If you were taking a long road trip in an 84 TA with an engine of questionable origin, and you could only bring three replacement parts for the trip, which three would give you the most peace of mind?

 

There isn't much that will go wrong with a carbed SBC. I would maybe bring some fluids and some wire/tape with hand tools to rig the cooling fan up when the relay goes.

That would be about the only concern I would have.

 

A belt(s). They are cheap, light, small spares to carry.

 

A completely new/rebuilt distributor plugs/wires
Fuel pump and filter
waterpump/ hoses
Alternator and belts (esp for those old V-belt cars)
Tools to fix all of that, fluids, tape, wire, fuses and a lightweight aluminum Jack.
I know its more than 3 but that's what I take, (even more) better safe than sorry.

 

Bring the parts you're going to need later anyway- tune-up parts, basically. Plugs, wires, cap, rotor, coil, fuel filter.

FLUIDS is the only thing I'd add. ALL OF THEM, in generous amounts, and some hefty jumper cables. Parts you can buy anywhere. But you still need to limp a bleeding vehicle to the next exit to buy them!

Obviously, bring your whole tool box, too. Having the parts needed for repair means nothing without the tools to install them.

I picked up my old beat-to-crap 1990 Chevy 454SS pickup and drove it from Virginia Beach to my house near Philly with a rod knock and a leaky water pump. The water pump got fixed along the way (glad I brought plenty of water- those trucks hold a LOT of coolant in the radiator). The increasingly loud bearing knock, which started as I was going over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel.... well, that got some thick 20W50 oil at first. When that wasn't doing the trick I poured rear end gear lube in the engine. Laugh if you want, but it made it home almost 300 miles, sounding better pulling in than it did pulling out.

 

Radiator cap, top & bottom hoses, coupla gallons each of water and anti-freeze

Socket set, wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, razor blade

 

A multi tool, some wire, zip ties, tape, and check on adding towing to your insurance.

 

I wouldn't bring those because I would do that first before the trip

I would add a roll of electrical tape to that list as well.

In my 86 I keep a bit driver with Phillips, flat, hex and torx bits included, wire ties, a cheap 5 in 1 crimper/wire stripper, electrical tape and a couple of crescent wrenches in the rear storage box at all times. I usually don't take long trips with it so those would get me buy for a temporary fix.

 

3 bags of cash ,should cover it!!!

 

Radiator hoses (top and bottom) and a spare belt(s)

plus some basic tools(including electrical tape AND duct tape)

 

Duct tape, cell phone, and a triple-A card. That's my story and I'm sticking to it...

RBob.

 

 

Get your self some rescue tape.

 

Well I do have a spare alternator and Triple A..... The first few miles are the worst, psychologically.

 

Good thread! Going to be taking a 1400 mile, one-way trip next summer. I plan on bringing two tool boxes.

Box 1: Electrical repair (Wire, strippers, crimps, tape, dikes-diagonal cutters)

Box 2: Hand tools, socket set with all the common ones I know I'll use, screw drives, couple wrenches, torx set.

Last item is spare parts (I count them as one item)
A spare serp belt, jug of extra coolant, quart of oil, bottle each of brake and power steering fluid.

I also have AAA in addition to the towing coverage on my insurance.

 

There it is. Everything you need. You all forgot one important thing though. Don't forget to take your significant other.

 

haha, good point.

 

Ha! We're moving and she'll be driving the other vehicle. I will have the kids though.

 

How about a skateboard or bicycle to keep from walking.

 

I assume its carbed? Fuel filter, mechanical fuel pump, spark plugs, and an ignition module. As others have stated, extra fluids/jumper cables. Lastly, before you drive off, check the parking brake and the tires. Brake seals, lines, and tires don't seem to like sitting much and I would hate to find out later if they failed that the parking brake wasn't working.

 

I know this sounds odd, but I speak from experience.... withdraw $60 CASH. When I went to go buy my car we were out in the middle of nowhere and the tank hit E in my friend's Camaro (and as many of you know.. that means your candy-*** better be pulling up to a gas station).

