I remember you guys planing a trip , this might conflict with some other plans, Me and RIck might be heading to Hollister in morning on the 1st, we plan stay there till sunday.

Not sure if you guys would be intrested in going there instead? We talked to the ranger station up there and they said normaly there not full during the week and weekend of newyears.

Just a thought, for whatever reason we cancel that, I will try make it to Frank Raines

The problem i have with hollister is that we've all been there a bunch of times. Hardly anyone has been to frank raines. I've only seen a very small part of it myself. The whole cow mountain trip was interesting because it wasn't hollister all over again.
Don't get me wrong... Hollister Hills is nice. We just know it a little too well to go there rather than someplace new that's equally close for most and especially, closer for us central valley guys.

Ray,
I'' be there - wasn't sure that I would be repaired in time. It's done now - Valve body rebuild and Rear brake shoes split in 1/2 and melted the wheel cyls.
Cost $400.00 + remove tramsmission oil from radiator into its own cooler #300.00. So thats my carnage from Cow Mountian. I'll bring my Monty, F350, and ATV's

What valve body? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" />
And what in the world happened with your rear brakes? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" />

As for the tranny cooler being moved out of the engine radiator, I have to say that doing that merely hides the symptoms IMHO. It shouldn't overheat unless something else is wrong but maybe I'm missing something??

Sounds like someone lost their marbles (or at least misplaced them) before putting the valve body back on during the last tranny buildup.
Did they replace any soleniods too? What about the throttle valve cable? What was the hang-up?

A lot of High performance Auto Transmission experts recommend this. Having a dedicated Transmission cooler is a good move IMHO. Especially if running big tires and crawling. I'll be doing the same soon with the 89.

Seals and O rings in the transmission valve body harden with age, causing erratic shifting, hense, the rebuild.

OK, just a few days away. Do we still have the same crew going? Anyone else going... or maybe dropping out?

Let me know via a forum PM for now. My cell phone died on me this past weekend <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> so I'll need to get a replacement hopefully this week before the trip. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Phone Update: After a battery removal and re-insertion, the phone works again!! I guess it needed to be hard booted like computers sometimes do. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Getting there...

After getting a call from Russell this morning where he mentioned that he thought we'd be taking 580 E rather than 152 E, I figured I'd better doublecheck the directions now so I can determine the best way to get there. You're right Russell! We're taking 580E to get there.

I think a good meet up point for us San Jose/S.Bay folks will be the Chevron station just off 880 and Automall Parkway at 7:30am. It's only an hour to the park but I know we'll probably have some "straggling" going on.

We can alternatively meet up on 580 E. I recall one of the exits just past pleasanton area has a Starbucks there. What do you all think?

Am open to other suggestions as well so chime in.

Directions:
580 East to I-5 South (36.9 mi from the 680/580 interchange)
I-5 South to Sperry Ave/Diablo Grande Pkwy Exit in Patterson (12 mi)
R @ Del Puerto Canyon Rd for 16.5 miles to the OHV area.

Oh, FWIW, Diablo Grande Pkwy is off of Del Puerto Canyon Rd but the exit is for Diablo Grande Pkwy. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Here's a link with an overview of the route from the Patterson Exit (Sperry Ave / Del Puerto Canyon Rd exit) to the OHV park (may need to zoom out).

For those unaware, there is a $5 entrance fee. You can sleep overnight if you'd like however the camping is 1st come / 1st serve (no reservations). If you have an RV, they do have full hookups but I'm not sure what the cost is to camp overnight.

Like Cow Mountain, these trails are shared with bikes, quads, buggies, and 4x4's.

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Current Attendees...
Off-Roader
GrassCat
52Degrees
BlossomCA
GhostRaider (?)
Cap510 (?)
BS
Mark (guy w/ jeep and trailer from our recent sierras trip)
2-3 of his buddies in their jeeps
Greg (my buddy) with his vehicle (4WD SUV)
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

I'll have my typical entourage plus my wife (if i promise not to make her cry with scary obstacles/hills). I also may have 1 or 2 locals like the last hollister run i went on. Hopefully we can make them cry.
I started to suggest that maybe teri could ride with joanna on the scary stuff, but i don't think that would help at all. Plus, she wouldn't be spending time with me and the boys, we just wouldn't have to listen to her scream. Har-har.

I talk to Ray and he/we decided to meet at 8 o'clock in the morning. We will meet at the Chevron station off of 880 and the Auto Mall Parkway.

We will arrive at Frank Raines OHV Park at 9 o'clock, says Ray. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

See you there and if you need more information contact Ray, I'm just the messenger. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />