Well nuts...

We went for a ride in the Vegas in large part to measure for ourselves the noise level in the cab from engine and road noise. We both have sound measuring apps on both Samsung phones so getting some data should be easy-peasey. Almost. If you want to make an objective evaluation of sound level while driving by using an app on your phone, you better remember to turn on the damn app!! We were each so involved with learning to use the Google Maps routing function as an experiment we totally lost the bubble! Even without the numbers it was clear we needed some sound deadening.


Well... ok. 90.3 dB is probably an exaggeration. But it's loud!

As an aside, I started using Garmin, Magellan and other marine nav systems in 1988 when they were LORAN-based. GPS was still a USAF-managed research project (I think I recall that it started life as a DARPA project). Now a GPS receiver is in every smart phone and that phone probably has Google Maps. Getting from where you are to where you want to go is easy. The challenge for this Google Maps newbie was to get there via a specific route. Going from Willcox to our park was quick, easy and boring, but going from Wilcox to McNeal to Tombstone to SKP Saguaro Co-op turned out to be a challenge for me. I got it done but now I have no clue how to repeat this triumph of man over tech!

Back to the noise issue...

We have read many times that removing the dog house from the Vegas and lining that engine cover with acoustic insulation should make riding in the Vegas a much more pleasant experience. With the engine within 3 feet of our ears it makes sense. Seemed easy enough to remove thee two 5/16" screws from the floor and 7 #8 wood screws from the wood framing and lift it out. Yeah, right.

The first screw came out ok though it was clear the screw was about 1.5" longer than necessary (literally!). When I went after the second screw I found it was already partially unfastened and frozen to the hidden fastening- I could lift it up about 3/4" and it would just drop back down when I let go. It's never a good sign when someone quits part way thru a project and this time was no different. It appears the screw is either cross-threaded or frozen with corrosion. Neighbor Jan says a product called BreakFree may help but she's in Wyoming and the stuff is locked up in her casita.

Last night we watched a YouTube video by #VANCITY VANLIFE where Chrome was putting his (mostly) restored rust bucket back together in the British Columbia back country after a huge grinding and welding project. The dog house in his 2004 Ford Van was held in place with toggles. Well duh!! That would eliminate the need for whining about screws that are impossible to remove now wouldn't it? Time to search the internet!


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