The SA roadtrip to Melb.....

montyv8 · 11-07-2005, 05:12 AM

stupid cars......

as some of you may know, six of us went to melbourne this weekend.
we left adelaide with one EF, one EL, and an empty car trailer.
we returned with one EL, one EB wreck on the car trailer, and one BA rental car.

the quick story: (we just got back and its 3am SA time, and im beyond stuffed)
we left Adelaide at around 5am sat morning. we were towing the trailer with my EF, and Pully's EL was with us. the trip to melb was easy and uneventful. We got to Campbellfield, and loaded the EB 5.0 ghia wreck i had bought from john_xr6 onto the trailer. in the rain. yay.
we then had to go to Johns place to pick up a diff. the EF wasnt running to bad, seemed to be pulling the trailer ok. till we got to some serious hills.
Econ light on the dash started flashing, then trans died. dumped its guts bigtime. towed the trailer to geelong (where we had booked at cabin) with Pully's EL. got the RACV/RAA to tow the EF to somewhere a bit safer.
that took god knows how many hours.
while waiting for the tow truck, Mick (initial D) and AL (gunns) arrived, followed by John (EFFalcon). John Z was still with us. John (EFFALC) carted those of us that werent in pullys el out to geelong, as he was goin there for the meet anyway.
got to the motel, got that sorted, then went to the meet at bunnings. then up to shaggers. met alot of the Vic guys. had a good chat.
found out that reverse parking in vic incurs a $60 fine....
then went to the Barwon club. What kind of pub shuts at 1am????????
then on to the Eureka. got ****ed, had fun. caught taxi to motel, told the AU taxi drivers to go away, tried to jump in an EL taxi lol, but had to make do with a BA taxi.
sunday:
got delayed leaving the hotel after discovering the manager had a collection of rare classic (59-79) american convertibles. he had one later model car, a fox-body Saleen Mustang. convertible, of course.
moved ourselves, pully's EL and the trailer to Krys' (Fordgirl) house.made lots of phone calls, and tried to work out how to get us all home.
Six adult males in a superlow-equipped EL with a loaded car trailer on the back will not work. well, not for a 750km trip it wont.
our options:
A:hire a car to tow the trailer home, get the dead EF freighted home (covered by RAA) and pullys car driven home.
B:buy a cheap car from the trading post to tow the trailer instead of hiring a car. (one-way hire = big $'s) get the dead EF freighted home and pullys car driven home.
C: pully's EL tows the trailer, and we hire another car.

we ended up with option C. we were a bit apprehensive about towing the trailer with the EL after the EF dying, but it did it ok. and we ended forking out for a rental BA sedan. (having the wife's credit card is handy)
we couldnt get a rental vehicle with a tow bar....
Barry, Dan and Pully swapped the EL's rear superlows for a pair of tickford springs (that came with the diff we picked up) at Krys' house, then left for adelaide at 3pm. Krys and her mum drove us all the way to tullermarine airport to pick up the BA.
while the EL+trailer was cruising to adel, Darin, Aaron and myself drove the BA to where the dead EF was parked, up near Diamond creek way. we had to get an RACV guy to look at the EF to confirm it was dead, so that the RAA would get it shipped home.
we didnt get away from there till 7pm.
we caught up with the EL about 15km's from adelaide.

So, as i type this, there is a car trailer with a trashed eb on it in my drive way, and a BA sedan next to it. And my poor EF is sitting in melbourne....
should be back "within 10 working days".

I must say a HUGE thanks to the two Johns, Mick, Al and Karl,
and especially Krys and Krys' mum. without your help we'd still be sittin on the side of the road. sorry if i missed anyone, i'm 3/4 asleep.

Also, another huge thanks to Dan, Baz, Aaron, Pully and Darin. sorry the car died and took with it what would have been an awesome weekend :(

I gotta go crash out. im almost unconscious.

cars suck.

