Things I should Know-long trip planned

[Lawrie]

I would stay with the stock IGN setup,
cooling, make sure your rad is in good nick.
Both my old fords will run at 55 -60 mph all day in sometimes 44C and once 47,no drama
My 33 tows a caravan all over our vast country, no drama
Remember, they are built FORD tough,
Lawrie

 

[RGC1]

If you do convert to electronic ignition, a spare distributor becomes a necessity (one with points). This has been proven too many times.

Oh ok maybe I should not then if that’s the case , if it has been proven then I will stick with points……sometimes an upgrade …..is not a upgrade

 

[ford38v8]

Have a good spare tire and an extra tube.
Get an axle jack, and a piece of plywood to set it on if not on concrete, and try it out at home before you leave.
Extra water pumps and a set of inch, not metric, tools.
Take a flashlight, a tub of hand cleaner, and a large cardboard box folded up to lay on when you get out and under,

 

[RGC1]

I would stay with the stock IGN setup,
cooling, make sure your rad is in good nick.
Both my old fords will run at 55 -60 mph all day in sometimes 44C and once 47,no drama
My 33 tows a caravan all over our vast country, no drama
Remember, they are built FORD tough,
Lawrie

Love the pictures and thanks for the information , my flathead is currently a 34. Block and .080 over which I think the clearance is fine ……..but now I’m wonder if the over bore might be a heat factor .

 

[RGC1]

Have a good spare tire and an extra tube.
Get an axle jack, and a piece of plywood to set it on if not on concrete, and try it out at home before you leave.
Extra water pumps and a set of inch, not metric, tools.
Take a flashlight, a tub of hand cleaner, and a large cardboard box folded up to lay on when you get out and under,

Thanks all good ideas thank you

 

[Mart]

Things I or friends have needed while out on the road.

Head gasket.
Cotter pins.
Fuel filter.
Gear oil.
Points.
Thermostats.
Condensers.
Tire irons.
Tow rope.
Jumper cables.
Cable ties.
Electrical wire.
Carb float.
Axle key.
rotor arm
distributor cap.
Plug lead

In my case the thermostat failed which caused the head gasket to blow. I now have mech temp gauges on both sides.

One more thing is to make sure the wheel nuts are not over tightened so you can undo them with your travelling tools.

Make sure your axle nuts are very tight.

Make sure any spares have been tested (used on the car) beforehand.

Lots and lots of other things but the above have been needed at some time by people I know or by myself.

Mart.

 

[RGC1]

Things I or friends have needed while out on the road.

Head gasket.
Cotter pins.
Fuel filter.
Gear oil.
Points.
Thermostats.
Condensers.
Tire irons.
Tow rope.
Jumper cables.
Cable ties.
Electrical wire.
Carb float.
Axle key.
rotor arm
distributor cap.
Plug lead

In my case the thermostat failed which caused the head gasket to blow. I now have mech temp gauges on both sides.

One more thing is to make sure the wheel nuts are not over tightened so you can undo them with your travelling tools.

Make sure your axle nuts are very tight.

Make sure any spares have been tested (used on the car) beforehand.

Lots and lots of other things but the above have been needed at some time by people I know or by myself.

Mart.

Thanks that is some good info I like the idea of two temp gauges also , thanks for the list, car does have a potters box and nobody in the back seat so can take some spare parts and luggage .thanks again for the input

 

[ford38v8]

I packed a large suitcase with extra parts, it was so damn heavy i could hardly lift it in and out of the car, and of course all luggage was packed on top of it so the whole car had to be unloaded to get to it. I carried this anchor with me in all my trips zig zagging across these United States, and used maybe 4 or 5 small parts out of it in all my travel years.
Bottom line, don't get carried away with packing heavy generators & starters, but yes, DO carry an extra axle. You're not going to rebuild a carb or a distributor on the road, so take rebuilt units, and don't forget several condensers.

 

[GB SISSON]

If you do convert to electronic ignition, a spare distributor becomes a necessity (one with points). This has been proven too many times.

Denny I actually laughed out loud for real when I read this because the second I read the post about electronic ignition I couldn't wait to respond similarly and there you were. Right on it!

 

[Cecil/WV]

What Lawrie says is pretty much what I carry in my '50 sedan, and although I have driven it over 50,000 miles across these US states, The only thing I have needed was a piston in Kansas and I didn't pack that!

