Driving Classic Cars - MORE Road Tripping For Beginners
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- Опубліковано 15 вер 2024
- Getting yourself and your car prepared for that cross country ride begins with having the right knowledge. Here are a couple of key items nobody with an old car should be without.
When you're 2hrs into a 4 hour drive. You lose oil pressure and you start hearing a rod knock it's a good thing if you brought some good music to play on your stereo. So you can keep on driving in peace.
Had a '56 Chevy 210 w/a 235 6 that had a piston that would start slapping. Kept a case of bulk oil on the back seat. Finally had it sleeved, then fell asleep at the wheel.
Yeah you don't dare pull over at the point because if you do your screwed.
cash, because the most important item you need is the one you didn't take.
So true. Cash is king!
Great, but all too often parts for older cars aren't readily available at your local parts store.
@@jimanastasio192 no but you can't buy a hotel room with a pair of vise grips
Almost every MOPAR owner knows that any type of travel without an extra BALLAST RESISTOR is actually looking for trouble. my motto always has been ,, failure to plan is a plan too fail.
I have enjoyed many a trip to the east coast here in CANADA with various type of MOPAR classic cars. Presently living in my vintage 74 DODGE powered 28 foot CLASS A MOTOR HOME . From Ontario Canada I travel to Nova Scotia and stay from May to October . Usually attend car shows and swap meets but due to COVID this year these things are not possible.
That brought back memory's for me, I drove down to North Carolina from Revere Massachusetts in 1986 with a friend of mine in an 18 Wheeler to pick up a Olds 442.Driving it back the water pump let go in Jersey. I didn't have AAA back then or would it even matter but I called my Dad and he came to tow me with his new Chevy G20 3/4 Van with a tow bar. My Dad showed up with a Samurai sword in the van for a weapon just in case, {It was Jersey} He was a Antique Dealer back then .Man I Miss my Dad.
Yep Oldsmoble water pumps are far & few between for the 64 to 69 years. If your driving a old Olds ( witch I do ) there had better be 2 NEW pumps with gaskets in the trunk !
Nice story about your Dad. Dad's (and Moms) are great!
Dad to the rescue, nothing better than Dear Old Dad, God Bless him.
I keep a moving blanket/pad in case I need to lay over a hot fender or on the ground for a repair. Asphalt can hit 180 in Arizona. Metal will burn you quick.
Amen to that...I’ve had to use the floor mats or trunk mat out of a car to deal with repairs in the heat or dealing with snow chains in heavy snow or in the dark.
No argument. I remember having a yellow shirt turn black one summer, as I helped a mate change the rear axle in his '68 Toyota Corona. Hot sun damn near melted the road.
Essential! Even in wet or cold conditions a good look under the car can be the difference
Very good idea! Thanks for the tip
The new car 300 page owners manuals have only 10 pages of information and 290 pages of warnings.
Each one of those warnings says something. They say "Someone was stupid enough to hurt themselves doing this, and then sued us for they're stupidity". So, now we have to warn you about how stupid people sued us in the past....and NOW because we have put a warning for you to not be stupid, you CAN'T sue us, when you are.
In 50 different languages.
@@LeftyLucyRightyTyty they should put those warnings in the back, so you can rip them out all at once
My 1971 dodge challenger owners handbook encourages the driver to familiarize oneself with the way the car behaves after loss of power steering and brakes by instructing the reader to drive the car on the road, not in heavy traffic and turn off the ignition to sense the heavier steering and almost non existent brakes. It was a different world then. What happened?
@@56redjets God invented lawyers.
The one item I would bring is Tony. I would feel safer having this intelligent guy then hauling a part store with me
I'll need a sober driver. Lol
Ha ha, instead of phone-a-friend, It’s phone-a-Tony, always on hand for help! Btw, love the Fox-body in your avatar, @nathanyork
Get in the trunk bait him with tobacco
aaron glass ha ha, that’s funny!
Good pair of vicegrips, has saved my butt more than once.
I had a throttle cable ball come off the end of the cable 200 miles from home at midnight ! , was lucky to have a pair of needle noise Vise Gripes to clamp on the end. worked !
One "breakdown box" item would be several feet of rubber fuel line and requisite clamps. This can be used for many temporary repairs such as automatic transmission cooler lines, fuel lines or even placed over cracked hydraulic lines as a "limp home" fix.
Been there, done that a couple times. People can laugh, but it works!
Unc Tony, my one item to take on a road trip: a Good Flashlight. As you know the lesser god Murphy always strikes after dark.
Great suggestion, before the days of phones with inbuilt lights, lucky i had a torch to reset the points in the distributor otherwise it wouldve been a long walk.
www.ebay.com/itm/333680290799 Best $20 I've ever spent, it does not leave my side. Not just because of the car, I use this damn near every day.
