@calmotion posted:@DannyP YAP and that’s why I mentioned LOVING the auto pilot 👍❤️
I have one of those too, but you know, not the same as Marty's. Mine is named Michelle LOL!
FYI, I drove around a little the other day with the trailer and put the tow mirrors on that @LI-Rick gave me. They worked great, thanks Rick!
I'm curious how it will work out with my autopilot driving the truck and enclosed trailer next year.
I know where y'all are. You're almost ready to meet the President of Stanistan LOL!
@Marty Grzynkowicz posted:
@Marty Grzynkowicz I can just imagine @Lane Anderson lane blue Subie flying by 👍🤙 as well as you beautiful Alfa. Would have been nice to have a droid. Enjoy and envious with that nice drive. Keep safe.
You're killin' me.
Lane is driving his BMW. AGAIN!
Bob, sorry you and Anna can't make it, and hope you feel better SOON. See you next year?
@DannyP posted:You better take a side trip to Bremen. If you don't, I'll smack you.
Planning on it. I think it's 2 hours so, I'll have to figure out the "when they are open". I'll be pretty busy if that's where I'll be
Danny I pulled a LOT of miles with my trailer with the cruise control on. Run it up to 70mph and hit cruise for the next, oh, eight hours or so (dual 29 gallon fuel tanks) and just watch the scenery go by. The speed would vary +/- 2 or 3 mph around 70 when set, but that was a diesel. Your gas job should vary about +/- 5 - 6mph.
After the first day of trailering under cruise, you'll be totally used to it.
"Ain't no big thang."
I've already driven the rig down to NC with Lenny as my co-pilot.
Michelle hasn't driven this particular truck/trailer combo yet is all. She'll do fine.
I'm well-versed in trailering many things, with many different tow vehicles.
With cruise on, speed is maintained very well, except for the REALLY steep grades.
Just coughed up for a reman trans. My F-150 has the factory tow package and one would think the truck could handle a measly 2,500 lbs. now nd then. In OD and on flat a road, trans went towing empty no less.
@DannyP posted:With cruise on, speed is maintained very well, except for the REALLY steep grades.
Towing is all about torque. In the case of the mighty, mighty Northstar 4.6 L V8 limo, there's less torque on hand than the trailer and extra 4 ft in the middle requires, so the 4T80E transmission unlocks the torque converter and downshifts to 3rd, then 2nd as the grade increases. We spent some quality time on the side of an exit ramp allowing the transmission to cool off a bit yesterday.
This rig doesn't strictly love the mountains, but it gets 'er done.
EngineGuard would help you Stan, it is a cylinder head temp guage you can use on the tranny and be aware of the temp of the tranny, and it even has a buzzer if you want to use it. I like it on my IM as I installed a dual unit for the engine and tranny, Information is empowerment 
Wow. I thought a Limo would be based on a 400+CI engine and that beefier, 6-speed transmission, but I guess not.
My F/250 loved hills. Never even unlocked the torque converter when trailering Pearl and I never needed to use "trailer mode" (which mostly just unlocked the convertor all of the time). It was a 6-speed automatic, too. The only thing I ever noticed was the turbo boost gauge climbing up there and the transmission temp gauge would go up something like 5 degrees and hold there, but it took a really long, steep uphill (at 70 - 75mph) for all that to happen.
Now.... If I had an enclosed trailer that was not in the wind shadow of the truck bed cap it would have been a whole 'nuther story. My little trailer and car acted like there was nothing back there.
.
@Stan Galat posted:....In the case of the mighty, mighty Northstar 4.6 L V8 limo, there's less torque on hand than the trailer and extra 4 ft in the middle requires...
I think aerodynamic drag from the presidential fender flags is making the critical difference.
The 4T80E transmission was designed to handle the form factor of a standard presidential limo trailing a standard presidential auxiliary vehicle.
Once you add the flag package, the stock cooling can't keep up. Most embassy staffs that mount flags add an external tranny cooler with thermostatically-actuated fan in the rear driver's side wheel well.
.
@Gordon Nichols posted:Wow. I thought a Limo would be based on a 400+CI engine and that beefier, 6-speed transmission, but I guess not.
My F/250 loved hills. Never even unlocked the torque converter when trailering Pearl and I never needed to use "trailer mode" (which mostly just unlocked the convertor all of the time). It was a 6-speed automatic, too. The only thing I ever noticed was the turbo boost gauge climbing up there and the transmission temp gauge would go up something like 5 degrees and hold there, but it took a really long, steep uphill (at 70 - 75mph) for all that to happen.
Now.... If I had an enclosed trailer that was not in the wind shadow of the truck bed cap it would have been a whole 'nuther story. My little trailer and car acted like there was nothing back there.
Yeah, I'm thinking you would have been very happy with MY truck and YOUR trailer, even with the 5 speed. I can put it into tow mode or manual shift mode as well as
Diesel with your car/trailer was overkill.
Me, towing my 4500 pounds of aerodynamic brick/box is a different story. I do have 407 ft. lbs. of torque, but it's a bit higher in the rev range than a diesel would be.
My next truck WILL be a diesel.
I did the conversion and Stan's 4.7 liter is a 286 - My little '66 Mustang had a 289!