 

[RGC1]

I packed a large suitcase with extra parts, it was so damn heavy i could hardly lift it in and out of the car, and of course all luggage was packed on top of it so the whole car had to be unloaded to get to it. I carried this anchor with me in all my trips zig zagging across these United States, and used maybe 4 or 5 small parts out of it in all my travel years.
Bottom line, don't get carried away with packing heavy generators & starters, but yes, DO carry an extra axle. You're not going to rebuild a carb or a distributor on the road, so take rebuilt units, and don't forget several condensers.

Haha that sounds about right the parts will be at the bottom of everything and will more than likely be the part I didn’t bring …..Thanks for the info , are they known for going through axle ? …..was not planning on an axle ..haha…..

Also I will become a member of the early ford v8 club so maybe I will have a few contacts along the way if I need to find something that I didn’t bring along.

 

[RGC1]

Denny I actually laughed out loud for real when I read this because the second I read the post about electronic ignition I couldn't wait to respond similarly and there you were. Right on it!

I am glad I got some feedback on that and didn’t waste money and time by the sounds of it ….thx again

 

[RGC1]

What Lawrie says is pretty much what I carry in my '50 sedan, and although I have driven it over 50,000 miles across these US states, The only thing I have needed was a piston in Kansas and I didn't pack that!

That’s great to hear of that many miles being put on gives me some hope that I may be able to pull this off, with this era of car and a flathead etc. I have not had much experience with this era of car on a long trip , so should be interesting. Thanks

 

[tubman]

If you did things right, you'll be fine. When these cars were new, folks thought nothing of taking off and going on long trips. Any bad reputation they now have is due to the fact that for the last 60 years, the have been abused and neglected with the accompanying results. Most of them soldiered on anyway.

 

[TomC750]

Reminds me of when I bought my original '41 Mercury with a tired engine. I built a 1950 Merc engine for it, put a few miles on it and headed from NY to Texas with no spare parts. Blew a head gasket in OK, middle of nowhere. Sent a buddy I had with me to a town hitchhiking, he returned with a new gasket, we installed (I had tools!), dipped water out of a stream with a hubcap to refill radiator, started her up and went on our way. Had no more trouble. After a time ended up selling car to same buddy.

 

[Lawrie]

These era fords are as reliable as , in the last three trip late last year, I did about 15000Ks in my 28A, 33 and 34,
no drama
Lawrie

 

[RGC1]

If you did things right, you'll be fine. When these cars were new, folks thought nothing of taking off and going on long trips. Any bad reputation they now have is due to the fact that for the last 60 years, the have been abused and neglected with the accompanying results. Most of them soldiered on anyway.

Thanks for the info , I will try and go over everything with a fine tooth comb and with some pointers fro you guys will give me a heads up going in.
Thx

 

[RGC1]

Reminds me of when I bought my original '41 Mercury with a tired engine. I built a 1950 Merc engine for it, put a few miles on it and headed from NY to Texas with no spare parts. Blew a head gasket in OK, middle of nowhere. Sent a buddy I had with me to a town hitchhiking, he returned with a new gasket, we installed (I had tools!), dipped water out of a stream with a hubcap to refill radiator, started her up and went on our way. Had no more trouble. After a time ended up selling car to same buddy.

Haha thanks that’s a good story, I will make sure I have a few tools and make sure I bring a little creativity to haha, thanks !!

 

[RGC1]

These era fords are as reliable as , in the last three trip late last year, I did about 15000Ks in my 28A, 33 and 34,
no drama
Lawrie

Nice ! That’s awesome to hear the amount miles you put on , well I am definitely more excited that this is all more feasible
Thanks !!

 

[38 coupe]

I follow the antique car trip version of Murphy's law: if I have it with me I won't need it. I carry a spare carburetor, fuel pump, water pump, generator, regulator, points, condenser, cap, rotor, spark plugs, coolant, engine oil, gear oil, tools, jack, and a big 4 way lug nut wrench. So far my theory has worked, I have driven 60,000 miles, give or take a few thousand, and my rear axle is what broke! Drove the car home after calling local V8 Club members and getting help (one member cleared his car port and helped wrench on my car, the other club member donated a third member for my axle).


Test driving your car first is crucial. I also believe in the 5, 50, 500 mile theory of antique car reliability. Drive 5 miles, and fix what goes wrong. When 5 miles provides no more drama start driving 50 miles at a time and fix what goes wrong. When 50 miles provides no more drama start driving 500 miles at a time and fix what goes wrong. When 500 miles provides no more drama you have a reliable car.