Old Spanish Trail with Pantera

Very “cool”.

Glad you both survived!

Well done, Marlin. 👍👍

Look forward to the Videos Marlin!

Gutsy!  I'm barely willing to test taking mine out when the temperature gets above 60*F, and in the San Fernando Valley, that's virtually never.  You were in temps nearly twice as much, BRAVE SOUL!  Nice to know it's possible.

Anxiously awaiting pics and video!

...I could have been Stranded at ANY Moment, We All Know What ALL can Go Wrong With these Panteras!. And NO Cell Phone Service to call AAA. Everytime I Shut Down the Engine, I was taking the Risk, the Engine would Never Start again! if I could, I would stop on an Incline, so I could 'Start On Compression', if I was Forced To. The Cleveland Starter Never failed to Fire the Cleveland!

Thank You! To the Gods of "Internal Combustion and Wind in the Face!"

One more note....Having a (small) 'Igloo' Ice Chest Packed with Ice and Cold Drinks, made the Difference. In the 'Middle of Nowhere' with Cold Drinks, Water and Sodas, NO Alcohol.

I was Never 'Running On Empty'. Knowing where ALL the fuel stops were, I would refuel at 1/2 Tank. 21 gal. tank. Calculated, Total Odometer reading, Divided By Total number of Gallons needed to refill tank back up to Full, equals 17.658 Miles per Gallon. How? 358 Cubic Inches....the Smallest Holley 600 CFM Vac. Sec. Carb, On a Dual Plane Edelbrock 'Air-Gap'; and Being 'Light' on the Accelerator. She Still Roared and the Throttle Response was Incredible. When Most of Your Driving is at cruise speed and Idling, Do You really Need a 750-780 CFM? (Sure, if Your Street Racing for 'Pinks'!) I Built the 600 Carb. 600 Body with (750) Center Pivot Float Bowls. the main Jets Increased, for a  Modified Cleveland, and a couple of Other Tricks. It worked very well! NOT a Whiff of Raw Fuel, in all that Heat-Soak. I run a Modified and 'Closed', PCV System. I never liked Sitting at an Idle, Watching 'Blow-By' Rise from the Engine Breathers, In the Rear-View Mirror!! I fabricated a pair of 'Vapor Separators' (Transparent), the Engine doesn't burn Oil, through the PCV, it Burns Oil Vapor! The Proof is, in All of 1343 Miles, less than 1 Quart of Oil was lost, according to the Dipstick. That is Far Less than What Is 'Normal'! And Not a Hint of Smoke coming from the Exhaust!

Speaking of the Central Valley California, I came up Highway 99, Yesterday Aug. 4, Cruising 85 MPH, all the way. Temp Gauges at Normal, Veglia stayed at 158F*. Compared to the Desert...She Barely 'Warmed-Up'.  By the end of the Journey, as far as the Engine Coolant Temp, there wasn't Anything to worry about.

The Last Leg of this Sojourn, began Sunday Morning in Barstow and heading West on Hwy. 58, with the Video Recording. Especially interesting is the 'Downhill' Run Through the Tehachapi's, to the Bottom, headed for Bakersfield. Your View is In-Cockpit, 'Riding Shotgun'. The Video Camera does Not define how Steep This Downhill was. A 6% Grade.

In ALL of the 'Interstate' Driving we Passed a Lot of Semis...Fast!

85 MPH Sustained, and there were SUV's Passing Me, on the Straights!!  Estimate Them at 100+. Go Ahead! 'Pull' the CHP Off of Me! I'am In No Hurry, I'll Just Cruise-On By, EZ. At a $470.00 Min., Citation, I Was Not Laughing, I've Been There!

For those who are curious of the cost of Fuel, 91 Octane = 95...My Logistics were set at $5.00 per Gal. Between the low $3.37 to a High of $5.80, that is exactly what I paid, on Average.

