road trip vehicle prep.

[davidp14]

So, suppose I was planning on driving my 80 across the country next spring to say, Moab, UT. What are some thing you guys would check/ change to help ensure it gets there?

My 80 has a pretty solid baseline, (brakes, ignition, cooling, exhaust, fluids), but it does have the original engine with 184k miles on it and its 28yrs old.

I know a couple of you guys are thinking about a road trip soon too.

Lets hear about your prep plans.

 

[bkfj40]

Before we drove our 80 from Va to Idaho winter of ‘22&’23, I put a new radiator and all new hoses in it. Distributor o ring, plugs and wires. Day before we left, the alternator went out and I also replaced the battery at the same time Then drove, and drove and drove. God it took forever. 3 days. That ol cruiser didn’t miss a beat. One morning in Kansas it was -23 on the thermometer. Drove the 200 back from idaho. Went out there after the 4th of July this year. Hooked up the battery, and that ol 80 fired right up after sitting outside all winter

 

[davidp14]

Thanks bk! I know you you make that trip a bunch so you're input is definitely welcome. (When can I come do some fishing out there?). I've done all those things you mentioned already, I'm reasonably confident she'll make it. I just am hoping someone will remind me of a few things I may have forgotten.

 

[matzell]

Swap out the tires before the trip to those stockers you have. We can mount and balance them at the shop and I can load up your 37's in the trailer.....OR you can install some gears in it! If you can swing the gears it will be good all the time with the 37's.

 

[davidp14]

I'm going to try to find a decent set of at 33s to ride out there with. @FamilyCamper is putting my 100 stockers on his rescue build.

 

[matzell]

I'm going to try to find a decent set of at 33s to ride out there with. @FamilyCamper is putting my 100 stockers on his rescue build.

I would go with stockers or 265's. More power!!!

 

[BlueCruiser84]

Like everyone else far said. Hoses, belts and fluids. General tuneup. Make sure no big leaks. Everything else is in the hands of the Cruiser Gods.

Go ahead and regear. That will make the real mountains a lot better.

 

[davidp14]

Thanks guys.
Rcv's and regear are both on the list. Not sure if I'll get to both. I think rcv's are a priority and 33s for the road may have to solve the regear problem. Two problems really. I don't want to chew up the 37s before I get there.

I'm also probably going to get extended rear lower control arms to help with some minor rubbing and pinion angle.

I've got a fairly new cooling system and I'm going to pull the rad a clean the mud out and refill it and the block with new coolant. Plugs are less than 8k mi old as well as wires, dist. And rotor. I have a new denso starter that ill install along with new battery wires. The alt was replaced about a year ago.
I just got a new fuel pressure regulator for cheap. I'll put that in, hopefully it will help with a long crank issue that I've pretty much always had. Ive considered replacing the fuel pump as a PM. But denso units seem to be hard to find.

 

[captainva]

I have 2 sets of 33s and need to get rid of one

 

[captainva]

 

[davidp14]

Check yer nuts !

 

[Beach80]

Thanks guys.
Rcv's and regear are both on the list. Not sure if I'll get to both. I think rcv's are a priority and 33s for the road may have to solve the regear problem. Two problems really. I don't want to chew up the 37s before I get there.

I'm also probably going to get extended rear lower control arms to help with some minor rubbing and pinion angle.

I've got a fairly new cooling system and I'm going to pull the rad a clean the mud out and refill it and the block with new coolant. Plugs are less than 8k mi old as well as wires, dist. And rotor. I have a new denso starter that ill install along with new battery wires. The alt was replaced about a year ago.
I just got a new fuel pressure regulator for cheap. I'll put that in, hopefully it will help with a long crank issue that I've pretty much always had. Ive considered replacing the fuel pump as a PM. But denso units seem to be hard to find.

I see you are getting close to 200k miles, timing belt, waterpump ect need to be done?

 

[davidp14]

No timing belt but I replaced the water pump, t stat , front main, oil pump seal, fan, clutch, rad and a bunch of other stuff already.

 

[Beach80]

No timing belt but I replaced the water pump, t stat , front main, oil pump seal, fan, clutch, rad and a bunch of other stuff

How are you for temperature gauges, transmission, engine coolant? Transmission cooler?

 

[davidp14]

How are you for temperature gauges, transmission, engine coolant? Transmission cooler?

I have a scan gauge that shows ect and a whole bunch of other stuff but not trans temps. Not a bad idea to look into getting one

 

[Beach80]

I have a scan gauge that shows ect and a whole bunch of other stuff but not trans temps. Not a bad idea to look into getting one

I have wholesale automatic transmission temperature gauge kit. Though, ignorance can be bliss. Lol

 

[Beach80]

I have a scan gauge that shows ect and a whole bunch of other stuff but not trans temps. Not a bad idea to look into getting one

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