Do you think this car will make a 400 mile trip?

67Monaco said:
Watch those frickin PA cops. I got popped for speeding on a return trip to CT from buying front and rear glass on the OH-PA line. Cost me $125 in fees on top of the fine, plus $2 to pay it online. Two states I don't speed in, PA and VA. Though I hopefully won't see much of either in the future.
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It will cost you more now, thanks to our last govenor and his "transportation bill" I've got 5 more years in this purgatory.
 
70bigblockdodge said:
It will cost you more now, thanks to our last govenor and his "transportation bill" I've got 5 more years in this purgatory.
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Not that it isn't pretty there. And lord knows if I had to move back to that area I'd live in PA and commute before I moved back to Murderland, but Christ sake they know how to milk the citizenry for funds.
 
Big_John said:
Yea, just pretty much check the tires and the oil levels and go. Some basic tools are handy and it would surprise me if there wasn't already a spare ballast resistor in the glove box.

One very handy thing to have is a couple of antifreeze jugs. Fill one with water and leave the other empty. You can get gas with the empty one... Most gas stations don't have anything to lend out. A cell phone and a AAA card are your friends.
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Would you mind explaining to me what a ballast resistor is, how to tell if it is bad, and why they are needed? I know it has something to do with ignition. Are they a problemed part?
 
Jon O. said:
Would you mind explaining to me what a ballast resistor is, how to tell if it is bad, and why they are needed? I know it has something to do with ignition. Are they a problemed part?
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It's a white ceramic high wattage resistor mounted on the firewall that drops battery 12v down to about 8v to preserve your ignition coil (which is a relic from the days of 6v systems and points). In my many years of Mopars I've never actually had one fail, but the GM propaganda ministry has promoted this failure so often that even my grandmother would tell me to "keep a spare in your glovebox". IF it fails, you can bypass it for a while (keeping in mind you're stressing the coil) Because they are relatively cheap and probably the easiest part on a car to change short of putting the key in the ignition, everyone tries that if the car doesn't start.

Keep one if you want, but the hype is exaggerated.
 
When I bought my Newport it only had 61,000 miles on it, but I trailered it home from Pahrump, NV, to Bakersfield, CA. Less than 400 miles. The seller asked my why? I told him, "Because I know nothing about this car." I was glad I did: the cooling system was complete junk, the motor mounts shot, and the muffler was plugged due to a previous backfire.

It's up to you, but I would trailer it home and check it out before a long trip.
 
I did the same type of trip with my car when i bought it. 500+ miles from so-cal to nor-cal. All I did was wash it and vacuum it, plus new tires and a battery before hitting the road. On the drive up I realized the shocks were shot, so that made the drive less fun. Also, the motor mounts were broken and the turn signals didn't work.

So, I'd add those to your list of things to check out, along with the other good points members have already made here. Check all the lights too.

Good luck!
 
Jon O. said:
I just bought a 1972 Newport. It has been stored in a garage for its whole life. There is no rust on the body, or underneath. No tears in the upholstery either. It was never driven during the winter, and has 71,000 miles. If this car has a new oil change, and new tires, do you think it could make the 400 mile trip home? It has no mechanical issues.
Also, this is my first car that is more than 25 years old. How do I baby this car and make it last as long as it possibly can? My grandma used to own a 72 Newport "The Tank" as we called it, and she did explain to me that i'm going to be pouring gas into it all day. What kind of things should I bring in case of emergency on such a long trip?
I'm really looking forward to this car getting home. I remember when I was a little kid my grandma had a blue one, and in the back during a road trip, my sister could lay across the floor, my other sister lay across the seat, and I could lay across the window! They haven't made cars of that size in a long time.View attachment 144353
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Hey! Welcome to FCBO. The only other thing I would add to the already comprehensive list of Do's and Don'ts is to make the trip on local roads - rather than the interstates. Its easier on the car, and it's easier to get out of the road if you have trouble.
 
Drive it home and enjoy the trip your Dad is following you so you not alone. You'll be just fine. I've done 3- 16 hour round trips with my 69 at 75 mph this summer with no issues. These cars are made to cruise the hyway. Be prepared to answer a lot of questions about your ride along the way. Good luck and most importantly have fun !
 
Tire check

1. Black.

2. Round

Check the radio, helps with strange noises as long as the volume gets loud.
Get a phone, no reason to not have a phone for emergencies, except stubbornness.
 
A failed truck tire that caught on fire today burned a truck to the ground in Baltimore and caused I-95 to be F'd up all day long today.

Tractor-trailer fire blocks southbound traffic on I-95 in Howard County

$.jpg


800x450.jpg
 
Carmine said:
In my many years of Mopars I've never actually had one fail,
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I have had a few fail over the years. Always on daily drivers and never on limited use cars though.

It's a cheap piece to buy and toss in the glove box. I don't expect the local AutoZone has them on the shelf anymore and they do fail without warning, so keeping one in the car kinda makes sense. I was never one for keeping spare anything in the car, but I've started keeping a few spares to get me home, especially on a trip.

That said.... The ballast resistor gets blamed for a lot of problems and the first words out of someone's mouth is "ballast resistor" when the car is really just out of gas. Lot's of them get replaced "just 'cause" with no thought about what the real diagnosis is. The starter relay is next on that list....
 
Big_John said:
I have had a few fail over the years. Always on daily drivers and never on limited use cars though.

It's a cheap piece to buy and toss in the glove box. I don't expect the local AutoZone has them on the shelf anymore and they do fail without warning, so keeping one in the car kinda makes sense. I was never one for keeping spare anything in the car, but I've started keeping a few spares to get me home, especially on a trip.

That said.... The ballast resistor gets blamed for a lot of problems and the first words out of someone's mouth is "ballast resistor" when the car is really just out of gas. Lot's of them get replaced "just 'cause" with no thought about what the real diagnosis is. The starter relay is next on that list....
Click to expand...

That's cause people don't trouble shoot any more.
 
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