Trip away in the33

[Lawrie]

The last few weeks I have traveled in the 33 down to mid NSW here in Australia, via back roads to a 90th anniversary meet of 33 and 34 cars, mostly fords,= there are 260 entered , out of a total of 400 .
I did 1920 klms getting here and thought that was pretty good effort, but some folks came from Darwin in the Northern Territory, 3500klm .
Some uniquely Australian cars here, with quite a few Aussie 34 utes.
The event is at a small town Cowra where a ww2 pow camp was in the war,
I had an interesting walk around the old camp site.
The 33 is going great ,best fuel usage to date is 17.6 litres per 100 klms, not bad.
Couple of small problems with the 33,horns stopped working,so had to pass up on one of my favourite pass time old tooting the horns to scare off the wild goats.
Generated needed adjusting to get the charge rate down to about 5 amps ,as my usual day is around 400 is.
A few of them in 41 c so drink lots of water.
Engine used about 3/16ths on the dip stick, this was good as I had changed the engine oil to a 10-40 before leaving home.
Lawrie

[Lawrie]

Some photos from along the way,
A new thing out west is to put murals on the grain silos,
Also I weighed the 33 and caravan at one of the silos.it was 2520 kg .
Lawrie

[5851a]

Nice trip. Thanks for pics.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Lawrie

Some photos from along the way,
A new thing out west is to put murals on the grain silos,
Also I weighed the 33 and caravan at one of the silos.it was 2520 kg .
Lawrie

Tell us how you took these pictures from afar...

[Lawrie]

I had a big ladder,
No I have a drone, best thing since sliced bread

[petehoovie]

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Originally Posted by Lawrie

I had a big ladder,
No I have a drone, best thing since sliced bread

[fordv8j]

You're having to much fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!! enjoyed your story and pictures

[Lawrie]

Some pics of the POW camp this afternoon

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Lawrie

Some pics of the POW camp this afternoon

[flatford8]

I’m happy to see you on another trip!.....great pictures!......I can’t imagine the amount of work in painting those silos.....good stuff!.....Mark

[ScubaChief60]

Hey... great post! You obviously have yours in great running condition. Talk to me about what you have done with your cooling system. Radiator new or old... what thermostats... a pressurized system... etc. Take care brother!

[corvette8n]

Great pictures, I put an additional model “A” ahooga horn on my ‘41 white a separate switch.

[Kens 36]

Great report Lawrie. Love the pics, especially the silos!

Ken (Carolyn says "Hi!")

[ssffnomad]

I have been wondering what you’re up to.
Thanks for posting.
Enjoy
Travel Safe

[T Scott]

Fantastic artwork on the silos. Sure beats graffiti!

[34fordy]

In Fort Dodge, Iowa we have a large silo that was painted a few years ago by Guido van Helten from Australia. I would guess that he painted the one Lawrie took the picture of. I believe he has painted many in the Midwest USA.

[bucktruck]

How about a picture, 34Fordy?

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by 34fordy

In Fort Dodge, Iowa we have a large silo that was painted a few years ago by Guido van Helten from Australia. I would guess that he painted the one Lawrie took the picture of. I believe he has painted many in the Midwest USA.

[Lawrie]

Thanks guys,
KEn and Carolyn thanks
Cooling system stock, t/stats in the top hoses.
I have put 1/2 litre oil in and lubed the generator and distributor ready for the trip back starting tomorrow. Some pics from today
Also got the longest distance driven in a 33
Lawrie

[Lawrie]

Pete, he is the painter
Lawrie

[Ol' Ron]

Lawrie, always enjoy your o[post. Have two grandsons that make Australia home. Take care.
Gramps

[Lawrie]

Ron, we take our country for granted, you can hop in your old rocket and drive all over ,no drama, stop anywhere, people are friendly, whether is great,we are very lucky.
Pics from this morning
Lawrie

[34fordy]

Originally Posted by petehoovie

Thanx Pete!!!!!!For bucktruck too, whomever that is, LOL

[38 coupe]

That kangaroo radiator cap is fun, I don't remember seeing one of those before. Seems appropriate for an Aussie 34.
Thanks for the pictures.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Lawrie

Ron, we take our country for granted, you can hop in your old rocket and drive all over ,no drama, stop anywhere, people are friendly, whether is great,we are very lucky.
Pics from this morning
Lawrie

[highbeams]

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Beauty Coach Maroon with Tacoma Cream!

