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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ 2000+ mile road trip

Posted by: #1RAGE Jul 10 2005, 04:40 PM

Next week I'm driving my 914 from the flat prairies of Canada and then through the Rockies all the way to the coast. It'll be a little more than 1000 miles (1600 km) each way.

Does anyone have any words of wisdom for me before I leave? My car is running good and I had it in at the mechanic's for a quick check up in the spring. I may want have my wheels balanced and aligned properly. Oh and I will change the oil, check tires, etc.

Oh and I'm taking my girlfriend too... I'm not too sure how much she'll like the ride.

The previous owner had driven this car on several trips that covered a little more distance and all was fine except he blew the brake master cylinder once on a trip to Quebec.

Thanks

EDIT: Adding maps on page 2! Let me know if you live along the way and are willing to offer a phone number.

EDIT 2: BACK! No big problems. update on page 2.

EDIT 3: PICTURES added page 2!

Posted by: scotty b Jul 10 2005, 04:44 PM

Make sure the tires on the support rigs trailer are inflated properly You're girlfriend IS driving a support vehicle right

Posted by: SirAndy Jul 10 2005, 05:10 PM

QUOTE
Any tips for a long trip in a 914?

get some good CDs ...
Andy

Posted by: Elliot Cannon Jul 10 2005, 05:18 PM

Lower lumbar support. Ear plugs for the road noise. Water, food, as many spare parts as you can. Compressed air. Flat fixer. tools...
Sounds like a fun trip.
cheers, Elliot

Posted by: davep Jul 10 2005, 05:28 PM

A cell phone, and my list of members along your route.

Posted by: VegasRacer Jul 10 2005, 05:34 PM

You'll be fine -
as long as your girlfriend brings her sense of humor and a quest for adventure.

Posted by: ejm Jul 10 2005, 05:35 PM

If your gf has long hair she may want a hat or clips...my wife and daughter alway complain about the wind whipping their hair around...and don't forget sunscreen

Posted by: olav Jul 10 2005, 05:40 PM

Spare clutch cable never hurts.

Tools to tighten down bolts that might get loose like the shift linkage pin by the fire wall.

Posted by: Andyrew Jul 10 2005, 05:42 PM

If your in sun, keep the top on.

bout an hour before the sun sets, take off the top. Gets cold, turn on the heater.

Take 4 quarts of oil with you.

A good spare tire.

Jack, lug wrenches, 2 11 mm wrenches (clutch cable)

at least 2 spare relays, and a box of fuses.

Be sure to have fun!

Andrew

Posted by: anthony Jul 10 2005, 06:38 PM

AAA Plus card!

Posted by: SGB Jul 10 2005, 06:42 PM

Take a light weight long sleeve shirt to present forearm sunburn. Also, on my recent trip from AL to PA, my son probably wished he had a pillow. If you will travel at night, get her a little reading clip-on light. Asperin or similar and a xanex or two also?
For roadside emergency, a tarp, some heat resistant gloves, basic tools, and a specific plan for what you will do- like try to fix it, or park and call AAA, a rental car company or .

Posted by: GWN7 Jul 10 2005, 06:48 PM

Cut a stick to use as a "cruise control", saves your right leg

Stop when you see something interesting....take pictures...breaks the trip up.

Plan on stopping every 2-3 hrs, even if you don't need to your gf might...

Posted by: Ferg Jul 10 2005, 07:42 PM

I second the AAA plus card, it is a must!

I'm just outside of denver, pm me if you want my number as a backup, or if you need refreshments Fat Tire is always in stock

Ferg

Posted by: scott thacher Jul 10 2005, 07:53 PM

okay, remember one thing what ever you bring you wont need it. you can get away with a small floor jack and a single jack stand for most stuff. a speedo and clutch cable with trunion around the expanstion tank on the gas tank.

as for extra parts just basicly what you can fit in the tool box with the tools should be okay ie relays and fuses. if you try too much other stuff it gets in the way, and you wont need it ie a complete axle, not something you can change out on the side if a road. but a single cv would be okay but not likely needed.

basicly tune up and minor repair stuff, if its major you wont have something else you will need to do the job in the first place

but make sure you bring you cv bolt tool

this was my theroy for a 6700 mile trip around the country

Posted by: Porsche Rescue Jul 10 2005, 08:04 PM

I have done 2 long distance 914 trips, one Chicago/Portland, 2400 miles, and one round trip Portland/WCC '05, 2100 miles.
No problem either time. On the Chicago trip I did about 600 miles per day, drove only in daylight (late October, on the road at 7am and off before 6pm), stopped at least every 2 hours. I always stopped for a sit-down restaurant lunch each day. That seemed to break up the day very nicely. Lots of fun and would do it again in a heart-beat.

