Am considering come next spring/summer, to take the Corvette on a road trip to Mississippi...some 900 miles each way. My C3 is a 1979, runs good, doesn't use oil, doesn't overheat, newer brakes, decent tires, 79k miles, rebuilt rear end assy, no leaks.....other than checking the usual, like belts, fluid levels, etc, am I being foolish in even considering such a trip in a 40 yr old car? Since I bought it a year ago, the furthest I have driven it is a 250 mile trip , which back then was uneventful as far as it being problematic.

I realize anything can go bad at any time, even on a much newer car....still, I would like to give it a try, if the consensus here is not too overpowering negative. So what shall it be, yay or nay?

 

Yay. You already know your car and know that it did 250 with no problems.

I just bought a Z06 Corvette and drove it 2200 miles home.

 

It sounds like you know all the things to check and of which to be aware. I say “yay”.
When you mention “decent tires”, I’m curious of the DOT numbers. I wouldn’t run almost a thousand miles one way on anything even close to being aged out. Do you know how old they are? Other than that, I think your 250 mile trip was a good practice run for your next big trip!

 

Pack yourself an emergency kit. Basic tools, extra belts and a spark plug wire or two, zip ties. And of course Duct tape.

 

I happened to see a number of C3's from the western US and Canada during a stop at the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY. They didn't appear to be trailer queens (a couple were actually using their luggage racks) and the drivers/spouses appeared to be having a grand time.

We also take ours on an annual summer jaunt across MI and is a much-anticipated yearly highlite. Put your mind to ease with validating the systems you mostly mentioned (tire age/inflation, all exterior lighting, brakes, wipers, and certainly the driveline). Consider adding a plug-in power point extender so that you can have both, a GPS and allow cell phone charging at the same time.
Finally, I've seen posts here by several of our C3 brethren who have done the same as you and are often driving further distances to visit National Parks. Some of them say that exchanging their spare tire for a 'fix-a-flat' can and a roadside kit (water-tight duffle bag with some basic tools and I forget the other real/perceived essentials) in the carrier brought them a peace of mind. Some of the top 3 trip feedback complaints that I have seen posted - along with some amazing pictures and broadly smiling faces - was when the spouse was not comfortable with a modified (stiff) suspension and a droning modified exhaust, or the couple of days when it rained hard as often happens - so heads up and let us know how your trip went!

 

Yah!

 

The GPS (my talking blonde in a box), is a good idea..hadn't thought of that.

Hmmm, what about using an actual Run-Flat spare, in the event the "flat" is beyond the capability of the "fix-a'flat" stuff?

Already have that done, including a tool kit. Some one suggested "Duct Tape".....funny

Heh, heh, heh, "spouse" ain't coming....does NOT like my Corvette at all...almost cause for divorce, me even getting it. The destination of the trip is Ham Radio related...something ELSE she doesn't like. Still, it is 'cheaper to keep her'

I'll be sure and do that....thanks for the advice and reminders.

 

Tires were only a year old when I bought the C3....White letter sport radials, better than 70% tread still left. Thanks for the reminder.
So far all yays and no nays,,,now I just gotta get through another Iowa winter

 

Just finished a 2500 mile trip in my '71. Solo, back roads, euphoric. Go for it.
Worst case scenario: a trip in the cab with the rollback guy. BTDT

 

If ya happen to pass through Central Arkansas, be sure to wave. I currently am Corvette less, but am in the process of negotiating a possible purchase of a '79 for my daughter- Daddy will enjoy it for two or three years before she is licensed. May even sell some ham radio equipment to better swing it..lol
De AC5RM

 

From my experience, the downsides of those adventurous C3 excursions is that it involves a respectable amount of time/money to get it all maintained and mechanically sound in a couple of areas. And, you have to deal with noticeable facial muscle pain (I’m serious - you don’t over-use those muscles, you’ll see for yourself) from the exhaustive smiling along the route. I’m not going to oversell it by endorsing the previous poster’s “euphoric” comment. But, I can’t argue with it either, because for some stretches, especially in fair weather and with smooth backroads, good music and no-T-tops , he is spot on. Won’t try to convince or explain. For me and my wife (who wants a vintage Mustang someday, well worth it.

