The journey begins...

[CRUZTAKER]

Frightfull!:eek:

I picked up the u-haul car trailer this afternoon. I was supposed to pick it up this morning, but I failed to remove my wife's bumper step from the reciever earlier than ....this morning.

She has one of those chrome steps in the reciever, locked with a hitchpin lock that uses a round key. It has only been on there a few months, but wouldn't ya know, it would not unlock. I went to two locksmiths, a welder, and three garages while in downtown Cleveland. No one had a solution.

I drove home, trailerless, and beat on it with everything I had.

I finally took it to Midas, and what do you know? They air hammered it off in 30 seconds.

I went and got the trailer, sat in rush hour traffic for over an hour, got home and waited for Ken and Mark to help get it on the trailer.

Contrary to UHAUL's computer system that calculates capacities...

The Marauder won't fit on the trailer. The rails are 75" apart...and so are our wheels. That leaves 1" on each side from Marauder body panels, to the trailer's wheel well covers.

I will take it back in the morning.

This trip has been aborted.:censor:

[jgc61sr2002]

I Just picked up an Imperial Car trailer. The distance between the fenders is 83 inches. Hauled my 61 Pontiac To RI for a car show last weekend.
The marauder should fit without a problem.

[pantheroc]

WTF else can go wrong? Make U-Haul give you a 50% discount for their mistake!!!

[CRUZTAKER]

They aren't going to charge me at all.

Unfortunately, I cannot locate a (large) trailer rental in the Cleveland area.

No one has them.

I am gonna check a heavy equipment rental place tomorrow morning when I return this pos. It may require a truck rental as well.

[DEFYANT]

Would it be cheeper to hire a flatbed hauler company?

[RCSignals]

Would it be cheeper to hire a flatbed hauler company?

That's an excellent suggestion. If not cheaper at least much easier, and probably simpler.

U-Haul trailers are cursed. Ask Wes.

you don't want a heavy equipment trailer.

[CRUZTAKER]

Would it be cheeper to hire a flatbed hauler company?


First initial quote was $1200 for a private flatbed and driver 2x 368 miles.

An open semi truck car hauler on a 10-12 day window was only $478, however, since the car isn't running, someone is in for a PITA at the receiving end of this delivery.

I gotta tow it.
Finances, including the overwhelming donations from this site, only cover a basic "get'r there", and "get'r fixed" scenario.;)

I am on the hunt this morning...

The journey continues.

[larryo340]

do you know of any drag racers in your area? They should have trailers or know someone who does, and usually are eager to help another car guy if they are not using trailer.
I wish you luck.

[CRUZTAKER]

do you know of any drag racers in your area? They should have trailers or know someone who does, and usually are eager to help another car guy if they are not using trailer.
I wish you luck.


Oh yeah...

Brian from Columbus Racing dot com. However, he wants to race this weekend...now I AM praying for rain.:P
He will let me know this afternoon.

In the meanwhile, I found a trailer service local to me that has (had) two ultra-lites at 88" wide. I can't believe I forgot about this place. They put the hitch on the Marauder.:rolleyes:

They have one due back tonight. If it comes back before 5pm close, I can get it. Otherwise it's mine at 0800 tomorrow.

A bit of a setback. Gonna suck driving to Chicago and having to turn around and come back the next morning. I wanted to blow off some steam and relax after the 6+ hour drive.

Atleast I have one.

Gonna mow the lawn and vaccuum the Vator I guess....and pray for the early phone call.;)


Brian called and offered his trailer. Unfortunately it is a large steel car hauler with with a GAVW of 3500 lbs. With the Marauder on it, I would exceed my tow vehicles capacities. Nice offer though.

[wchain]

What about putting some 16" CV wheels and tires on the MM to get it on the trailer?

[pantheroc]

What about putting some 16" CV wheels and tires on the MM to get it on the trailer?

Hmmmm? Four small spares if that don't work.?.?

[CRUZTAKER]

What about putting some 16" CV wheels and tires on the MM to get it on the trailer?


Someone mentioned that last night. Won't work. The offset puts the wheels even further outside the rails, beyond 75" to over 76".

Mini donuts would have worked, but we could only come up with one. We all got 300A's.

[sailsmen]

The Marauder will fit on the trailer, go back with the Marauder and try it.

It is a tight fit, but it will fit. I know because my Marauder fit with no trouble.

I heard of someonelse who measured and said it would not fit, but they did not try to see if it would fit.

[magindat]

Barry, If all else fails, have you considered a dolly? Take the drive shaft loose and tie it up in the tunnel. No worries with tongue weight there!
Best of luck.