Marlin

                                                                                                                                               PHOTOS

For well over 50 miles, This was the Only safe spot to pull over, without hanging out into the Roadway. Just where I wanted to be, Emigrant Pass, Old Spanish Trail (Highway) California; Between Shoshone, Tecopa, and the 'T' Junction at Highway 160 in Nevada...Go Left to Pahrump, Go Right to Las Vegas. 

Kingston Range...Kingston Peak (Highest Point on the Right). By My TOPO Maps, Kingston Peak is 14 Miles from Emigrant Pass (the Sign in the Photos).

The Cat was 118F+ In The Sun. In-Cockpit Parts I Touched would Burn My hands, Another Reason to Wear Leather Gloves.

Witness Shifting the Pantera ZF, Smoothly and Accurately, with No Gates!...Watch and Listen to THESE Videos! Your Riding Along IN the Passenger Seat. Also, Your ON the Rear Wing, Looking into the Cockpit and all surrounding Scenery; for 100's of In-Town and On-Highway, Miles.

First Photo: Taken while Driving. Approaching 'Emigrant Pass' From the West, Shoshone through Tacopa. Camera does not reveal, This was a Fairly Steep Uphill Climb. A 'Rear-View' is provided on the Monitor.  

MJ

I am also waiting for the pics and hopefully vids

besides the cost of fuel, how did you find the quality.   I would be afraid of the lower octane ethonal blends out there

marlinjack posted:

...How? 158 Cubic Inches....the Smallest Holley 600 CFM Vac. Sec. Carb, and Being VERY 'Light' on the Accelerator.

 

 

So, did you swap out the Cleveland for an inline 6?  

Sounds like  a great weekend! 

jfb05177 posted:

I am also waiting for the pics and hopefully vids

besides the cost of fuel, how did you find the quality.   I would be afraid of the lower octane ethonal blends out there

That's pretty much all we have in the People's Republik of California. When I drove my son's car out to Denver for him 2 months ago, I noticed improved performance and a definite 2-3 MPG increase in fuel economy once I was able to buy real un-diluted gas.

jfb05177 posted:

I am also waiting for the pics and hopefully vids

besides the cost of fuel, how did you find the quality.   I would be afraid of the lower octane ethonal blends out there

...I found Shell to be the best Gasoline, No pinging. Chevron was also a good Gas. ALL Others were a 'Coin Toss'.

marlinjack posted:

garth66 posted:

marlinjack posted:

...How? 158 Cubic Inches....the Smallest Holley 600 CFM Vac. Sec. Carb, and Being VERY 'Light' on the Accelerator.

 

 

So, did you swap out the Cleveland for an inline 6?  

Sounds like  a great weekend! 

...Wow, now I get it, this late! I must have been Very Tired, Exhausted, when I wrote That. Ofcorse it was a 351, .030" Over. Thanks for Pointing That Out! Actually Make that a 'Boss 351'.

Correction Made.

MJ

...Other than That, there will be NO Bragging Here!

 

No worries!  Just teasing you bro.  Sounds like a great adventure!

when I look at the scenery in the photos, I seem to hear "Super Soul Theme"

...It was 'Ramble Tamble' By CCR. Played on the CD Deck, and Recorded on the Cockpit Camera. It was So Hot! the Deck Played Most of the tune and then malfunctioned. Only time on all these videos Music is heard.

MJ 

Now, the question we've all be waiting for...  

What was the highest velocity attained on this little adventure?  

...90-100 MPH only in passing. Or that's all I will admit to here. 85-90 Cruising South I-5 Central Valley, California. Sustained temp on the Veglia, 165F. At My first gas Stop, 'Lost Hills', Cali. Interstate-5 South, we pulled off for fuel...ofcourse, All Cars are in Line, held up behind Slow and Stopped at a 'RedLight', Semi's.... The Digital Gauge is Now reading 226F Degrees! Was I worried? Kind'a, that's when I started relying on the Stock Veglia Gauge, right at 185F. NO, I was Not Going to Test, 'How Fast Can She Go', at This Time..