Hey now lol .
The ONE important item in my box I would have?
A good floor jack. The cars usually came with bumper jacks. And if you e ever used one, you know why they suck.
Tony-So glad to hear someone speak about these things. My dad was a mechanic for 33 years. He grew up driving these “classics” when they were new cars. When I got my first car in 1993, I had a 1973 Buick Century. It was a beater, but it was solid and reliable.
The key? Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance.
Change the oil every 3000 miles. While you’re under there, look over the suspension. Look over the fuel lines. Look over the brakes and suspension.
My dad and I ditched the points ignition system in favor of an HEI from a ‘76 Buick. Tune ups every 40,000 miles instead of every 20,000.
It was a 20 year old car at that time with 100,000 miles. Once a week, check the fluids (usually while filling up the tank). I kept a milk crate with a quart of oil, antifreeze, brake fluid, trans fluid and wiper fluid in the trunk. Along with a basic set of tools. Even hung onto a couple of old spark plug wires that would get me by if I needed it (happened more than once) and a can of WD40 for really damp mornings (or after going through the car wash😂) so I could spray the plug wires if needed and get it started easily.
Never failed me-and I do a lot of the same on my newer cars-it’s how I found a torn up cv axle on my 05 focus while doing an oil change.
Italian tool box-Duct tape! Can hold parts on, temporarily repair hoses, keep hood, door trunk closed, seal windshield leaks :) best wishes tony.
And a roll of bailing wire just in case!
On a GM HEI car, back up ignition module and coil. Left me stranded requiring a tow home. Easy change on the side of the road 👍
So many people that has happen to the ignition module takes a dump and that's the good thing about points they will always get you home HEI won't unless you have a spare module or distributor. I carry a whole distributor and electric ignition box just in case
I always tow a trailer with every part of the car except the body and interior.
I keep an hei module b/c my vehicle has electronic advance control (7-pin module), never have needed it but it's in the glove box anyway. Make sure to carry the correct one.
@silverbird58 most common problem with hei is pickup coil wires broken due to vacuum advance the wires break from moving back and forth for decades.
MSD sells a good one with an adjustable rev limiter. Had one in my ford 302 with gm HEI. Also used GMs 1 wire alternator on that car.
10 WR Vice Grips !!! The versatility of this tool is unmatched . I have driven junk since 1973 , starting with a 53 Chevy flat bed . It is impossible to count how many times I have broken down. It was a way of life . Vice Grip 10 WR has a better chance of getting you home than any other tool I know of.
I agree that the service manual should the the FIRST item you buy for your classic car.
One thing every Mopar owner should have is a ballast resistor!
Why? Just hot wire it was a jumper.
@Flavios Marcianos Why did a 1966 car have a spare ??? The Chrysler electronic ignition didn't come out until 1972 on some models and 1973 corporate wide. The car may have had a newer engine installed.
@Flavios Marcianos I understand that it was supposed to be a joke but if you are a knowledgeable classic Mopar driver it makes the person seem really stupid because the car mentioned DOESN'T HAVE a ballast resistor. That is unless it has a engine that is several years newer than 1966 like I stated in my last post. Now if the car would have been a 1976 model I would absolutely agree. My family carried at least 2 spares in every one of our Chrysler Corp. cars in the 1970's through the 1990's when the last one was scrapped.
@Flavios Marcianos Hey dude, I am not knocking the guy for having a fast and good looking car. I am simply stating that ANY fan of older Chrysler cars would be really insulted by the car owner pulling that trick. He might have a really beefed up motor that screams like the devil, but if it truly is a model year 1966 engine, the owner knows full well it DIDN'T HAVE electronic ignition. If he has a newer engine or converted it to factory electronic ignition ( which is totally idiotic!!! ) than I can get the joke. If he was stupid enough to convert to FACTORY electronic ignition, than he should have gone full tilt and put in a FACTORY 1982 Imperial EFI system in the car. Anyone who is a TRUE MOPAR FAN knows what I am referring to!!!!! The ABSOLUTE WORST FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM EVER DEVISED !!!!
@@charleskosyjana1295 the resistor is to reduce voltage to your points,gauges,horn, ect. They have been around since the battery.
The “doomsday part”. It’s the one thing that will stop your car in its tracks and can’t be patched up. For my Jeep it’s a Crankshaft Position Sensor.
yep. Or the injector. Or the ECU, or the fuel pump. Or the coil.....
Main item: Pistol...... Reason: Because theres a lot of crazies out there. Then the secondary stuff like belts, hose clamps, wire, fluids etc.
In a world gone crazy, a handgun is becoming a very important tool of the traveller.
