I put a deposit on a blow1974 stingray and am plaing to drive it back acrosse country
#41
3000 miles @ 8mpg = 375 gallons of gas.
I did 2000 miles with my 80 Vette that I bought for $5,000.
What did I bring?
A co-pilot who is handy with tools and doesn't mind bleeding the brakes with me in a walmart parking lot at 11pm because we can't get all the air out after both rear calipers decided to start leaking badly.
A cell phone. Walking on the side of the interstate sucks.
Money. I bought tools on the fly. The "trunk" on a C3 isn't exactly big.
Spare fluids. If the car is a trailer queen, you might discover the coolant leak when it goes empty 40 miles from nowhere.
Don't be a hero. If you get there and there's NO WAY you can drive it more than 20 miles before it's going to overheat and it gets 3mpg at 55mph, no one will call you names for getting it shipped instead of blowing up the motor.
But, if you're good with tools and you're not worried about pit stops, I say do it. I did. Was a fantastic time, even if it meant we were changing valve covers in the hotel parking lot because the ones on there were cracked and leaking like crazy. Yes, the actual valve covers - cast aluminum, or should I say porus, cracked, cast aluminum.
I did 2000 miles with my 80 Vette that I bought for $5,000.
What did I bring?
A co-pilot who is handy with tools and doesn't mind bleeding the brakes with me in a walmart parking lot at 11pm because we can't get all the air out after both rear calipers decided to start leaking badly.
A cell phone. Walking on the side of the interstate sucks.
Money. I bought tools on the fly. The "trunk" on a C3 isn't exactly big.
Spare fluids. If the car is a trailer queen, you might discover the coolant leak when it goes empty 40 miles from nowhere.
Don't be a hero. If you get there and there's NO WAY you can drive it more than 20 miles before it's going to overheat and it gets 3mpg at 55mph, no one will call you names for getting it shipped instead of blowing up the motor.
But, if you're good with tools and you're not worried about pit stops, I say do it. I did. Was a fantastic time, even if it meant we were changing valve covers in the hotel parking lot because the ones on there were cracked and leaking like crazy. Yes, the actual valve covers - cast aluminum, or should I say porus, cracked, cast aluminum.
#43
Drifting
Me too,I can't believe that most of the posters fall for this old gag every single time.Well at least its something different this time,its usually a too good to be true deal or barn find that pulls the rubes in...
Anyways,good luck with your adventure,bring a big pocket of cash and a pile of credit cards,this trip will take a while!
Anyways,good luck with your adventure,bring a big pocket of cash and a pile of credit cards,this trip will take a while!
#44
Racer
So i just bought a 1200 hp 8-71 blown 502 .030 over 1974 stingray and am driving it across country. what should i expect for mpg out of a 4 speed richmond t 10 and 3.73 diff with drag tires on the back? What kind of tools should i bring and what should i be checking on the journey home? I havent bought the car yet but what should i be looking for during the inspection? Thanks for your help this is my first classic car!
#45
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Jan 2006
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2022 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
I was young once, and did something a little like this and made it.
But I suggest you have some sort of back up plan, just in case.
BTW, if you need help near the Charlotte, NC area, let me know.
Good luck.
BILL
But I suggest you have some sort of back up plan, just in case.
BTW, if you need help near the Charlotte, NC area, let me know.
Good luck.