Phil

NZ · 11-07-2005, 05:55 AM

Jeez what a nightmare. I hope you guys at least had a bit of fun while you were over here.

LUXO_8 · 11-07-2005, 07:18 AM

yep sounds like a nightmare of a roadtrip.
hope you get your car back soonish and it all sorted out...

Kenaz · 11-07-2005, 07:47 AM

Damn what a story! At least you all made it back alright. Hopefully you'll get the EF back soon and they don't dick you around.

Walkinshaw · 11-07-2005, 09:47 AM

What do i need to add? Nothing. oh mabey just the "we dont like Aaron or Dan, so lets leave them and drive 20km away."

BIG thanks to John and the beautiful SVO EA + pilot, for comming to pick us up!!! cheers gguys.

Now time to pretend to do some work whilst I sleep.

FordGirl · 11-07-2005, 09:58 AM

I swear this was just a whole bad dream or something, this is the second time I've been at home waiting for SA guys to get to Geelong and get a phone call saying that their trans has died.

*VERY* happy you got home safe with the EL in one piece.

It's a shame it had to happen but I hope you atleast had a little bit of fun.

SORRY DAN AND AARON FOR LEAVING YOU BEHIND! hahaha.

InitialD · 11-07-2005, 10:05 AM

Was great to meet you guys ;)

The EF is still safe and sound even thou my next door neighbour thought i got a new car and goes "Wow least you got a nice car and rid of that blue thing that was stuffing up all the time" LMAO :P

stockstandard · 11-07-2005, 10:06 AM

Damm that sux. Do you know what went bang in the auto?

Dont like this talk of towing cars and boxes blowing. I am supposed to be heading up to murray bridge tomorrow and towing a car back. Wonder what a manual will think of towing 3t through the hills

4.9 EF Futura · 11-07-2005, 10:09 AM

That's a shocker Phil. Ah well, the EF should go hard with a 5 speed *wink*

Good to hear the mexicans looked after you guys.

PULLY6 · 11-07-2005, 10:21 AM

A BIG thanks to everyone: Krys (FordGirl) & her mum, John (Effalcon), Mick (InitialD), John Z (John XR6), and anyone else I've forgotten to list.

An honorable mention: Stevo & The Iranian Tow Truck Driver

It was a great trip, thoroghly (sp? CGAF) enjoyed myself. Great to meet all the Mexicans

I'm well buggered, will write more later - pics coming soon!

PS the trip back:
Left Geelong at 3pm, after a 20min spring change (superlows for tickford springs, thank god we had them). Took off out of Geelong, after ****ing of half a dozen victorians (we had no trailer lights) by stopping at servo's trying to find a plug for the lights. We had a few driver changes etc.

Just before Nhill we were 'inspected' by the local constabulary (thanks barry) After doing the mandatory blow job (Breath Test, what were you thinking?!) The police went on their way, after saying, "You had all the right answers mate, lucky or else you'd have a fine" What a legend. Country cops rock!

We stopped at the Nhill Mobil and jury-rigged some lights up, after many attempts at trying to fit a round plug in to a square hole. (my car had a round 7-pin plug, the trailer had a rectangular plug)

Our wiring rocked! We had parkers & brakes - the indicators "kinda" worked.

The BA screamed past us @ Stirling, and after much coaxing & cajoling, we got the EL + Trailer back to Phil's - over the hills & stuff. The BA Freeway drifting was gold!

Gave my car a thrash home & went to bed @ 4:15.

I'm at work now... jeez i'm tire.... zzzzzzzZZZZZzzzzzZZZ

PULLY6 · 11-07-2005, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FordGirl

DAN AND AARON FOR LEAVING YOU BEHIND! hahaha.

I'm not... :P

Quote:

Originally Posted by InitialD

Was great to meet you guys

Ditto mate

Quote:

Originally Posted by stockstandard

Damm that sux. Do you know what went bang in the auto?