@@livewire2759 The implication that the world hasn't already been crazy for many a century is just silly. I'm not here to say that life is all sunshine and rainbows today, but any real talk with people who lived 40+ years ago reveals that behind the rose-tinted glasses, the "good ole days" weren't nearly as perfect as we pretend they were. Carrying a six-gun is important today just as it was 150+ years ago. /end rant
@@AustinRBa In high school we had a lot of pickups in the parking lot with gun racks in the back windows holding shotguns and rifles. They weren't for protection they were for hunting. I was there 40+ years ago too and I don't know what world you're from but firearms in cars nowadays aren't for hunting they're for self defense. We didn't worry about shit back then but things have changed. It is a more dangerous world now than it was 40+ years ago without a doubt.
Handguns are not a car accessory. They are a personal accessory. Your handgun(s) should stay on your person, not left in the car.
YEP- PISTOLA
I've found that water pumps and radiators usually let go on a Sunday afternoon on I95 in a traffic jam lol. Usually 15 miles from the motel you were thinking about. Murphy was an optimist
Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong... and always in the worst place at the worst time.
Fuel pumps to ! but on same highway !
@@hydroy1 forgot about those!
Thanks to my owners manual I learned that that my '66 Bellaire with power glide could be started by pulling it 25 mph in drive.
One item I make sure I have on a road trip in any of my old cars is a small electrical repair kit consisting of some 12ga wire, crimp connectors, a combination wire stripper/ crimp tool, wire ties, and electrical tape. Over the years of messing with old cars I have had to make "field expedient" repairs of all manner of electrical problems and having the minimal kit above has been a lifesaver.
That was my one item: a length of 12 awg wire. Never know when electrical failure will sideline you, and that wire can be used to make the ignition hot, get the headlights going again, or run an electric fuel pump.
As a driver of an 80s British car, I second this.
Universal inline low pressure electric fuel pump or the mechanical fuel pump that fits your car. Because they are known to fail without notice.
Yeah had my mechanical fuel pump let me down twice over a year apart in that way, no warning just suddenly no power and stall. Dump some fuel in the carb until it starts then give it some revs and hold it there and it just came back to life and worked fine for 10 months until it happened again. Weird how it works but its replaced now so worry free.
Thats a good one, i was going to say that.
Plumb one into the fuel line permanently, preferably near the fuel tank. and wire it to a switch. I also use it to prime the carb for the first start if the car hasn't been started for a week or more.
Full size spare tire and the tools to change it. My number one thing I always take with me. Correct size tire for your vehicle is going to be hard to find these days. Most of these vehicles used 14-15 inch tires they are virtually obsolete now tire shops don't have them in stock. They can get them but you could be waiting 2-3 days for them. My number one. Time and money saver
I pack hope in my breakdown box. lol But seriously, I'll add: ZIP TIES!!!
A box of fuses is the least thought of item in a breakdown box.
I thought that's what gum wrappers were for.
Spare set of points. The ones they make today don't last as long. Also remember that radiator caps have two steps for a reason. The first step will not allow the system to build up pressure, but it will still move the water. Great for sudden pin hole leaks. Don't touch when hot!!!!
Multi-meter/ test light for those times when the angry dancing wall pixies make you life hell
That's my choice to
@@Clawson_customs my choice is analog
I have a test light w/ a voltage readout. Pretty much solve most of your problems
30 years ago I was driving our 38 Chev (455 olds) towing a 17 foot Golden Falcon from our trip from Myrtle Beach,SC to Hamilton ,ON. A trans line let go in Northern KY, caught fire and I drove 1/2 mi in flames to off ramp and to safety. I had the NSRA Fellow pages, made a call and Hot Rodders came with a case of trans fluid and lines . They got me, wife, young son and daughter back on the road....AND THEY WOULD NOT TAKE ANYTHING!!! I still have the 38.
1938 Chevy with a 455 Olds!! That is way cool and different!
We lived in Northern British Columbia as a kid, usually in the bush (Dad was a logger). He would always carry a couple of 5 Gallon (6 US) Jerry cans in the back of the truck. More than I can recall, he put them into a stranded travellers gas tank, and never took a penny for it. Surprised a lot of people because my Dad felt that you pay it forward, and someone has to start the chain. I miss Dad.
@@chuckandjenbridges721 COOL!
Rodding @ it's best!
I carry my AAA premier membership card. My wife and I each get 4 tows a year for a total of 8 tows. We each get one 200 mile tow and three 100 mile rows for a total of 8 tows a year!! Worth every penny and VERY helpful running around in old cars.
Carry a hot chick in Daisy Dukes, help will always stop. LOL
I truly thank you. 54 y.o. American made Heritage junkie. From gas cans to International Travelalls. This old man loves it all. So glad good folks still thrive. God Bless the U.S.!🇺🇸
That cicada really wants to be a part out your video
One item - Pair of Panty Hose. So many uses.