[Lawrie]

Well, I made a real blue yesterday,half way along a 320 k leg, I stopped and took a dirt side track down to an old disused bridge, and stalled doing a U turn in the scrub, went to start and it wouldn’t start,so thinking I was out of gas I put the jerrycan in,then promptly flooded it trying to start,then like a dunce wound the battery down,Damm.
35C, dirt track, 50mtrs from the road,
I waited for a while then tried again,but as most know,once the engine is flooded it will take a good wind over to get started.
So, I walked up to the road,and along comes a farmer,in his 2 week old Landcruiser,I tell him my problem, he Tells me ,no worries,he will give me a jump start,but I will have to open the bonnet(hood), as he was caught in the tractor PTO the other day and was too beat up and sore,
I throw my trusty old blanket under the 33 to put the 12v jumper lead direct to the starter and one crank and the engine spluttered into life in a cloud of black smoke.
The farmer then produces a cold beer from the esky in the back of his Ute,
We both have a laugh, and cure the problems of the world with a good chat.
He stays until I get back onto the road before he heads off,
The only sad thing,I took no photos.
One thing, I had to heave my blanket into the scrub as it was full of burs, the real big ones the will go through a thong(Jandal, flip flop.)
I sure didn’t want any of them in the car.
I had planned to free camp but decided to stop in the next caravan pack and went into town for dinner.
I put the battery on charge over night
Lawrie

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Lawrie

Well, I made a real blue yesterday,half way along a 320 k leg, I stopped and took a dirt side track down to an old disused bridge, and stalled doing a U turn in the scrub, went to start and it wouldn’t start,so thinking I was out of gas I put the jerrycan in,then promptly flooded it trying to start,then like a dunce wound the battery down,Damm.
35C, dirt track, 50mtrs from the road,
I waited for a while then tried again,but as most know,once the engine is flooded it will take a good wind over to get started.
So, I walked up to the road,and along comes a farmer,in his 2 week old Landcruiser,I tell him my problem, he Tells me ,no worries,he will give me a jump start,but I will have to open the bonnet(hood), as he was caught in the tractor PTO the other day and was too beat up and sore,
I throw my trusty old blanket under the 33 to put the 12v jumper lead direct to the starter and one crank and the engine spluttered into life in a cloud of black smoke.
The farmer then produces a cold beer from the esky in the back of his Ute,
We both have a laugh, and cure the problems of the world with a good chat.
He stays until I get back onto the road before he heads off,
The only sad thing,I took no photos.
One thing, I had to heave my blanket into the scrub as it was full of burs, the real big ones the will go through a thong(Jandal, flip flop.)
I sure didn’t want any of them in the car.
I had planned to free camp but decided to stop in the next caravan pack and went into town for dinner.
I put the battery on charge over night
Lawrie

[Elmo Rodge]

Lawrie, our second favorite breakfast, (right after having breakfast with you and Carol) was about 100 km south of Cowra at the Long Track Pantry in Jugiong. That was 6 years ago. We've gotta get back down there.
Wayno

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Elmo Rodge

Lawrie, our second favorite breakfast, (right after having breakfast with you and Carol) was about 100 km south of Cowra at the Long Track Pantry in Jugiong. That was 6 years ago. We've gotta get back down there.
Wayno

[Elmo Rodge]

That's the place, Pete. Off to the right in the picture was an outdoor place to eat which was quite pleasant.
Wayno

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Elmo Rodge

That's the place, Pete. Off to the right in the picture was an outdoor place to eat which was quite pleasant.
Wayno

[Elmo Rodge]

Yep. That's it. Thanks Pete.
Wayno

[JK1934]

Lawrie, it was good to catch up with you at Cowra, hope you have a good trip home, will see you at Echuca in May for the V8 meet, John

[Lawrie]

Some pics from yesterday and this morning.
I stopped half way between Bourke and Cunnamulla, a really nice spot, off the road and in the scrub,I had company at about 11 when a road train pulled in for the night.
The other pic is a camp out in the sticks. And cruise control engaged
Lawrie

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Lawrie

Some pics from yesterday and this morning.
I stopped half way between Bourke and Cunnamulla, a really nice spot, off the road and in the scrub,I had company at about 11 when a road train pulled in for the night.
The other pic is a camp out in the sticks. And cruise control engaged
Lawrie

[sugarmaker]

Lawrie,
Great pictures! Have a cold one for me too! Thanks for taking us with you on your trip in the 33! Just awesome! Will we see you in Auburn for the Early V8 show in June?
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl

[ScubaChief60]

Hey Lawrie... thanks for the "Cooling system stock, t/stats in the top hoses" ...

