1000 miles road trip preps

D

Dick Webber

Senior Member
A friend (who is unbalanced but not thought to be dangerous) has rebuilt a 1917 Jenny replica to flying status. He is considering a Jenny flight next September from Kentucky to Antique Airfield, Blakesburg IA and needs a ground support crew. Being equally unbalanced I am considering my 29 tudor for the job. The car has been driven but not long distance for many years. Engine is machine shop rebuilt about 40000 miles ago and runs well. Transmission has been rebuilt and rear end seems sound. New tires and brakes will be needed. Besides spare tires, new belts and hoses and a generator what do I need to prepare for? Car is pretty much stock, so I need a lighting upgrade.

Ideas???

Thanks, Dick
 
Get in it and go! Unless you are towing and entire car any part you do not have can cause you extended down time. With properly restored lights you do not need any upgrade.
 
I just realized it's been 20 years ago that I restored my powerhouse generator, and haven't touched it since. There is never a need to bring along a spare generator. My lights are original and light the road very well.
 
I would recomend a right side tail light and turn signals. Most drivers on the road today do not understand hand signals.... They think you are waving at them. In most if not all states you are not required to add them, pedestrians also have the right of way..... the law does not stop you from being hit!!! I have over 26 years in Emergency Medical Service believe me I have seen some that were perfectly in their right as provided by law and very dead. It is your car you are free to do what you want with it.
 
Go to a sign shop and get a reflective triangle sign made and mount it on the spare tire. Get a triangle used by trucks and bungee cord it to the trunk if you have a trunk.
 
Bring a 2013 catalog from your favorite Model A vendor because if you need a part, more than likely it will "not" be in you tool box; hence, why worry?

One call & overnight shipping can keep you going.
 
Regarding a triangle, in Indiana, at least in the '70's, the triangle was reserved for vehicles going very slow, such as a farm tractor on the road. An A on the highway could get a ticket. Laws change and each state may have different variations.
 
a different seat lol
1000 miles on a yoga ball would be tought on me
other wise
oil (to add and or change half way there)
extra carb
extra dizzy
h20 pump
head gasket
coolant
spare tire
cup holder
a friend
and a camera
these old cars will surprise you with just how driveable they really are
oh and tools to repair all of the above
 
Tom, As most of us don't have one of your powerhouse rebuilds (although it is just a matter of time before I have you rebuild one for me), I will be bold enough to disagree with you. I've had a generator failure while on the road and LOVED that I could easily swap out the broken one with my back up.

Dick, The MOST useful thing you can do is to proactively reach out to some of the Model A clubs along your route and let them know you are driving through. On my trips (500 miles round trips), I've spent some great time meeting members of the Model A family. This has also provided me with PHENOMENAL back up and expertise. This being said, I travel with an inventory of gaskets and parts. While on the road I've used my back up generator, changed a head gaskets, dealt with radiator issues, used a CRAZY amount of oi, etc.

Seth
 
Take the A out on a few 200-mile "day trips" near your home. That might flush out some issues before taking the big one. It also gives you confidence... if you don't have enough of that already.

During these little trips, check your radiator temperature with an IR gauge after a good climb; check your overall oil consumption, color of the plugs, fuel consumption, battery readings, hub temps, braking. All good? Then you're ready.

Have fun!
 
I agree with the suggestion of letting local A peoples know you will be passing through. I'm sure they wouldn't hesitate to help with a rescue if needed. I know I would help out someone if they were passing through my area. But I would also take along some tools and spare parts.
 
When your friend gets to Blakesburg, I hope he has a better landing than the one you can see above the "Pilots Pub".:D
 

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Drive it a lot before you leave. Grease wheel bearings, go over the car with a grease gun. Carry a spare fan belt, carb, distributor, water pump & head gasket. Necessary tools. It's better to have the simple stuff and not need it, than to need it and not have it. But if it's running good and is trust worthy when you leave, it should get you home. I went on two bigger trips this summer totally 4,500 miles and the only break down I had was a faulty muffler clamp that I KNEW was fatigued before we left, I just completely forgot to replace it.
 
I have been on a number of long tours. I carry the same stuff with me I carry for everyday driving. I carry a spare Zenith, a spare distributor, an ignition by-pass cable, a trouble light, some spare fuses, and some common hand tools. I always have my AAA card with me and for a long tour I carry a MAFCA membership roster. Leave all that heavy stuff at home.

If you have a serious show stopper start calling people in the MAFCA roster located in the area you are in and it is almost guaranteed support will show up. I know if I got a call I would be on my way to help and I would bring additional help with me.

Tom Endy
 
Why does everyone carry a spare carb? Has one ever failed on you?

If the carb is an issue, you can take it apart to clean fairly quickly. Besides, carrying a spare carb will only wear out the needle in the float valve as it bounces around in a dry bowl.

Leave the carb at home!
 
azmodela said:
Why does everyone carry a spare carb? Has one ever failed on you?

If the carb is an issue, you can take it apart to clean fairly quickly. Besides, carrying a spare carb will only wear out the needle in the float valve as it bounces around in a dry bowl.

Leave the carb at home!
Click to expand...

I wonder about that too. I have driven Model A's for 52 years and literally thousands of miles, restored and unrestored, and have never had a carb problem. In fact, the only serious breakdowns have been two timing gear failures (10 years apart and different unrestored cars) and a generator (which failed on a 600-mile trip home after just purchasing the car).

I am a little more cautious now, as I realize that the cars were only 30 years old when I started driving them, and now they're 80 years old and things have had that extra 50 years to wear out. But all in all the Model A is still an amazingly reliable vehicle.

For any journey over 500 miles one way I carry an extra timing gear, enough tools for basic repairs, spare condenser and points, a head gasket, emergency flares, 2 gallons of water, a fan belt, a tow rope, a flashlight, my AAA card, a cell phone, and the MAFCA Directory.
 
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Bruce of MN said:
Regarding a triangle, in Indiana, at least in the '70's, the triangle was reserved for vehicles going very slow, such as a farm tractor on the road. An A on the highway could get a ticket. Laws change and each state may have different variations.
Click to expand...

An A on the highway might get you a ticket for going too slow.
 
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