Preparing the car for a Nationals trip

[rosco]

Brett - I can't say that mine has seen the other side of our driveway entrance for nearly six years (return from Yamba was its last known outing).... i will, of course do some considerable runs prior to any such trip.... if I can remember how to drive the monster I created....

Yes, indeed - get 'em out (do as I say, not as I do) folk and get some trips up before any long one.... you might find your rear engine oil seal will weep for a while if the engine hasn't run for some time.... if it is a "wick" type seal... it will usually "take up" once it gets saturated with oil again......

Look for things like frozen brake wheel cylinders if it has been mothballed for a long time..... keep a very close watch on both your brake and clutch master cylinder fluid levels..... any water (brake fluid is hygroscopic - absorbs water) in the system will usually settle at the lowest points.. and these are the wheel/slave cylinders.... and its the metal "cylnders" which will pit and rust - the neoprene cups will quickly wear on these and, presto - you lose your brakes or clutch.....

I tend to leave my old bus in gear, and whels chocked in both directons with the hand brake released... just a habit to prevent stretch and freezing of the cable and hand-brake components.... of course, it probably goes without need of mention that the vehicle is securely locked up and in a locked and security monitored garage..... I believe the insurance company would take a dim view of it being stolen with the hand-brake released if it were in the open - or with easy access to it........

Now, where were we?.... oh, yes - preparing for the nats trip.... sorry again, Trev....

frats,
Rosco

[Devilrod]

Mine could probably do with a break! Which is the total opposite of yours Rosco.

[minifb]

FB owners should buy a towtruck

Now Timmy................................ How are you getting to the nats???????????

[minifb]

ESKY ICE AND BEER........ Kids and Karen in the other car... and NRMA premium care..

[minifb]

Another tip is to drive them regularly, maybe even daily to iron out any potential bugs....

[ek61]

wheel bearings done , now just change the oil and we are all good to cruise

[Eeek]

New fan belt, new thermostat and radiator cap + coolant, new water pump, new tyres, new brake shoes, brake hoses, brake cylindars, new clutch slave cylindar, clutch master cylindar, changed the tail shaft and an oil change. And a poor mans heater.... will need that I reckon. Cant wait to hit the road, been looking forward to this for a long time now Can taste that first coldie already. Just a pity the old black sedan is still in pieces in the shed....

[minifb]

New fan belt, new thermostat and radiator cap + coolant, new water pump, new tyres, new brake shoes, brake hoses, brake cylindars, new clutch slave cylindar, clutch master cylindar, changed the tail shaft and an oil change. And a poor mans heater.... will need that I reckon. Cant wait to hit the road, been looking forward to this for a long time now Can taste that first coldie already. Just a pity the old black sedan is still in pieces in the shed....

Geez your driving 400k's i dont do that to drive to SA

[Eeek]

I just dont wanna leave it on the side of the road. (not that i would) but a bit of preparation is easier than arranging a tow. Im not going to be as organised ad Rosco though

[ek61]

i just changed the oil and fitted a new set of wiper blades

[Devilrod]

Wipers blades are next on my list. Just finished grease and oil change. Gave the tune a tweak and the underside the once over

Now all that's left is a good wash and polish Thursday.

[Mick]

New fan belt, new thermostat and radiator cap + coolant, new water pump, new tyres, new brake shoes, brake hoses, brake cylindars, new clutch slave cylindar, clutch master cylindar, changed the tail shaft and an oil change. And a poor mans heater.... will need that I reckon. Cant wait to hit the road, been looking forward to this for a long time now Can taste that first coldie already. Just a pity the old black sedan is still in pieces in the shed....

Geez your driving 400k's i dont do that to drive to SA

maybe there's a hint there mark look at yor past experiances on trips to the nationals

saying that i drive back and forth to sydney regularly and in old cars when i have them 250ks each way plus wher eever i'm going down there and home and preparation consists of grabbing the keys as i walk out the door so far only drama was nearly burning a car to the ground but that was my own silly fault

[WayneXG95]

This is a great thread not so much for the Nationals information
but for the general care and maintainance of FB/EK's...
Rosco and EKfanPaul2 have provided invaulable stuff
especially for the younger owners who never grew up with our cars.
A lot I had forgotten about myself....

Could one of the MODS pick the best of the thread and make a sticky thread in
"General sharing advice and experience" Section of the forum.

Cheers.....

[Eeek]

This is my first nationals and Ive only had the car 6 months, I didnt really know what the previous owner had done to it apart from store it under cover and try to keep the KM'S down. I might be over cautious but I also like it to drive nice, and it does drive alot smoother than it did 6 months ago....and looks better

[MeFB]

An oil and filter change goes without need of mention - so why am I..?
Rosco

Um, that would be because grey motors didn't come with oil filters...