Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

Hi
I have a 34 fordor deluxe
Just redoing some of the car now and rebuilding the factory 21 stud flathead.
I want to take a long trip in the car in August,September from Alberta ,Canada to Oregon coast area then to San Francisco then back home.
The car will be pretty much stock, to include motor, tranny,brakes and diff.
I am planning to install 3.54 gears or 3.25 gears in the rear.
I plan on taking spare parts, just not sure what that list might include.
And would like to mark or know of a few clubs, shops, etc. along the way in case I run into trouble.
Any body running either gear ? What I can expect ?
Also I am well versed in mechanics , restoration , repair, but more of the muscle car era, not so much in the 34 or flat head era.
And not that well versed in the area I am travelling, other than I have covered some of the same area in a vette several years ago.
Any input would be much appreciated
Thanks in advance

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

If you belong to the Early Ford V-8 Club be sure to take your roster along in the event you need help from a fellow V-8er along the way. Not sure why you want to go to San Francisco, but if it is for simple tourism I would avoid it. I am 50 miles north of SF and I haven't been there since the mid 90s. You will enjoy the Oregon coast route and it's a beautiful drive.

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

I'd pack all the obvious small parts like fuel filter, plugs etc, but I've been building a trip kit which includes a rebuilt carb and distributor. In the past 5 years I have had trouble with condensors and accelerator pumps, so an extra of those parts by themselves makes easy repair. About a half hour after you pass through Bellingham, take a right turn onto Highway 20 and follow signs to San Juan Islands ferry terminal. We'll leave a light on.

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

Thanks I will join up was at one time, wanted to go to Alcatraz

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

I think they still do tours to Alcatraz. I believe the tours are out of San Rafael. To do the tour you will not need to get into San Francisco. A once beautiful city has turned into a crime infested dump. It's a shame.

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

Take a couple platinum cards, you never know.

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

You will find the Oregon coast to be extraordinarily beautiful. On crossing into California, you won't see much of the coast due to the roadway being away from the coast for many miles, but still much nicer than the inland route which will be hard on your cooling system and your choice of differential gearing.

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

I do Lots on miles in my 33 and 34
a lot away from main areas.
On board I have, rebuilt and timed distributor and coil, spare fuel pump, water pump, some generator parts,' condenser.carb gasket set, spare ignition resister
most trips never need any,
my 34 has the stock rabbit engine,3,34 gears and is a pleasure to tour in. but be prepared for no quick stops as lots of people want to talk.
Lawrie

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

Awesome thanks so much !!!don’t be surprised if I do ,

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

Awesome ok thanks……that’s to bad seems like so many bigger places tat is the way

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

Haha good idea , time I’m finished with the car build, might be lucky to have gas money

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

Thanks good to know , hope to get some driving in before the trip so I get a feel for what the car is capable of .

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

I’m not familiar with how good the flatties cool or don’t cool , I am going to put the best rad I can in , kicking around the idea of electric fan ? Thoughts ? Maybe convert to 12:volt or run a 8 volt battery ….any thoughts on that much appreciated

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

Thanks that is great info and good to know , I was thinking very similar on a parts list 3.34 great what do you run down the hwy at for mph ?

Like your front engine digger pick, I also have one, one I use to run about 38 years ago just restoring it also.

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

Get the best AAA coverage for towing miles. I have RV and motorcycle, the latter I have. Also get some tow straps after reading this thread.
There will be a lot of climbing so I'd be happier with the 3:54 gearing.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...ght=tow+straps

Glenn

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

The dist and carb type stuff are your biggest risks. Test drive your car, and make sure the water temp is not climbing. If it is questionable before you leave home it will not get any better. Put on a new fanbelt. If ya have a hub puller of any sort throws that in the trunk, with the gallon jugs of water mentioned above.

Adjust your brakes, check the air in your spare tire. I bet you will be fine.

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

Thanks Glenn, good read and a good point worth noting for sure, ok I think 3.54 s might be a good choice with the low hp and torque . Is going down the hwy at 60 mph feasible for the combination ?
Thanks

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

Thanks Gene I was going to take a spare carb , I thought about running electronic ignition or taking a spare distributor . I am hoping I can get it sorted so I’m not having to haul water .
Thanks

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

If you do convert to electronic ignition, a spare distributor becomes a necessity (one with points). This has been proven too many times.

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

I would stay with the stock IGN setup,
cooling, make sure your rad is in good nick.
Both my old fords will run at 55 -60 mph all day in sometimes 44C and once 47,no drama
My 33 tows a caravan all over our vast country, no drama
Remember, they are built FORD tough,
Lawrie

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

Oh ok maybe I should not then if that’s the case , if it has been proven then I will stick with points……sometimes an upgrade …..is not a upgrade

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

Have a good spare tire and an extra tube.
Get an axle jack, and a piece of plywood to set it on if not on concrete, and try it out at home before you leave.
Extra water pumps and a set of inch, not metric, tools.
Take a flashlight, a tub of hand cleaner, and a large cardboard box folded up to lay on when you get out and under,

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

Love the pictures and thanks for the information , my flathead is currently a 34. Block and .080 over which I think the clearance is fine ……..but now I’m wonder if the over bore might be a heat factor .

