Glensgages

This Friday (29Aug03), my girl-friend and I are (weather-permitting) taking the '82 on it's first 'quasi-road-trip' since I bought it 3 years ago.
Our planned trip is 10 miles of congested 4-lane highway, 66 miles on the Pa. Pike to the Ohio-line, 200 miles into Ohio on their toll-road, then 20 miles of two-lane (going for a 'look/see' at a very large Corvette dealer), and back the same day.
We will not exceed the posted speed-limit by more than 5 MPH at any time, and use the 'cruise-control' as much as possible.
My '82 Cross-Fire has 19,900-original miles showing on the clock, and is bone-stock (save for chroming the aluminum wheels). It has the 200 HP ( :rolleyes: ) L83/700R4/2.87:1 drive-train. Before leaving, it'll receive fresh oil & filter, all fluids will be checked/topped-off, etc.
The reasoning behind this trip is three-fold: #1: she gets to wear her new Black Corvette polo-shirt & matching heels; #2: we get to look at Corvettes :thumbs: ; #3: we're using this trip as a 'mileage-run'.
This Fall, I'm getting 3.73s stuffed into the rear-end, and next Spring, we'll make this same 'trip' again, to compare 'before & after' mileage figures. I have 2 questions about this trip:
Question #1: What should I bring with me? I always carry a bag containing pliers, screw-drivers, adjustable wrench, electrical tape, 'old-style' fuses, etc. Do you C3-owners have any advice for me?
Question #2: What kind of mileage figures (MPG) can I expect in this 'before' mode? I got 23+ MPG in the '82s only other trip to speak of; 234 miles, just under 10 gallons of SUNOCO, A/C on, T-tops off, 75 MPH+!
We don't wanna get 'stranded', or come 'home on a hook'; ANY advice/suggestions are GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!!! Thanks in advance, GLEN!!!!! :steering:

Glutamine83

take a cell phone and have a AAA card handy

if she breaks down, tow the dang thing home

trust me, I carry a toolbox and ratchet set in my vette and it feels so cramped inside, i hate carrying all that stuff

:lurk:

ED DINAPOLI

I just make a 700 mile trip in my 72. This car is very sound and shows no weak areas of known concern. With that said, I took a vise grip, a 1/2 wrench, a double ended screw driver, crazy glue, and a roll of that famous duct tape. If you have an area of known weakness than you need to be ready for a failure in that area. Good luck and enjoy the trip. These are great fun.
Ed

BigBadRed

I actually bring WAY to much anytime I take my c-3 for long drives. But... It sure beats a tow home or to some losers shop.

oil
water/antifreeze
belts (at least for alternator/waterpump)
Full set of ratchets and open ended wrenches (they dont take up that much space)

alternator (I have a spare, so why not?)
duct tape
screwdrivers

make sure spare tire is inflated and you have a jack.

--marc

ddecart

Made the 1200 mile round trip from MI to Bowling Green for the Cruise In this year and last. Chewed up a fan belt in each terip, but my car runs redundant belts, so there was no problem there.

But, I'll suggest bringing a fan belt and the tools to change it. Make that a full set of ratchet/sockets and combination wrenches while you're gatherint stuff.

600 miles? No problem! :)

crazcorkath

I just took my '72 to Carlisle- about 400 miles round trip. I brought my cell phone, my AAA plus card, screwdrivers, wrenches, socket set and duct tape. I also checked my air pressure in the spare tire before I left. I was able to coast down the hill on the way home--water pump blew 1 mile from my house! Somebody was on my side!! LOL

redwingvette

My car has made the trip to and from Bowling Green 5 times without any breakdowns. The first 3 trips before I rebuilt the motor. Used about a quart of oil with every stop for gas. The lat 3 trips with the 3.55 gears which put me above 3200rpm's all the way.

HawkIVette

Question #1: What should I bring with me? I always carry a bag containing pliers, screw-drivers, adjustable wrench, electrical tape, 'old-style' fuses, etc. Do you C3-owners have any advice for me?
Took a 1200 mile round trip last year to FunFest at Effingham. IL. Fan clutch went out about 4 hrs. into the trip. When I got to Funfest, bought the part and changed it right there in the grass. I always take a small Craftsman tool box (socket set, ratchets, wrenches and srewdrivers)in the back of the '75. I sure comes in handy. That and a Cell Phone

Question #2: What kind of mileage figures (MPG) can I expect in this 'before' mode? I got 23+ MPG in the '82s only other trip to speak of; 234 miles, just under 10 gallons of SUNOCO, A/C on, T-tops off, 75 MPH+!
I get about 14-15 MPG all the time. Whether I am driving 55 or running 80, it doesn't seem to matter. If you are getting 23, I would say your doing alright.

PRNDL

I also just put about 400 miles on my 68 this weekend going to Carlisle. Most important thing I brought was sunscreen!! :lol:

How are your tires? Make sure your tires are in good shape! I would doublecheck the tires, treadwear etc... and don't forget to check your tires... hope they're not "original". :)

I always travel with AAA+ (100 miles free towing) and charged cell phone.

