The Big Cross-Country Trek

[paizao99]

Haven't been on here in awhile because my '64 200 has been running incredibly well. Changed out the Stromberg with a Carter and put in a Pertronix unit and it is smooth.
I am moving to Utah to do some graduate program at a college. It is roughly 900 miles from Dickinson, ND to Provo, UT. We are going to drive down this Saturday with a small load. I am going to drive the '64 and my wife will follow in our minivan. It will have some lumber in the back, but not too much as I want to keep the load light. I've changed the oil and checked the antifreeze. The brakes will be inspected this week. Changed the rear shocks this weekend and will do the fronts this week. I also shot some grease in the steering fittings. Again, the truck is running really well, but I am always concerned about some unforeseen problems on the side of the highway in the middle of nowhere. Any suggestions of things I should do or be on the lookout for? Thank you for the advice in advance.

[FredM]

Take a tow bar so when the van breaks you can tow it the rest of the way

[Hobcobble]

Haven't been on here in awhile because my '64 200 has been running incredibly well. Changed out the Stromberg with a Carter and put in a Pertronix unit and it is smooth.
I am moving to Utah to do some graduate program at a college. It is roughly 900 miles from Dickinson, ND to Provo, UT. We are going to drive down this Saturday with a small load. I am going to drive the '64 and my wife will follow in our minivan. It will have some lumber in the back, but not too much as I want to keep the load light. I've changed the oil and checked the antifreeze. The brakes will be inspected this week. Changed the rear shocks this weekend and will do the fronts this week. I also shot some grease in the steering fittings. Again, the truck is running really well, but I am always concerned about some unforeseen problems on the side of the highway in the middle of nowhere. Any suggestions of things I should do or be on the lookout for? Thank you for the advice in advance.

Take a spare ballast resistor and voltage regulator with you.
John

[digdoug]

Maybe check your belts and hoses...I am a "it aint broke dont fix it" kind of guy,but hard,cracked rubber... I like to be on the safe side.

[hampstead38]

I'll second the motion on the belts and hoses... they wait for a hot, long pull to fail.

[Nuthinbutmopar]

Take a spare ballast resistor and voltage regulator with you.
John

Any Mopar with a ballast resistor should have a spare in the glove box, always. The first thing I bought my wife, before we even went on a date, was a spare ballast for her Duster...

[plydus340]

Take a tow bar so when the van breaks you can tow it the rest of the way

[cudaboy]

The National Street Rod Assn used to have (and may still have) something called "The Fellow Pages" book with names and ph. no.'s of members that are willing to help fellow members when traveling and running into trouble. If you break down, whip out your book and look up someone in that area. I always thought that was a great idea. Maybe some sweptliners that are near your route could offer that. I know I would..but I doubt your going by way of Alabama !! Good luck with your trip.

[paizao99]

Thank you all for your comments. I appreciate Cuda offering to help. Almost makes me think to jump on down south for this road trip.
Purchased the ballast resistor and voltage regulator, but one question: how will I know when to change out the voltage regulator or ballast resistor? Will the truck simply stop running?

[demulsion]

Purchased the ballast resistor and voltage regulator, but one question: how will I know when to change out the voltage regulator or ballast resistor? Will the truck simply stop running?

I had a voltage regulator go out on my cross country trip in my '76 Dart this spring. I smelled cow pasture when there wasn't one around, so I investigated once I stopped for gas. Popped the hood, and my battery was steaming like a tea kettle! (I guess it didn't like getting 18+ volts for a few hours?) Of course, if my amp gage in the instrument cluster actually worked, I would have been able to see it overcharging before I boiled the battery... As for the ballast resistor, the truck won't start. I think old rigs are great for cross country trips; not much can go wrong, because there's not much to 'em. A simple tool kit, and an odd collection of bailing wire, electrical tape, hose clamps, etc. is my roadside emergency kit.

[paizao99]

Would like to thank everyone that made a comment/suggestion, especially Hobcobble. I needed the voltage regulator 60 miles west of Salt Lake City. The only other problem experienced was in Casper, WY. I had a rubber washer on the oil filter cannister bolt that melted and spewed oil onto the muffler. Smelt it burning immediately, drove another ten miles to get to town, found the part (this was the hardest to do), changed it, added 5 quarts, and had no problems after. It was a moronic move putting the rubber washer on in the first place, but learned my lesson. Have not added how much in gas we spent, but saw a lot of gas stations on the 850 mile journey. Also, decided to name the truck. It took a year and I knew that one would eventually come. One can't rush these things, right? His name is GUS. My wife immediately liked it and then I told her what it stood for: Got to Utah Slowly.
Thanks again for the help and suggestions. Changing the voltage regulator could have been a real hassle. No towns within 50 miles and who knows if they would have had the part, or been open on a Sunday! Instead it took, literally, five minutes to swap out and on our way. Thank you.

[demulsion]

Sweet! Glad to hear you made it safely.

[Hobcobble]

Would like to thank everyone that made a comment/suggestion, especially Hobcobble. I needed the voltage regulator 60 miles west of Salt Lake City. The only other problem experienced was in Casper, WY. I had a rubber washer on the oil filter cannister bolt that melted and spewed oil onto the muffler. Smelt it burning immediately, drove another ten miles to get to town, found the part (this was the hardest to do), changed it, added 5 quarts, and had no problems after. It was a moronic move putting the rubber washer on in the first place, but learned my lesson. Have not added how much in gas we spent, but saw a lot of gas stations on the 850 mile journey. Also, decided to name the truck. It took a year and I knew that one would eventually come. One can't rush these things, right? His name is GUS. My wife immediately liked it and then I told her what it stood for: Got to Utah Slowly.
Thanks again for the help and suggestions. Changing the voltage regulator could have been a real hassle. No towns within 50 miles and who knows if they would have had the part, or been open on a Sunday! Instead it took, literally, five minutes to swap out and on our way. Thank you.

That sounds like it was a very hassle free journey.
John

[elacruze]

Why is it that everything breaks or blows between Saturday 8pm and Sunday noon?

[OregonDodgeboy]

Also, decided to name the truck. It took a year and I knew that one would eventually come. One can't rush these things, right? His name is GUS. My wife immediately liked it and then I told her what it stood for: Got to Utah Slowly.

Now that's just DAMN FUNNY! I don't care who you are!