Big White Bus - OKIEROVER.COM

June 15, 2015May 16, 2023

SCARR 2015 – The Trails (Post #539) 6/15/2015

With all the rain we had at SCARR 2015 the trails were muddy. But unlike Oklahoma’s red clay this soil took the water very well and drained away. That didn’t mean it came off any easier than Oklahoma red mud, but it was not as nasty when you were driving through it. We had quite a few creek crossings to add to the mud.

We started the first day with a lecture from Arto Pullinen. Some of us (read that as NOT Mr. Fisher) learned some new hand signals that trail guides would be using.

Continue reading “SCARR 2015 – The Trails (Post #539) 6/15/2015”

March 30, 2015May 16, 2023

Back in the Saddle Again (Post #533) 3/30/2015

I picked up the Big White Bus on Saturday. Mickey was pretty busy this week and had to catch up on Saturday. I unfortunately did not leave enough gas in her for a proper test drive. So he told me to give her a spin around the block and give her a shake down.

I got her out on Industrial Boulevard and the new transmission was immediately noticeable. Smooth shifting, the proper feel of torque to the tires, simply amazing. I remarked to Mickey that I would have like to have driven a new Range Rover so I could have experienced a good tight model. I will definitely have a chat with Nathan York when he brings in the next nearly restored or fully restored Range Rover Classic. I’d love to drive another to see how close, or more likely far away, I am from cleaning up my rattletrap.

I have made two trips out to Newcastle and been to work on the north side of Oklahoma City and everything is seem to be in order. I’ve burned a half tank of petrol so far and am anxious to see if I’m getting any return on my gas mileage.

SCARR is just two weeks away. A few people have mentioned they are interested in attending and I know John is definitely coming. We’ll be down there Thursday afternoon. It is a 5.5 to 6.0 hour drive down. We plan on leaving at our leisure Thursday morning. So if you are coming down be sure to email me or call me so we can share a brew together.

I hope to see you at SCARR. Thanks for reading and Happy Rovering.

March 16, 2015May 16, 2023

A Long Drive for Nothing (Post #531) 3/16/2015

It turned out to be a long drive for nothing. My goal this past weekend was to go to the Southwestern Regional Rendezvous in Leslie, Arkansas. I went. But I didn’t stay.

It was a 5.5 hour drive to Leslie, Arkansas from Norman, Oklahoma. About an hour into the drive it started to rain. It rained from Shawnee all the way to Leslie. When I got to Leslie I found the event. I pulled into the lot that was passing for a parking lot.

Continue reading “A Long Drive for Nothing (Post #531) 3/16/2015”

February 16, 2015May 16, 2023

Time to Prepare for S.C.A.R.R. 2015 (Post #524) 2/16/2015

Doesn’t the Big White Bus look good all washed up parked in the drive. Well she looks better with a little mud on the tires and traipsing up and down the hills of Barnwell Offroad Park in East Texas. Yes, it’s close to that time of year again. Its time to prepare the Range Rover for the South Central Area Rover Rendezvous aka SCARR.

Once again there is lots to do. A short list…

Transmission Rebuild
Plugs, wires, and cap
Tie-rod ends
Oil Pan Gasket
Power Steering Leak

Its a short list but an expensive one. Getting the transmission done will be somewhere in the 2000$(US). I’ve known this was a problem for a while now. I’ve turned 220,000 miles and I think it’s time for a rebuild on the transmission. I have a plan for this. Continue reading “Time to Prepare for S.C.A.R.R. 2015 (Post #524) 2/16/2015”

January 23, 2015May 16, 2023

Touching Base (Post #523) 1/23/2015

I felt like I should touch base with my readers.

The Big White Bus has been idling a little rough lately. I will look in to that a little more as we get closer to S.C.A.R.R. This year I plan to swap my spark plugs, wires, and my distributor cap. Getting the correct cap is 99% of the maintenance. Some of the pattern parts are not very well made.

I also still have the torque converter issue. I’m not sure what I’m going to do about that yet. It will be a very expensive repair.

I need to correct the oil leaking from the engine. I will order a gasket set for the oil sump (pan) and for the tappet covers in the coming week. I bought a set of ramps so I can clean off the bottom of the BWB at a car wash.

I also have what is possibly a bad tie rod end. I hit a seam on the highway and the shaking from the front tires was very, very bad. I had to slow down and get off the highway to get the truck back under control. I will be looking in to that this weekend for sure. I’ll need to get Mr. Fisher to assist while I investigate under the Rover.

I’ve gotten a lot of emails and messages this and last week. I really love to help when I can. Unfortunately sometimes I don’t have the answer. That really bothers me because I like to know as much as I can. So if you’ve contacted me, and I couldn’t help, please send me an email back so I can learn how you got it fixed.

I want you to plan on going to SCARR if you are able. I promise you will have fun.

That’s all I got for now.

Thanks for reading and Happy Rovering.

November 18, 2014May 16, 2023

Flatbed of Shame…again (Post #517) 11/18/2014

Well it happened again. The Big White Bus came home on the back of a wrecker. Sorry, no pictures this time…I just didn’t have it in me.

The 5:00 rush hour had me turning off the highway to take the back roads. I had just started down North Kelley in OKC. I was talking to my wife about the neighborhood I was in. I will be kind and say this is a “rough” area in Oklahoma City. Shootings after dark are not uncommon.

I no more said I’d be out of the bad part in a mile when I heard “BING” and a lovely grinding sound. Of course there was a lot of traffic on this side road just when this happened. I put it in PARK and then back into gear. Nothing but grinding. I put it in PARK and got out to see if anything was obvious underneath. She was rolling down the street as I got out.

I set the emergency brake and climbed under. Nothing obvious. A nice gentleman stopped to help immediately. He directed traffic while I coasted back to the side street and off the main artery I was on. He was very helpful. I was very aware of my surroundings and this is not a place I should be after dark. That was confirmed when the gentleman said to me, “You got dem doctor clothes on so you should be alright.” Continue reading “Flatbed of Shame…again (Post #517) 11/18/2014”