) and differential gear ratio are the same as in the Buick. The 455 in the Buick is the factory high performance but has 100k more miles on it than the Olds. I have replaced the fan clutch. I have many of the service receipts for this Olds but not anything on tranny service. However, while I was under the car stringing the brake controller wire, I noticed that the tranny pan was very clean and a new gasket was evident. So I suspect it was for a filter and fluid change. I am confident that this tranny is sound...I just need to 'learn' it. Cooling is/was an issue that I have solved somewhat on the Buick. The Buick has factory dual exhaust and when I added Flowmasters I noticed a BIG difference....and I don't mean from the throaty sound. The Olds doesn't have dual exhaust...I didn't want to change that but I'm going to have to. This Olds has been stored in a garage for much of the last 30 years. Records show only 2k miles driven since 1985.
Neil
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Old 03-31-2013, 09:34 AM   #408
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FreshAir,

Be sure to check the flow through the Rad, it could be plugged up.

You might want to add an auxiliary Trans Cooler in front of the a/c condenser. It will take the heat load off the engine cooling system. You'd be surprised at how much the trans can heat the Rad.

A plate type is the way to go. This is a B&M Super Cooler shown.

See ya soon.
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Old 03-31-2013, 09:58 AM   #409
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FreshAir,

Be sure to check the flow through the Rad, it could be plugged up.

You might want to add an auxiliary Trans Cooler in front of the a/c condenser. It will take the heat load off the engine cooling system. You'd be surprised at how much the trans can heat the Rad.

A plate type is the way to go. This is a B&M Super Cooler shown.

See ya soon.
Another thought, I had a similar issue with my '72 Olds 442 (though not towing). I added 2 electric Perma-cool fans that mounted up to the radiator. They worked great. They have a mounting kit that are plastic pieces that resemble zip ties that go throught the radiator. It was fine until they rubbed through the radiator. I replaced my radiator and made my own mount with bracing and spacers I had from on old Harley-Davidson project.
The fans made all the difference.
Good luck,
Cara
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Old 03-31-2013, 12:10 PM   #410
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FreshAir,

Be sure to check the flow through the Rad, it could be plugged up.

You might want to add an auxiliary Trans Cooler in front of the a/c condenser. It will take the heat load off the engine cooling system. You'd be surprised at how much the trans can heat the Rad.

A plate type is the way to go. This is a B&M Super Cooler shown.

See ya soon.
Thanks....this Olds was ordered with a tow package.....but in 1969. The window sales sticker meant a beefier frame, trailer wiring and tranny cooler. The tranny cooler looks a bit wimpy compared to the one that I installed on my '71 Buick but the factory did mount it AWAY from the radiator. I like the one you suggested. I may get one for each car. I do have tranny temp and water gauges in the Buick....sure miss them on the Olds. I don't have much time for this rally to install such. We are leaving next Sunday for a few days at Bodega Bay before heading up to Casini on Thursday.
Still not certain we will take the Olds...I am but Lynn is nervous. She believes that I am 'pushing' it.

Neil
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Old 03-31-2013, 03:03 PM   #411
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Half of your trip isnt far from my house or a trip with the service truck. Dont hesitate to call.
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Old 03-31-2013, 03:42 PM   #412
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Half of your trip isnt far from my house or a trip with the service truck. Dont hesitate to call.
Thanks, Vinnie. I have no problem going....it's all downhill. But going home....we live at 3000'. Most of the climb is up US50 from Sacramento...about 40 - 45 miles. I think transferring the big radiator from the Buick is the way to go. Gonna get a big one for the Olds for summer travel though. But, Lynn, has a point, 'We are rallying with good friends...no need to have worries'. I'm not but I have to think of Lynn.
Neil

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Old 04-01-2013, 05:08 PM   #413
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Hi folks,
We're hoping to leave Fresno on Thursday around 9 a.m. We don't know the roads at all once we get near the bay area. Can anyone advise which roads are best to avoid?
Mapquest has three suggested routes. One goes around the bay all together taking 99 to 5 to 12 through Fairfield and then on west. Does anyone have any advice on this route?
Naturally, we'd like to avoid narrow or curvy roads.
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Old 04-01-2013, 06:23 PM   #414
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From the East Bay we just whip through (!) Bezerkely, Richmond, San Rafael to 101, then head north to River Road in Santa Rosa to go West. Some of this road is a little tight around Guerneville, but no big problem. You could take 12 to 101 & then turn right.
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Old 04-01-2013, 07:11 PM   #415
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12 takes you right up the Napa Valley - not particularly twisty, but basically town driving with plenty of cross traffic and stop lights. Scenic, but slow and not particularly relaxing to drive.