I carry about 30 lbs of tools, but that's just for show cuz I can't fix anything. :)

Bring along some Rainx. My wipers don't work, but even if yours do work, you never know when they might fail and Rainx can be very helpful in an emergency! :) MJ

LiveandLetDrive

Are you unsure of the reliability of your car? If you're really concerned it may be a bad idea... but if you're just being paranoid (as we all can be) don't sweat it! After having mine on the road for about 4 months I took my first long (over 2 hours) trip... from Kansas to WV and Maryland, I-70 all the way back. No problem at all, other than slight overheating when I was almost home (has since been remedied). It's a blast, and you'll get to know your car very well.

but... just one thing...

:cry :cry :cry Your making baby Jesus cry! What kindof car are you driving again? I'm not saying you should be irresponsible... just remember, it's a piece of history you're carrying on, and live a little!!

That said, I have a big tub of tools in the back of my car, hoses and belts are good to carry (especially if they're old) just try to imagine what is most likely to go out, and have what you need to fix it.

Good luck and enjoy!
Chris

Glensgages

Which is probably the case here! I bought the car in '00 with 11,137 miles on it from my neighbor; HER longest journey in it (in 9 years) was less than 3 hours (she put 3,000 miles on the '82).

Naw, I'm holding the max speed to sedate levels in hopes of performing very accurate 'before/after' testing on effects of swapping the 2.87s to 3.73s.
Once the 3.73s go in, and adding 2.5" pipes with no cat OR mufflers (and a bit of N2O?), Zora HIMSELF will be crying...
No, he'd probably be proud; an '82 the way it SHOULDA been produced!!!
:thumbs: :chevy :thumbs: :chevy :thumbs:

La Orange

I put about 1900 mi on my 72 on the trip to the 50Yh in B G I brought a small toll kit and get of the road cind of parts fuses tape wire ect. But most important check the car out befor you leave you will catch mani positional problems
Good Luck :auto: :auto: :auto: :cheers: :cheers:

SteveG75

I have driven mine cross country twice. I did bring tools and stuff but only because I was moving. Only problem I ever had was the two-wire plug that goes into the alternator broke and I had to replace it in St. Louis.

My car is a daily driver which I feel actually improves the reliability. I have a nasty feeling that when I get home from deployment that it is going to hate me and give all kinds of trouble. She has spent 9+ months covered up in the garage and missed a beautiful summer. :cry

That said, I also do the AAA and cell phone plan. :smash:

AD2VET

I drive a number of road trips every year in my '82. It's pushing 190k miles on the original engine. :yesnod: The longest, each year is my annual trip to Eckler's in Oct., it's about 700 miles each way. If I stick to the speed limit I get average about 24-26mpg, if I'm in a hurry it'll drop down to 20-22mpg.

I'm very interested in hearing what the lower gearing does, both in performance and gas mileage, so let us know. Good luck on your trip and remember the best part of owning a Vette is driving it! :auto:

Glensgages

AD2VET: I ran my '82 at the strip last summer twice; once a mid-week test-n-tune, the other was the following Sunday, in the weekly bracket race.
Hoping to be ultra-competitive (i.e.: cut good lights), I 'deep-staged', which results in much slower ETs due to less roll-out (less rolling start). 'Deep-staging', coupled with the hottest week of the year (both days were 90*+), resulted in several 15.90s @ 86 MPH, the best being 15.904 @ 86.7
(A local Corvette specialist/guru/hot-rodder/drag-racer, after watching my '82 run, said, "That ain't bad,....for a Cross-Fire!!! :rolleyes: )
After the up-coming road-trip, I'll make some 'before' runs at the strip, this time NOT 'deep-staging', shooting for best ET possible.
I hope to swap the rear-gears in Sept/Oct this year. After a 'break-in' period, I'll get some 'after' ET-results, try the road-trip again, or BOTH, before the snow flies again. Anybody wanna 'guess' the 'after' MPG/ET figures in advance?

jerryp58

If the paint is in good shape and you don't already have one, buy a BRA for the Corvette (optional for the girl friend). I made the trip to Carlisle in the Corvette one year and a couple of "under-construction" sections of highway tore up the nose with chips :sad:

Stewart's74

Pro-Team eh. I hope your just looking and not buying. :yesnod:

jrzvette

:iagree: :iagree: :iagree:

CharlieF

Well....we did 225 miles this weekend with no problems whatsoever. The only thing I carry is my cell and AAA card. Car has 110K miles on it.Of course all this driving was in state. Out of state....I would pack a small bag of tools...vise grips, hose clamps, spare belt, etc.

Glensgages

ATTENTION: Due to health-issues in my girl-friend's family, this Friday's 'FUEL-MILEAGE-RUN' in my '82 has been postponed until a later date.
We might possibly (weather-permitting) take it approx 220 miles one-way on the Pa. Pike in 2 weeks, to MAPLE GROVE RACEWAY for the NHRA Keystone Nationals (pray we find a good, safe parking spot :cuss ).
What condition is the Pa. Pike in, between Exits 8 (New Stanton) and 21 (Reading); will we be playing 'barrel-hockey' often, and dodging PENNDOT trucks (and will the National ET Record {4.48?} be shattered during Friday's evening session of qualifying?)?
:confused: :confused: :confused: