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aceflys · 11-09-2011, 09:45 AM

Hey All

Talked to Frank at 8 am all was well. They where in central PA. Caddy was running good only leaking a little water. But Frank has no heat. Well 11 am update they are in NY and things are taking a turn. The Caddy is having brake problems ie NO BRAKES. I think he is getting some braking by pumping the pedal. NOT FUN

I'll keep you all up to date if I get anymore info.

Ace In PA (With search plane at the ready)

TAC PA-1
WBCCI 2169

rebelstand · 11-09-2011, 02:01 PM

anything new?

aceflys · 11-09-2011, 03:44 PM

Well they made it across the border. I think they still have a few hrs to get to Chris's place. Frank is ready for a big drink

Ace in PA (I'm in stand down mode I have no passport)

rebelstand · 11-09-2011, 07:05 PM

at least the brakes are working...right.

wasagachris · 11-09-2011, 07:33 PM

just a quick note we made it here at about 8:30 PM so that makes 17 hrs door to door with many delays due to mechanical problems with the car and 2.5 hrs to clear the border. We are both dead beat and going to get some sleep. More details about the trip later. Goodnight all.

Aage · 11-09-2011, 08:47 PM

Welcome to Canada, Chris. Seems like it was quite a trip!

Looking forward to all the photos and stories...

Minno · 11-10-2011, 06:22 AM

Glad you made it back home!

MC

Frank's Trailer Works · 11-10-2011, 06:56 AM

First, sorry for any misspellings. There is no spell check on this computer and it will become very evident that my spelling ability sucks...

I have to thank Chris in a public forum for what has turned out to be one of the greatest experiences of my life. Driving an unrestored 1954 Cadillac from Baltimore up and into Canada was an absolute thrill once it was all over. During the drive I was absolutely terrified the entire time that something catostrophic was going to happen. You do realize a 1954 Cadillac has no power steering, power breaks, or many of the modern conviences we have on cars today. There were numerous mechanical breakdown to over come and Chris and I worked as a team in overcoming all of them. The worst of the breakdowns was loosing the brakes(twice). You have never felt an adrenilin rush like coming down a steep hill and not being able to even slow down in the slightest. Luckily the gap between the two cars with the right away was just wide enough that no collision took place. Once we were here at The AMAZING Rocky Park Campground, the entire day became a total thrill and and not the scary endevor it started as.
A fella at a gas station(gas bar in Canada)told me something I have adopted as my new creed in life. "The difference between an adventure and an ordeal is the attitude."

Thank you again Chris.

3Ms75Argosy · 11-11-2011, 02:53 PM

Wow! That sounds like it was a bit more than just an "adventure!" Just wondering... did the old Caddy have a dual resovoir master cylinder, or a single? My old '55 Dodge pickup has a single... but I'll be upgrading to a dual. Leaves one with at least "some" brakes if there's a leak in a circuit.

Can you post some pics of the liner at FTW and the Caddy?
Bet those whitewalls on the BB look fab next to the Caddy!
Marc

mutcth · 11-11-2011, 05:00 PM

Wow! What a story - and that's a great quote about attitude. Glad both of you made it there safe and sound.

Tom

Silverhobby · 11-11-2011, 05:59 PM

Quite a trip Frank. I know you have got lots of stories to share around a campfire.

wasagachris · 11-11-2011, 06:35 PM

Today Frank & I did a quick tour of Toronto and then we shuffled off to Buffalo so he could catch a flight home. He left Buffalo at about 6:00PM and should arrive back in Baltimore at 9:45 PM this evening.
Once more I need to express my utmost gratitude to Frank for all his efforts to get this car back here. He is the best man on the planet as far as I'm concerned.
Frank I am forever in your debt. Thank you Thank you Thank you.

bolerama · 11-12-2011, 02:10 PM

What a great adventure! Can't wait to see pictures of everything.
Lisa

rebelstand · 11-12-2011, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bolerama

What a great adventure! Can't wait to see pictures of everything.
Lisa

it would have been interesting to have a twitter feed on that trip....

wasagachris · 11-12-2011, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rebelstand

it would have been interesting to have a twitter feed on that trip....

Nickii I'm trying to get things all together here since I've been away for three weeks. I will be posting pics of the trip along with commentary on it.
As far as twitter goes I had enough trouble getting internet access as it was without using twitter as well. I'm not really computer literate and have never done the twitter thing.