We made it there just in the nick of time... and then it hit us. This place had NO credit/debit machines and only accepted cash. Podunk middle of nowhere with absolutely no cellphone reception.. bad news all over. Needless to say I don't think I've ever scrounged for change out of a car like that in my life. Thank God he had change all over his floors randomly because we were 2 hours away and needed every bit of it.

 

You may have overlooked the "fourth ingredient" of the road service emergency kit - A supply of your favorite beverage to tide you over while you wait for the mounties to show up and tow it away.

In short, not every contingency can be anticipated. Good preparation, like getting current on required maintenance and repair, is probably the best that can be done.

 

As an afterthought, it never hurts to carry a fire extinguisher.

 

I did a 10,000 mile roadtrip from Maryland to the Yukon to Texas two years ago in a carbed '87 Firebird.

The things I carried:
1. Spare Ignition module, coil, and belts. These are the DRT items that are going to shut you down. Most other problems can be limped home. I drove from British Columbia to Texas with no cooling fan, but you're not going to make it 200ft if your coil shorts out.
2. 1 qt Motor Oil, 1 qt trans fluid, and water. I grew up in the desert, so I always carry water. Your motor will run on it, and you can drink it. Win-win situation. You can get by without the other fluids for a bit, but you need these (and a funnel to put them in).
3. Tools. I have a bag with metric wrenches from 7mm-22mm, sockets from 5mm-22mm, and 1/4" and 3/8" ratchet wrenches with assorted adapters and extensions. Also have an assortment of screwdrivers, pliers, and electrical tools as others have mentioned. Throw some rags and a set of coveralls to keep yourself clean. My Navy issued poopy suit has been doing me a great service for years in this regard.
4. Oil Filter Wrench (Craftsman plier type). If you've ever changed the oil on a SBC with a T56 swap, you're not going to get it done with a band type filter wrench. I do my oil changes in route, usually using a base auto hobby shop.

Before you leave, give the vehicle a good service. Check your coolant hoses, check your brake pads, and check all of your fluids and pressures. Open up the rear compartment and check your tire pressure on the spare also. Don't forget to make sure you have all the parts to your jack, and the tool for the locking lug nuts.

Long distance road trips in old vehicles is a passion of mine. I drove from Annapolis to Fort Nelson, B.C. to Ozona, TX in my '87 bird. My Suburban has been from East Texas to Colorado and back (with some side trips over the divide on jeep trails). Then I turned around and drove it to Virginia, took a detour to Toronto, moved all my stuff to Florida, and round trip to West Texas and back again. It's my workhorse. I just finished a trip from Pensacola, FL to San Diego, CA and back (with lots of detours) in my '91 BMW back in June. Make sure your vehicle is in tip top shape before you leave, and be intimately familiar with its mechanical and electrical systems. I've been stuck before, but never stranded. I've swapped coils and modules on the side of the road, changed an electric fuel pump in a Tucson, AZ campground while coyotes watched, and taken pictures of buffaloes for hours on end while I waited for traffic to lighten up enough to get going with no cooling fan in Yellowstone, but I've never been stranded. Proper prior planning makes all the difference.

 

gallons of water and stop-leak

 

Watch Roadkill on youtube. Those guys have all kinds of trouble.

 

You ain't kidding. The stuff they go through. Also if you check out some of the videos the Power Tour repair crew post up you will see some interesting break downs as well.

We had a scary moment out in Wyoming where we got off the expressway on fumes, the station had closed 15 minutes before we got there, it was Saturday and they were closed until Monday, in the middle of nowhere and according to the exit sign it was 60 miles to the next station. Happened upon a native American that "guided" us to the nearest station, only 10 miles away. This station wasn't advertised on the highway because it was a Casino on a reservation. That was scary for a brief moment.

 

Definitely take an ignition module, some fuses, and electrical tools/connectors.

 

I take:
- alternator
- good used dizzy and one long plug wire
- elect tape
- serp belt take off.