Take care brother!

[Lawrie]

Chris andCheryl,
Thanks, I had a cold one tonight,
Sorry, but I won’t be at Auburn, I have so much going on this year and will only be home for a total of about 5 weeks up to mid September.
But one thing is I must do more travel in the 33, it is so enjoyable,a few small things need a bit of attention,one was my steering felt like it was seizing up on right hand turns and got so bad that I was going to adjust my steering box, but on investigation,I found it was the Teflon easy steer sockets on the drag link,even though I had greased them before leaving home,the actual sockets was dry,I smeared them with grease and problem solved,but I will look out why the grease never got to them.
There were lots of wild goats in my travels today, and some looked like they were farmed.
Also saw lots of wild Emu,s, strange to see a wild native animal in such numbers.
Sorry, no pics as when ever I stopped to get a pic , they took off,and as the song says,they can’t fly,but they can run the legs off a kangaroo.
Lawrie

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Lawrie

Chris andCheryl,
Thanks, I had a cold one tonight,
Sorry, but I won’t be at Auburn, I have so much going on this year and will only be home for a total of about 5 weeks up to mid September.
But one thing is I must do more travel in the 33, it is so enjoyable,a few small things need a bit of attention,one was my steering felt like it was seizing up on right hand turns and got so bad that I was going to adjust my steering box, but on investigation,I found it was the Teflon easy steer sockets on the drag link,even though I had greased them before leaving home,the actual sockets was dry,I smeared them with grease and problem solved,but I will look out why the grease never got to them.
There were lots of wild goats in my travels today, and some looked like they were farmed.
Also saw lots of wild Emu,s, strange to see a wild native animal in such numbers.
Sorry, no pics as when ever I stopped to get a pic , they took off,and as the song says,they can’t fly,but they can run the legs off a kangaroo.
Lawrie

[Lawrie]

I have had a rest day ,and stopped at a small locality (Wyandra)’ population less than 100.
I looked inside an old shearing shed,it still had a hand operated wool press and some old single cylinder engines that powered the machinery,plus what looked like a giant beer barrel grill, but I think it was a sorting table.
The last days travel was quite hot39c , so slowed down to around 45mph, road was rough in places with lots of undulating bits,but still enjoyable.
I will be heading for Charleville today,( site of a big US airforce base in WW2, and allegedly the first place outside the USA that the Norden bomb site was used,
I know why it was here, it’s miles from anywhere.
A family of Swiss tourists are next to me in the camp site, they are in Aust for 8 weeks and we’re amazed at the size of the country( they tell me Europe would fit in Australia),but they loved travelling out in the sticks,(same as me)
I have to stock up some supplies as I,m down to my last tea bag,lol
There also was another family next to me who were travelling in an Izusu truck and caravan,
We compared fuel usage,me18.4 ltrs/ 100klm , him 27 ltrs/100klm, my caravan weighs around 920 kegs ,his 4500kgs.
Lawrie

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Lawrie

I have had a rest day ,and stopped at a small locality (Wyandra)’ population less than 100.
I looked inside an old shearing shed,it still had a hand operated wool press and some old single cylinder engines that powered the machinery,plus what looked like a giant beer barrel grill, but I think it was a sorting table.
The last days travel was quite hot39c , so slowed down to around 45mph, road was rough in places with lots of undulating bits,but still enjoyable.
I will be heading for Charleville today,( site of a big US airforce base in WW2, and allegedly the first place outside the USA that the Norden bomb site was used,
I know why it was here, it’s miles from anywhere.
A family of Swiss tourists are next to me in the camp site, they are in Aust for 8 weeks and we’re amazed at the size of the country( they tell me Europe would fit in Australia),but they loved travelling out in the sticks,(same as me)
I have to stock up some supplies as I,m down to my last tea bag,lol
There also was another family next to me who were travelling in an Izusu truck and caravan,
We compared fuel usage,me18.4 ltrs/ 100klm , him 27 ltrs/100klm, my caravan weighs around 920 kegs ,his 4500kgs.
Lawrie

[mercman from oz]

Lawrie's 1933 Ford Fordor Sedan at Cowra

[Lawrie]

The 33 is a lot dirtier now,it’s done a lot of klms since then
Trevor, nice to catch up with your brothers .
Lawrie

[mercman from oz]

Lawrie, my brothers said that it was nice catching up with you also.

