We just may do it! Denver-to-Bucksport...

Entering Jetmore, Kansas with Hernando at the forefront.

Outside Nussar Motors a recent Chevrolet Dealer, where we met Jan and Rodney Beltz who tried to find a set of points for us (we're still looking for a set).

Entering McPhearson, Kansas.

A cool building in McPhearson, Kansas. Hey Tim! Is this the County Seat?

Update: Sunday, 28 October, 2012-

At the T/A in Beto Junction, Kansas having brunch and trying to figure out how to start the Carryall.

We have fuel, compression and spark but she still does not want to start.

Worse, once we get her running, we probably don't want to shut her off but we're burning a quart of oil every 120 - 140 miles and need to shut her off to check the level.

I remember the fall-back cure ion the 50s was to use 50 weight oil..I remember one troublesome 41 plymouth I added oatmeal to the oil (don't remember how much). I think you could use 90 weight without hurting it on a long hot drive. it sounds like your rings may be stuck in their grooves..no easy cure without taking the pistons out and replacing the rings
(cause you'll break some taking them out). hang in there. dave allard

Thanks for promoting McPherson!

The restored Opera House (with the coke advertisements) is a really cool building. My wife's employer has his office there, so that's where she gets to work every day.

The county courthouse is also a really cool building, and yes, McPherson is the county seat for McPherson county.

Keep motoring! I wish I could have been here to wave!

Got to meet up with our intrepid DeSoto Travelers last night. This is their story so I'll leave most the details up to them. They rolled in around 8 pm and my wife Joan and I met them at the local burger joint. I invited them down to The Lost Cause Garage to get the car checked over. The car actually looked rather good only needing minor attention. The motor was quiet and ran smooth. Wish I had more time to get reverse working consistently for you. My guess is half your oil loss is from those two crank seal leaks. Not a big deal, look at them as free undercoating. Ralph and Alina are a great couple. What a great way to spend your honeymoon huh Alina?! They headed east around 10 to parts unknown.

Ralph, I found a NAPA point set that should work, Echlin CS719A. You may want to call ahead to a store in a larger town so they can have a set waiting for you. Also noticed the small ground wire inside the distributor was looking frail. It runs from the breaker plate to the body. Keep an eye on it but I'd replace it after you get home. You could really use a totally rebuilt distributor. So if anyone between KC and Maine has one to loan out they sure could use it. I think that would solve any future ignition problems. One more thing after you get home, Summit Racing sells a wheel spacer for your LF wheel that should fit. All you need is 1/8th inch. Look at Gorilla wheel spacer SP601S. That's about it. Enjoyed meeting you guys and have a safe trip.

Good morning all:
We made it as far as Sedalia, Missouri. Stopped to take a nap and once again, had trouble starting. Tim, you were right; the starter was causing issues. Well, now we had to call AAA to get a push start. The starter is finished. We will drive east and seriously consider getting a storage unit for the Desoto and flying home. We will head east on Hwy 50 across Missouri and possibly get back on I-70.
Anyone have a starter?

I would try stopping at a Mom & Pop auto parts place or a N.A.P.A
they might know of a place that could rebuild it while you wait

Hi all!

So, here's what happened:
We tried to get the car started a few times before using our backup 12V battery. No luck as the starter was cranking the car quite slowly. We then opted for the jump with the 12V battery. We had faster cranking (predictably) but although the engine almost "caught", we still were unsuccessful. We tried several times spacing our tries out so that the battery and starter would cool down. Nevertheless, I gave up when I saw smoke pour out of the back of the case (not at the pole). And further evidence of substantial arcing of the jumper cable at the car's ground told me enough, that the starter was shot.

Using the tip from Les Fairbanks, I called AAA. They pushed us down the parking lot and after getting the higher gear of low range engaged, was successful in starting the car.

Okay, we knew then that our options were limited and we had to get a starter. So, after a bagel and coffee at the Local Panera Bread in Sedalia, we decided to alter our route more towards the northeast. We called and spoke again with Tim Mabry. Thanks, Tim for bringing up the starter rebuild place in Jefferson City. So, after another course change, we are now at the local Motel 6, and our old Carryall is parked outside Carver's Starter and Alternator, LLC. Mike Carver runs the place and already he's been very kind to make the calls for the components.
As it stands, the armature was destroyed and it ground into the back of the housing. We are looking at a substantial repair but the good thing is, all the parts are ordered or on-hand and we very likely could be back on the road by tomorrow afternoon.

That's it for now. We're going to go get some "vittles" and take a small vacation from this vacation tonight.

Below are some photos we took during the past 24 or so hours.

A very special "thank-you goes out to Tim and Joan Mabry. I feel very honored to have been meeting such great people as Rodger Reddish in Colorado Springs who followed us for some 50 miles to make sure we made it, and Tim and Joan Mabry in Gardner, Kansas for opening up the shop so late in the evening the day before a work day. Our time out here is becoming limited but at this writing, I think we can still make it to Maine. And anyway, there is a storm preceding us.

Okay, so, here are some shots.

Ralph and Tim Mabry trying to get the timing marks on the crank pulley in view with sandpaper and brake cleaner. I am too busy blabbering and Tim is doing all the work.

Evening, October 28th.

Your's truly, Alina and Ralph. Poor Alina, what I put her through, it's embarrassing.

Outside of Carver's determining the "damage" THIS time...

The tag on the starter. I still cannot make out what it says. But the parts are ordered and we'll see tomorrow if all of the new ones will fit.