On September 25, 2022 we drove up to Fresno to pick up my Dad who was very anxious to ride in our nearly completed car.  Remember, he came down in July, but the car wouldn’t start on the old magneto – so we only got a photo op – no actual driving involved. We had a nice visit with my sisters and headed home the next day.   Dad & I worked a bit on adjusting the brakes and worried about the valve chamber plug leaks in preparation for a test drive.

Dad applies brake pressure and I check adjustment.

Then we were set for a test ride.

Testing for water and other leaks before a test ride.

Pop is ready to GO!

YIPEE!

Over the next couple of days we found out that the Gano water filter was catching enough goop to immediately clog up and cause poor circulation and overheating. So, we removed it and put a section of straight pipe in its place. As of the date of this writing, we have yet to have an overheating issue with the Gano filter gone. I may decide to put it back in simply to clear gunk out of the system — but only for short periods and no long journeys.

Our trip on October 1, 2022 was 21 miles up and down the coast with a top speed of 40 mph.  That evening I added some new water pump packing material to slow the leak on the water pump shaft.

The next day we went on an even longer ride, 26 miles down the coast and back. The car is running remarkably good. It got warm once while idling, but otherwise stayed cool. Everyone was having a blast. Especially – Pop.

Janet, Tori, Pop, Craig & Chris visit the Smith’s in Cardiff.

On October 3, 2022, my sister, Mindy, came down from Fresno to retrieve Pop, but took her inaugural tour in the Michigan before driving the 6 hours back north.

Sister Mindy takes her first ride in the Michigan.

Generally speaking the car is running pretty good. It goes — just like a real car.   But it doesn’t like to stop. Yeah…. it’s back to looking at the brakes.