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Road Trip
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Author:  dart4life [ Thu Apr 20, 2006 9:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Road Trip
I am going to be picking up a car 1200 mi. from my house with the intentions of driving it home The car is a STOCK 1970 Duster Slant/Auto one owner car with about 90,000 mi. on it. It was an elderly ladys car up untill 2 yrs ago when she quit driving.Always maintained,in really great shape.

For the past 2 years it has been started up and driven once a month.Before I make the trip what do you think I should do to it? New rotor/plugs/cap/belt/hoses/etc....? I am looking for some pointers before I attempt to make this trip? I dont think I want to mess with the points(every time I change a set they burn up on me on a long trip!) But what else should I do?
Author:  grthigpen [ Fri Apr 21, 2006 4:36 am ]
Post subject: 
we used to pick up old cars like that and we would change the belts and hoses and the thermostat and then just head out...with a spare water pump and fuel pump in the trunk....besides that we only lost a couple of water pumps and one fuel pump in doing so have a GREAT trip...GRT
Author:  vynn3 [ Fri Apr 21, 2006 5:48 am ]
Post subject: 
I did this when I bought my Swinger 5 years ago — bought it in Tampa Bay, and drove it back to Dallas.

Load up with TOOLS, a few quarts of oil, a few gallons of water, a can of fix-a-flat, a flashlight, and some tunes to listen to (the sweet music of a slant can get old after 1200 miles). Changing the belts, hoses and t-stat sounds like a good idea, as well as bringing a new water pump, although I didn't.

The thing I forgot that was most pertinent was the PCV valve. Diagnosis has never been my "bag", so I was terrified to find that I was going through several quarts of oil every few hundred miles on the highway. :shock: I just kept stopping for oil at roadside gas stations ($$$$$!) all the way back, until the PCV magically "unstuck" itself in Lousiana.

I went with a buddy of mine and it was an adventure. Reminded me of my younger days. Enjoy!

VM
Author:  '74 Sport [ Fri Apr 21, 2006 6:05 am ]
Post subject: 
When there, you might check the condition and/or levels of the air filter, oil, coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid, and steering fluid (if power). Check the windshield wiper operation, blades, and pump/fluid (you might run into a rain storm on the way back). Get the car running and drive it around to check out brakes, transmission, and all electrical (lights on a trip are good to have). Check the tires to make sure they haven't been plugged a hundred times or are not dry rotted. Make sure you have a good spare tire, jack (properly functioning), and lug wrench of correct size.

For the return trip, take a spare ballast resistor, extra oil (cheaper than buying at a convenience store), jug of water, flashlight, various fuses, jumper cables, and a tool kit.

Good luck on the trip,
Jerry
Author:  sandy in BC [ Fri Apr 21, 2006 6:58 am ]
Post subject: 
I do a lot of miles on road trips.....you would be surprised how few tools I take.

Make sure you are well funded....cards and cash. ( Last month I bought a used auto trans for $200 cash,,,had it installed for $200 cash....in Beatty Nevada...the alternative was a $600 tow and $1800 rebuild)

Id go to the Jiffy Lube before leaving....to grease and oil everything. Take your own filter if you are chosey. Make friends and have a look under and around yerself if possible.

Find out wher the lady had it serviced and pay them a visit...if they are cool , make them the Jiffy Lube

Think about getting AAA (I dont have it ,,,,commercial travel) it will get you out of a remote jam.

A cell phone can be more use in this case than any other.

Take a friend for emotional support.

Drive slow to start and increase speed slowly. Stop and check everything every half hour for 4 hours.

Secondary highways are actually easier on cars than Interstates in my experience.

Keep the tank at least 1/4 full.

If you do encounter trouble...STOP and deal with it....dont try to limp further.

I travel with tons of water from home....both for me and the car.
I like to travel with food from home...makes my tummy happy.

Make sure its fun....if not just ship the thing and save grief and bux.
Author:  dart4life [ Fri Apr 21, 2006 9:32 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks guys,all great tips! Sould be a fun trip.Flying up with one brother and meeting another brother for 3 days of fishing,then driving back with me and my bro. taking turns behind the wheel! Do you guys think that it will be too much to make the trip in one day (about 20 hrs,driving 55 m.p.h) Me and my bro are up for it,I am just not shure if I should ring the car out like that. But it is a slant with only 90,000(almost showroom new :lol: )haha.