This was Not a Speed Contest. That Is for the 'SS Challenge'.

 And besides "...The Highway's Lined with Broken Heroes on a Last Chance Power Try!"... Broke-Down. Or, those who passed Me were soon seen, on the Side of the Interstate, having a 'Meaningful Conversation' with a CHP Officer! I was Thinking, That Should Have Been ME, pulled-over! And besides That...I Appreciated some Beautiful Machinery! Like That Gorgeous BLUE Ferrari Roadster, that pulled-up beside me, at a Red Light, in Pahrump! But! I was Never Challenged! I was making a Left turn for the Gas Station. It's on Video.

Everyone Behaved Themselves and were Polite and Very Respectful, On and Off the Road. 'We' All had a Great Time with a Lot of Fun, Cruising. We Shared the Road! Safe and Sane.

Actually, the Majority of On-lookers, acted as if They were Scared of the Pantera!? People were sure to 'Keep Their Distance', Very Few ever Spoke to Me!

Only the Pantera can Make a 'Fuel-Stop', an Event! A lot of Picture Taking. Kids hanging out of SUV Windows with their Smart-Phones. Groups of People, Standing, Waiting, Just to Hear the Kat 'Fire-Up'. And Fire-Up It Did! It's All On Video!

A Note, As many times as I Started that Boss Engine...I NEVER gave the Throttle a 'Free-Rev'. 1000 Miles from Home, 100 Miles from any repairs...I Have 'Spun' Con-Rod Bearings in the Past, from just an Unnecessary Act, and Deeply Regretted It! Didn't need to, the Boss Roars.

We Represented Our Marque, very well to the Best of Our Ability. 

Marlin

But just remember...

On a rattlesnake speedway in the California desert
I pick up my money and head back into town
Driving cross the Armagosa county line
I got the radio on and I'm just killing time
Working all day in my daddy's garage
Driving all night, chasing some mirage
Pretty soon little girl I'm gonna take charge

The dogs on main street howl
'Cause they understand
If I could take one moment into my hands
Mister, I ain't a boy, no, I'm a man
And I believe in a promised land

I've done my best to live the right way
I get up every morning and go to work each day
But your eyes go blind and your blood runs cold
Sometimes I feel so weak I just want to explode
Explode and tear this old town apart
Take a knife and cut this pain from my heart
Find somebody itching for something to start

The dogs on main street howl
'Cause they understand
If I could reach one moment into my hands
Mister, I ain't a boy, no, I'm a man
And I believe in a promised land

Well there's a dark cloud rising from the desert floor
I packed my bags and I'm heading straight into the storm
Gonna be a twister to blow everything down
That ain't got the faith to stand its ground
Blow away the dreams that tear you apart
Blow away the dreams that break your heart
Blow away the lies that leave you nothing but lost and brokenhearted

The dogs on main street howl
'Cause they understand
If I could take one moment into my hands
Mister, I ain't a boy, no, I'm a man
And I believe in a promised land
And I believe in a promised land
And I believe in a promised land

That's you - MarlinJack!

(My favorite Bruce Springsteen Song)

...In the Shop, Experimenting with Gopro Camera Angles, Marlin Invents the 'Wing Cam'. A Unique Camera View. Another use for the Delta Wing, besides letting Gorgeous Women set Their Cocktail Glasses on It. With a Coaster, ofcourse! More to come.

...Testing, Loading 'Shorts' within 100MB Limit, until I can figure out how to take 'Snippits' From 100's of GB's. Opps, didn't mean to post twice….This is Shoshone, Chevron Station, Aug. 2, 2019 1:00PM. 115F+ Degrees OUTSIDE. A little hard to breathe in the Cockpit, Much Hotter Inside, and after all, I am 67 Years Old, and this Pantera Has a 'Sunroof'. I'am Sure to Wear a Hat And a Bandanna IS A MUST!! I Did NOT need to fuel-up here, I Stopped for Cold Drinks, One Added to the Ice Chest and One Downed Right Now. Tanked-Up at Baker, and Still have Over Half a Tank. We'll Gas-Up when We reach Pahrump. For Now, Next Stop Emigrant Pass.  