7:20 is so true, when I bought my first older vehicle I realized no one will touch it, at least no big shops full of "technicians". It was only an 89 f150 too. I basically do everything myself now as I learn, except for like an engine rebuild. I called around a few transmission shops once having issues with a Ford C6 and they wouldn't even touch that lol. Old school mechanics still exist though, but you gotta find em.
That sucks. The shop I work does it all. I’ve replaced a blower motor in a 2015 BMW in the morning and rebuilt a shifter in a 69 Cougar in the afternoon and performed general maintenance on a Peterbuilt before clocking out for the day.
The one thing I always make sure I have with me and have used the most (didn't see it mentioned already) are jumper cables. A battery booster would be good but with my luck it would be dead when I needed it.
Great Video... On my trip to see you I had everything but a spare connecting rod... I do have a tip... When you are building a Hot Rod.. such as my truck CASPER... When you are buying items for your engine make sure you can get replacement parts... Example.. This company just came out with a trick distributor but it's an odd brand... If you get stuck on the road and the module goes out in your trick distributor you are now up the creek without a paddle... If you still have to have your Distributor buy a spare module to throw in the glove box.... This saved me years ago I went on a roadtrip and had a Mallory Unilite distributor.. I always carried a spare module because they will leave you on the side of the road....
Andy
Isn’t that the truth. I was stranded in a one horse town, for three days because the pertronix in my dist decided to pack it in. Understandably not a stock part. A points distributor I could have fixed on the side of the road.
@@gregholloway2656 hey Brother it only takes once... To learn that lesson! That is why I'm not sold on aftermarket EFI...
Unity MotorSports Garage - same here. I’ve done about 100,000 miles of long road trips in my classics, and where am I going to get spare parts for [self tuning efi of the week] in a jam?
I was thinking that watching this video. If only we had a spare connecting rod.....
@@johnwilburn considering I had every gasket we would need... I know we could have pulled it off... I even had a ring compressor in the crate... Haha
A wooden chock.It can act as a parking brake,a hammer,or a spacer between your jack and frame in the event that your jack doesn't go high enough.You said just one item,right?
Good idea. I broke a coil on my AMC once...the 2x4 chalk I had in the trunk turned vertical wedged in place of the coil got me home.
A small floor jack with case and a 1/2 plywood cut out of lowest part of the trunk. The plywood works for the jack if you on loose gravel or dirt. Also can serves as traction if you get stuck in lose gravel or sand.
AAA plus, Then you can get the wreck towed a 100 miles
agreed
Go with AAA Premier and get one 200 mile tow added in the package! 👍
One item that replaces a few items... the interchangeable bit screwdriver. One screwdriver, 10 different tips. Saves precious space in your toolbox so you can fit other stuff.
the key to owning classic cars is to at least have two, because they all need something, just not at the same time
2 of something similar
I own one GM Ford and Dodge so I can be let down equally
And that also works for 15-20 year old daily driver cars. "Why do you have multiple cars?" Asks the average dumbass.
@@OSchoices racist...lol
FIRE EXTINGUISHER! Old cars have old wiring. Fuel lines can leak. Electrical system can spark. Safety first. Keep a fire extinguisher in your garage AND in your car at all times. Love your channel Uncle Tony, it's my new favorite 👍.
A jack stands. Those stupid scissor Jack's like to fall over on the shoulder of the road
Bumper jacks were worse.. I had one fall on me back in the 80's . Almost crushed my leg .
Was gonna reccomend the same thing. I travel with two.
Buy good jackstands, Harbor Freight has recall(s).
Hit the junkyards, find a truck jack. They have a longer reach since trucks sit higher, and yes, NEVER trust a bumper jack. Rusty old bolts versus 4,000 lb curb weight. And a wheel chock, too, they're cheap and great since flat tires don't always come on level surfaces.
In a pinch, a stock ride height car can have one wheel backed up on top of a curb, and gain some height to get under.
Always check your jacks to make sure they can slide under the rocker panel when a tire is dead flat on the rim (i assume when you say "garage jack" you mean a roller, not a bottle hydraulic. the issue is when you are not on pavement, or you're on hot asphalt getting softer by the hour).
as for a spare tire being a wheel chock, that's going to be a problem when the car is on a jack to change a flat tire :) up in the snow belt, they sand the roads and it ends up on the sides. I would prefer a wedge shaped chock, but the spare tire still beats 4,000 lbs sitting in the air on a few inches of surface area, supported by stamped steel as 18 wheelers buzz you at highway speeds.
You'll be shocked how much your car moves when your ribcage is underneath when this happens.
I drive a 1928 Chevy and my breakdown box has evolved over the last 20 years based on my own breakdowns and other folks breakdowns. It includes the obvious, basic tools and points, condenser, coil, plugs, safety wire, electrical tape, fuel hose, clamps, fittings, carb parts, multi-meter, 14 ga jumper wires with clips, oil can, duct tape, rope, and first aid kit. More often than not, I'm helping out other cars I travel with rather than myself. The part that breaks will never be the one you are carrying. Travel in groups of similar cars.
My 78 Ford, spare ignition module. It's come in handy several times over the years...
One item: narrow-nosed vise grips.
Because no matter how many tools you bring, there's always one nut, screw, split pin or stuck hose that you don't have the right tool to remove (especially if the nut is a little rounded off already - as so many are on older cars.) And while vise grips aren't ideal, they sure beat sitting on the side of a country track, with no cell service, in the heat, as your food and water run out. You can always hit the wrecking yard next week and buy a new bolt or nut...but first, you have to get to next week. :-)
I have had vintage vehicles in my life as long as l can remember...my first car after l got my drivers license was 40 years old.. I personally love vintage automobiles! And currently own 3.. (But) one must realize there limitations, l usually will drive my modern vehicle if the drive is several hours away, that's just me..l recently purchased a vintage dump truck 800 miles from my home and chose to go there and drive it home....we made it, but l had no functioning fuel gauge, brakes were ??, and 55 mph was tops....l felt fortunate to make it home...l had taken a box of tools and a box of fluids along with me when l left home....My advise to one considering purchasing their first vintage automobile... (Don't take it on a long road trip soon after buying it.. Keep it close to home and learn the in's and out of your vehicle first...) Tony is right on with his advice 👍
I went from Michigan to Tennessee and back took 12 quarts of oil and used every one but everything else was good and made it back home
Just gotta know your vehicle
Thanks unk👍👍
Absolutely, positively, spot on !!@
My magnetic pick-up tool has saved my butt several times after dropping a key bolt or screw that rolled under the intake manifold or ended up in a tight spot on a lower control arm..
I hate that sudden involuntary game of pachinko.
I have a 77 lincoln Versailles. I always have a spare ignition module. My brother always called ford durasparks neversparks. Got me back on the road twice having it.
I would bring adjustable wrench
And a BFH.
Harbor freight has a nice little set of them for an emergency kit. 3 pieces varying in size. Definitely a must have lol
1970 Dodge Challenger... Me and my brother road trip from San Diego California all the way to Lexington South Carolina. Coast to coast in 5 days. Took our sweet time sightseeing. Only two issues. Little bit of overheating going through the Rocky mountains and a stopped up fuel filter that I changed in the hotel parking lot in Texas. Great drive. greatest memories. If I still had the car I would do it again. This was in 1996
2-3 gallons of drinkable water as my main item to drink or to fill out the radiator
secondary item are hoses
Never leave home without a multitool. One piece of Army equipment I will always keep is the issued Gerber. It has come to the rescue more than I can remember
Hooa
I always carry a flathead screwdriver with me so I can open the trunk to get at all my other tools!
Hahaha same!!!
My suggestion can apply to anyone taking a long road trip no matter weather you're driving a classic or a modern car. A portable air tank with a tire plug kit. It takes up no more space than a medium sized cooler or duffle and can save a lot of time if you pick up a screw or nail in the road during off hours. I'd like to add that I always keep a small jar of kids bubble soap in my plug kit. It helps to find small leaks and to be sure your plug is not leaking. Happy motoring!
I’m quite partial to my leatherman wave with a 4 inch adjustable stuffed into the sheath with it. Many uses for changing small parts, tightening fuel/transmission lines, etc.
I once repaired the electric fuel pump on my buddies 69 Nova using the spring from a ball-point pen I had in my pocket. It made it the 50 miles we needed to get home. Point is that anything can break at any time (as Tony mentions) and you need to often be inventive in the solution. Something as simple as a pen can save the day. My top item is tape. Duct or electrical. Both actually lol. Love the show Tony!
Fire extinguisher
One item? I'm going to say a QUALITY flathead screwdriver. I can get a lot done with a flathead on old stuff. Poking, prying, scraping, changing hoses, tearing down a carb, setting points, fuel lines and filters, and I know I'm forgetting a ton of other things. There's a lot of flathead fasteners on old cars. Get a good one that fits most of the stuff on your car and put it in there.
Besides what Uncle Tony listed here, I also like the training films haha well they are Slide Shows, from the era, watch and learn from the dealer.. I have more then a few on my channel.. from the MyMopar UA-cam channel, really great learning, and you'll meet Tech.. kickdown adjustments, Carter BBD tuning etc... learn this world, so you'll live there at least while maintaining Your Vintage Mopar.. Oi oi oi..