Posted by: bd1308 Jul 10 2005, 08:08 PM

make sure you keep one eye on you oil level, and cruise at around 3200RPM....around 75mph for me. seems to balance head temp and oil temp nicely.....

enjoy the trip.

I'll say a prayer for ya!

Posted by: echocanyons Jul 10 2005, 08:50 PM

Im my last 1000mile venture on a teener

I brought a small toolbox with the basic 914 tools

A small floor jack

New points, clutch and accel cable

A fire extinguisher just in case...

Before I left I adjusted the brakes and the carbs

Oh yeah a few extra fuses couldnt hurt

Posted by: Tab914 Jul 10 2005, 09:05 PM

If you get in trouble in the Banff area ( from Calgary to Lake Louise area ) give me a call. I'll be happy to help.

Hope you have a great trip.

Cheers, Dominic.

p.s. 403-760-3802.

Posted by: bd1308 Jul 10 2005, 10:03 PM

points and condensor....saved my life big time on several occasions.

Posted by: SGB Jul 10 2005, 10:27 PM

Regarding oil level-

check it carefully. On my trip I checked it, misread it, overfilled my usually 1/2 quart overfull 914 by an extra quart. As a result, one valve cover gasket (that was a little curved upward into valve rocker area) cooked and started leaaking big time. I was glad I had an extra gasket. You should take one of those, too. I think it isn't rational to anticipate a big roadside repair, but maybe your girl is more ,uh, spirited than my wife...

Posted by: rhodyguy Jul 10 2005, 10:27 PM

a couple of things to consider for the trip. a fan belt. be sure to have the correct hex wrench to loosen the alt. after my experience this past weekend, i will carry 2 new valve cover gaskets. i carry a breakerbar with a 3/4" impact socket instead of the wimpy stock lug wrench. a few shop rags and one of those small containers of disposeable handcleaner towelets. a flashlight with fresh batteries. if your car has carbs, the small screwdriver you use to remove the idle jets. your haynes manual. air in the spare .

k

Posted by: Pugbug Jul 10 2005, 11:00 PM

Sounds like a fun trip. If you are planning to come over to Vancouver Island let me know. I'm in Victoria, and you are welcome here. Love to meet yu.

Posted by: rhodyguy Jul 10 2005, 11:06 PM

larry, you going to whistler? sorry for the .

k

Posted by: #1RAGE Jul 12 2005, 03:08 AM

Great advice everyone! Thanks so much!

Here is a little info on our trip.

We're leaving Saskatoon on Friday July 15th and we'll drive to Red Deer, Alberta (gf has family there). Then we'll drive to Kamloops, BC the next day and stay overnight. The third day we'll head to the Vancouver area and then on to her grandparent's house somewhere between Sechelt and Halfmoon Bay.

Ok bed time. I just finished an 18.5 hour shift at work so im rather dead right now. I'll check back later.

Thanks again everyone!

Posted by: Joe Ricard Jul 12 2005, 10:44 AM

7 P's
Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance.
All the advice is good. Check your Alignment. good tires that are balanced. check wheel bearings. Nothing worse than a shaky front end while driving long distances.
Tune up and a Nut and bolt check of the whole car. Just get her up on jackstands and lay up under there for awhile. Just lookin and checking stuff.

Jack, one jackstand, common wrenches 8,10,11,13,15,17 and 19 Screw drivers pliers. Vise grip. one of them super duper leather man type tools.
Cell phone and "the list of help along the drive" It has paid off for a number of members here.

Posted by: #1RAGE Jul 15 2005, 08:42 AM

Here are the two legs of our trip.

Attached image(s)

Posted by: #1RAGE Jul 15 2005, 08:43 AM

Leg 2

(This exact route may change slightly. We are following someone and will be going the way they are going.)

Attached image(s)

Posted by: #1RAGE Jul 15 2005, 08:46 AM

Oh and we *might* make a trip down to Seattle for a day... but that might not happen because it will be an extra day of driving and I don't have a passport so it might be fun crossing the border.

