loooooooooong trips

muddy · Post by **muddy** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 12:44 am

hi all

me and gang are going to be heading up to byron bay in a couple of weeks for bluesfest, and i'd love to take the FB and do it in style!

wondering if anyone has any tips on little things to watch and prepare for before undertaking a journey of this length. its about 10 hours drive in a car that travels at normal speeds not including breaks.

i was thinking a full cooling system flush, new thermostat, change the oil in everything, fit a temp gauge, do the front shocks (just did the back ones) and maybe fit a taller diff ratio so the poor old grey isnt screaming her head off the whole time.

cheers

Trev · Post by **Trev** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 4:05 am

Sounds like you have it sused out Muddy, oh yeh don't for get to put petrol in along the way

, have a safe trip, Trev

.

Post by **Blacky** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 8:43 am

... and some CD's

Brown Bear · Post by **Brown Bear** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 9:10 am

Yep, you've got it all in one there muddy

Our wagon was once a regular on the Sydney to Lismore run, and never missed a beat.

Have had issues with the distributor and timing gear on other trips, but I gues you can't cover everything... pack in a spare generator and prepare of box of fix-its (fuses, bulbs, fuel filters and minor tools) and you should be alright.

Enjoy the festival too!

Matt

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 9:39 am

Make sure your wheels are balanced, nothing worse than a shaky steering wheel on a long trip.
Check your brake lights are working. Also check all your headlights are working. I recently found out only one globe in my headlights was working, never noticed it driving round town with streetlights everywhere, only noticed when I was out in the country when I found I had no high beam at all and only one low beam. If youve got vinyl seats a towel behind your back will be handy to stop your back soaking with sweat.
Have a great trip and take your time with plenty of stops.

reddo · Post by **reddo** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 1:12 pm

Nothing like a looooooooooooooooooooooooong trip in an old Holden to bring ya back to reality.

Never trust your gauges to tell you the whole truth . leave the stereo down at a level so ya can hear the motor "talking " to you.
It isnt hard to be driving for a few hours and let your speed get up out of the "comfort zone" for your motor. So if it sounds like it is protesting about the pace you are travelling .. just wash 10 mph off your speed and hang at that speed limit.

Check your oil and water .. and just about everything else around the motor whenever ya pull up for fuel or a break from driving, Better off spotting that leaking radiator hose before it burst half way between towns.
Ya still see a lot of old digs at road side rest areas in their new cars with the bonnet up... old habits die hard... oh ... that is unless they drive a new 6 cylinder falcon in the heat and blow their head gaskets in which case they will be waiting for road side service to come and drag the P.O.S off to the local mechanic..

Those of us that have an everyday driver in the shed as well as an old holden tend to get complacent ( slack) about checking under the bonnet regularly. a bit of time spent pampering the old car and it will reward you with a trouble free trip....

Check that the spare is up at the same pressure as the rest of your tyres and you have the jack and handle, wheel brace in the boot.

I drove to MT Gambier and back via melbourne / dandenongs last easter from Newcastle. I drove back into the shed when i got home and there was the jack and wheel brace sitting on the bench where i had removed it from the spare wheel compartment on the ute while i had the spare out checking it.... doh, doh, doh.

Gotta love the Blues mate.
Have a great time.
Reddo