Re: Updates Road Trip to Arkansas and Nebraska

Lyle,

I like the idea of a safety chain, I'll look into doing something. All modern hoods have a safety catch but nothing on ours.

I installed a Vintage air unit with a low mount shorty compressor. I was able to order the evaporator with the dryer installed. It is mounted using original holes in the core support. I have a 4-row radiator from U.S. Radiator, stock fan, no shroud. without any problem on the highway in 110 degree weather.

Let me know if you want more info.

Dennis C.

On Friday, May 5, 2017 at 5:47:09 AM UTC-7, carv...@xxxxxxx wrote:

Hi Dennis

Great story! I had the hood of my '63 Bel fly up on me back in '67. I was driving on the expressway in rush hour traffic!
I never trusted the latch after that and bolted some chain to the hood and let it drop down through the lower radiator support and put a pad lock on it. Everybody thought I was hiding a big Max Wedge under there.

By the way, is that a factory air set up? I think not.....

Lyle
'63 Sport Fury 383

On Thursday, May 4, 2017 at 8:54:34 PM UTC-4, dennis.1963ply wrote:
I hope this is OK to change the subject but this will be my adventures on the road.

First day only about 550 miles, I 'm not in a hurry. Cruise control and A/C worked very well and were a big help. Fuel mileage appears to be around 15.6 mpg but that was just on two tanks.

When I mention adventure and road trip my wife finds other things to do. This turned out to be a good choice time. I noticed my hood was fluttering and thought I may not have adjusted it as well as I could however it got worse.

In Lordsburg, NM I checked everything was tight then I saw the broken bar the hood latches to when closed. I have attached a couple of pictures but missed the best picture, I did not take a good close picture of the ends of the break. It looked like the bar had been broke for a very long time with only about an eighth of an inch of good metal that finally broke. I was very lucky the hood did not come up, that would have been the end of the trip.

There is almost nothing left in Lordsburg. The Love's Tire Care shop had a guy who would weld it if I took it off. Not a perfect weld job but a GREAT job for me, I was back on the road in less than an hour.

The bar is probably OK now and the hood latches but I'll try to find a replacement after this trip.

Spending the night in Truth or Consequences, NM.

Dennis C.