The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: MikeBjerum on September 17, 2009, 05:21:01 PM
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My post at 2:05 this morning was not insomnia ... It was the start of a long adventure.
My job, that I chose to take, was to take our old coach to the cities, leave it with the dealer, fly to Ohio to pick up a new one, and start the 750 mile drive home.
I left home about 2:15 AM, was at the airport at 5:30 and through TSA by 6:15. We boarded early and left right on time (7 AM), flew to Philly, then back to Dayton. Everything was fine when I called from Philly to confirm my ride and the new vehicle ... Get to the plant, and there are issues.
Brand new caddy wagon is in the caddy dealer tonight for a sensor on one front hub that is causing brake issues. Glad they found it when they went to fill it up for me, or I'd be at an oasis in nowhere IL at midnight with either no brakes or a lock up.
I get to spend tonight in beautiful Lima, OH, and will be on the road home sometime between 10:00 AM and 1:00PM Friday. The earlier time means I'm driving a plant car and they will deliver the new coach next week, or the later time means that I'm driving a big shiny wagon. Just wish it weren't a 13 hour drive starting at that time of day.
Only rush to get home is that #1 child is coming up from Kansas to go to a Twins game on Saturday (one last game in the dome before they move to the new place), so I need to be home and rested to make another 150 mile drive on Saturday morning :-\
Wish me luck boys and girls!
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Good Luck!
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My post at 2:05 this morning was not insomnia ... It was the start of a long adventure.
My job, that I chose to take, was to take our old coach to the cities, leave it with the dealer, fly to Ohio to pick up a new one, and start the 750 mile drive home.
I left home about 2:15 AM, was at the airport at 5:30 and through TSA by 6:15. We boarded early and left right on time (7 AM), flew to Philly, then back to Dayton. Everything was fine when I called from Philly to confirm my ride and the new vehicle ... Get to the plant, and there are issues.
Brand new caddy wagon is in the caddy dealer tonight for a sensor on one front hub that is causing brake issues. Glad they found it when they went to fill it up for me, or I'd be at an oasis in nowhere IL at midnight with either no brakes or a lock up.
I get to spend tonight in beautiful Lima, OH, and will be on the road home sometime between 10:00 AM and 1:00PM Friday. The earlier time means I'm driving a plant car and they will deliver the new coach next week, or the later time means that I'm driving a big shiny wagon. Just wish it weren't a 13 hour drive starting at that time of day.
Only rush to get home is that #1 child is coming up from Kansas to go to a Twins game on Saturday (one last game in the dome before they move to the new place), so I need to be home and rested to make another 150 mile drive on Saturday morning :-\
Wish me luck boys and girls!
So you mean the thing doesn't work as good as it looked in those pics you sent? ;D
One advantage of driving the coach home............you'll probably avoid hitchhikers. Especially if you offer them space in the back. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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So you mean the thing doesn't work as good as it looked in those pics you sent? ;D
I haven't even gotten to see it yet. It was already at the dealer with the front end all taken out before I arrived. They had hoped to get it done with parts they had at the plant (they have ten other brand new ones there to tear apart), but the dealer said it was too big a job to canibalize another car.
I'll post some pictures when I get home that are not shrink wrapped for paint and body protection.
By the way ... I just found out that Courtyard's public puter won't bring up anything with the word *orn (*=P), so I can't read most of what is posted on here tonight.
Have fun guys! I'm gonna take the fancy new Chrysler 300 (with a hemi) they foolishly lent me on a road trip to find some Crown ;D
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Good luck big M. You can do it.
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Just take a few deep breaths, grit your teeth and go. Us "seasoned" fellas can do anything we care to. And by the way, best of luck to you and God speed.
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I haven't even gotten to see it yet. It was already at the dealer with the front end all taken out before I arrived. They had hoped to get it done with parts they had at the plant (they have ten other brand new ones there to tear apart), but the dealer said it was too big a job to canibalize another car.
I'll post some pictures when I get home that are not shrink wrapped for paint and body protection.
By the way ... I just found out that Courtyard's public puter won't bring up anything with the word *orn (*=P), so I can't read most of what is posted on here tonight.
Have fun guys! I'm gonna take the fancy new Chrysler 300 (with a hemi) they foolishly lent me on a road trip to find some Crown ;D
You shoulda called before you left, I'd have taken a few days off and accompanied you. I've always wanted to fart on the upholstery of a new Cadillac. ;D
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Only rush to get home is that #1 child is coming up from Kansas to go to a Twins game on Saturday (one last game in the dome before they move to the new place), so I need to be home and rested to make another 150 mile drive on Saturday morning :-\
Wish me luck boys and girls!
Safe travels to you! I'll be at the dome, too.
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Be safe...and did you say Crown?
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Be safe...and did you say Crown?
Yes ... Crown ... the bull riders' choice but don't say that out loud when they are collecting endorsements from Jack
Another half hour or so and I should know if it is a caddy or chrysler cruise today :-\
Sure am glad I'm a patient fella ... is that a new wear pattern in the plush lobby carpet I see developing?