BILL
#46
Melting Slicks
#47
Drifting
but seriously, i DO speak from experience...years ago, when i was young/dumb and full of (come on now, you didn't think i was gonna finish that ol' saying did you)?? LOL, i bought a 69 Yenko Camaro, yes, a REAL Yenko, documented and in the registry with original 427/450...i decided it would be a real adventure to fly out to Portland from Kansas and drive it back by myself. the car was in GREAT shape as described, and drove and ran very nice, i had a pocket full of cash and a cooler full of beer, WHAT could go wrong? it was April, so it was beautiful in Ks, and i didn't even bring a jacket, just one change of clothes...well i made it to Montana before i shelled out the engine completely....apparently these high compression factory quarter mile cars with low gears weren't made for highway driving??????? keep in mind this was before everyone and their kids had a cell phone, i certainly didn't, so i was standing out on the side of a two lane highway in the SNOW with my thumb out! finally hitched a ride to the next small town and rode back out with local tow truck drive to retrieve my Yenko that was sitting alone on the side of the rode....anyway, we determined that i had thrown a rod, and the motor needed complete rebuild including one sleeve after my dad drove all night to pick me up the next day with a truck and a car trailer....yes, it was an "adventure",(read that to be "nightmare") and i clearly would NEVER do something like this again, even with an unknown, more practical driver car. btw, the engine described by the OP in this 74 vette makes my Yenko 427 sound like a base 350 in comparison.. just my .02. Rick
Last edited by razman; 05-17-2013 at 06:38 PM. Reason: cuz
#48
Melting Slicks
but seriously, i DO speak from experience...years ago, when i was young/dumb and full of (come on now, you didn't think i was gonna finish that ol' saying did you)?? LOL, i bought a 69 Yenko Camaro, yes, a REAL Yenko, documented and in the registry with original 427/450...i decided it would be a real adventure to fly out to Portland from Kansas and drive it back by myself. the car was in GREAT shape as described, and drove and ran very nice, i had a pocket full of cash and a cooler full of beer, WHAT could go wrong? it was April, so it was beautiful in Ks, and i didn't even bring a jacket, just one change of clothes...well i made it to Montana before i shelled out the engine completely....apparently these high compression factory quarter mile cars with low gears weren't made for highway driving??????? keep in mind this was before everyone and their kids had a cell phone, i certainly didn't, so i was standing out on the side of a two lane highway in the SNOW with my thumb out! finally hitched a ride to the next small town and rode back out with local tow truck drive to retrieve my Yenko that was sitting alone on the side of the rode....anyway, we determined that i had thrown a rod, and the motor needed complete rebuild including one sleeve after my dad drove all night to pick me up the next day with a truck and a car trailer....yes, it was an "adventure",(read that to be "nightmare") and i clearly would NEVER do something like this again, even with an unknown, more practical driver car. btw, the engine described by the OP in this 74 vette makes my Yenko 427 sound like a base 350 in comparison.. just my .02. Rick
#50
When I bought my 73, with 43,000 miles, new this and that with a safety inspection certificate, I checked it out thoroughly and it looked mechanically perfect. I decided to trailer it the 3 hours home just because it was early spring and the roads were still salted and it was raining.
When I got it home it turned out it was VERY original; original coolant and other fluids! None of which were ever checked or topped up apparently! Between the nearly empty radiator and rear diff my trip on the highway would have been short! Never drive an unknown car more than a block until you can go through everything.
Killed a Yenko eh? Not many people can say that!
When I got it home it turned out it was VERY original; original coolant and other fluids! None of which were ever checked or topped up apparently! Between the nearly empty radiator and rear diff my trip on the highway would have been short! Never drive an unknown car more than a block until you can go through everything.
Killed a Yenko eh? Not many people can say that!
#51
Stay off hwy to keep speed down. Spend at least a day going over car before leaving.
Change all fluids.Take it slow, it will be an adventure
I have made several cross country trips fly in drive/ride back. Good times.
Change all fluids.Take it slow, it will be an adventure
I have made several cross country trips fly in drive/ride back. Good times.
Last edited by GBC; 05-17-2013 at 09:41 PM.
#52
Burning Brakes
Bah! You'll be fine!
Just fill it with 87-octane and hit the highway!
And please, whatever you do, record a video of the whole thing!
Just fill it with 87-octane and hit the highway!
And please, whatever you do, record a video of the whole thing!
#53
Team Owner
Just take it nice and easy... one quarter mile at a time.
3000 miles x 4 = 12,000 quarter miles.... 8 secs per, that makes 96000 seconds.... 60 secs per minute = 1600 minutes...
divided by 60 minutes per... you should be home in.... 27 hours!
3000 miles x 4 = 12,000 quarter miles.... 8 secs per, that makes 96000 seconds.... 60 secs per minute = 1600 minutes...
divided by 60 minutes per... you should be home in.... 27 hours!
Last edited by PRNDL; 05-17-2013 at 11:00 PM.
#56
Pro
So i just bought a 1200 hp 8-71 blown 502 .030 over 1974 stingray and am driving it across country. what should i expect for mpg out of a 4 speed richmond t 10 and 3.73 diff with drag tires on the back? What kind of tools should i bring and what should i be checking on the journey home? I havent bought the car yet but what should i be looking for during the inspection? Thanks for your help this is my first classic car!
I have 500hp with the T-10 and a 3.70 diff and I can easily go through a half a tank of gas just driving around town without any long runs on the highway.
I am planning to put in a 5 speed or 6 speed transmission to make highway driving more manageable. 1200hp would not be manageable on the highway even with an overdrive transmission and lower diff gears. JMHO!
#57
Drifting
Seeing that this thread is over a year old, And I see he hasn't been back on since then, I would guess the guy decided to make the trip and was never heard from again.
Last edited by persuader; 08-19-2014 at 04:50 AM.
#58
Administrator
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