[mercman from oz]

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This is my brother's 1933 Ford Deluxe Tudor Sedan, heading for home.
The Personalised Plates were originally fitted to a 34 four-door Sedan - hence, 34DOR

[Lawrie]

Well, I have done some miles since last post.
I’m now in Roma for a day or so.
Roma is the hub for the gas industry out west and a big cattle sale yards.
I had an intersecting stop the other day, way out in the middle of nowhere, making a coffee and a 4WD pulled up, a nice man comes over and chats ,then asked me if I was OK, he then tells me he knew I was in the area, turns out he is the local copper, he looked after an area the size of Tasmania, my iPad was on the table ,I told him I was ordering a new side window for the 33 as well as a new battery,we talked for maybe 1/2 hr then he was on his way,he told me the other coppers in the area would keep an eye out to make sure I was OK.
Wow , I was impressed to say the least.
I have a lady camped next to me who was travelling in here small car with her dog and tent.
She headed off this morning to her destination 775klm away,
I haven’t done too much exploring the last few days , but stopped the other night at a huge cattle yard, nice and quiet ,except for the creaking stock yards.
33 going good, uses hardly any oil ( miles to date 2076)
My battery is a bit suspect ,as some times starts great and other is very slow cranking, no drama as I ordered a new 6v optima the other day while talking to the copper,so it will at home when I get back.I have turned up the charging to about 8 amps , that seems to help, I know the battery is fully charged as the horns work great.
I’m heading into town for a nice coffee and cake today.(Sunday)
I cooked one of my best dinners the other night,pork medallions and veggies.
There was a huge truck explosion a few years back here ,luckily no one killed,
It was carrying explosives.
Lawrie

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Lawrie

Well, I have done some miles since last post.
I cooked one of my best dinners the other night,pork medallions and veggies.Lawrie

[Lawrie]

I’m getting close to home now, and should be home in a day or so.
A fellow club member caught up with me the other day in Roma, he was on his way home further west.with the 34 on the trailer.
We met up at another club members place and had a nice catch up.
here I picked up a couple of sets of NOS rod bearings,(thanks Ken)
The other pic is some of the gas infrastructure out here,
I took a short cut yesterday ,we had been on it some years ago in the 33,but it was WAY worse now, luckily only about 25klm, at one culvert with a lot of sand on the other side ,I only fist made it through having to use 1st gear at the last.
I thought that if I got stuck i would be there for a while.
Later I noticed the alternator on the caravan was not working, so when pulled up for the night got under and had a look, turned out to be two wires knocked off the alternator by the stones on the dirt road, easy fix.
I stopped at a small nearly abandoned town called Cracow, there is a gold mine still operating here .
But the town itself is like a ghost town,
We have stayed here often and it’s a nice place to explore
Lawrie

[Kens 36]

Lawrie,

Looks like Bonnie and Clyde's '34.

Ken

[mercman from oz]

You folks in the USA don't know how lucky you are with your old cars.
This Australian 1934 Ford Sedan is what some people out here have to start with.
Lots of hard work tying to locate missing parts.
Such is life in Australia.

[Lawrie]

well home on wednesday, great trip, 2475 miles
engine used 1/2 ltr oil so im impressed.
today i fitted the new battery that i ordered while away,
apon lifting the battery cover, i think this may have been some of the problem with the intermittent slow cracking

[Elmo Rodge]

Lawrie, you may have something there.
Wayno

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Lawrie

well home on wednesday, great trip, 2475 miles
engine used 1/2 ltr oil so im impressed.
today i fitted the new battery that i ordered while away,
apon lifting the battery cover, i think this may have been some of the problem with the intermittent slow cracking