91 replies to this topic

[John D]

Your particular dual tank setup is class. I had one of those a while back, the most convenient fuel setup I ever owned. Does not work well with fuel injection, which is a shame. You will have to install a high pressure pump in each gas tank with switches, valves, return lines, etc. Challenging.

GM made a throttle body injection (TBI) setup for your Chevy’s body style. The standard transmission controller would serve your needs and would not have to know anything about your 700R4 (non electronic overdrive). The General Motors TBI for your motor is cheap, plentiful and easy to work on. I have a later model TBI on my 350 in an 88 Chevy body with a NV3500 5 speed. It is great in the mountains and gets 20+ MPG. Funny thing, it actually gets better mileage in the mountains. Best part is the TBI makes the engine last for ever. Interesting wiring job to make the switch.

Looking for more of your great trip with pictures!

[buzzman]

John D,

Uhmm...I may have to look into a GM TBI someday if they are cheap and simple to install.

Thanks for the tip.

[buzzman]

When we left FWC, we headed toward Lake Tahoe. The weather was good and Stan recommended Hwy 50. Good choice. It was a very scenic road with lots of pullouts along the way to stop and enjoy the views.

We left the flatness of central CA near Sacramento


...and we were shortly in the mountains


One of the turn outs along hwy 50. The South Fork American R.




We followed a side road a little way into the Eldorado NF to have a picnic.


FWC in Eldorado NF


After a little more travel on Hwy 50, we came around a bend in the road to view this. In the distance...South end of Lake Tahoe and the airport.


Once again it was late afternoon and we needed to find a place to camp. Most of the campgrounds were closed for the season. We stopped in at the USFS visitor center and they told us about some free camping at a site called Big Meadow along Hwy 89. We checked it out and it was pretty nice.

There were mainly tent sites here in this campground, but we found a level place on a wide spot in the road that worked well. There were bear boxes nearby each camp site...but no bears.


Another view of our camp site


The view from our camp site. The Tahoe Rim Trail runs through the campground. We met a couple guys who were on their mountain bikes and were planning to ride up to that peak and back down the other side on a section of the trail called "Mr. Toad's wild ride". They definitely had more energy than I and Sherri had!

[craig333]

Great report so far. I had an 85 chevy like yours with a 454 and a full size camper. What inspired me to the dodge and the fwc.

[John D]

GF and I were on the California Zephyr and came east along the North Fork fo the American River about September 1st, 2008. The train is old school, a ticket on a sleeping car was about $900 from Oakland to Chicago, including meals. We got off the train in Memphis and took a Greyhound to Huntspatch.

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[DLN]

buzz,

Now you're getting into our home territory, hope you have some time to spend around Lake Tahoe, it would be well worth it. Best of Luck.

[buzzman]

John D.,

I have never heard of the California Zypher. Sounds like a fun thing to do. I must put it on the list.

DLN...my Tahoe report is next. A most beautiful place.

On with the report: After our night at the Big Meadow CG, we drove around the Lake in a clockwise direction. We spent most of the day just taking in the sites. Except for a thin haze, it was an almost perfect weather day. And it was off-season, so there wasn't much traffic anywhere we went.

Emerald Bay. If you look close you can see a small stone building on he peak of the island, the name of which escapes me now.


Emerald Bay. A most beautiful place.


A shot from the top of the "rock" at Emerald Bay


Do we look like a couple tourists or what?


Some of the color along the Lake


We stopped to have lunch on the end of this pier.


Shoreline on the Nevada side of the Lake. I think this was taken at Mineral Point overlook.


Another shot on the Nevada side


One of the tunnels on the NV side


This was my first visit to Lake Tahoe and I hope to come back again. I couldn't afford to live around here, but it sure is a very pretty place to visit. My pictures do not entirely capture the beauty.

[Jack]

I has become apparent to me that you are not posting from home.

Are you posting from hot spots? Do you have a wireless broadband card/modem? If so whose and what kind of coverage do you find? Satellite?? Other????

[DLN]

Very nice shots buzz, all the views very familiar. We've been in this area for 30 plus years and never grow tired of the beauty of Lake Tahoe. I'm glad you caught good weather in the off season to enjoy it. Your reports and photos have been great, keep 'em coming.

[silverstriketim]

Up until about 3 years ago I lived and worked in S. Lake Tahoe on the Nevada side, 15+ years I now live in Minden Nv. about 30 mins from the lake and still never tire of the beauty, the tea house on Fannette island in Emerald bay is part of the Vikingsholm castle a park you can tour. the tunnel is called Cave Rock.