 

I would check the oil on every fuel stop until you get a line on how the engine is doing at higher RPM 's on the highway. Common tools and a can of fix a flat. Other than that , Mississippi in the summer? better have air conditioning. 1mile or a 1,000 , the car was built to drive . just do it.

 

You're the second person to mention 'fix a flat' in a can. Has ANYONE had any experience with having a "run flat" as a spare? Or is it a silly thing to even contemplate? Then again, there IS a perfectly fine regular tire in the spare tire holder now. Why fix-a-flat?

I was intending on keeping the speed around or a bit under 65......not in any special hurry to get there. Air condx does NOT work....leak in the system somewhere....deemed too expensive to fix or modify to modern refrigerant. SIXTY-TWO has always worked for me in the past, with non AC cars....."sixty MPH, two windows down"

 

On the spare tire. A lot of vette guy's don't have a spare or like mine there is a spare but the lock is froze up and the tire is flat. Thus a can of fix a flat. Run flat tires are very expensive. I'd start saving up for a new a/c system. It will not only make that trip bearable but also driving anytime you get tired of the 62 breeze.

 

about that ..recently at a national track event for a certain vehicle, I witnessed the unwanted effects of what a "fix-a-flat" can do. Apparently the vehicles being tracked ( make/model redacted ) came with a factory style fix a flat can mounted securely in the rear trunk that underwent a build up of heat and vibration while running. The corner workers were heard over the headset saying there is a car that appears to be on fire rounding turn 7..black flagged it and called for the fire rescue truck...turns out the driver acknowledged the flag and continued driving around 8,9 and 10 and then entered pit lane unaware of the reason for the flag. When he came to a stop with all the rescue people scrambling, he still didn't realize the rear of his car was on fire.

In the end after further investigation, it turns out the can burst and the contents ignited and destroyed the rear end of his car, subsequently the track officials made everyone remove the can from its secured location.

I would rather pay for a tow and buy a new tire if needed than carry a small incendiary device under my fuel tank...

 

Go for it! In 2017 I did the entire Rt 66 run in my '69. One of the best road trips ever.

Regards,
Tom
W4ID

 

Do the trip,
But I would buy the wife an airline ticket and set her up with a spa day, and find her some shopping malls around where you will be staying.
With her there and some spending money in her pocket, the trip might work out better for both of you.

 

excellent...I looked at your photos of the trip and was hoping to have my car ready by late spring to do the round trip of the USA via Rt 66. Naturally I missed the cutoff time that I gave myself so that I would be sure to have adequate local driving shakedown runs and had to take my wife's Jeep instead. For the first time run of the route I was happier we took her car, we ran into a few wicked rainstorms that flooded out some parts of the road and a tornado hit in OKC. Plus I was able to do some off road exploring in the southwest which was awesome. We do plan to run it again to spend my time in the areas we enjoyed the most and hopefully this time the car will be ready. Long Island to Chicago to Santa Monica, then returned on the northern route through Montana, N Dakota and Wisconsin to home...7800 miles..

 

I’ve done two 3000+ mile trips in my 71’. Only issues I had was fouling a set of plugs while running it up in the mountains at 7000’, and one needle/seat got trash in it. Other then that, no issues. Both trips were during the summer heat, ran the AC the whole time. I did not bring a spare, I used the tire carrier for tools/parts/fluids. (I’m driving a 650hp big block so.....) As for tires, I had fresh BFGs installed before the first trip, used the same ones on the second trip. I did carry a plug kit, Green slime and a mini air compressor. Never had to use them.


My point?

Hop in your car and go, don’t worry...enjoy the thrill of the trip.

Just check the car out well before you leave, you’ll be fine. I would really inspect the tires, “decent” isn’t saying much. A friend of mine just blew a tire on his 74’ on the front and did $13k in damage... his tires were 10 years old.. So pay a lot of attention to your tires, if they are over 5 years old, then replace them.

Bring a cell phone and credit card. Don’t sweat the rest.

 

I drive my 79 about 600 miles round trip every spring to a car show in Myrtle Beach. Mine has the 3.70 gear and stock 4 speed, so I'm buzzing close to and sometimes over 4000 rpm the whole way on the interstate. Been doing it for years and only lost a water pump once, no big deal. Get in it and drive it! As others have said, I always have tools, and of course my cell phone and and debit card.