The trans fluid boiled over (out the dipstick). We think the rear main seal

:

InitialD · 11-07-2005, 10:26 AM

Dont get me started on that Tow truck driver Pully, he took years to get here, then stopped in the middle of the street for no reason and didnt understand why i was telling him to drop the car where it is now :|

DOC · 11-07-2005, 10:33 AM

Sounds like a good party and you did not invite everyone, maybe next time. How is the other car coming back is it being freighted ?

FordGirl · 11-07-2005, 10:40 AM

The EF is being transported back by RACV/RAA

LTDHO · 11-07-2005, 10:49 AM

I assume the EF has a trans cooler?

If not, YA MAD! You blow transmissions without them!!

If so, get a bigger one!

PULLY6 · 11-07-2005, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LTDHO

I assume the EF has a trans cooler?

If not, YA MAD! You blow transmissions without them!!

If so, get a bigger one!

Its got one, on V8's they are standard. There were... errr... 'other reasons' why it blew.

We were gonna wrap up the trans cooler from the EB and give it to Phil :P

Walkinshaw · 11-07-2005, 11:05 AM

The EF had a tow pack + cooler. Big trailer + hills = HEAT.

3000kg + BTR = KABOOOOOOOOM

Myself, Barry and Pully are applying for "worlds fastest rear spring changing" crown.

fairmont1998 · 11-07-2005, 11:49 AM

Things might have not gone to plan but you can't say it was a boring weekend at all!
I didn't even know Dan and Aaron got left behind at Hungry Js during the cruise 'til we got to Shaggers and they weren't there! Pretty amusing ;)
Melbourne is too damn big, we did am obscene amount of running around!

And... Rental BAs rock

I want a BA... but not an ex rental.

LTDHO · 11-07-2005, 12:40 PM

What was the cause of the failure then?

When mine was an auto I didn't have problems towing cars through the hills.

fairmont1998 · 11-07-2005, 01:02 PM

A couple of pics of when the weekends plans changed ;)

PULLY6 · 11-07-2005, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LTDHO

What was the cause of the failure then?

When mine was an auto I didn't have problems towing cars through the hills.

Ummm... "Spirited" driving while towing. :evilsasmo

LOL @ us all standing around looking at the car! We seemed to do that a lot over the course of the weekend.

:

montyv8 · 11-07-2005, 02:13 PM

The EF should've been fine. I just pushed it a bit too hard i think. the empty trailer was quite heavy. plus i think the trans might have been dodgy.
and it wasn't the main seal that went. something alot more severe. involving 'whirring' noises.

yeah despite the car problems, i still had a damn good time. good to meet you all and thanks again for your help

oh, and roadside carparks + BA rental car = FUN. have video evidence somewhere.
down-hill freeway arab-handbrake-drifting also = fun lol.

Mick, I told your mum to make sure you don't steal the EF's rims lol. cheers for watchin the car for me.

PULLY6 · 11-07-2005, 04:19 PM

I'd say so - combination of pushing a bit too hard & trans already worn. Still, you live and learn!

It was great fun

And for the record... anything with expensive whirring noises sucks.

Walkinshaw · 11-07-2005, 04:29 PM

Do some work pully. Sell some beds.

PULLY6 · 11-07-2005, 04:31 PM

Been there, done that; for today.

I'm that bloody tired! Can barely keep my eyes open.

What did your old man say when you rocked up for work?

mcflux · 11-07-2005, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PULLY6

And for the record... anything with expensive whirring noises sucks.

Not a fan of forced induction? :P

Ahh it's good that you're all back in one piece, and that the hurt EF is safe at Mick's place ;)

-Dave-

oneredED · 11-07-2005, 06:11 PM

Oh damn! That sounds like a *really bad* (use your imagination to find more appropriate words) trip guys. I was sitting in bordertown wishing i was heading to melbourne with ya's ;) But now i'm kinda glad i didn't haha

:

Sorry to hear it didn't go to plan guys, good luck with getting it all sorted out

Jared