If you leave Fresno around 9 am, you should hit the Bay Area in the midday lull between the commutes, so any freeway routes should be pretty clear. I'd take whichever route Google or Mapquest says is fastest. You'll get plenty of scenic on and after 101. Your best bet over the bay is probably the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge since it keeps you out of San Francisco.
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Old 04-01-2013, 07:28 PM   #416
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Barbie Terrayacht,
Thank you! Yes, staying out of SF is what we'd like to do. I don't mind in-town driving but it frustrates Mr. Mod...even when I'm doing the driving.
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Old 04-01-2013, 07:44 PM   #417
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101 through SF is pretty tight, esp. when the Muni bus next to you on Van Ness starts borrowing some of your lane. I've hauled 8.5' trailers though there, but relaxing it isn't.

Don't go through SF if you don't have to.

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Old 04-01-2013, 08:00 PM   #418
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Hopefully Jeff will chime in. He has the routes that he takes up from Carmel all set and from what I heard he makes it easier and avoids the bridge tolls. We come in from the east on 80 and take 37 over to 101 then up to River Road past Santa Rosa.
Neil
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Old 04-01-2013, 10:17 PM   #419
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Right from Google. Figure an easy drive towing during the day about 4 hours

1.
Merge onto CA-99 N toward Sacramento
107 mi


2. Take exit 241 to merge onto CA-120 W toward Manteca/San Francisco
6.5 mi


3. Take exit 1A on the left to merge onto I-5 S toward San Francisco/Los Angeles
2.3 mi


4. Keep right to continue on I-205 W, follow signs for San Francisco/Interstate 205/Interstate 580
13.7 mi


5. Merge onto I-580 W
29.8 mi


6. Keep right to stay on I-580 W, follow signs for Oakland/San Francisco
16.2 mi


7. Merge onto I-80 E
3.8 mi


8. Keep right to continue on I-580 W, follow signs for San Rafael/Point Richmond/ Bridge toll
12.9 mi

9. Take exit 1A on the left to merge onto US-101 N toward San Rafael/Santa Rosa
42.4 mi


10. Take exit 494 for River Rd toward Guerneville
0.3 mi


11. Turn left onto Mark West Springs Rd/River Rd Continue to follow River Rd
23.2mi


12. Turn left onto Moscow Road
.5 mi
Casini Ranch on left
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Old 04-01-2013, 10:47 PM   #420
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Right from Google. Figure an easy drive towing during the day about 4 hours

1. Merge onto CA-99 N toward Sacramento
107 mi


2. Take exit 241 to merge onto CA-120 W toward Manteca/San Francisco
6.5 mi


3. Take exit 1A on the left to merge onto I-5 S toward San Francisco/Los Angeles
2.3 mi


4. Keep right to continue on I-205 W, follow signs for San Francisco/Interstate 205/Interstate 580
13.7 mi


5. Merge onto I-580 W
29.8 mi


6. Keep right to stay on I-580 W, follow signs for Oakland/San Francisco
16.2 mi


7. Merge onto I-80 E
3.8 mi


8. Keep right to continue on I-580 W, follow signs for San Rafael/Point Richmond/ Bridge toll
12.9 mi

9. Take exit 1A on the left to merge onto US-101 N toward San Rafael/Santa Rosa
42.4 mi


10. Take exit 494 for River Rd toward Guerneville
0.3 mi


11. Turn left onto Mark West Springs Rd/River Rd Continue to follow River Rd
23.2mi


12. Turn left onto Moscow Road
.5 mi
Casini Ranch on left
YUP.....that's how you do it......little Bay Area traffic and no bridge tolls. I think the toll on the Richmond San Rafael bridge is eastbound. The worst for us coming from the east is 101 north.

Neil

Neil
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