thanks again!
Author:  65 dartman [ Sat Apr 22, 2006 3:35 am ]
Post subject: 
Won a 65 Valiant convert slant 3 on the tree on eBay and drove it from NJ to VA (maybe 300 miles - a baby trip compared to a 1200 mile jaunt). The only thing I brought was cash, credit cards and my chase vehicle. The car was pretty regularly driven so after checking all the vitals out before leaving, we gassed up and hit the road. She didn't miss a lick, used no fluids and got 22 MPG at 65MPH. I'd say go for it and enjoy!
Author:  carrigan #3 [ Sat Apr 22, 2006 7:11 am ]
Post subject: 
just took my stock 71 slant on a road trip to tennessee....i'd been driving it for a while so i knew its temperment...only thing i ran into was buying oil every few hundred miles (finally bought a five quart jug somehwere along I-81 in VA...don't know about anyone else's experience, but my car doesn't like hills...so naturally everyone passed me on the way up and i passed them on the way down...
my car was also grandma-kept (original owner) until just last spring


happy Slanting!
Author:  WhaleMstr [ Sat Apr 22, 2006 7:21 am ]
Post subject: 
Hey #3 - way back in the old days! I drove a semi that was extremely underpowered and geared wrong for the hills that I drove in.
I told every body on the CB that I was gonna change my CB handle to "First to hit it, last to get it!" Ran like an SOB to get as much speed as possible to hit the hill and could almost get out and walk up the hill and wait for the load to show up!
Passed everyone on the way down and across to the next hill!
Then watched them all walk away from me on the hill!
Author:  sandy in BC [ Sat Apr 22, 2006 8:03 am ]
Post subject: 
1200 miles in one day is possible......but I bet you break it up. You dont want to end up hating the car right off the bat.

My GF and I went from Delaware to Spokane Wa in 42 hours a couple of years ago. I couldn t even look at the car for a week......75mph

Last year we went to and from PA in 7 days.....5750 miles in 7 days. We went 800 miles a day at 80 MPH ....12-13 hours per day....In a 1973 Suburban.

Once did 1000 miles in 24 hours in the Valaint with 5 people in the car....5 speed 70mph (teens need to eat!)

My advice....unless you have to ,dont set yourself up for a schedule you have trouble making.

PS....you need to drive 80 mph to average 60mph.

at 55mph 1200 miles will take 2 days
Author:  Jon Dahlberg [ Sat Apr 22, 2006 8:18 am ]
Post subject: 
I once did a trip from Orono, Maine back to my house in MA (255 miles) in a little over 3 hours in a 73 Plymouth Fury :twisted:
Author:  sandy in BC [ Sat Apr 22, 2006 8:41 am ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
I once did a trip from Orono, Maine back to my house in MA (255 miles) in a little over 3 hours in a 73 Plymouth Fury
That s not even a day trip....no less a Roadtrip. If you dont have to make a pee stop or gas stop its not a roadtrip.
Author:  dakight [ Sun Apr 23, 2006 2:09 pm ]
Post subject: 
May, 1970... Bremerton, Wa to Medford, OR - 450 miles in 6 hours flat in my 62 Signet.

September before last Wife and I drove from Santa Clara, Ca to Tulsa, OK with only a brief stop for sleep in Kingman, AZ. The 2nd day was a killer, 1048 miles if I remember correctly.
Author:  grthigpen [ Sun Apr 23, 2006 2:25 pm ]
Post subject: 
whe i was a kid we would go from los angeles to north alabama in 36 hours...right at 2000 miles. those days, no speed limit in the western states. it was an iron butt thing even in a car all five of us. in a 63 lincoln continental...later a 67 lincoln and even one time in a truck with us kids in a camper shell on a matress. at least once a year for many years....finally we moved to north alabama......what memories on route 66 and stuckeys was our oasis....haha GRT
Author:  Jeb [ Sun Apr 23, 2006 6:52 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
Hey #3 - way back in the old days! I drove a semi that was extremely underpowered and geared wrong for the hills that I drove in.
I told every body on the CB that I was gonna change my CB handle to "First to hit it, last to get it!" Ran like an SOB to get as much speed as possible to hit the hill and could almost get out and walk up the hill and wait for the load to show up!
Passed everyone on the way down and across to the next hill!
Then watched them all walk away from me on the hill!

You just described my dad's old Mack B-35. 750,00 miles on the old Detroit and it ain't as sprightly as it used to be. We one time drove it Lousiville and we got passed by school buses going up those hills. He would floor it and hit about 90 going down some of those hills and drop down to 40 trying to climb them. Nice getting passed by the same car 10 times in a row. After you go past somebody that many times you felt like you have known them your whole life.

Having the truck run hot three times and backing up traffic for five miles, priceless. :wink:
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