Yeah I like watching those too
A good flashlight. If you can't see, diagnosing and repairing anything gets a lot more difficult. A beefy one can double as a hammer, club, or wheel chock in an emergency.
Rolling papers. You never know who may be holding
At least you wont care your broke down ! --->Hey were not moving ???? WHO CARES !
My favorite answer
Or a raw or zig zag king cone, like that you don't even have to roll it, just stuff it and go... lol
The tool I like to have is a Swiss army knife . Because it has a flat head screwdriver , a Phillips screwdriver , and you always need a knife . If you have a problem you can't fix you have a bottle opener so you can open a cold beer 🍺 ! Lol
Ballast resistor... I've had these fail on more Chrysler corporation cars than any other part.
I used to keep one in the glove box at all times in my Plymouths. Now that I drive an old Chevy Squarebody I keep the near equivalent, an ignition module. Both are cheap, don't rot in storage, don't take up any space to speak of, and you are dead in the water if you can't find one. Either of those parts turn a surprise major PITA into a 10 min minor aggravation.
I drove old Mopars for 20 plus years as a daily driver..My Dad owned them new 1957- and we only had 1 car that the ballast resistor failed! Car was 17 years old at the time! I drove my 60'sopar's daily until early/mid 2000's and still put 20,000 -30,000 miles per year on my old Charger's,300 and a few more an never had one fail..
@@01trsmar perhaps it's the quality of the new parts.
@@01trsmar You had far better luck that I. I had 6 of them go south over 10 years
You would think Chrysler would have perfected the use of a ballast resistor. They had them all the way into the 90s on some models
Drove my 66 Scout 800 for 18 years as my daily driver from 2000 till 2018. Always carried full tool set, sizzer jack, electric fuel pump and spare carb.
A couple of wire hangers. Never know if you need to hang something up, tie something back or repair something otherwise.
That's a good one.
Ditto on bailing twine
Excellent choice! Almost every older car I have owned needed to wire up some part of the exhaust one time or another.
Ah! Same answer as me...I always keep a few coat hangers, can't tell u how many times they got me home. Or to work lol
You said Charger and that definitely looks like my 66!!! As for what to bring on a trip, I usually have a whole kit with me but if I could suggest one tool, I’d say a leather man. It’s more convenient than you could imagine. I also rode a 79 iron head sportster for 28 years and the leather man got me out of so many binds.
Thanks for all the good info you share.
A short piece of pipe to by-pass the heater core.
My one item. Living in Australia is a heavy duty container of water. You can top up your radiator with it. You can use it to go get more water. You can drink I and stay alive lol.
I read that in the way Australians generally speak English. That inflection when you say words such as "alive" is quite fun. ^_^
The most important thing I have with me at all times is my bag of basic tools. 20% of the time you need parts, 80% of the time you can cob it together good enough with some tools and half a brain.
No matter WHAT I'm driving or where I'm headed, I carry a little tool carry-all from Crescent.. Has 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 drive ratchets and sockets.. Extensions and adaptors.. Also, needle nose pliers, slip-joint pliers and tounge and groove pliers.. A set of screw drivers and a 1/4 drive screwdriver and an assortment of 1/4 tips.. It measures 18" tall, 16" wide and 3 1/2" thick.. Easily fits under seats or luggage.. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!!!
One tip, preparation.
when you're putting together a tool kit to take on a road trip do it at least a few weeks in advance. Between putting the kit together and the trip use only that kit to do any work on the car. This will show you if there are any tools you need to add and it means that if you do have to make a repair the tools you have will work (changing a wheel on the side of the road with a wheel brace when it was put on with a power tool is a pain, especially on a hot day).
I learned this from a friend who used to tour Europe a lot on an old B.M.W. He had his kit so optimised he could tear down and rebuild the whole engine on the side of the road.
an adjustable wrench would be great, since the 60s/70s cars are usually so mechanical that you'd be able to lick the cables or notice in another way if a electric part was failed, such as just taking out the plugs and testing em agains the head to test the spark (visually), but generally an adjustable wrench will go miles if you can only bring one thing
A cigarete plug phone charger for when your cell phone dies and you forgot a real map !
Vice grips!!! A nice medium size VG will do anything light duty, from driveshaft removal to tightening batt connections etc... I’d also throw in a good multi head screw driver and a old gym sock 🧦 with the most common sockets and extensions u might need.
And a roll of electrical tape never hurts
Take a mechanic's mat! Got mine for $20 at harbor freight and it sure beats laying on the ground. Not only does it give you a cushion to lay on but also a headrest
That is good advice. Nothing worse than laying on hot asphalt!
Moving blankets also do the trick. Also anything that keeps you from laying in the dirt/gravel can also keep you warm if shit really hits the fan!
