This is a little long post but bear with me.

I have been back for a little while but this one of the first chances I have had to get on my computer. For everyone to we drove from NW AR to Phoenix, AZ and made a couple driving trips while we were there. Once from Phoenix to the Grand Canon and once from Phoenix to Flagstaff. The Bonnie did very well except for the cooling part of it. Going from Phoenix to Flagstaff and the Grand Canon I got a little hotter that I wanted it to I got up to about 240 every once and a while I was going up some of the step hills. For everybody to know phoenix is about 1000 feet about sea level and flagstaff is about 7000 if my memory serves me and it makes this change in about 150 miles. So as you can imagine it is almost all up hill 6000 feet in 150 miles. I kept a close look on all the fluids I think I went though about a 1/2 a quart of oil the whole trip which didn't upset me to much I figured I would go though a little because of the heat. I really wish I had installed a Trans cooler before I made the trip but just couldn’t come up with the money I think it would have help a lot on the cooling part of it, but of course most the days we were there it was about 110 F in Phoenix. All the other fluids didn’t need any added Trans and Antifreeze stayed right on all the time. I was very happy with my car, it got any where from 26 to 31.4 mpg on the entire trip considering I was going 80 mph with a trunk full of luggage, 2 adults and 2 children, with the AC going the whole time I was quite impressed myself. I drove a lot I think we went to almost every national park in AZ my kids really got tired of seeing the Indian houses. We took 18 rolls of film; my wife is a photo nut. The trip home was the best I drove strait from Phoenix to my house. We stopped 4 times for gas and a couple more for food and bathroom breaks other than that it was 19 hours straight.

For the Mileage Part

When I left the house it was at 108870 on the 20th of June and when I pulled in to my driveway it was at 112776 on the 28th of June.

3906 miles in 8 days. Boy was I tired but I am sure glad I had my comfortable leather seats. I didn’t even stick to them.

Of course now it already past time to change the oil again. Can you imaging having to change you oil after 8 days.

Thats what I call serious touring dude .I live in Ottawa, Can and we are taking a trip in two weeks where heading up to Mount vernon NY to visit wifes sister, and staying there for a week ,then its off to lorain and cleveland ,ohio to visit my pops side of the familia. :o .I figure this trip would also fall into the serious touring catagorie

Wow guy sounds like you guys did lots of driving. glad to hear the car made it without any problems. Were also planning a trip from Montana to California here in august to see some family and just get away from this place :P
But we will not be in the bonnie....were taking a Ford Taurus! heh

Hope you don't get Found On Road Dead.

Sounds like a nice trip with a LOT of driving. A cooler t-stat and a fan switch would've helped you a lot.

lets hope so!
Actually its a mechanically sound car, tranny just rebuilt...all she needs now is a full tune up. Hasnt let us down yet, and as an added bonus ~ the air conditioning is Very cold!

I have a 180 t-stat installed, also I was running 70-80 mph with the A.C. on so I don't think the fan switch would of help very much. It was just really hot out side. I think the Trany cooler would have helped because it only got that hot when it was going up hill so the transmission would have been working harder and the temp was transfering into the engine.

i did 1200 in 5 day 4 nights. and i drove only one state away and the damn hill of NH kiilled my MPG but i had a blast doing 100 on the steep down hills

With a hi-low fan switch and a drilled 160 t-stat we can keep the GTP at any temperature we want regardless of outdoor temps and driving conditions basically. We have no problem keeping temps at 155 degrees at the track, and in 100 degree weather on the street with normal driving we have no problem keeping it at 165 degrees which is where we want it on the street. We just put fans on high then once it gets to 155 turn them back to low and it will keep temps below 165 for a half hour or so before we have to turn on high again. Works really nice, and we have an Intercooler radiator in front of the regular radiator, without that we could keep the engine cooler even easier.