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

Thanks all good ideas thank you

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

Things I or friends have needed while out on the road.

Head gasket.
Cotter pins.
Fuel filter.
Gear oil.
Points.
Thermostats.
Condensers.
Tire irons.
Tow rope.
Jumper cables.
Cable ties.
Electrical wire.
Carb float.
Axle key.
rotor arm
distributor cap.
Plug lead

In my case the thermostat failed which caused the head gasket to blow. I now have mech temp gauges on both sides.

One more thing is to make sure the wheel nuts are not over tightened so you can undo them with your travelling tools.

Make sure your axle nuts are very tight.

Make sure any spares have been tested (used on the car) beforehand.

Lots and lots of other things but the above have been needed at some time by people I know or by myself.

Mart.

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

Thanks that is some good info I like the idea of two temp gauges also , thanks for the list, car does have a potters box and nobody in the back seat so can take some spare parts and luggage .thanks again for the input

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

I packed a large suitcase with extra parts, it was so damn heavy i could hardly lift it in and out of the car, and of course all luggage was packed on top of it so the whole car had to be unloaded to get to it. I carried this anchor with me in all my trips zig zagging across these United States, and used maybe 4 or 5 small parts out of it in all my travel years.
Bottom line, don't get carried away with packing heavy generators & starters, but yes, DO carry an extra axle. You're not going to rebuild a carb or a distributor on the road, so take rebuilt units, and don't forget several condensers.

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

Denny I actually laughed out loud for real when I read this because the second I read the post about electronic ignition I couldn't wait to respond similarly and there you were. Right on it!

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

What Lawrie says is pretty much what I carry in my '50 sedan, and although I have driven it over 50,000 miles across these US states, The only thing I have needed was a piston in Kansas and I didn't pack that!

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

Haha that sounds about right the parts will be at the bottom of everything and will more than likely be the part I didn’t bring …..Thanks for the info , are they known for going through axle ? …..was not planning on an axle ..haha…..

Also I will become a member of the early ford v8 club so maybe I will have a few contacts along the way if I need to find something that I didn’t bring along.

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

I am glad I got some feedback on that and didn’t waste money and time by the sounds of it ….thx again

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

That’s great to hear of that many miles being put on gives me some hope that I may be able to pull this off, with this era of car and a flathead etc. I have not had much experience with this era of car on a long trip , so should be interesting. Thanks

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

If you did things right, you'll be fine. When these cars were new, folks thought nothing of taking off and going on long trips. Any bad reputation they now have is due to the fact that for the last 60 years, the have been abused and neglected with the accompanying results. Most of them soldiered on anyway.

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

Reminds me of when I bought my original '41 Mercury with a tired engine. I built a 1950 Merc engine for it, put a few miles on it and headed from NY to Texas with no spare parts. Blew a head gasket in OK, middle of nowhere. Sent a buddy I had with me to a town hitchhiking, he returned with a new gasket, we installed (I had tools!), dipped water out of a stream with a hubcap to refill radiator, started her up and went on our way. Had no more trouble. After a time ended up selling car to same buddy.

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

These era fords are as reliable as , in the last three trip late last year, I did about 15000Ks in my 28A, 33 and 34,
no drama
Lawrie

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

Thanks for the info , I will try and go over everything with a fine tooth comb and with some pointers fro you guys will give me a heads up going in.
Thx

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

Haha thanks that’s a good story, I will make sure I have a few tools and make sure I bring a little creativity to haha, thanks !!

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

Nice ! That’s awesome to hear the amount miles you put on , well I am definitely more excited that this is all more feasible
Thanks !!

Re: Things I should Know-long trip planned
 

I follow the antique car trip version of Murphy's law: if I have it with me I won't need it. I carry a spare carburetor, fuel pump, water pump, generator, regulator, points, condenser, cap, rotor, spark plugs, coolant, engine oil, gear oil, tools, jack, and a big 4 way lug nut wrench. So far my theory has worked, I have driven 60,000 miles, give or take a few thousand, and my rear axle is what broke! Drove the car home after calling local V8 Club members and getting help (one member cleared his car port and helped wrench on my car, the other club member donated a third member for my axle).


Test driving your car first is crucial. I also believe in the 5, 50, 500 mile theory of antique car reliability. Drive 5 miles, and fix what goes wrong. When 5 miles provides no more drama start driving 50 miles at a time and fix what goes wrong. When 50 miles provides no more drama start driving 500 miles at a time and fix what goes wrong. When 500 miles provides no more drama you have a reliable car.