Super thick like a box that a refrigerator comes in. Folded up and stored in the trunk.
Cardboard is the best because u can slide around on it like butter...
@@EASTSIDE-313 Cardboard works too, but personally I think it gets real uncomfortable not having anything to support your head for an extended period of time.
When I was a kid, I remember a gas / service station that had an apartment above it so when your car needed repair, a family could spend the night up there if they had to. We had to do that one winter day.
Always carrying at least a pair of 1/2 and 9/16 wrench. My car like to throw a belt once in a while. Always happen when I beat it on the way home far away.
I drove our '86 Buick Century home [Chicago] from our house in Las Vegas. Serviced it and put all new tires and brakes on it too. Made it to New Mexico and stopped for gas. Engine fired up but died as soon as I dropped it in gear. Electric fuel pump died. Was stuck in a cheap motel for 3 days until I could get it fixed. Thing is, I was gonna replace it before the trip, as insurance!! This happened about 3 years ago, I was lucky to find a shop that could do the job!!!!! Car only had 26k on the clock; pushed my luck a bit too far!! One thing to bring??? MONEY!!!
If it winter time and it's cold, extra clothes when your thermostat isn't functioning properly. Lol.
Oh I fixed that problem ! moved to south Florida !
Mike P. I wouldn't be proud of that the heat of Arizona, Florida, Lower Texas and New Mexico is not something anyone in their right mind would wanna go to rather then the cold... I'll gladly take negative temps in snow and ice over this bullshit heat I live in
@@TRX450RVlogger Are you kidding lol , along the Atlantic coast the high today ( all WEEK !) was 91degrees August 15th ! with a nice 14 mph tropic breeze perfect for working under a shade tree , plus low taxes & half nude females running all around year round, local classic car shows 3 times a week all over town and 1 of the biggest car show in the Country at Daytona Int. speedway every Thanksgiving . So yeah the east coast of Florida has it all and no more blue testicles 6 months of the year as nobody likes frosty balls & cold feet ! ! plus who in there right mind takes there classic cars out in the SNOW !!!! Here is where everybody in the country shows up the end of Nov ! ---> ua-cam.com/video/VBhIN9RaSGY/v-deo.html
I have family in Florida. Never have visited them. I'm an Ohio boy!
@@rpdynalo Visit them in Jan ! ---- I lived in St. Louis Mo for 30 years , I KNOW Jan in Ohio !!!!
Lots of zipties. On the last leg of my drive cross country this spring for a job, I was at a rest stop on i70, I topped up on gas, and popped the hood to check my oil (typically do every 3-4 tanks of fuel) and give everything a once over. My alternator belt had split at some point on the drive, and I was down to the last 1/4 of the narrow belt driving the alternator. On 3rd gen 4runners the alternator belt is the 1st belt of 3 (closest ti the block) that is driven off the crank and also wraps the water pump/fan pulley. So to replace it with my spare would mean a couple hours dickering with pulling the fan hub, power steering pump and AC belts off first. A handful of zip ties zipped up together made me a replacement "belt" in 10 minutes that lasted me about 600 more miles to my parents driveway.
basically what you're saying is get to know your car and your community
Plan out what garages work on classic cars...everyone pretty much knows where they're going,look on the net lots of times shops will show pictures of their shop/owners customer cars and you will see 1980 and older cars..then if you break,you know where to tow too!
wire. improvised belts, holding up exhaust, holding door/hood/trunk closed, carb linkage fail, wipers return stopped working, random light outage, improvised seals, stripped out bolt(wrap wire around threads)...... you get the idea. Thanks Uncle Tony, keep learning everyday cuz of ya!
A set of screwdrivers, Phillips / Flathead, long and short. You'd be surprised how many uses they have under the hood of your car and everywhere else.
Probably anywhere there's a screw, Phillips or flat head... Shocking 😂
@mark rylander WHUT the.....?
As a teenager in 1972 I had a $300 , 62 Econoline Van with a 12 inch crack in side of block (stop leak stopped/slowed leak) I picked up 13" Pirelli radials and 800 x15 snow tires from a scrap pile. Heater quit 2 mi. into trip from Hamilton, ON, Canada to Southern California and back. Fixed oil sending unit at Bakersfield and water pump. Feb. -March, March Meet, Lions.. Best trip I ever had.....try that today
1 item in breakdown box, electric air pump with patch kit. Everyone has had a flat tire...everyone.
Tire manufacturing has improved exponentially in the last 30 to 40 years. Flats still happen to everyone, but usually you can throw your spare on and make it to the next town where you can get the tire patched properly. Of course that depends on where you are and where you're going...
