A North American trip...but hot enough for the Red Centre.

We set out June 12th for Mini Meet West 2012 in Prescott Valley, Arizona. Our route would take us some 2,000 miles south via the Pacific Ocean coast before turning inland north of Los Angeles for the Mojave Desert and the climb to Arizona.

My running mate, Diddy Dave Thomas from the Isle of Mull in Scotland at a stop at the Oregon Dunes:



Good run down the coast and into California's Central Valley at Barstow to stage for the Mojave crossing. Away early in the a.m. and all went well through Needles across the Colorado River and on to Kingman. Temps were high...and the heat spike after shutdown for lunch must have led to the gasket failure.

Diddy Dave and Van in California's Redwoods:



Diddy repaired a broken knuckle at camp in Barstow:



In any event, Diddy Dave installed a new head gasket in his Van at the side of the Interstate 40 and got into Prescott Valley after dark. (He sent us on ahead saying, "It was a one man job.")

He reported a small crack in the block between #3 & #4, so we prepared as best we could by unshrouding the extra rad (had been hidden behind his protective grill for travel on gravel roads up to the Artic). And, left at 3 a.m. to beat the heat on the return across the Mojave to get as close to home before a trailer woul;d be needed.

Just before dawn on our 'Out Run the Sun Run' across the Mojave Desert:



Same extra rad as the one I used on ROO for the One Lap drive about:



Long story short, we got home pulled the head and it was liners in the bores that allowed the run home versus a done in engine in Arizona.



Fresh linered block enroute from the UK as I write....

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Select a gear, bring up the revs and release the clutch...off you go!

WOW

having just been in Arizona for 3 weeks and then driving from Phoenix Arizona to LA, I am amazed that a Mini could cope with the heat..!!

Good luck..!!!

That van looks super cool. Love it. Your trips are so cool and whats the go with Diddy Dave going to the artic? Sounds like an interesting story. I bet Diddy would have some tales to tell. Good work Fellas!

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Dog Food! Most kids like it more than Broccoli.

bum.....

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

I guess that's the van you told me about?

Its it still UK registered?

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Brett Nicholson
Greendale (near Ballan) VIC.
1971 Morris Mini Moke
1966 Austin Mini
1965 Morris Mini Traveller
1973 LR Series 3 88
2007 LR Freelander 2

Padlock on the bonnett!

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Dog Food! Most kids like it more than Broccoli.

Diddy Dave is not a writer yet...and I hope one day he will set pen to paper. He certainly has photos...

The Van was built to travel around the world in the northern hemisphere so logically Russia to Europe and home is the next big stage. However it was built for travel in temperate zones to Artic cold...not hot desert terrain.

The Van was shipped from Liverpool to Halifax, Nova Scotia where Diddy met it in early May 2009. That summer he traveled the Atlantic provinces and by ferry to Newfoundland then ferry to Labrador.

He traveled over gravel road from Labrador to the St. Lawrence River in Quebec (a trip a number of Canadians thought not possible - not least because there was no road - but there was a road).

Crossing Canada on tarmac, Diddy headed for the Yukon Territory and the gravel Dempster Hwy. to Inuvik in the Northwest Territories on the Beaufort Sea then retraced, crossed to Alaska and took the gravel Dalton Hwy. to Prudhoe Bay also on the Beaufort Sea.

Then it was south to Homer where a Mini Cooper needed stripping down for restoration before heading south into the Yukon and past the Alaska Panhandle in British Columbia.

Finally, in early September 2009 he pulled into my driveway - 45,000 kms., 3 broken suspension knuckles, several broken shocks and bald 12" Yokie 539s.

Arizona was tough on the Van because it is both heavy and needed more cooling. The loads on the engine climbing into Arizona were more than the standard 1275 could bear despite Diddy having plumbed in an extra rad...but behind the "grill" seen in the photo above. Unfortunately, the extra rad was shrouded and could not offer the help needed. Diddy fixed that before heading home on a wing and a prayer.

At home we have emptied the Van, cleaned it up and have a second seat with belt to go in and both diesel tank and diesel/petrol lines and pump are relocated to make way for "management" (Diddy's partner Lynda) who will fly in July 18th to travel with Diddy to the Canadian Rockies.

Oh...and a fresh standard bore 1275 block with liners to build up and install.

Here is Diddy with the empty Van:

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Select a gear, bring up the revs and release the clutch...off you go!

I must be missing something - what's the diesel tank for?

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Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

+1
Best I could come up with was a generator..

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You're so square
Baby I don't care

to power the heater unit while driving across the artic?

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Dog Food! Most kids like it more than Broccoli.

That'd be kero, surely?

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Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

We use diesel fired heaters at work in some of the boats and vehicles that go to Antarctica. Made by Webasto, the same people that make the vinyl sunroofs.

Tim

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1951 Morris Commercial J Type Van
1955 BSA C11G
1961 Morris Mini Traveller
1969 Triumph TR6R
1977 Leyland Moke Californian

Caravans can have Webasto diesel heaters aswell, lovely puff of smoke when they start up .

What are the two rear tubs for storage...?

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Respect mine and I'll respect yours.

Ah well, there you go, I've learned something today

Where does one get one of these, my caravan is miiiiighty cold at nights at the moment... ?

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Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

Yes, the diesel is for the heater (as the plan is still to cross Russia to Europe...when is not yet known). The tank was where the 2nd seat will soon be installed thus the relocate....same for fuel/petrol pump that has been relocated to the crossmember under the scuttle.

Current task is to coat the plywood sheeting used to fabricate a folding floor to expand the sleeping area before "management" arrives. Will get Varathane on starting today as weather has turned dry and warm.

"Wells" in floor - large one inside rear subframe and small one at leftside rear - are for storage. With fuel tank replaced by larger extended tank up front and filled behind the B pillar, the exhaust is routed down the center to transverse mounted muffler to the right of the small "well" and exiting on the rear rightside.

With "new" standard linered block coming from UK and power unit must also come out for rebuild.

Pitter, patter...

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Select a gear, bring up the revs and release the clutch...off you go!