Just read the title again and realize that this can be interpreted many ways.
Anyhoo. Flying into Raleigh/Durham this weekend and driving my "new" 91 back to Michigan. I have done the "fly in and drive home" a couple of times in the past but with tighter airline restrictions I'm not sure what to look out for from the TSA.
I am traveling light as I don't want to wait for checked baggage so I am including a small tool kit in my bag. It includes a small LED flashlight, clean rag, duct tape, pliers and one of those ratchet handle tools that has small sockets and short screwdriver tips that snap into the tool..
Nothing that could realistically be used as a weapon.
I'm thinking that I will explain what I am doing to the TSA person at the gate and hope they let me through. Otherwise I will have to stop at a WalMart on the way home and buy the same setup after I pick the car up.
I will probably pick up a can of fix-a-flat at my first gas stop as I know they won't let you fly with that stuff!
Any bad experiences out there for any of you?
The car owner is a former fighter pilot and the original owner. He has been up front as to any problems with the car so I am confident in my ability to make it home. Storms should have cleared out by the time I make my way home too.
I'll take pics and try not to tell too many lies about my adventure when I return.
The highlight of my last C4 purchase was when I stopped at a Waffle House in Georgia on my way home with my pristine red LT4 vert. It seems that the Georgia State lottery had just given away a new red C6 convertible as one of the top prizes and it was all over the news.
When I pulled into the lot the car looked so good that everyone came outside to ask if I had just won the lotto!
My waitress said, "I don't know where you're going honey, buy I want to go with you!"
It had to be the car cause I am an overweight, balding grandfather of 10 and by no stretch of the imagination can I be considered a ladie's man.
Life's a hoot isn't it?

 

I think your covered on the "flying with tools" thing. If the airline & TSA don't like what you are carrying, they will just tag it and put it in cargo.

Good luck on the flight and drive back. Sounds like an adventure.

 

I work for MAC Tools and fly with tools very often. You can NOT have them in your carry on if they can be used as a weapon (I know pretty stupid, when was the last time a plane was hijacked with a pair of pliers). However, anything pointy like a screwdriver or a circuit tester will get tossed at security.

To be safe, I just check my bag, then it's no issue at all.

 

Ron, you will more than likely have to "check" those tools.
Since you don't plan on having any checked baggage, if I were you I would just stop at the first Wal-Mart or Auto parts store and pick up that small assortment you listed.

 

Suggestion:

If you have enough time before you depart UPS or Priority Mail your tool kit to the sellers home.

 

I agree. Based my my work/travel experiences, they have full discression to call something a weapon, and if it exceeds 6 inches in length, they can confiscate it also. I lost a $50 digital dial caliper because it could be a weapon in their eyes.
I was sure to break it before giving it up.

 

Here is a partial list of prohibited items.
I am sure it's not a complete listing, and as Pete pointed out they have the authority to make judgment calls. You will not be able to argue with them, they won't even listen.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...ted-items.shtm

 

I'd leave them home and pick up new ones. Why risk having them thrown away.

 

checking baggage in is not the end of the world...due to the nature of my work, I always check in baggage so I'm used to it.

believe me, a trip to Walmart will be far more traumatic than waiting 10 minutes for your bag.

 

Flying with tools, I thought you meant my co-workers

Jim

 

or whatever

 

Thanks for the advice. I'm kind of OCD and impatient. I just know my flight will be late and I have no confidence that the bag will transfer to the correct flight at Ohare. Our luggage ended up in Mexico a couple of years ago when we went to Las Vegas. That sucked.
I will only take the flashlight, duct tape and the cheap pliers. Then a stop at Wal Mart on the way back. In fact, I am driving an Enterprise rental from Raleigh Durham airport and dropping it off at another Enterprise lot in Goldsboro, NC. Enterprise is charging me an extra $75 for a drop fee to do this as the seller is unable to pick me up at the airport. I'm sure I will find a Sears, Pep Boys, Wal Mart somewhere on the way there. Besides, who desn't need more wrenches?
Did I mention that the seller is knocking $500 off the agreed price to help me with expenses? I hope the car turns out to be as nice as the owner.

 

Will you be getting pounded by that big blizzard in MI tonight or tomorrow?
Hope they have the roads cleared for your drive home.

 

I think there are Winter Storm warnings for the west and north part of the state, be careful driving.

 

Forecast is rain and low 50s in N Carolina then cooling off but dry in Indiana and lower Michigan where I will be on Sunday.

 

Thanks. Those should clear out by this weekend.

 

Soon as I get home I am taking off the wheels and tires and putting on the new C5 wheels and tires I bought.
I have already sold the original wheels to a Forum member in New Mexico and the GS D3s that are on it now to a Forum member in Alpena, Michigan. The seller assured me that the tires have enough tread on them for another few thousand miles.
I then plan to dyno it in its stock condition sometime in January when we have a day with dry roads. This will set a base line. I purchased a set of aftermarket runners, aftermarket base and 52mm throttle body from Forum members here and will send those to Corvette Plenums in New Jersey to have them cnc ported. The owner of Corvette Plenums is cutting me a deal as we will try to get an article published in Corvette Enthusiast magazine of what his mods will do on a stock L98.
I will then run another dyno test and publish the results. Next are plans to port the stock heads, do a PCMforless tune and install headers and low restriction exhaust and install a Lingenfelter 219 cam to see what else we can get out of her.
Should be interesting!
I MUST be able to keep up with my West Michigan Crew brethren and sisters and their C5s!

 

That will make an awesome thread

 

Good idea!

 

Glad to hear you'll be back in the drivers seat Ron. Have a safe trip. Don't forget the camera so you can take some pictures for us.