One of the most critical components of our truck’s diesel engine is its cooling system. In preparation for our three-year Overland Expedition following the Silk Road, every component had to be checked and if possible, replaced with something better than factory. First, perhaps most important, was the water pump itself and the thermostat. The experienced technicians at Ken Imler Diesel Performance removed the factory pump that was already showing signs of wear and replaced it with a new Gates Water Pump and a new Gates Thermostat. Gates Water Pumps are recognized in the industry for their durability and superior quality. Every Gates Water Pump is constructed with premium alloy materials and a 100% functional test of seals and bearings along with a 100% leakage test for both the casting and assembled water pump. The quality controlled factory calibration of the Gates Heavy-Duty Thermostat assures accurate heat control under extreme variations in temperature, load and engine vibrations.

Gates Water Pumps are recognized in the industry for their durability and superior quality.

Our factory pump was already showing signs of wear.

Corrosion like this and signs of leakage were a sure indication of impending failure.

The experienced technicians at Ken Imler Diesel Performance replaced the aging the factory pump with a new Gates Heavy-Duty Water Pump.

The quality controlled factory calibration of the Gates Heavy-Duty Thermostat assures accurate heat control under extreme variations in temperature, load and engine vibrations.

With the new Gates Heavy-Duty Water Pump installed, the next step was to replace the serpentine belt, belt tensioners and hoses. See Part 2 of the Cooling System Overhaul.

Finding our way from England where The Turtle V will be shipped to and on through Germany, Switzerland and southwest to Lisbon, Portugal, and then east crossing 26 very different countries all the way to Beijing, China will be a daunting challenge. Thanks to Lonely Planet travel and guidebooks and our Garmin GPS, we at least have a chance of not been lost too many times. Of course, lost is a relevant term. I’ve been lost in a big hotel in Las Vegas. If we know we’re in Turkey, we’re not lost. Maybe temporarily disoriented, but not lost. We’re in Turkey, right?

Lonely Planet has a detailed guidebook for just about any country in the World.

Can you believe it? The microchip on my finger has all of Europe including Turkey, city-by-city and turn-by-turn.

As we travel through 26 countries following the Silk Road, Monika will have her hands full as Chief Navigator. My question: “Are we there yet?”

Today, we are starting a series of stories from Baja California & Chihuahua, Mexico and Western United States previously published in various magazines. Please keep checking the Adventures’ page.

The first one to be published is: Baja Testing The Turtle V

It includes an exciting trip up the spine of Baja to visit century-old ranches, a stop at the Lagoon de San Ignacio to see the calving and mating area of  Giant Grey Whales and an adventure by mule into the depths of the Sierra de San Francisco to camp and explore the amazing cave paintings, some over 10,000 years old. Along the way, we had a cracked frame, a massive blow-out, dined on fresh goat and goat cheese, abalone, fish, and roast pig. Searching all the while for bandits and drug smugglers, we found none. The Turtle V got a good workout and we were reminded of the spectacular surprises this peninsula has to offer if you follow its backroads.

The narrow two-track leading to the abandoned Guadalupe Mission left its share of mesquite branches and scratches on The Turtle V.

Monika is caught sneaking a taste of the still-warm panocha. At this stage of its all-day process, it looked like creamy peanut butter.

 Click here to go directly to Baja Testing The Turtle V

Many people have asked us how we get that 130 pound spare tire up on the back of the truck and how does it stay there. The answer is very manual and quite simple. Rather than use an electric winch that could fail after months of disuse, we use a simple 1-ton manually operated Maasdam Pow’r-Pull. A small receiver on the camper’s roof was made to fit a long draw bar, sort of a cherry picker. A bracket on the side of the camper is used as an anchor point for the Pow’r-Pull. With a cable around the spare tire, it is easily lifted off its hubcentric mount on the back of the truck and lowered to the ground.

Getting the spare tire back up is just as easy. It slips over its hubcentric mount and a corresponding cap fits over the back. A large T-handle screw clamps it securely to the frame around the mount. All components pack neatly in the center storage area on the rear of the camper.

A 1-ton manually operated Maasdam Pow’r-Pull has no problem lifting the 130-pound spare tire and wheel.

A small receiver tube is mounted on top of the camper at the rear and a corresponding drawbar or cherry picker slides into it.

Once the spare tire has been securely positioned on its corresponding hubcentric mount, a threaded T-bar compresses a corresponding hubcap on the back, clamping the wheel against the frame on the back of the truck.

With the spare tire firmly clamped by the screw-in T-bar against the hub and mounting frame, a cable and lock secure the tire.

The Maasdam Pow’r-Pull, sometimes called a cable puller, can be found in most hardware stores and they are ultimately more reliable than an electric winch.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

GARY AND MONIKA

Thanksgiving comes to us out of the prehistoric dimness,
universal to all ages and all faiths.
At whatever straws we must grasp,
there is always a time for gratitude and new beginnings.
J. Robert Moskin

Happy Thanksgiving!

