Wow... El Paso made it to #2! Unbelievable! Thanks everybody!!!!!

Chapter 1

Bought this old truck on from a gentleman on ebay and drove it from El Paso, TX to Madison, WI.

Very nice ladies that sold the truck to me.

Having fun enjoying the scenery before the truck quit running for the first time (a sign of things to come).

 My first time through a U.S. border patrol checkpoint.

Broke down a second time - picture taken about an hour before some super nice Mexican guys picked me up and drove me to the nearest hotel - didn't catch their names but man, I sure appreciate it!!!

 Wound up at the Sands motel in Carrizozo, NM.

The best part of the trip was finding out that there are some really great people out there! They drove me 100 miles for parts to fix my truck, fed me breakfast and supper, and prayed for me too before sending me on my way - Thanks Troy, Tabitha and Carol!!!

I was eager to get going, but this scenery is so amazing - i had no choice but to stop and enjoy it.

On the road with a new fuel line and filter, also lots of water to drink.

Feeling good after truck set a record mileage... before quitting again.

Changed the fuel pump in the dark at an interstate off ramp in Tucumcari. Truck ran again, but I realized that the real problem was junk in the gas tank clogging the fuel system so limped to the nearest hotel and called it a night.

Tucumcari is a great Route 66 town! A room and a pop here cost $25... that's less than the sales tax at some places! Hotel keeper was very nice, and there was wifi for my laptop.

There was a line to get into NAPA on Sunday morning. This is where I cut a hole in the filler neck and ran fuel hose down it to bypass the clogged pickup tube, and quit sucking crap out of the bottom of the tank. 

Truck was running well again and I only stopped for gas and food... and the Bug Ranch of course

No longer sucking crap out of the gas tank, but a new lack-of-power problem was emerging in Missouri. Truck started sputtering and almost died but I was able to limp it to a parts store for new plugs.

Didn't really get a chance to test the new plugs because i hit this crazy 4 hour traffic jam only minutes later.

Was relieved to make it past St. Louis... It was becoming clear that the truck was running lean - photo shows an attempt to solve the problem by increasing the float level adjustent.

Float level adjustment seemed to help, or maybe it was the change in climate, and the truck made it through the entire state of IL without a single breakdown!

Back home i hooked up the choke and found that the truck ran great fully choked. Switched to bigger jets and I could get it to run without choke.

Also found a stray wire with a bare end in the engine compartment. This wire killed the engine when grounded because it came from the coil positive post; probably for somebody's tach at one point. Wish I would have found that in Texas!

Installing a new gas tank this weekend... things are looking up for Ol' El Paso!