Grassroots train

Anyone with a trailer happen to be going through PA to the midwest in the next week or so?

Was planning on picking up Moparman's MX3 parts car on Saturday, but just realized that it's an 11.5 hour drive one way. Looking at 34.5 hours of drivetime between the Escort there and back, and the MX3 one way.

At this point, it looks cheaper and probably safer to work something else out, though i'm up for an adventure if i've got no other options.

boooo.. I was so hoping this post was about a Legit Grassroots Train. Like dude built a train in his yard with and old waterheater, and built tracks out of 2x4's or something..

sounds like a GRM project to me

Heh, honestly, i was thinking to myself as i went to drive my girlfriend to work "Man, i bet they're all going to think i'm going to build a damn choo-choo..."

I thought you meant like this:

Sooo... anyone have tips on where to look to rent a truck for cheap? I have access to a trailer to carry the car. Enterprise just quoted me about $225 for Friday afternoon through Monday (because they're closed Sunday, i guess?), Chevy Silverado.

That's almost getting to the point where it's worth it. If i could get a truck for Friday, Saturday, and return Sunday morning for $150 or less, i'll go that route.

But beyond that, it's hard to swallow the price difference. It'll cost about $200 or less in gas to drive out there, and drive both cars back. Hopefully less.

Have you considered a one-way flight? Just checking on one of the search engines, Delta has a flight from Indy to Allentown for $155.00.

JFX001 wrote: Have you considered a one-way flight? Just checking on one of the search engines, Delta has a flight from Indy to Allentown for $155.00.

Yeah, i thought about that, but i'm not sure how happy they'd be with me carrying a bunch of tools with me. I'm not about to drive this thing home with nothing to fix it if it tries to strand me.

And that's the main thing that going with the Escort has going for it. Yeah, one (or heaven forbid, BOTH) cars may break down, but i'll have enough tools with me to get up and running again barring a major engine failure.

I looked into bussing out there, but at $140, and a 19 hour bus ride, that's not a real attractive option.

Looks like i'm stuck driving the Escort out there.

In reply to 93celicaGT2:

Last time I flew (or tried to) with two sets of pliers, they only took the one longer than 7" away (that's what she said?). So if you have a bunch of stubby ratchets etc, you should be ok?

From the TSA Website Tools Item Carry-on Checked Axes and Hatchets No Yes Cattle Prods No Yes Crowbars No Yes Hammers No Yes Drills and drill bits (including cordless portable power drills) No Yes Saws (including cordless portable power saws) No Yes Tools (greater than seven inches in length) No Yes Tools (seven inches or less in length) Yes Yes Screwdrivers (seven inches or less in length) Yes Yes Wrenches and Pliers (seven inches or less in length) Yes Yes NOTE: Any sharp objects in checked baggage should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and Security

This is about as GRM as a train can get. It has a Frick traction engine boiler, twin-cylinders off a stationary engine, and a chassis from a C70 truck. It also has a generator off a real train, to power the lamps.

The calliope has an air compressor made from a Roots blower powered by a Waukesha engine. The wagon started its life as a hay wagon, and the calliope organ came from a steam boat.

If you need to be picked up at the airport in allentown, pa or philly, lmk. I can pick you up, but I'm away for the 4th of july.

Andrew

Kramer wrote:

Holy E36 M3 that's awesome!

93celicaGT2 wrote:

JFX001 wrote: Have you considered a one-way flight? Just checking on one of the search engines, Delta has a flight from Indy to Allentown for $155.00.

Yeah, i thought about that, but i'm not sure how happy they'd be with me carrying a bunch of tools with me. I'm not about to drive this thing home with nothing to fix it if it tries to strand me. And that's the main thing that going with the Escort has going for it. Yeah, one (or heaven forbid, BOTH) cars may break down, but i'll have enough tools with me to get up and running again barring a major engine failure. I looked into bussing out there, but at $140, and a 19 hour bus ride, that's not a real attractive option. Looks like i'm stuck driving the Escort out there.

Check the bag with the tools in it. Keep it under 50lbs and you're fine.

Wrenches, sockets, jack, jack stands, screwdrivers, soldering iron, pliers, cutters, vice grips, etc etc etc...

I think i probably roll around with 100-150lbs of tools in the trunk of the MX6 now that i think about it.

I think i'm just going to drive. The Escort was just on the recieving end of $1000+ in parts, so i'm feeling pretty good about that, and it'd be a nice shakedown run to see how the rejuvinated suspension and brakes feel.

I googled "grassroots train"....

does the escort have a swap in it yet?

Andrew

digdug18 wrote: does the escort have a swap in it yet? Andrew

Nope, that's what this parts car is for. The Escort is still rolling the soon-to-be-275k mile BP.

Have you done anything to the escort then?

Andrew

digdug18 wrote: Have you done anything to the escort then? Andrew

Yep... it's developing the standard laundry list of little things that seems to happen with all my cars.

Stainless braided brake lines
Axxis Metal Masters
Pierce Motorsports 4 point tie bar brace (front)
MX3 GS rear tie bar brace
Pacesetter adjustable short shifter (rare!)
MX3 GS leather shift boot
Protege lower center console
MX3 shifter console
MX3 locking glove box
Tokico HPs
Megan Racing springs
MX3 f/r strut tower braces
Window-welded mounts
Custom Delrin Swaybar endlinkes f/r

And a decent stereo and all that.

Yeah, most of it doesn't really matter, but it's the little things that all add up to something fun.

Next step is converting the rest of the interior to MX3 GS spec, then swapping the MX3 control arms over to widen the track. Then we'll go ahead and stick a KLZE in her.

I feel like i'm missing some things already done to that car, though...

Hopefully its a smoother ride on the long trip. Are you driving out and back on the same day? Or staying over night?

Andrew

Fly out, buy tools with the money you save, drive home.

I'll +1 the fly and drive with the condition that you have AAA+ (free 100 mile tow) and can establish a network of GRMers located at approximately 180 mile intervals along your return route.

Side note: Does the mx3 have rear discs?