No really- is it the starter?? Graceland to Austin

Driving out through VA- the car was missing some- just short sputters. The next day as we were driving through Tennessee- it lost ignition and started back firing. (note- Surly doesn't like backfires). Cook would put it in neutral, and restart...and we'd keep on going. Unfortunately it kept getting more frequent. So started thep rocess to figure out what exactly was going on. It was quite the process. While driving through TN down I-40 Cook replaced a series of parts, all things that could be causing us to loose ignition. No one was sure exactly what it could be- since it idled great- and drove around the town great too- it was just fast/highway crusing speeds it didn't like. And BTW- we had lost the muffler from a backfire. The hearse is pretty conspicuous- but it is VERY consipcuous without a muffler.

So we changed the points, condensor, cap, rotor, coil. Still didn't work. Spark plug wires, distributor. Not quite. Had to buy a timing light to set the timing. Ran like crap still. Leaving Memphis, we pulled off the highway to double check the spark plug order- and across the street saw Don's Speed Shop- just what we were looking for actually- a shop with a bunch of big old cars out front. This shop was huge- and turns out they are all Don's. It isn't a busniess, just for fun for him now- and most the cars there are his personal collection. Still, he was nice enough to help us out w/ some ideas, since everyone else was stumped about where to go next. So Don and Cook wired directly from the battery to the coil, by passing the wiring at the starter. But that sent too much voltage to the coil and fried the points and ran like crap still- but we didn't loose ignition while driving. We put the previous bought points back in- just how it was... but we were pretty sure itwas at the starter. At the next advance so we could put in a ballast resistor and a switch...which finally fixed it! SO looks like the ORIGINAL ballast resistor went bad. So now- we have a nicely running car- we just have to pop the hood and turn the on/off switch to get it to start/turn off.... which wouldn't be so bad if a bolt on the hood hinge hadnt' sheered off making it not hold itself up anymore...

when we got into Austin we found a muffler shop open even though it was Sunday, and they got us a new muffler in less than 15 min, for fairly cheap. Also- turns out Cook had enough Marriott points for a free stay- so were staying in a super nice hotel and only have to pay the dog fee. and we found a bar that lets us come inside with the dog-can't complain about that either!

Also- the rest areas in Texas we've seen are the nicest we've ever seen! There aren't any '2 hour max parking' and there are security guards all night. The ones we've talked to said that we are more than welcome to sleep in the car and stay as long as we want. The hearse is surprisingly comfortable!

Will update later w/ pics from Graceland/Austin.

Pics!

Mini Graceland in Roanoke, VA.




new parts...




Working on the car at the Graceland campsite.


Graceland Too-
this guy is about an hour south of Graceland. His house is packed with Elvis stuff. It is supposed to be open 24/7 for a tour, just knock. Unfortunately, we got there are it looked like no one was home. The house was crazy looking, and looking in the windows- it was clearly packed. There are accounts of famous people stopping by int he middle of the night, presidents, etc...