Preparation for long trips

[Pomorza]

Well I've decided that I'm going to take the Z. I've spent way too much time and money on this lovely car not to take it on the road. I can only think of two possible (<insert Murphy here>) things going wrong and that is either the front cover leaking coolant (mine is eaten away and well I siliconed the hell out of it, I have a spare so I'm taking that with me) or the dizzy dying again. (or the heater core exploding, that could always happen) I'm taking it in next week for a 96 point insepction and to fill the fluids again. Unless they find something absurdly wrong with the Z, I'm pretty positive I'm taking her to Cali. I'll post some pics and we'll go from there. If all else fails I'm sure I could replace parts on the side of the road.

Here's the list of things I plan on taking

- quart of oil

- coolant

- brake fluid (everything is new but...murphy)

- my entire cobalt ratchet set, screw drivers, pliers, silcone and really any other tool I can fit

- spare front cover (and waterpump gasket)

- Spare belt (though mine is relatively new, hose clamps in case the heater decides to die)

- Computer (for tuning and monitoring the temps)

- Camera (for pictures)

- crap loads of food and water

- a jack (the stock one is nice but I like to be safe)

I sadly don't have a radio in my Z - not like I would listen to it anyway - the Z sounds great.

If anyone can think of anything else let me know.

Jan

Edited December 8, 2012 by Pomorza

[240260280z]

Purposefully change your seating position as you go to change the pressure points and muscle groups. Tilting back and sliding on rails are all ya' got but use them every few hours.

[zbane]

My humble addition to the list is a can of Fix-A-Flat. Sure, you've got a spare, but...

Also, whenever I take a long drive, I pour a can of Seafoam into the tank before the initial fill up. Figure I might as well let it do it's magic on a steady drive.

Two other things I try to do: When the fuel tank is getting close to half full, I start looking for a station-especially if I know I'm approaching an extended length of nothingness.

Make yourself stop every few hours at a rest stop (or gas station) and get yourself walking around for 10-15 minutes. It may seem counter productive to do so, if time is on your mind, but it really does help stave off fatigue.

[Stanley]

Please try the 60, off the 10 after Palm springs, over the hill and down to Riverside. That part of the 10 is boring. The uphill part of the 60 westbound is 2 to 4 lanes undivided and can be a bit slow here and there, but downhill it turns into 4 lanes divided. Where traffic is light you can safely hit a hundred down the mountain - perfect road for a Z. Once I found the 60 never took the 10 again.

[Pomorza]

Please try the 60, off the 10 after Palm springs, over the hill and down to Riverside. That part of the 10 is boring. The uphill part of the 60 westbound is 2 to 4 lanes undivided and can be a bit slow here and there, but downhill it turns into 4 lanes divided. Where traffic is light you can safely hit a hundred down the mountain - perfect road for a Z. Once I found the 60 never took the 10 again.

That was the plan to begin with, I'm going to go down till I hit the 1, if I'm going to drive to SF I might as well see the Pacific right? I don't know if going through the dead center of LA is a good idea (if anyone knows let me know, but I'm guessing not).

Thanks

Jan

[Stanley]

10 to the 60, 60 to 91, 91/Artesia to 405, 405 back to 10, 10 to PCH (1). Went to Glendale last week (for a new used hood for the old chevy) over 7 freeways,what a nightmare, even late morning/early afternoon. Anything Eastbound is bad except very early morning, 10:30 am to 1 pm & after 9:00 pm.

Might want to check out Neptune's Nest at LA/Ventura county line, barbacue oyster place central coast somewhere, all you can eat barbacue at Big Sur, etc., etc...

[Wade Nelson]

A permanent Road Trip forum? How about it moderators?

I'm currently caring for an elderly father. When he passes, I plan to do a once-in-a lifetime road trip. Some of it in an RV, some on motorcycle, and some in my ZX.

So what are your favorite blue highways? What backroads are simply NOT to be missed?

I know the back road from Memphis to Little Rock, I plan to backtrack and hit that one. Parallels 40.

Tell me about YOUR ultimate road trip. What places do YOU intend to see when you get the time, and $ to hit the road?

[psdenno]

Please try the 60, off the 10 after Palm springs, over the hill and down to Riverside. That part of the 10 is boring. The uphill part of the 60 westbound is 2 to 4 lanes undivided and can be a bit slow here and there, but downhill it turns into 4 lanes divided. Where traffic is light you can safely hit a hundred down the mountain - perfect road for a Z. Once I found the 60 never took the 10 again.

I've driven HWY 60 for over 30 years - including twice a day for a few years. It's also the route taken by hay hauling trucks. Cruising it at night and coming upon a semi load of dumped hay bales strewn all over the road increases the "pucker factor" considerably while slaloming between them. Saying you can "safely hit a hundred down the mountain" is probably not totally accurate.

Dennis

[Pomorza]

Well ladies and gents

The inevidable has happened. This afternoon I was driving the Z to my brothers place and long and behold I started smelling coolant. I arrived at my brothers to find that the waterpump had sprung a leak (er more like a gyser) where it mates to the front cover. I pulled the pump off and found that the silicone I had used to fill in the part of my cover that was eaten away (by electrolysis I'm supposing) had broken free. I was able to flush it out of the block with some water (luckily) but I'm going to have to replace my front cover. Since I have finals (college) and work this whole week I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to rent a car to drive to San Fransisco. It sadens me deeply but in the long run I'm sure its for the best.

I was thinking of siliconing the hell out of the front cover again (which is what I ended up doing anyway so I can get to school and work, its holding, for now) but I don't really want it to giveway haflway to Cali in the middle of the desert. While fixing a front cover on the side of the road sounds like a great time I don't think an engine lift will fit. That and I don't cars driving by at 80mph will make the whole area all that clean. (I'm sure all L motors love some dirt in the gears right? ).

Thanks for all the suggests and I hope that in the future (when I get a new front cover in the Z) that I'll be able to make that trip again. I'm sure its going to be awesome.

Thanks all

Jan

[EScanlon]

Does anyone have a spare front cover?

Not looking to merge the "Pay it forward" thread and this, but it's the right time of the season....

I don't have one, otherwise I'd volunteer it.

E

[Pomorza]

Does anyone have a spare front cover?

Not looking to merge the "Pay it forward" thread and this, but it's the right time of the season....

I don't have one, otherwise I'd volunteer it.

E

Oh don't worry I have a spare, I got it about a while ago I just haven't had the time to put the damn thing in. (and to be honest I haven't really felt like disassmebling have the car to fix one thing, in retrospect I should have done it)

Thanks for the offer though guys

Jan

[Stanley]

I've driven HWY 60 for over 30 years - including twice a day for a few years. It's also the route taken by hay hauling trucks. Cruising it at night and coming upon a semi load of dumped hay bales strewn all over the road increases the "pucker factor" considerably while slaloming between them. Saying you can "safely hit a hundred down the mountain" is probably not totally accurate.

Dennis

Right - Don't outdrive the headlights.