Hi everyone, I need your advice...

We have a 1978 Indy Pace Car with 4.300 original miles. I'm having some typical problems with brakes...again...but nothing major and I will have that fixed soon. I belong to the Pace Car Registry, I'm located in Indy, and the Pace Car Registry reunion was just announced and it starts in Indy with a caravan to the Corvette Museum.

And we're registered to go...

We have 2 pace cars but I'm thinking of driving the '78 pacer and I'm worried about mechanical breakdowns. We've exercised the car regularly, but this would be a big trip compared to normal use. The tires are original and my biggest concern. The trip may add about 600 miles to the odometer and I'm willing to take the hit on miles for the fun of the trip. But the fun is gone if I blow a tire or have any other types of major mechanical failure.

Any advice out there? Thx... Bruce

 

I would not run anywhere on those tires. Tires degrade quickly with time. Some manufactures say 6-8 years max...you are four times that. To save the original tires the way they are, if you are willing to spend the money get a driver set of rims/tires.

Other than that....I would take the car for a local run...and hour or so...if all is well I would go and enjoy.

 

I would definately consider getting new tires for the trip, if your willng to bite the bullet on the added miles. Peace,,,Moosie

 

Yep guys...that's what I'm worried about. Outside of an hour trip/test, I think tires are the biggest risk. My wife thinks we should get a second set of tires/wheels. Mid America (and probably others) have some nice aftermarket wheels. But tires are not as cool... I love the raised white outline tires no longer available.

Thanks for your comments. Any suggestions on new raised white outline tires? Or are the only options blackwalls or solid white letters?

 

I have Goodrich T/As and have been happy with 'em...
Multi-Mile made a white outline tire a few years back so you might want to check them out....
This is a pic of mine with 255/60 T/As.............

 

You have to admit that the above excerpt from your original post sounds absolutely F%#*ed up. Whatever you do, don't put any actual miles on the car by driving it somewhere.

Anyway...

Now that I'm done venting, I agree with the others, and you that tires are your weakest link on a trip that involves extended highway speeds.

If you can swing it, get some new ones for the trip and put the originals in a cool dry dark place like your basement until you sell the car.

Who knows? With news skins on it, you might have some of the "fun" you mentioned actually driving the car.

Hope your trip is uneventful. Don't forget to bring your camera. Nice car BTW.

 

Ok....ok....I can't tell if you're giving me a hard time about putting the miles on the car because it only has 4,300 on it now...or...if you're giving me a hard time because I should be driving the car, because cars are meant to be driven and this one has seen very little action! (I'm sure I deserve some crap either way!).

There are two schools of thought out there. I checked out your avatar link and your cars are "bone stock" and look awesome, so I'm going with the assumption that you think I'm crazy for taking this car on a trip simply because of the low miles. I think it's sort of stupid too. But the Pace Car trip looks cool and I want to have a great car. I have an '86 yellow pace car (6K original miles) that may end up going instead, although that car is showroom perfect and in nicer condition than the '78. So it's a bad choice for the same reason.

The problem is, neither of my Pace Cars are drivers. And I want to drive one...just this once.

 

Okay, you can tell it was early by reading the time stamp on my first post. After I had my coffee I felt kind of bad for ripping you a new one with sarcasm for not driving your '78, no matter how deserving of it you may be.

Anyway...

Make certain your insurance is up to snuff (including towing), take care of the brake/tire issue, double check all the belts/hoses/fluids and Drive the car!

I just put 1300 miles (up to 88k now) on the '71 over the last 2 weeks vacation which included going to Cruisin' Ocean City 2007. What a Ball! Over 3000 entries.

It even got rained on for the first time since I've owned it, and guess what? It didn't melt after all. I was even smiling while it was happening, because I was DRIVING THE CAR.

It's so much more fun to drive these cars than it is to just stand next to them in the garage with a beer looking at them. Although, that's pretty cool too.

Excercise all due caution, and have some Fun!

Isn't that why you loved these cars to begin with?

 

since my car already has 831,738,717,317.7 miles, i'll be driving it without too much bother..

good luck, hope to see you there...

 

Trailer it if you really want to go.

 

I would take your 78. I would order another sets of pace car rims from Mid America and put some tires on them. Not only would it be a dangerous to drive on the factory tires, if your wrecked one that would be a shame because you no longer have the factory tires on the car. It will be a great trip & why miss out. Document your trip and add it to history of the car.

I have the original Goodyear Eagle GT's for my 81. I just bought the Chrome alluminum wheels for my car. I took the original rims and had them mounted to the original tires.

My 2 cents worh!!