ND10CentCan · 11-12-2011, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wasagachris

Nickii I'm trying to get things all together here since I've been away for three weeks. I will be posting pics of the trip along with commentary on it.
As far as twitter goes I had enough trouble getting internet access as it was without using twitter as well. I'm not really computer literate and have never done the twitter thing.

I am waiting for pictures and commentary on the adventure you have had. Rest first and then report please. I can only imagine all you have seen and heard along the way. Glad to see you are safe and sound.
Sandy

rebelstand · 11-13-2011, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wasagachris

Nickii I'm trying to get things all together here since I've been away for three weeks. I will be posting pics of the trip along with commentary on it.
As far as twitter goes I had enough trouble getting internet access as it was without using twitter as well. I'm not really computer literate and have never done the twitter thing.

well I don't even have a twitter account... just saying a play by play of the trip....

get rest and we'll wait, as patiently as we can, for those pictures....

wasagachris · 11-16-2011, 01:18 PM

So I finally had some time today to get at all the receipts for the trip.
Here is how it all breaks down.
Including the day trip to Ohio to pick up the 1955 Overlander and the day trip to Buffalo to drop Frank off at the airport for the flight back to baltimore I drove 6155 miles. The fuel costs were $3350 which includes $160.00 for the Caddy. I burned up close to 750 gallons of diesel fuel and the caddy took 40 gallons of gas to get it home. The truck averaged 8.2 MPG and the Caddy averaged 15 MPG. The truck weighs nearly 10,000 lbs and the Caddy weighs nearly 4,800 lbs. I was also pulling a flat bed trailer for half the trip weighing 1500 lbs. Once it was loaded with the liner and the other car parts I bought it weighed 3600 lbs and to bring the 61 home it added 4000 lbs to my total weight.
I stayed 16 nights in a motel which cost close to $850 for an average of $53 per night.
The tolls were $64.00 and I spent another $300 on food and $250 on misc. things like soda and snacks.
The border taxes for both the 55 and 61 trailers as well as the Caddy and other purchases were $883 and the licensing office collected another $1212 for provincial tax and tag fees.
The total expenditures are $4814 USD and $2095 CAD. Allowing for exchange on the USD to CAD $7150 total expenditures.
I'll start posting pictures and commentary on them now as everyone has been waiting for those.

worldinchaos · 11-16-2011, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wasagachris

So I finally had some time today to get at all the receipts for the trip.
Here is how it all breaks down.
Including the day trip to Ohio to pick up the 1955 Overlander and the day trip to Buffalo to drop Frank off at the airport for the flight back to baltimore I drove 6155 miles. The fuel costs were $3350 which includes $160.00 for the Caddy. I burned up close to 750 gallons of diesel fuel and the caddy took 40 gallons of gas to get it home. The truck averaged 8.2 MPG and the Caddy averaged 15 MPG. The truck weighs nearly 10,000 lbs and the Caddy weighs nearly 4,800 lbs. I was also pulling a flat bed trailer for half the trip weighing 1500 lbs. Once it was loaded with the liner and the other car parts I bought it weighed 3600 lbs and to bring the 61 home it added 4000 lbs to my total weight.
I stayed 16 nights in a motel which cost close to $850 for an average of $53 per night.
The tolls were $64.00 and I spent another $300 on food and $250 on misc. things like soda and snacks.
The border taxes for both the 55 and 61 trailers as well as the Caddy and other purchases were $883 and the licensing office collected another $1212 for provincial tax and tag fees.
The total expenditures are $4814 USD and $2095 CAD. Allowing for exchange on the USD to CAD $7150 total expenditures.
I'll start posting pictures and commentary on them now as everyone has been waiting for those.

You forgot to add the final quote:

"An unforgettable adventure to recover my aluminum friends from the US: Priceless. "

wasagachris · 11-16-2011, 04:15 PM

Peter you're absolutely right. I wouldn't have traded this trip for anything in the world.
So this is how the trip went.
I left the first day on Sunday the 23rd at noon. I drove until midnight and stopped in Mendota Illinois for the night. The next day I set out for Minnesota to visit Minno. That night I recieved a message from Wabbiteer. As they both live in the same area I combined a visit with both of them.
Both have projects on the go and I saw some amazing work being done. I had a great time visiting some forum friends.
I spent Monday night in the twin cities and set off early the next morning for Bismarck North Dakota. While on the way I made a fuel stop. Right next door to the gas station was an RV dealer. I needed a part so I stopped and saw these two A/S for sale.