I made it! But not without typical drama.
Left SLC at 6am. Hit traffic imediatly, it didn't really add anytime but it seems like everyone in SLC has some sort of Mad Max fantasy. I got run out of my lane three freaking times. Locked up the brakes twice. And was full throttle way more than one should have to be on a commute. Grrrrr. Got out of it by Willard and had smooth sailing on the liberty? parkway.
Rolled into Blackfoot Idaho no problem. Jeep was a little warm, and I had lost about 10psi of oil pressure. I marked that down as all the different addative packs in the different oils duking it out. Filled the tank as far as it would go but if would only take 16 after 180 miles and I've been doing about 9 on this trip running 70-80. Grabbed lunch at Taco Time (highly recommend btw) and then headed for Salmon by way of the two lane blacktop.
Again smooth sailing for the most part. She was running a bit warm and lean surging. Got within 20 miles of Salmon and ran out of gas! It's a 197 miles but come on! I've got a 22 gallon tank... Threw the Jerry can in (thank you Ted it saved my bacon!) And continued. 20 miles on 5 gallons. No big deal right?
Pulled into the city limits of Salmon and ran out of gas again. I was still a mile and a half from the gas station. Needless to say I was a little pissed off. Coasted into a sewing machine/vacuum repair shop that had lawnmowers out front figuring they must have gas.
The owner was a short but round little old German man. Heavy Bavarian accent. I asked if he had some gas I could buy or borrow and he launched into an incoherent rant about how the lawnmowers weren't his. And some "damn local farm ruffians" abandoned them a few nights ago. His shop closed at 2 and it was 1:45 so I chatted him up a little more and asked if I could leave the car there for a few hours. He said. Da, dat would be fine. And I started walking.
Gas station was, like I said, a mile and a half away. I started asking repair shops along the way and no one had gas. But every single one of them offered to give me a ride. Their shops were pretty busy so I said no thanks and kept walking. Wasn't to bad of a walk though, I could probably use the excerise. All said and done I was back with gas and hour and fifteen minutes later. Now the fun really begins!
Filled er up and got it started only to discover gas spraying all over the engine compartment! It seems the diaphram of the fuel pump ruptured after I ran it dry the second time. Many explitives were muttered. The oil was contaminated so this wasn't going to be a simple pump change. Went back to the first shop (which was right next door luckily) and asked how much for labor on an oil change. And could I have parts sent to their shop. Luckily for me the answer was $35 and yep! So.i called the carquest.
Of course they didn't have a pump for a 69 AMX 390. Nothing for a 74 IH pickup. No normal 70's FSJ pump. But we had success in finding a 85 waggy pump in stock. The presented a few problems. The Cherokee has a 3/8 fuel line. And the carb has a 3/8 fuel inlet. And I would need a fitting from the threaded outlet on the pump to the hose. He had a fitting, but the jeezless thing was $15!!! Begrudgingly I ordered the parts and oil+filter to their shop.
Getting the pump in was no big deal. Bolted right on. Cut a v into the fuel line and bent it into a little taper. Lubed it up with some power steering fluid (because it has such a convenient dipstick/applicator) and the 5/16 hose slipped right on. Woo! One hurdle down. Got the fitting in and ran the hose to the filter. Stretched the hose onto the 3/8 Barb no problem. Things were going pretty well at this point.
Cranked, and cranked, and cranked, and finally it fired up. Only 20 psi of oil pressure at idle (as compared to 40psi) but everything sounded fine. Checked under the hood and discovered the stupid fitting doing its Best garden sprinkler impression. Threw some pipe tape at it (making sure to have some laying in the seat of the fitting) but same deal. The shop let me borrow some pipe dope and that finally took car of it. It is now 4:30.
Went over to wait for the oil change and noticed they close at five. Started asking questions and discovered that they lost a mechanic after saying they could get the change done. And were now unsure that they could. I talked them into letting me do it with there tools and I did. Without spilling so much as a drop! How often does that happen? Go to return the supplies and dude is gone. But the owner is working in his place now.
"Who the hell are you? Why do you have my tools? We don't loan BEEPING tools!" Much explaination later, we reached an accord and he called the missing shop hand (number two at this point) to chew him out and eventually I heard him get fired as well. Cleaned up, payed the lady at the front desk, and got the BEEP out of there! He was pissed!
Oil pressure was back! And fuel was flowing! Loaded up with gas and for some reason it drank 22 gallons. Keep in mind it had something like 4 gallons in it. Weird... But no leaks so I don't really care. I just wish it had decided to hold that much sooner so I could have avoided this whole mess. Now off to Missoula.
Climbing the pass it was getting hot. Not anywhere near overheating. Just up around 195. That wasn't a problem with the old pump. But with the new one as soon as the gauge would start moving up from 180 it would start lean surging. The carb is still cool. This pump just can't take the heat. At around 195 it dies and wouldn't restart. Let it cool for half an hour and went at it again. Made it within 8 miles of the summit. Let it cool again and went for a hike. That's when I had a realization. I was lean at 8k feet. And I'm at 5k now. D'oh! Thats not helping things. Threw in two sizes richer of rods and that made a big difference. Made it all the way to the top before i had to stop again. Rolled on down the other side no problems!
So I'm here now (or was at 9:45 rather). Some repairs need to be made but the Jeep and I are both in one piece. Ugh. What a day.
Gabe, "reformed" Jeep hoarder.