My F/250 6-liter could be considered overkill, but then again, it was never working very hard. The trailering package gave it not only the trailer brake controller in the dash, but a beefier transmission and torque converter, larger transmission fluid cooler, a tranny temp gauge, larger engine cooling, bigger condenser for the A/C (part of the "Southern Truck" Package) and a few other things I can't remember (Oh, and the dual DVD hook-up for the back seats, too). All THAT was the overkill part. The PO was a lady who hauled a 4-horse trailer so figure 1,600 pounds per horse and another ton for the trailer and you get the idea of why all the beefiness.
Let's see what I remember... My 6-liter was pushing 560 ft. lbs. of torque. I never chipped it. At 70mph on a flat with no headwind it would run around 2,100 rpm and the boost would be around 10-12. Going up that 11-mile-long uphill on I-81 from NC into Virginia in Cruise it would remain at 70mph and the revs would increase to 2,300-2,400 but at the steepest part, near the top, the boost would be pushing 40 (!!) and there was this sinister snort to the exhaust. Kinda like Pearl's exhaust note!
Ahhhh.... The good ol' days!
torque=Dodge Ram Cummins
@barncobob posted:torque=turbodiesel
Fixed it.
engine speed vs road speed + weight + aero drag.
The limo wasn't meant to tow a car... heck the car the limo was converted from wasn't meant to tow a car.
diesel trucks have 2x-3x torque at 1/2 the rpms of that Northstar at peak.
And extra capacity tranny + cooler, +aux oil cooler, bigger brakes, punch a bigger hole for the trailer.... etc.
While Stan may have traveled there in a slower style, he got there and is hopefully enjoying the NC high-country immensely. (the rest of us are just jealous we aren't there too.. 
)
Just like old times there, @Marty Grzynkowicz
A few from today. Parkway tour.
Nice
Yeah, that all looks pretty familiar. Especially that parking area up in the sky with cool cars(and people!).
Contrary to common beliefs, the President of Stanistan does drink regular beer!
just about the only straight away on the Rattler. 
It's a ruse! He only drinks beer made with the sweet water that a 600' deep Morton Illinois well can provide.
80%+ of the foundational ingredients for all the world's vodka originates just beyond the edge of the Borders of Stanistan. (True!!!!) I expect that the exalted leader will annex the plant that makes the stuff as soon as he builds the Destroyer he needs to get across the river.
Stand by peasants!
@Marty Grzynkowicz posted:just about the only straight away on the Rattler.
Hit about a buck fifteen on that one. It truly IS the only straight on the Rattler! And it's a BEAUTIFUL view of that valley.
@Panhandle Bob posted:It's a ruse! He only drinks beer made with the sweet water that a 600' deep Morton Illinois well can provide.
80%+ of the foundational ingredients for all the world's vodka originates just beyond the edge of the Borders of Stanistan. (True!!!!) I expect that the exalted leader will annex the plant that makes the stuff as soon as he builds the Destroyer he needs to get across the river.
Stand by peasants!
Are you delirious from the fever/sickness? Or is pot legal in Florida now?
Nope. He's right.
Many bugs gave their lives today for our pleasure.
There are a couple of straightaways for passing, but there is ONE that is as far as you can see. Here is where I found out that one or two of my tires need balancing. BTW those tires are the SHEAT! Anyone with one of our cars needs to get them.
Yeah, I just put mine on too. They are the bees knees for stick and telegraphing every little nuance of the road under the them. And I haven't even swapped the rack in yet...
Really nice shots, Carlos. Say hi to Pieter for me! Who has the Roadster? That looks sweet.
The Roadster was a new guy. I think his name is Wrenn. It might be @Theron s car. It is pretty sweet, It also has a Berg 5 speed in it. He was able to stay on Stan's tail for a while, so he's a driver.
I sat next to Pieter at lunch today and we talked cars and stuff. He only came out today, but I'm going to go see his shop at some point. He's about an hour West of me on back roads. Perfect for the Spyder.
DUDE, we need to talk about transmissions. I need different gearing, especially with the sway bar and tires. It's annoying.
Gotcha Carlos. I'm working on it. As in, I got a bunch of stuff and I'm waiting on a few items that are backordered. They should be here some time this month.
I'm pretty sure I've got it figured though:
3.44/1.93/1.30(or 1.32)/1.04 with a 3.44 final drive. It's a close ratio 4 speed, taller 1st than you probably have but also a shorter 4th. Should be able to keep the motor "on the boil" especially in the mountains.
Let me know what you have, and we'll go from there.
I'll know next year when I see you, it will be done by then.
Looks like a Great time
Wishing I was with you guys! Thanks for the pics.
Carlos:
Correction on trans ratios, 4th was wrong.
3.44 1st, 1.93 2nd, 1.30 3rd, and 1.00 4th. Still using 3.44 final.
My NEW 4th ends up identical to a 3.88 final with stock 0.89, but 1-2-3 are slightly taller and almost dead-even spacing.
This is probably the most expensive way to build it. Custom mainshaft, 1-2-3-4 all custom Weddle. 3.44 final drive(unobtanium!) and a Super Diff and aftermarket sidecovers(stronger than stock). The only way to make it more expensive would be to use an aluminum Rhino case and Weddle gear carrier...
Wanted to thank Carlos for leading the Targa Florio, I mean the delivernce run today. Unbelievable roads and scenery. Man, this is a serious group of driver's.
That is a great route! Carlos developed it for last year's meet and it has something for everybody.
@Marty Grzynkowicz posted:Wanted to thank Carlos for leading the Targa Florio, I mean the delivernce run today. Unbelievable roads and scenery. Man, this is a serious group of driver's.
Marty is a Deliverance-Run virgin NO MORE! LOL!
Awesome roads, aren't they?