While our new Rickson Truck Wheels were round and true and reversible from front to rear, there was a major problem that should have been taken care of before they were powder coated or certainly before I mounted five new Michelin XZL 335/80R20 tires. These new wheels absolutely had to have valve stems on both sides. We often air our tires up and down two or three times a day, going from pavement to dirt, sand or gravel and back. Better ride and fewer punctures are the results. If the valve stems are on the inside of the wheel, that means crawling under the truck to air down or up. A 90° extension was not the answer. That would create a potential leak point and make it just as difficult to access. We drilled a 5/8” hole in each wheel. Then it was partially broken down to insert the new valve stem. I knew this needed to be done when the wheels were ordered, but Rickson Truck Wheels said they couldn’t do it. Remind me to ask Rickson why. Please don’t ask me why we didn’t do this before we mounted the tires.

A 90° extension was not the answer. That would create a potential leak point and make it just a difficult to access.

We drilled a 5/8” hole in each wheel to insert the new valve stem.

Installing valve stems on both sides of the new wheels was a simple process that should have been done before we mounted the new tires.

For years we had suffered with our Stockton Wheels on The Turtle V. They were never true, and because we had gone from dual rears to singles, the offset was different from front to rear, meaning we could not swap the rear or spare to the front. Rickson Truck Wheels came up with a compromise offset that allows front and rear wheels to interchange just by turning them around. We have never had a real front spare tire. The new Rickson rims are true and round, and powder coated with a matching powder from NIC/Prismatic Powders. Before mounting a set of new Michelin XZL 335/80R20 tires, we installed a new SmarTire pressure and temperature monitoring system. Bob Dickman Tire Center pre-programmed the wireless receiver for the new sensors.

Powder-coated wheels were pre-fit on the truck’s hubs. Being “hub centric”, the fit must be perfect.

Before mounting a set of new Michelin XZL 335/80R20 tires, we installed new sensors for the SmarTire pressure and temperature monitoring system.

Each wheel carries a motion-sensitive Lithium battery-powered sensor that constantly monitors the tires’ pressure and temperature.

The guys at Plaza Tire in Nevada City, CA (530-265-4642) did a super job of mounting and balancing the new rubber, being careful not to disturb the SmarTire sensors.

Using the cool Clever Lever by TSI made the job of installing the new heavy tires and wheels less of a back-breaker. The Clever Lever lifts the tire up and it can be turned on the rollers.

With the new Rickson Wheels, front and rear track in line and all five rims have the same offset, so all tires, front and rear, are now interchangeable.

Back in the days of our 1967 109 Land Rover, (https://www.turtleexpedition.com/vehicles/turtle-i-2/), we had two vents under the windshield. We called that AC. Funny how we’ve become addicted to the luxuries of air conditioning, power steering, power brakes and cruise control over the years. Our AC had been malfunctioning off and on for months and recharging it did not help. After testing and retesting, Browns Valley Auto, Truck & RV Center determined that it was a dead or dying compressor. In the end, it required a new compressor, accumulator, orifice and condenser. Summer temperatures in the deserts of Kazakhstan can reach over 100°F (37°C). AC will certainly be an appreciated luxury.

The compressor was obviously dying so a new one was the only choice. It’s important to prime them with oil before installation.

To obtain the NAPA 24,000-mile/2-year warranty, the accumulator and orifice had to be replaced.

A close look at the orifice showed it was full of metal flakes from the compressor.

Thanks to Fords new common-rail design, the condenser could not be flushed out. It had to be replaced.

A final inspection with a leak tester gave us a clean bill of health and air conditioning that should last for several years.

Driving back from Chico, the traffic was heavy. I stepped on the brake and it went all the way to the floor. Hummm! That’s not good. I managed to limp home and stop with the emergency brake. Turns out there are three brake lines running forward from the master cylinder to an ABC device under the driver’s side headlight. Each of these three main brake lines has a short section of braided steel over rubber as a shock absorber in case of a head-on collision. Good idea, except they all lay on top of each other. 120,000 miles of rubbing caused the top main line to abrade the stainless steel jacket and the rubber inside, unable to withstand the brake fluid pressure, ruptured, gushing like a severed artery.

It was kind of embarrassing to have The Turtle V towed to Ken Imler Diesel Performance (over one hour away) where all three lines were replaced and it was frustrating to see this strange potentially catastrophic problem occur out of the clear blue sky. We can only be thankful that it happened here instead of somewhere in Kazakhstan. Another week delay while parts were special ordered.

Each of the three main brake lines coming from the master cylinder has a short section of braided steel over rubber as a shock absorber in case of a head-on collision.

It was kind of embarrassing to have The Turtle V towed to Ken Imler Diesel Performance where all three lines were replaced.

On an extended expedition like our upcoming Trans-Eurasian Odyssey from Lisbon, Portugal to Shanghia, China, the only thing worse than major health problems would be an engine failure. Even with our Amsoil Dual Filter Bypass system, we need to carry an adequate supply of quality oil for occasional filter changes and normal consumption. Quality synthetic lubricants like the Amsoil SAE 15W-40 Premium Heavy-Duty Diesel & Marine Oil we use is not likely to be found in many of the countries we will drive through. Our expedition camper was designed with a 12-gallon oil reservoir that eliminates bulky oil containers. Quality oil is the lifeblood of our Power Stroke 7.3L engine.

Amsoil SAE 15W-40 Premium Heavy-Duty Diesel & Marine Oil is not likely to be found in many of the countries we will drive through.

Our expedition camper was designed with a 12-gallon oil reservoir.

The Amsoil Dual Filter Bypass system we use allows us to go 10,000 to 15,000 miles safely between primary filter changes.

Oil on tap. Our 12-gallon reservoir eliminates bulky oil containers.