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| | | Re: My 1997 Express | Joined: Nov 2013 Posts: 3,692 Likes: 32 pooh-bah | OP pooh-bah Joined: Nov 2013 Posts: 3,692 Likes: 32 | Sort of like potato chips...I just couldn't stop. Went around once with the Flitz, and was very pleased with the progress. Took a nylon panel beating hammer and straightened a bend near the latch. And looking it over thought, this one spot didn't come out well...and that lead to going over the whole thing a second time. Made a great difference, and now I AM DONE. My arm, shoulder and fingers demand it. The centers arrived in the mail too. One for the front, one for the back. | | | Re: My 1997 Express | Joined: Jul 2014 Posts: 4,805 Likes: 123 Uncle Rust N Dents | Uncle Rust N Dents Joined: Jul 2014 Posts: 4,805 Likes: 123 | Cool! You worked much harder on that than I would have... but it looks much better than mine would. | | | Re: My 1997 Express | Joined: May 2018 Posts: 2,397 Likes: 64 veteran | veteran Joined: May 2018 Posts: 2,397 Likes: 64 | I have a set of rims I will come pick you up..lol, taking time all the small stuff makes ALL The difference..nice jobðŸ‘
When in doubt..get the sawzall out..
| | | Re: My 1997 Express | Joined: Nov 2013 Posts: 3,692 Likes: 32 pooh-bah | OP pooh-bah Joined: Nov 2013 Posts: 3,692 Likes: 32 | The Express took a little trip to the repair shop last week. A new intake gasket (the 3rd in it's 9k mile lifetime...damn plastic thing), water pump, serpentine belt, fresh coolant, and a new thermostat. I had them use a 180 thermostat instead of the original 195. Then it was off through Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee with empty car hauler in tow. Weight about 1700 - 1800 lbs and with little aero penalty, it got 13.5-ish MPG running about 72 - 73 mph. Van loaded with my all of my daughters college belongings (which seemed to have multiplied considerably since we dropped her off there in August of last year), and with her car on the car hauler, we headed off through Tennessee, Kentucky, and spent the night in Southern Illinois. The photo here is the Express parked in the bus parking area next to our cabin in Giant City State Park, with water tower and observation platform in the background. The next day, through Illinois, Indiana and back to Michigan. Got about 11.5ish on that half of the trip. Van ran great, did not use or lose a drop of coolant, and I am very happy with how cool it ran. In drive, nearly flat out on some long grades holding 65 mph, the needle barely budged off it's cool reading. I'm stoked about that. Lots of reserve capacity in that cooling system (tow package with engine oil cooler and an aftermarket trans cooler on top of the factory one), which is the way I like it. Vortec heads are known to crack when overheated, and this will keep me far away from that sort of trouble. | | | Re: My 1997 Express | Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 2,290 Likes: 137 veteran | veteran Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 2,290 Likes: 137 | I freakin love it when a repair goes well. So many times I go to fix one thing and either break another or find another pre-existing issue. It's nice when the repair goes as planned. Glad that temp is staying down. Super clean looking ride man. | | | Re: My 1997 Express | Joined: Nov 2013 Posts: 3,692 Likes: 32 pooh-bah | OP pooh-bah Joined: Nov 2013 Posts: 3,692 Likes: 32 | It's been a working summer for The Express. My sons truck suffered a catastrophic engine failure, and had to be replaced by a new vehicle. Replacement secured, we hitched the van up to the aluminum car hauler again, and headed south. Along the way, we crested the 100k mile mark, rolling right along, and running better than ever. Once there, we had some extra time to visit with our son. This included a little light hiking through Giant City with the wife (stayed in the same park as last trip, parked in the same spot. The trip home always includes a stop at the Blue Hat in Coldwater for coffee. | | | Re: My 1997 Express | Joined: Nov 2013 Posts: 3,692 Likes: 32 pooh-bah | OP pooh-bah Joined: Nov 2013 Posts: 3,692 Likes: 32 | The following month, we took The Express to Cincinnati for a family gathering. Nothing better for road trips. Unfortunately, the a/c slowly stopped working on the way down. I topped off the system while I was there, and was able to get it working for the drive home, but it's clearly a large leak, as it was again going flat before we made Detroit. I did make it to a swapmeet while I was there, and picked up a few nick-nacks. | | | Re: My 1997 Express | Joined: Nov 2013 Posts: 3,692 Likes: 32 pooh-bah | OP pooh-bah Joined: Nov 2013 Posts: 3,692 Likes: 32 | A trip to the shop for an a/c repair (corroded aluminum lines to the rear system), and just in time. The next day, we left for a short summer getaway. Great Lakes: Superior, Huron, Michigan, we touched our toes in all 3 during this little tour of northern Michigan. First stop, Mackinaw City, MI. Stayed in a cabin. With gear, food, bedding, cooler...no other vehicle would have got the job done, while offering leather seating and limo sized rear leg room for our passengers. Again, a fantastic vehicle. Speed limit is 75 much of the way, which means you run 80 just to keep up, and the Vortec powered Express cruised along with no problems. Next morning, we crossed the Straights of Mackinac (different spelling, but still pronounced Mackinaw) by 30 minute launch ride to Mackinac Island. The entire trip we enjoyed cool temps and clear skies. Here, enjoying lunch on the island harbor's edge...best meal of the trip at Mary's Bistro. Next day, across the Mackinaw Bridge...(note: not my image of the bridge...the water was not this rough when we crossed to the island the day before, though it was the night we arrived)... ...into the Upper Peninsula (U.P.) of Michigan to Sault Ste. Marie, MI. Here the Sault (Soo) Locks pass huge Great Lakes freighters from Lake Superior to the lower Great Lakes via the St. Mary's river. But first, lunch at the West Pier Drive-In. Hey, if the van is great for traveling, why not eat inside of it too? First time I'd had a food tray on the drivers window. Then back to the locks. We watched several ships pass through. Here a 1000 footer (the largest the locks can pass) waits it's turn to pass through the locks.
Last edited by Dyno_Dave; July 20th 2019 8:04 pm.
| | | Re: My 1997 Express | Joined: Nov 2013 Posts: 3,692 Likes: 32 pooh-bah | OP pooh-bah Joined: Nov 2013 Posts: 3,692 Likes: 32 | Next stop, Canada! Across the bridge at Sault Ste. Marie, MI, to Sault Ste. Marie, Canada! First time for The Express out of the country. Then an hour or so leisurely drive to Batchawana Bay, so we could stick our toes in Lake Superior. Beautiful park, and no one there. Much of the road to it is through small (?) mountains, and winding along the shore of the lake...beautiful! Then back into the USA, starting at mile 1 (so to speak) of I-75 at the USA/Canada border. That means that with the previously described trip to Orland, FL on I-75, The Express has driven most (but not quite all) of this great north/south interstate. Back down through the U.P. to St. Igance, on the U.P. (north) end of the Mackinaw Bridge. Spent a night in a nice hotel in St. Ignace, with a beautiful view off the balcony. Another excellent dinner, drinks and evening out. Next morning, we packed up, did a little shopping in St. Ignace, went to the Mystery Spot MYSTERY SPOT ?, then back across the Mackinaw Bridge for lunch in Mackinaw City at Weinerlicious. Really. You can't make that up. Then a high speed run home. Makes you feel sorry for folks NOT traveling by van.
Last edited by Dyno_Dave; July 20th 2019 8:11 pm.
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