Final Comments

Teri has done the blog for all of you and from the feedback everyone thoroughly enjoyed her entries.  I thought some of you would enjoy some specifics:

Trip Dates  -  Departed June 1, 2011, returned July 14, 2011

Total mileage  =  11,609

Fuel consumption  =  563.5 gallons  -  Average mpg  =  20.6

Total Trip Expense  $9,701.00  US

44 Days  -  19 States  -  3 Providences  -  2 Countries

Parts used:
6 fan belts (4 Jim, 2 Ray)
1 flat tire (Jim)
1 battery (Jim)
1 wheel bearing issue (Ray)
1 Water Pump  (Ray)
1 engine (Jim)

I thought I would express my thanks to a few for getting us ready for the trip.  Thanks to Bentleys Antique Auto services for technical support and mechanical services.  Mikes “A” Ford-able Parts for having just what we needed to prepare the “A” and Cardin’s Machine Shop for building a quality engine to stand up to the abuse of the trip.

Our engine had 17,979 miles since the last rebuild by Cardin’s when we departed.  Bentley’s had not long prior to leaving pulled the pan and checked all bearings and adjusted the valves.  All other work was done myself to ready our coupe.  Without the help and expertise from these great Model “A” professionals, I would have never been confident enough to make this type of trip.

Thanks to everyone for their support in helping us get ready and following us along the way, especially to Jim & Rose for all of the preplanning and camaraderie

Ray Besch

PS:  Teri and I both agree that we would do a trip like this again.  Let us know when you are ready to go!