STEAMBOAT TRIP REPORT 2001

[Chris Semple - Force 5 Automotive]

> *  MIA:  The warriors of Beyond Thunderdome, Chris Semple and Stott Hare,
> caught in Indianapolis with a blown oil pump on the tow vehicle.  We
missed
> their track schrapnel, replaced audi parts by cookies this year.  Here's
> hoping they made it back in good order...  Anyone heard

Still here, thanks. Not lucky enough for a 50$ pump, we wiped the whole
engine. Settled on the more reasonable than astronomical of estimates and
are awaiting completion(maybe Fri night). We were so loaded to the gills
with delivery parts that our hotel room boasts a complete ur-q exhaust,
200tq transmission, 20vt cats, and a 3B MAF with airbox. Had to offload that
stuff to keep the fenders from rubbing the Fuchs. Bad cosmic karma keeps us
stuck in the only part of the country without fresh snow!

It's given us some spare time to tinker, and never ones to leave well enough
alone, we've rolled the fenders a bit and installed a Knobben in an effort
to extract the max she's got to offer.

Thanks for the event report, it's great to hear traditions live on! We'll
still be enroute to CO, just later than planned.

Scott, when we did the electronic diff lock mod to the Lightweight, we added
another vac reservoir and kept the actuator in the trunk, trying to shorten
the vac line as much as possible. This was for rear only actuation, as the
centre is full time locked. Seems to be less sensitive to engine vacuum
variations, although we haven't tried it at altitude yet.

Cheers,
Chris Semple
stuck in Indy
    '93 E350 w/grumpy 5.8L
        '84 4000tq Lightweight