...A Drone Short, Hand grabbed from a Hover. Short enough to post, Each of 2 sessions of actual flight time, are Too Long, and are not accepted here. Working on it! This is a stop between sessions to Exchange Fresh Drone Battery. Emigrant Pass Aug. 2, 2019 2:40PM. 118F Degrees. Looking South-East, 'The Kingston Range', 'Kingston Peak' is on the Far Right. The Sign Reads...'LOOSE GRAVEL'. The Gravel was So HOT, it Melted the Rubber Sole off My left (narrow) 'Driving' Shoe. Hey Marlin! Driving Shoes are to Clear the Pedals, Only! NOT for Walking Around in The Desert! Get Real, Marlin! MJ  

...Total of Trip by Odometer...Could be Higher because of Large Tires (P295)...1343 Miles. Fuel Mileage 17.658 MPG Minimum. Average Temperature 110F-118F. Total amount of Oil used off the Dipstick, Less than One (1) Quart. I Know...I would have Broken 20.0 MPG, if I didn't have the Wing. But, (I) Like the Style, and kept it On! Plus, it Proved to be a 'Trip-Maker' Camera Mount!!

MJ

marlinjack posted:

...Total of Trip by Odometer...Could be Higher because of Large Tires (P295)...1343 Miles. Fuel Mileage 17.658 MPG Minimum. Average Temperature 110F-118F.

Just Curious, What are You Guys with EFI, getting?  Must be Higher!?

Hey Marlin...

Coming home from SoCal to Modesto Calif. though the Valley I got 18.4 MPG. at 70-80 MPH. I have 18 X 295s also, but to be fair some of that is coming down the Grape Vine! lol 

...Drone Photos. 1st, Looking East, showing The Kingston Range, and 'Old Spanish Trail' (Hwy). 2nd and 3rd, looking West. lookin West from Emigrant Pass, Shoshone is Over the Next Mountain Ranges Back.

...You may Notice here, Besides the Oil Cooler, NO Distributor, Distributor-Less Ignition! And the 'Low' Pressure Electric Pump, with a 40 Micron AN Filter. PUMP and ALL Fuel Lines are as Far From the Header, as Possible!

The Oil Lines are 6 Feet Out and 6 Feet Back, with the 'Laws of Hydraulics', there is No significant Drop in the Pressure. The Oil Pressure Reading is taken at the Port at the Rear of the Block, readings are 50-60 PSIG, HOT. 

Before and After turning On the Cooling Fan (Blows towards the Rear/Outside) One will witness The Digital Gauge Reading, drop from 250F+ (highest the gauge can read, and starts Blinking), down to aprox. 225F-. and Even Lower. This works whenever I see the need to turn-on the Fan. This system works Very Well, Even When the Kat is Idling at a Stand-Still. To Stand behind the Grill, One will feel a 'Cloud' of Intense HOT Air, rush through the Hands! Heat the Radiator will Never See.

...Second Photo is 'Leaving Holiday Inn, Pahrump, NV', Saturday Morning. (No!, the Spot of Oil on the Ground was Left from a Previous Vehicle).

The Desert is Bright at 8:30am and already 89F. Pahrump to Vegas ('Terribles' at 'Blue Diamond') in 39 Minutes 32 Sec. I would like to make it clear, here...this was Not a Race for Time! It was a 'Sustained Cruise'. We just started the Timer after the Morning Re-Fueling-Stop. Refreshments at Terribles and then We're off to Cruise the Entire Length of the Las Vegas Strip, Northbound at 12:30 in the Afternoon. 5-Lanes in One Direction, Slow Moving and We were Followed most of the way, by a Black Rolls Royce. In all of My View I estimated near 100,000 People on the Sidewalks. Mostly Tourists looking for a Place to eat lunch, and others just trying to find a place to Park. In the Pantera, Yes! We 'Turned' a Few Heads, and Received a couple of Comments. The Scene Looked to Me Like...'A Freak-Show Meets the Walking Dead!' Meaning, In All, of over One Hour of Cruising the 'Strip'...I Did NOT See One Face Smiling! As In, "I Don't Want to be Here!"