@@livewire2759 If it's a radial tire, ya won't find any shop that "does a patch". Patches are only for old bias-ply tires & bicycle tires. They use plugs instead. Funny you mentioned it though, because 3.5 yrs ago, I bought a portable automotive compressor from Harbor Freight. I think it was close to $50. They have 2 or 3, but the one I have is the only good one, it has the gator clips that attach to your battery. AVOID the ones they have that plug into a cigarette/auxiliary outlet. They are JUNK. For as cheap as it is, it'll air up a large truck tire in HALF the time a $300 pump will, no joke. It comes with everything ya need. That and a deluxe tire plug kit. AVOID tire plug kits from Harbor Freight. The reamer & tire plug tool WILL break & stab your hand. Now ya need a doctor too. Buy from any parts store, better quality. Just 2 days ago, I picked up a bolt in one of my 4x4 truck tires miles from home. ( I quit trying to keep a spare for a 4x4 years ago. Better to plug a tire, and it's the exact same size/match to the opposite tire. ) Had that tire plugged & aired up faster than you could jack up the vehicle alone. This is now the 2nd time I've plugged & aired up a tire in the middle of nowhere with this pump & plug kit. DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT EM.
Yep, I keep a plug kit and DECENT 12v compressor handy, have plugged tires with wheel still on the car.
I always have a spare tire and with old cars they have big trunks so you can fit 2 full-size or even 1970-up e bodies came with space saver spares,can fit a full and a space saver in them!
@@howabouthetruth2157 I'm an auto technician, I've worked in tire shops, patched dozens if not hundreds of radial tires, some bias ply tires, and even tubes. Plugs are for large holes, patches are for small holes, it has nothing to do with the structure of the tire (although they do make patches specifically for radial or bias tires). The only problem these days is finding a tire shop that's open on a sunday. Those "plug" kits (I call them rag patches) that you can do yourself on the side of the road from the outside of the tire, are good enough to get by until you can get it patched properly, but they usually don't last very long and very often only slow down the leak without stopping it, and they don't help a damn bit if the tire goes flat before you can stop and the rim cuts a big gash in the tire. It's still far better to just make sure you have a good spare that you know holds air.
I keep a spare condensor in my glove box all the time. In a points car, that's the one part you can't McGiver from what you can scavenge to limp on. You can file points and plugs. But when the condensor goes out, your dead on the road.
Drive belts They can go out any time and it'll save you a lot a headaches
AAA plus or premier membership will tow you anywhere you choose within 100 miles , gets me back to my shop . A 1979 Pinto is my newest vehicle .
Overalls and gloves, so my wife and I arrive with our "rock and roll" look in tact.
I have the factory service manuals for my car, both the chassis (everything but the body) and the body by fisher service manual. Now, I have ammo to tell my wife I need the owners manual. :-) I am on 3 different Buick groups. These guys know our cars inside out.
A tool would be locking pliers and the one part that I would make sure to have is a spare tire
... and jack w/ handle..... and a flat piece of plywood for a good base
Why would you need the things that your car had besides the plywood and I don't understand why plywood are you in the swamp
Tape
When I was in my 20s, I dreamed of taking a long distance road trip in a classic car! Twenty five years later, it sounds like a nightmare! Most important items to take along with you on a long distance trip with a classic car? A 2020 3/4 ton pickup and a car hauler!
A water pump is really the only problem on long trips that I've ever had. I could see a engine mounted fuel pump going bad but I've never had a issue with those.
Tell that to the Fuel pump ! lol
The one item I bring with me in my 76 camaro is my channel lock open head ratchet and socket set. Good to get in cramped spots but It came in handy the other day when my belt slipped off the water pump and alternator. I was able to get it on and drive home to properly tighten it to where it needed to be.
Ballist Resister! For Mopars at least. All these ads drive me insane!
I always carry a tire patch kit and a 12v air compressor. I have often got a screw or nail in the tire. Pull the nail out, put in a plug, air the tire up, and hit the road again.
Poor Uncle Kathy has that COPD cough. 😥
Second-hand smoke is a serious issue.
I run a couple of EEC-IV era Fords, my one thing I don't leave home without is electrical parts.
Spare relays, ignition module, starter solenoid (also a 'relay', I know), wire, tape, test light, coil wire, voltage regulator.
Of all the stuff that can go wrong on the road, those pesky electrical gremlins can ground you without warning and unless you know exactly where to get replacement parts with immediate availability, you can be left in a hotel for multiple days waiting for a set of alternator brushes to arrive so you can be on your way.
Set of gearwrenches, gives you the most flexibility for the least amount of packaging/space
Flat head screw driver for my carburetor
Something you is my holy grail for my 40 year old daily driver. Every 3 years change belts hoses and thermostat. Check all fluids weekly or biweekly. You will get early warning to breakdowns. This applies to any car.