Austin/San Antonio Area GTG over Holidays?

retmil46 · **Posted:** Thu Dec 13, 2007 3:16 pm

I'm still waiting to see what my friends in TX plan on doing - there's the possibility that they may make a run up to his parents in Missouri for Christmas Day - but it's close to 75% probability I'd say that once again this year I'll be making the trek down to visit them during Christmas week.

They live about 1/2 mile off I-35 in Kyle, about midway between Austin and San Antonio.

If anyone's interested, might be able to schedule a day we'd do a quick meet. If nothing else, just a couple hours to have a beer along with lunch (or a lunch along with beer), compare notes and vehicles and chew the fat, give everyone a chance to put a face along with the names here on the list.

One possibility - I (and the bank) own a lot in the Mystic Shores area up on Canyon Lake. Being a lot owner, I've got one of the pass cards that allows access to the lake park area and it's facilities. If that works out, could have a nice afternoon meeting by the lake.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Thu Dec 13, 2007 4:47 pm

Sounds good to me - I'll be around Austin somewhere - just let me know when you'll be around.

Silverdiesel · **Posted:** Thu Dec 13, 2007 6:51 pm

Oh wow! This could be a starting of something pretty good...
I will be visiting family in San Antonio over Christmas week. The CRD will be taking its first long distance road trip.
Did the oil/filter and 545RFE fluid/pancake and spinon filters and Wix air filter change just the other day in preparation. Going to replace tires this week. I do not think those Goodyear 225's are going to make it.
There are other Liberty CRD fanatics in the SAT area also so they will be seeing this also. Of course gasser L.O.S.T. guys will see the same!
So if something gets planned, please count me in as I will try to make it and Canyon Lake sounds fine, been there countless times.

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:33 pm

Depending on schedule...I will be in SA or Austin

retmil46 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 19, 2007 1:40 pm

Well, talking with my friends, looks like they're not going to be making the trip to Missouri, and we'll be meeting up in TX.

Depending on the weather and any last minute gotcha's, I'm looking at starting out Sunday morning and being at their doorstep Monday afternoon or evening, stopping Sunday night somewhere between Little Rock and Arkadelphia depending on how far I get the first day.

Barring any changes, I'll be going my usual route - I-40 to Little Rock, I-30 to Dallas, and I-35 down to Kyle.

Still have to change out the engine oil, front and rear diffs and transfer case with Amsoil, and change out the antifreeze. Don't look like the airtabs will be here in time, but I've got a plastic cardboard sign begging to be cut up for grill blockers.

As far as how long I'll be there - well, I'd say at least until New Years Eve (following Monday), or possibly longer for a good reason (such as a certain 8 year old begging me to stay another day or two - that boy knows just how to melt "uncle's" heart

), I've got three weeks to play with before having to be back at work Jan 14th.

retmil46 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 23, 2007 2:14 pm

Well, based on the weather, and a few other little incidents that have that little voice in the back of my head telling me to back off and not rush things, I'm going to wait until tomorrow morning to start out. If everything goes well, I should be in Kyle Tuesday afternoon (Christmas Day).

Anyone wants to try and get ahold of me, either drop a line here on LOST (my friends have a computer and internet access), or my cell phone is 704-682-2127.

Still looking at a return somewhere around New Year's.

retmil46 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 26, 2007 1:41 pm

Made it into Kyle yesterday about 3:30 in the afternoon.

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Wed Dec 26, 2007 4:35 pm

Ahh Kyle Texas...nice prison view form IH35... :lol:

Did you put on AirTabs before your trip?

retmil46 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 28, 2007 1:44 am

Didn't get the airtabs put on before coming down - figured it would be warmer down here - but brought them along in the back.

Winter fuel definitely cut down on fuel mileage. It doesn't like drinking kerosene.

Had 4 grille blockers installed, never saw temps go above 172 even when I hit close to 60 F temps. Definitely helped Christmas morning in Arkansas when it was down around freezing - engine was up to temp long before the tranny was ready to play and go into overdrive.

Glad I had the Cooper 245/70's put on before the trip. There were some sections of I-30 in Arkansas that were so bad I ran with the foglights on just to have enough warning to avoid the worst potholes - it would have made lunchmeat of the Goodyears but the Coopers handled them without any problem.

Did have one OMG moment - about 30 miles south of Dallas, 70 mph on cruise, there was a loud bang, the tranny dropped out of gear and lockup, and engine rpm dropped to idle. Gave it throttle and once rpms were back up it went back into gear and lockup, and cruise reengaged without a problem.

I'd noticed a few times when tapping the accel button to bump it up 2 mph, it only went up 1 mph, and when I gave it a second tap, it'd jump up 3 mph. I called my tranny guru back in NC and described what had been happening, including dropping out of gear. He said it sounds like the speed sensor on the tranny output (not the one on the rear diff) is putting out a weak or erratic signal - that would explain both the screwy cruise control and dropping out of gear.

retmil46 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 28, 2007 1:44 am

Didn't get the airtabs put on before coming down - figured it would be warmer down here - but brought them along in the back.

Winter fuel definitely cut down on fuel mileage. It doesn't like drinking kerosene.

Had 4 grille blockers installed, never saw temps go above 172 even when I hit close to 60 F temps. Definitely helped Christmas morning in Arkansas when it was down around freezing - engine was up to temp long before the tranny was ready to play and go into overdrive.

Glad I had the Cooper 245/70's put on before the trip. There were some sections of I-30 in Arkansas that were so bad I ran with the foglights on just to have enough warning to avoid the worst potholes - it would have made lunchmeat of the Goodyears but the Coopers handled them without any problem.

Did have one OMG moment - about 30 miles south of Dallas, 70 mph on cruise, there was a loud bang, the tranny dropped out of gear and lockup, and engine rpm dropped to idle. Gave it throttle and once rpms were back up it went back into gear and lockup, and cruise reengaged without a problem.

I'd noticed a few times when tapping the accel button to bump it up 2 mph, it only went up 1 mph, and when I gave it a second tap, it'd jump up 3 mph. I called my tranny guru back in NC and described what had been happening, including dropping out of gear. He said it sounds like the speed sensor on the tranny output (not the one on the rear diff) is putting out a weak or erratic signal - that would explain both the screwy cruise control and dropping out of gear.

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Fri Dec 28, 2007 6:45 am

Well we know how accurate the OEM speedos are

Man I want the Suncoast stuff. Must wait until spring but my tranny is working just fine even OEM so I can't complain.

retmil46 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 28, 2007 12:31 pm

DarbyWalters wrote:

Well we know how accurate the OEM speedos are

Man I want the Suncoast stuff. Must wait until spring but my tranny is working just fine even OEM so I can't complain.

Well, if we can arrange a meet, you can get the chance to "try before you buy" so to speak - I've not only got the Suncoast but the Inmotion stage II tune as well, running bypass jumpers/ORM right now.

I had been concerned that the 245/70's would adversely affect fuel mileage. But compared to the two previous Christmas trips down here, and considering that it was rather much colder this time around, it actually averaged at least equal to, and in some instances better, fuel mileage.

Austin/San Antonio Area GTG over Holidays?

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