I'm hoping somebody jumps out there and takes the bull by the horns and gets something planned. I'm trying to get some dependable people hired so we can get some time off, maybe a day off. 20 minutes off...................... It will get better, it will get better, it will get better..................... just trying to make the point I've got noooooooooo time to plan

Finished the exhaust system. Life is good. Liz and the cat have been busy relaxing.



Highs in the 80's and lows around 70. Beautiful place to hang out. Coach next door left and gave us an even better view to the water.



Have Barth, will travel

Well, all good things must come to an end. We left the Keys on the 7th.

Now for more good times! About 250 miles to Moore Haven to see our good Barth friends, DebnEd. Spent Saturday on their bass boat, ran up and down the river, through the locks, to a dockside restaurant at Clewiston, about 50 miles in all. Another great day in the sun and water with good friends!

Left too soon, drove about 400 miles to Savannah area today. We'll be at the Wilmington, NC KOA tomorrow and Wed to see our other Barth buddies, Tom and Nancy Johns and Nick and Donna Cagle. The fun never stops with the Barth people!

About 330 miles and we arrived at the Wilmington KOA Monday afternoon. Nice park, right in Wilmington.

Johns and Cagles arrived today. Spent a great afternoon and evening with them catching up on travel stories.

Sadly, we must head north again Wednesday. 800 miles left to get back to our place in Canton, near Detroit. We will be back there some time Thursday afternoon. Liz has a conference to attend in Kalamazoo on Friday, I will continue north to Kalkaska. With any luck the snow will all be gone. (They got several inches last week)

Florida 2016 is rapidly winding down. So far a good time and a good run with good people to see along the way. Life is good.

Looking forward to Allegan and Minneapolis this summer.

Have Barth, will travel

Left the Wilmington KOA, bright and sunny on Wed morning. It was just too good to last, all the way to fla, saw Rusty, Danny and Suzy (twice), DebnEd (twice) now Johns and Cagles. A great time!

All good things come to an end, made it all the way down then back to NC with nary a problem. The turd fairy was lurking, though.

About 30 minutes out from NC, 86Barth quit without warning, shut down instantly. Open road, coast to a stop. Between cursing I see fuel pressure is good, so must be ignition.

Pull off the doghouse. About 10 minutes of playing and it is apparent the coil is shot. The replacement one, only a couple years old.

Changed the distributor cap and coil (put back the old original ones I kept after installing the new "good" ones)

I swapped over the plug wires, fires right up. Back on the road in 30 minutes. Dam you, turd fairy.

Continued on my way, drove 500 miles to the Ohio/W Virginia border. Spent the night in a park and ride along the Ohio river. Peaceful and cheap.

Got up to frost(!) this morning. Drove another 300 miles to my place near Detroit.

So much for Florida 2016. A great Barth time! We've been gone for 10 weeks. When we get to Kalkaska tomorrow it will be about 4000 miles.

Other than the coil issue, the 454HO ran great. I passed lots of trucks on the long hills. Ran wide open for almost 10 minutes climbing into Virginia, held 55-60 on the long steady hill. Passed trucks doing 25 mph… No overheating, no problems.
Using about 1 qt oil per 2000 miles, will do 70 all day, well over 80 if you got the nerve.

Looking forward to the summer in Allegan and Minnesnowta!
Have Barth, will travel

Steve VW ,
Im in the process of hooking up a rpm gauge in the barth with the new ho 454 . I see you have a rpm gauge in your barth & am wondering , at 70 mph , what rpm are you running at ?
Thanks , Bob

Our Regal run just about 500 x speed ( 3000 rpm @ 60 mph.)
14500 lb. chassis 19.5 wheels.

I have the same ratio, apparently. rear axle is 4.56/1 19.5 wheels.

60 mph is 2900 rpm. 70 mph is 3400.

I usually run around 65, about 3100. Smoothest at that speed.

Bob, with you chassis I suspect you have 16" wheels and 4.10/1 rear end ratio. You should see about 10% less rpm than Steve and my chassis. I am going to guess 2600 rpm at 60 mph.

Thanks Steve & Doorman ,

Yes i have 16" wheels . I don't know what the rear end ratio is .
Bob