JohnRW1621 wrote:¯\_(ツ)_/¯ wrote: In reply to JohnRW1621: Also no fuel gauge. We may attempt to charge the AC, and I'd like to hook up the oil pressure idiot light.It is so old that it may require genuie R12 rather than the new Ra134.
You know there are drop-in R12 replacements, like R437a.
Well nvm, you wont be cutting through my hood.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ wrote:EvanB wrote: Did you get it for close to scrap price or was the seller dumb and insisting on scrapping it if he didn't get $1500?The seller is cool and thinks this is the best idea ever. Price is still a little bit up in the air, will be based on what we see when we're actually standing in front of it.
I would plan on doing any negotiating now. Once you've flown to him, he's got you on the hook for the whole asking price IMO.
Good luck!
In reply to 2002maniac:
BullberkeleyingE36 M3- LA craigslist is a gold mine, I'm not worried 
Route 66 might be great and all that. Me. I prefer the less traveled northern routes. I would be trying to head up to I80 for a straight shot into Chicago. Even further north to 90 is I had time to kill and I liked driving the heap.
Enjoy the adventure, no matter what happens, you will have a campfire story for the rest of your life.
If you come through Tulsa, let a guy know, we can meet up for food/beer(s)!!
Good Luck!
This is pure awesome.
gearheadmb wrote: Turn the trip into a book. Im thinking something like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, only with more drugs.
When you expecting to be in Chicago?
awesome. good luck.
Oh, and if you buy the car, stop and buy a starter solenoid on the way out of town. The fender mount ones are a common failure point.
Speaking of points - get a spare set if it's still running points. Or a spare ignition module if it's electronic. Either is prone to heat-driven failure and cheap to carry a spare.
Speaking of heat - take lots of water if you are driving the desert in an old possibly unreliable car in the summer. Seriously.
Speaking of seriously...That seriously looks like fun.
mtn wrote: When you expecting to be in Chicago?
Mid to late week of 8/10.
ultraclyde wrote: Oh, and if you buy the car, stop and buy a starter solenoid on the way out of town. The fender mount ones are a common failure point. Speaking of points - get a spare set if it's still running points. Or a spare ignition module if it's electronic. Either is prone to heat-driven failure and cheap to carry a spare. Speaking of heat - take lots of water if you are driving the desert in an old possibly unreliable car in the summer. Seriously. Speaking of seriously...That seriously looks like fun.
Starter solenoid is the only one of those that wasn't already on the list. Thanks!
My brother drove a '62 falcon from California to SLC, Utah a few years ago. I had to go rescue him in Vegas when the 12v Generator caught fire. Apparently driving for a few hours with the headlights on and a phone charger plugged into the cigarette lighter was enough to fry it. We found an old coot with an electric shop who had the internal parts on hand and was able to rebuild it while we got lunch. Breakdowns are just part of the adventure.
I'm feeling the need for a Roadkill style trip myself...
JohnRW1621 wrote:¯\_(ツ)_/¯ wrote: In reply to JohnRW1621: Also no fuel gauge. We may attempt to charge the AC, and I'd like to hook up the oil pressure idiot light.It is so old that it may require genuie R12 rather than the new Ra134. I would say that it would be money/time well spent to see about fixing/converting the AC. Even if it leaks and you only can get one day out of a can of Ra134, those cans are like $7 and $7 per day for relief from desert heat is a bargain.
But loading additional heat into a questionable 40 year old cooling system may bring other issues... still... I'd probably do it. 
Good luck! I really wanted to drive my Mini from Corona to Philly, but Heritage advised against it. 
At least that would have been early spring so the temps would have been more tolerable.
Good luck! 
Im on the road assist list but if you are headed up route 66 on saturday there is a cars and coffee in springfield mo. love to see the maverick there. hmu if you are in the area.
If you find yourself lost in the middle of NC somehow, I'll buy you a beer to go with that BBQ. 
Safe travels! Looking forward to the recap.
Make sure the carb and fuel lines don't leak like sieves. Give a good look at your heater hoses as well. Replace the radiator cap if it looks old. Look at the coolant. Brown is not an official coolant color. Other than that....if it has brakes you'll probably make it. Cross the Rockies in Albuquerque on I-40. It's the lowest altitude main road crossing at just over 5,000 feet. Easier on the motive parts and the cooling system since the boiling point won't drop more than a few degrees.
EastCoastMojo wrote: If you find yourself lost in the middle of NC somehow, I'll buy you a beer to go with that BBQ.
Now that would be an epic wrong turn in Albuquerque.
Leaving for the airport- bye GRM, talk to you in a couple weeks!
I am sad to hear there will be no planned mid-trip updates.
Of course, if you change your mind, we'll be here to help.
Speaking of help, I am a couple miles off The Ohio Turnpike between Toledo and Cleveland should you need assistance on your solo run from Chicago to NY.
Best of everything to you!
get you a twitter machine and post updates/pics so we can follow you
2002maniac wrote: Apparently driving for a few hours with the headlights on and a phone charger plugged into the cigarette lighter was enough to fry it.
pat, John- I think you guys are forgetting problems of old cars. This kind of stuff happens, so let him go off the grid for a few weeks. We'll find out eventually.
I can't believe there are parts of this country where people throw away rust-free cars. Good on you for saving this one from the crusher.
"Maverick! There's a MiG on your tail!"
In reply to bluebarchetta:
The text of the original ad seems to want to say that the seller is depressed because he has to sell the car. The reason for this depression and the reason for selling seems to be that he can no longer tinker with the car to get it to pass smog testing.
The inability to pass smog pretty much only makes this car desirable to someone who will take it away from CA. I would think this info would help to greatly reduce the price of the car.
So, less of a "throw away" and more of a "they won't let me keep it."
I am pretty sure that '75 and older is exempt so that makes this '77 much less desirable than a car only 2 years older.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ wrote:mtn wrote: When you expecting to be in Chicago?Mid to late week of 8/10.
Well, let us know if you can. I'd be down for a GRM meetup somewhere around here.
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