Mount St Helens II - what would you guys do w/ the 80?

[IdahoDoug]

I live over 300 miles from Mount St. Helens, but when it last blew over a decade ago the ash was nearly a foot deep here. People talk about how the abrasive ash destroyed engines by the tens of thousands. Being a bit on the paranoid/overprepared side of life, I've kept a couple old air filters around just in case it ever happened again. If you're reading the news, you'll see there's a marked increase in activity at the ol' blowhole.

So, what would you guys do in terms of prep to drive your 80 through this nasty stuff? I'm assuming it will not be like last time, which literally turned day into night for a few days, but will merely cause notable grit everywhere. This is simply because I can't see it happening again like that, and if it does I will not be here to deal with it as I'll take the family back East for a while.

My thinking was to use the three spares in a cycle of using one while cleaning the other two, and emptying the dust cup. I understand a used paper filter actually filters better than a new one, so I'd keep the new one until it was over. Over may be a misnomer, because for weeks afterward the stuff will still be kicked up from vehicle travel and winds.

Anyhow, any tricks I could use that perhaps some of you guys with military or desert travel experience have seen used in extreme grit situations?

Thanks,

DougM

 

[valentine]

I wonder how the "pre filters" would do that you can get for the top of the snorkels?

Panty hose over the air cleaner inlet?


I'm only about 30 miles away from the mountain. I guess last time most of the blast went up and over and missed Vancouver.

I was living in Spokane at the time, and I know what you mean by getting dark!

Oh, they had a FJ 60 in dante's peak and it did ok, so I wouldn't worry if I were you....

Nick

 

[IdahoDoug]

Ironically, Dante's Peak was filmed about 30 miles from here. I happened across the location where they were preparing to film the sequence in which the Suburban gets washed downstream. The truck was rigged to float well with 55gal drums and such and a heavy cable across the stream to help control it.

The 80's intake is not accessible to cover with something, as its sheltered in the right inner fender.
DougM

 

[e9999]

Keep your panty hose on, Doug, none of that stuff...!

What I would do with the 80 if Helen blew up would be to sleep under it!

E

 

[robbie]

when redoubt(I think) went off in the early 90's across from anchorage i was leaving ak for school. I found some thick sytnethic shammies to act as a pre filter. it worked well with a little power loss, but no engine damage. I had just rebuilt the engine that was in the 4 runner and did not wanted it screwed up by the ash. if you are willing to put up with a little power loss i would find some type of pre filter material so the filter does not get cloged and then suck some ash through a weak point any where there is one. later robbie

 

[Trunk Monkey]

I'd probably remove the intake in the fender and hose clamp additional filtering material over the intake directly on the air cleaner.

And I'd also buy a couple of the good dust masks and throw them in the truck.

 

[DRTDuck]

install snorkle with pre-filter

 

[reffug]

Go back east for a couple of weeks and wait for the shizz to go away.

 

[cruiserdan]

Doug,


You are aging there tater, you are starting to decade-shift a bit...


It was 23 years ago. At that time Larry had a store in Spokane and we shipped them EVERY air filter we had in stock.

 

[ginericLC]

HMMM! wonder if a destroyed motor is considered comprehesive on my insurance under these circumstances? Would love to replace my aging 3FE.

This could actually be a good use for a K and N filter. Get one of the tube bolt on ones and bolt it to the intake tube on your canister air filter housing. It is going to be a PITA (I hate reaching into the fender from in the engine bay) but it should fit if you remove the tube going into your inner fender. You can buy the K and Ns in different sizes and shapes and with the outlets centered and offset. Look through there catalogue and do some measurements. I bought one years ago for a Honda I autocrossed and just the filter was like $30 so not too bad.

I'd also cover your heater/AC intakes with some foam. The diff valves etc... should be OK.

 

[mabrodis]

HMMM! wonder if a destroyed motor is considered comprehesive on my insurance under these circumstances?

I would say yes, as long as you have full coverage on your vehicle (which is comprehensive, so you probably do). You'd still have any deductible apply however, but I don't think this would be any different than if your vehicle was hit by actual rocks from a landslide or something, in either case it's not your fault, it's just something that happened. To claim a engine though you'd have to somehow prove (or have a shop diagnose this) the engine was shot and needed a full rebuild. If your deductible was low this might be worth it (comprehensive claims can NOT raise your insurance rate in Colorado atleast, since by definition they are not your fault, accident claims can raise your rates), but if you have a $1K deductible like me, not as advantageous...

Good Luck...

 

[Safado]

install snorkle with pre-filter

Ditto!

 

[landtank]

Just park the damn thing and get a rental for a few days while the dust settles.

 

[Tooth Fairy]

It is a pretty good excuse to get the snorkle. Even if it doesn't work it could be argued effectively with a doubting spouse.

 

[cruiserdan]

Beware of "betterment" issues when dealing with insurance. They will argue that an old motor replaced by a "new one" is pro-rated.

 

[corbs]

Beware of "betterment" issues when dealing with insurance. They will argue that an old motor replaced by a "new one" is pro-rated.

Also check your policy exclusions. Many homeowner policies exclude volcanic activity. In Hawaii some claims from homeowners whose homes were destroyed by lava flows were denied because of this. So everyone was hoping & waiting (with video cameras) that their homes would catch on fire before the lava hit it, so that it would be a Fire Damage claim instead, and thus could collect on their insurance.

Definitely not a direct example, but just goes to show how specific the exclusions can be.

 

[Desertmaster]

evacuate before it blows up

 

[cary]

I'll second the idea of the pulling the intake tube and using a large prefilter like the desert race guys use. Picking up some warm engine compartment air for a few days won't hurt anything. I think the big brand of foam pre-filters used to be from Uni.

Cary

 

[Beowulf]

I'm with Rick. If it were me, I would cover it if outside and keep it in the garage if possible. Seal up the garage as best you can then get a rental back east and drive it back to Idaho. If you get the weekly rate you can drive it for a month until everything is cleaned up.

-B-

 

[Klunky Chris]

woah!
I just realized what was happening.
USGS report

I also just realized my mum is only 150 miles away in Waldport OR

she's on the road driving truck gawd knows where though...