[Ken]

The Marauder will fit on the trailer, go back with the Marauder and try it.

It is a tight fit, but it will fit. I know because my Marauder fit with no trouble.

I heard of someonelse who measured and said it would not fit, but they did not try to see if it would fit. Did you drive it on? or Push it on like we have to? Alot of work to push 4200 lbs up the trailer, steer it and overcome the rubbing to get it all of the 13 ft to the front of the trailer. Plus, There would have been less than 1 " between body and trailer fenders. Any sway of MM on the trip and It'd hit, not worth the chance on a 368 mile trip.

The dolly measured 72"; We were on the internet and Phone all evening trying to solve the dilemna.

Brian's trailer weighs in at 3500 lbs, +4200 = 7700 lbs; 10 % over the limit for Aviator.

Ken

[CRUZTAKER]

The Marauder will fit on the trailer, go back with the Marauder and try it.

We measured the trailer. It would leave 1/2" on either side door panels to the wheel well covers. Trust me, the first time the car swayed, I'd have creased door panels.

It doesn't fit.

Thanks for the reasurance though.;)

Also, I have a hard time pushing it out of the barn, pushing it 16 miles to 60th and Carnegie however...through the ghetto...:D

[CRUZTAKER]

Barry, If all else fails, have you considered a dolly? Take the drive shaft loose and tie it up in the tunnel. No worries with tongue weight there!
Best of luck.

We could not find a tow dolly with a wheel clearance greater than 71-1/2"

Until 5 minutes ago when Dad called and offered his. :mad2:

Everyone forgot, including Dad apparently, that he has one 78" wide on the back of his RV.

doh!

A little late in the game now. It's almost 4pm, it's friggin pouring rain, the car is wedged in the barn on a floor that looks like the moon on a good day, I've been drinking all day...:beer:...and by the time I pulled the shaft, if it fits over the loop, it would be later than 7 pm.

I can't believe how I fumbled the ball in so many ways on this one.

See Motorhead (Dominic), THIS is why haste makes waste.;)

[martyo]

...through the ghetto...:D

Don't worry, they will give professional courtesy!! :D

[Mike Poore]

They aren't going to charge me at all.

Unfortunately, I cannot locate a (large) trailer rental in the Cleveland area.

No one has them.

I am gonna check a heavy equipment rental place tomorrow morning when I return this pos. It may require a truck rental as well.

Barry, you know the fender on the driver's side comes off, so you can get the door opened, right? :rolleyes:

[sailsmen]

We measured the trailer. It would leave 1/2" on either side door panels to the wheel well covers. Trust me, the first time the car swayed, I'd have creased door panels.

It doesn't fit.

Thanks for the reasurance though.;)

Also, I have a hard time pushing it out of the barn, pushing it 16 miles to 60th and Carnegie however...through the ghetto...:D

It must be a different trailer, no clearance issues on the one I used. I towed mine 560 miles on a UHaul full size trailer that GM are regularly towed on.

Dont' measure, drive the Marauder up the trailer and you will see it fits.

Good Luck.

[Ken]

It must be a different trailer, no clearance issues on the one I used. I towed mine 560 miles on a UHaul full size trailer that GM are regularly towed on.

Dont' measure, drive the Marauder up the trailer and you will see it fits.

Good Luck.Once again, The car is NOT driveable! Would you like to come up here and physically push it on while rubbing the rails?

Ken

[larryo340]

Barry, you know the fender on the driver's side comes off, so you can get the door opened, right? :rolleyes:
Could be, but not all car trailer L/S fenders tilt out. I've used both types.

[Mike Poore]

Could be, but not all car trailer L/S fenders tilt out. I've used both types.

All the rentals from U-Haul that I've seen have take off fenders.

BTW, I just ended up having to drive our car to an event, adding another 110 miles on the odometer, because of a perimeter rail that kept me from getting the door opened, once it was on the trailer, being too late to get a U-Haul, or make other arrangements.

I saw a guy at Carlisle with a modified Big Tex open trailer with the fender-off option, and a very neat stone guard in front that sported a deflector on the top edge.

[FastMerc]

We got Barry loaded up yesterday morning and I believe they are safely in Chicago

[CRUZTAKER]

We left Cleveland at 12:30 yesterday. The car loaded nicely on the trailer, and the Vator seemed quite capable. I felt a little uneasy for the first 70 miles or so.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/6/2/6/Towing003.jpg

After getting used to the feel, we put the cruise on, stayed in 4th gear, and rolled 70-75 Mph where permitted for 368 miles. We did it in 5-1/2 hours.

Completely uneventfull, and the Vator performed wonderfully. We averaged 9.8 miles per gallon hauling the 2000 lb. trailer and a 4200 lb. Marauder.

We turn around and leave this afternoon. Hauling the empty trailer should be far more efficient.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/6/2/6/Towing007.jpg

[Zack]

I was eyeing the car in my garage tonight.
Cant wait to get started!

[CRUZTAKER]

Made it home in one piece. An uneventfull 5.5 hour return.;)

Soon...the rebuild begins.:beer:


Zack, make sure you take alot of pics. Ye old 300a early ticking Marauder must have storys to tell. :dunno:

[AzMarauder]

Made it home in one piece. An uneventfull 5.5 hour return.;)

Soon...the rebuild begins.:beer:


Zack, make sure you take alot of pics. Ye old 300a early ticking Marauder must have storys to tell. :dunno:


Barry,

The old "IF" applies....

IF I lived close to you I'd a brought my car hauler AND truck and we'd a squared you away buddy....

I'm also getting to this too late .... but tip....

Lower the air pressure in the trailer tires when running empty.... trailer doesn't bounce around as much.... makes for an easier ride up front. Air up just before you load up the car...

Glad you made it back in one piece... when you get a chance PM me your plans on the new motor.

[CRUZTAKER]

Glad you made it back in one piece... when you get a chance PM me your plans on the new motor.


Thanks Kevin!

I won't PM, since so many folks were kind enough to contribute via the engine fund thread, I will be posting all the info on the motor, the finding, and the new setup.

Complete with 8x10 color glossy photos with pictures and arrows...and a paragragh explaining on the back...:P

So far, all I know is:

I have a new iron block,
Forged something or others...
and Crank.

That alone is quite an accomplishment, and has proved a bit pricey, but well within reason thanks to the awesomeness of ZACK!

[Zack]

Its slowly coming apart.
I cant stress enough the importance of ANTI-SEIZE on the header studs and nuts.
You will regret it down the road if you dont use it. An especially on the EGR tube!!!!!!!
The motor will be on the stand by Friday night. Ill tear it down Saturday morning.

[sailsmen]

Once again, The car is NOT driveable! Would you like to come up here and physically push it on while rubbing the rails?

Ken

The point being the UHaul trailer does fit w/out rubbing.

Frequently you can take measurements that do not reflect reality. Ask 10 people to measure the chest in your house and you will have 10 different measurements.

I was provding information and encouragement based on my own real world experience.

I assume regardless of the trailer it would have to be pulled/pushed.

I am glad he was able to get her on a trailer.

[Ken]

The point being the UHaul trailer does fit w/out rubbing.

Frequently you can take measurements that do not reflect reality. Ask 10 people to measure the chest in your house and you will have 10 different measurements.

I was provding information and encouragement based on my own real world experience.

I assume regardless of the trailer it would have to be pulled/pushed.

I am glad he was able to get her on a trailer.You're right, we probably could have driven it on and it would've fit. But having to push it up or as we did, come-along it up, It was too tight. Besides the problem of the fenders. Barry was able to find one about a foot wider, at least it seemed that way.

Ken

[Glenn]

Everyone with a built MM with motor mods who runs the 1/4 mile should thank Zack for his work efforts on members cars/engines. I know it I blew my engine I could not replace it without some help. Prices on installing a rebuilt forged engine including labor are tremendous and out of reach for most people. Blowing an engine is the single greatest concern I have with my MM.

Glenn

[Zack]

Everyone with a built MM with motor mods who runs the 1/4 mile should thank Zack for his work efforts on members cars/engines. I know it I blew my engine I could not replace it without some help. Prices on installing a rebuilt forged engine including labor are tremendous and out of reach for most people. Blowing an engine is the single greatest concern I have with my MM.

Glenn

Thanks Glenn.

Im working with a guy right now who has done several of my friends engines, Barry's engine, and all of the engines for Mike Lopez, the guy who builds my control arms.
He does great work and I cant believe I haven't dealt with him sooner.
He just digitized a set of Modular heads for CNC porting.
Aside from that, he was interested in building a bunch of shortblocks for the club if there was enough interest.

And Glenn, dont worry about blowing your engine, you'll never enjoy the car if thats on your mind :D

[Glenn]

Yes, I agree, enjoy the car. When I was running Road Atlanta several weeks ago behind a nice Roush 427R Mustang, I completely forgot about any engine concerns. I just was enjoying myself and listening to my son screaming the whole way around the course - slow down, slow down, watch the curves you're going off the road. What fun, until my trans fluid fried even with two coolers.

Glenn