We Finished to the End of the Strip and took the Expressway Over to LAKE Las Vegas, to Make an Appearance there. Cruising With a All-Black Audi Sport Coupe with Blacked-Out Windows, Gorgeous!  IT was a Trip!

Back to the Desert,

Every Foot of Highway and Scenery Is Recorded On Video. BORING!! But! With Marvelous Panoramas, From Mountain Peaks, Cliffs, and Passes, to Wide Open Desert, for Hundreds of Miles, Farther than the Eye can See! Views, Right Down to the Guardrail with Long Straight-Aways and Vanishing Points, Blending into Beautiful Sweeping Curves, that Never End. Many Memorable Moments, all in the Desert, Ripe for Editing. Some would be Interested in the Videos, In Their Entirety, I have Hours of It, And It's a CLEVELAND! And...it 'Ain't IN 'NO'' SUV, Babi !!

YOUR View, is 'Riding' on This Panteras' Wing, Observing a Sustained Cruise Speed of 80mph, Up, Over and Down, Mountain Passes. Also, Many Other Desert Highways and Interstates. The Audio? The Cleveland Speaks, Indescribable....and including Wind Noise. And, there is the In Cockpit 'Passengers' View'.  I Captured All of the Original Sound Recording of the Engine, but the GoPro Mics are Wanting! In All the Videos...NOT a Single Word is ever Spoken. This was Not a Documentary, and My Voice would have Spoiled the Scenes. AND, The Driver would Never Attempt to 'Talk-Over' the 'Exhaust Note' of a 'Boss 351' Cleveland...It would just Ruin the Vibe!

The 'Wing Cam' shows Into the Cockpit, as well as ALL of the Surrounding Scenery, with that GoPro Wide-Angle Lens. The Definitive 'Pantera ON The Road'. Yes, it shows Marlin at the wheel, but this was never about Him! This Sojourn is about The Desert, The Road, and The Machine In the Heat! Marlin was Just the Driver!

Next Photos...Just coming down from Emigrant Pass, into the Lowlands. Looking East from In-Cockpit, 'Vanishing Point'!  Next Stop...spend the Night in Pahrump.

MJ

...Go to 'Google Maps'. You can Search and Find all of These Roads There. Then switch over to the Satellite Imagery and Zoom-In, as I did many times. When planning this Trip, I Viewed every Mile of each Road, Highway and Interstate that I would use...by Satellite. What is really Cool...If You Max ZOOM Down onto ANY Road, that was surveyed by the Camera Team, At Maximum Zoom, the Aerial View, flips to the 'Street View', and You can Pan 360 Degrees, AND Zoom-In Even More.

This is Very Helpful when Deciding on a Place to Spend the Night, Booking Hotels. Searching Fast Food or Restaurant Cuisine. You can Locate Gas Stations, zoom in on their Marquee, or get 'Info', and Compare Fuel Prices (Most are Posted with-in 24 hrs). Most important to us Pantera Owners...You can View their Gas Pump to see if a certain Station even carries 'High Octane' Fuel! Last, find the Best Spots, to set up Camera Shots.

Then, if You Zoom Back-Out, just One or Two Clicks, the Street View flips into a 'Birds-Eye' View...NOT Straight-down-Over-head, But, at a 45 Degree Angle to the Ground. Useful when 'Following' along a Road or Other, and All Objects are Defined Clearer.   

.  

great idea, is it on youtube yet?