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Drive careful, Mike. Gettin' home late is MUCH better than not at all!
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Have a safe trip home Mike! Get some rest so you wont be sleeping during the game. ;D
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Just got an update (phone call) from M58!
They over-nighted the part to the MFG and sure enough it showed up right on time this morning! The mechs are standing by ready to jump on this and get M58 on the road.....
But wait!.........
The special tool needed for the job did NOT make it! (http://www.smileyx.com/smilies/2erOBh1.gif)
M58 is currently driving that Chrysler hemi home. ;D
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That sounds about normal ;D
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You think Lodi is beautiful....drive about 45 min. East just off I76 to Ravenna where I live. Pizza Shops and Antique stores abound and this weekend the "Balloon A-Fair" (hot air balloons and all if the weather is right).
Richard
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You think Lodi is beautiful....drive about 45 min. East just off I76 to Ravenna where I live. Pizza Shops and Antique stores abound and this weekend the "Balloon A-Fair" (hot air balloons and all if the weather is right).
Richard
It also has a great classical music venue, and twenty years ago, the hottest woman in the world who interned there at
Ravenna. She made Angelnia Jolie look lke a nun. She was, objectivley speaking, average at best, But she was smart could sight read music to the point where you just got scared that something that would take you an hour to play, she could do easily in five minutes. The main thing that made Cathy different from the average bear was her lidbo. She wsn't a slut, was no one's victim, didn't take advantage of anyone, but was happy to drop trou with anyone who met her standards of musical taste. That was the real cool, and weird thing about Cathy. She cared not about age, race, social status, gender or religion. If You you knew who Muddy Waters was, liked Handel and were willing to listen to the Pouges, odds were good you were going to have a good night. The girl was a gifted violinist and horndog that reminds me of the redhead in American Pie. She still makes me smile everytime I hear Ravennna Illinois because this one time at band camp......... ;D 8)
FQ13
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Whewwwwww ... I made it.
I've actually been home an hour already, but have been visiting with wife and son.
780 miles exactly garage door to garage door; three stops, first one included gas and a run through Mickey D's, second for gas and another run through Mickey D's but they weren't too interested in helping me, so stop three was a Mickey D's that actually gave me my food ... Stops one and two actually included a little pressure relief ;); and a total of 13.25 hours (not the best time, but I think pretty good for all the construction).
Thought the game was 1:10 on Saturday, but am pretty relieved to learn it is 3:10. The added rest will be welcome!
Anyone ever driven a 300 with a hemi? That sucker really screams! Pull out to get around someone and it is 60 - 100 before you know it :o Only downside, besides being butt ugly, is that the anti-lock really screws up power braking. I think it has to do with having the brakes on, getting the wheels spinning, and having the abs kick in. It starts out fine, and then it starts bucking and jumping like ... like ... like a fricken bull :-\
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A quick spy photo before I left this morning ...
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e330/m58/IMG00012.jpg)
The left hand row are 2010's that have come off the full assembly line and been taken aside to remove many items (trunk lids, rear bumpers and trim, rear doors, rear seats and all upholstery, and some glass) before being shipped for commercial conversion.
The one on the right is one of the last 2009's to come off the line. All I saw there was Caddy and Lincoln. I know that Mercedes, Lexus, a couple other euro, and Suburbans are converted for coaches, but I forgot to ask how many brands Superior does.
When I was there the last dozen 09's were being completed, and they mostly were just receiving interior trim and finish completion. There were two 10's that were started, but they were both limos.
If you ever get the chance to watch How It's Made on Discovery, they have a bit on building hearses. That segment was taped in this plant.
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FQ13 that's Ravenna, Ohio...not Ravenna, Italy!
Richard
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This is a little late, But ..................................
Hot Damn !!!
It finally showed up about 9:30 this morning. It is in the next town over, where we store it (that way I don't have to keep it washed ;D). However, due to a little early evening work tonight I will be using it for its first service on Saturday ... Hope I'm not the first to put it back in the body shop. The other two have both made their trips through the shop, and one got two new fenders, hood, bumper, grill and valance ... all before it was even a year old :o We have not had a good couple years with vehicles, so last week was not too much of a shock in hind sight.
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It finally arrived on Wednesday, I used if for its intended purpose for the first time today, and it is back in the garage without a single scratch or ding ;D
Now we can move on to the next ordeal, whatever that may be ::)
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e330/m58/IMG00014.jpg)
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Who gets to wash and wax it?
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We each, the two of us that share it, clean it up if we get it dirty ... I put it in his garage with bugs on the windshield today ;D We store it in the next town over due to my request supposedly based on him having a bigger garage, but my hopes are that he will wax it. However, for the 10 years I've been at this place, and the three years Jim has been over there, it always seems to be my turn to wax it ... Either we are waxing that thing six time a year, or someone is only telling me that he is waxing it in between ... I'm not that ignorant. The last time I needed wax I took every bit he had, because he admits to never using it.