Posted by: jfort Jul 15 2005, 09:04 AM

this is a good thread. one suggestion makes me ask -- do we have a list of members, addresses and phone numbers for just in case?

Posted by: bd1308 Jul 15 2005, 09:48 AM

somebody has a list--wonder where it ended up??

Posted by: #1RAGE Jul 25 2005, 04:33 AM

I'm back!

Happy to say no major problems, just a few little ones.

The drive was great. Had a lot of fun and I was mostly comfortable. Got to spend a night in the teener... Yeah we were delayed one of the travel days and had to stop in a town that has many hotels but not a single room was available. I was too tired to drive futher and my girlfriend wasn't comfortable driving on the twisty roads at night. Sleeping in a 914 is fun I actually slept 4 hours straight before waking up in pain.

A short summary of problems the car had.

Electrical - crazy things happening with lights and gauges. Will make a thread about this one.

Fan control knob came off and I didn't bother try to figure out how to get it back on.

Some minor bumpiness when driving slow on smooth roads. Weird, will look into later.

Have to check the final mileage but it was about 2300 miles. I think it was worth it but I probably won't take the teener on a long trip like this one for quite some time.

Posted by: VegasRacer Jul 25 2005, 05:04 AM

Let me be the first to say "Welcome Back".
Glad to hear that you, your GF and the teener all survived the trip.

Let me also be the first to add

Posted by: GWN7 Jul 25 2005, 07:16 AM

Welcome back. Glad the trip went well.

I'm sort of doing the reverse of that trip next week. Portland, Vancouver, Kelowna, Calgary, Regina, Dog River, Pierson and home.

Posted by: redshift Jul 25 2005, 07:27 AM

But you don't need Pamprin.

M

Posted by: URY914 Jul 25 2005, 07:34 AM

Did it snow?

Hey, I'm from Florida, whatthehelldoIknow

Paul

Posted by: Joe Ricard Jul 25 2005, 02:10 PM

Just wondering if anyone has actually topped my record.
3499 miles in 3 days in near stock 70 914. (not stock no more).
no passengers no radio. Had though , good thing too cause ths white shit was falling out of the sky in Denver. (WHATTHEHELL WASTHATABOUT)

So can you really do it in a teener?

Posted by: maxwelj Jul 25 2005, 02:58 PM

I once did Jacksonville Fla. to Farmington, NM in 30 hrs in a bone stock 914/6. That's about 2000 miles, and in 1971, I-40 was just an idea. The only time I was tempted to stop was somewhere in Texas, but that was remedied when I got out at a rest stop to take a bathroom break, and a guy asked me if I wanted some company.. Back in the car and on the road again, to say the least!

Posted by: #1RAGE Jul 25 2005, 06:57 PM

http://img88.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_0919nikdrive.jpg
Yeah I let her drive. I'm always a bit nervous but she is good at driving it.

http://img88.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_924.jpg

http://img88.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_0944icecream.jpg
Stopped in Sicamous, BC for ice cream

http://img88.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_0946_999miles.jpg
999.9 miles - Got to see this twice on the trip

http://img88.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_0954van1.jpg
Near or in Vancouver

http://img88.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_0957nik914.jpg
Waiting to board the ferry

http://img88.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_0965ferrytoy.jpg
Looks like a toy

http://img88.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_0996van2.jpg
Crossing the Lion's Gate bridge

http://img88.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_1002beetle.jpg
Not too sure what to say about this. The water fountain on the front was interesting.

http://img88.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_1115sailboat1.jpg

Sea lions
http://img88.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_1125seal1.jpg
http://img88.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_1128seal2.jpg
http://img88.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_1133seal3.jpg

http://img88.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_1005turbo.jpg
Another Porsche I wouldn't mind driving.

http://img88.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_1008_356.jpg
Some kids (even younger than me!) driving a nice 356.

http://img88.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_1031ferry.jpg
A ferry

http://img88.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_1058seagulleagle.jpg
While eating lunch at the Lighthouse Pub in Sechelt I got to witness an Eagle swoop down to grab a fish from the water. Two seagulls didn't like the eagle

so they started chasing it. I don't know why the eagle didn't just eat the seagulls for lunch.

http://img88.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_1059plane.jpg

http://img88.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_1086house1.jpg
Cool houses

http://img88.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_1092house2.jpg

More coming up in a sec.

Posted by: #1RAGE Jul 25 2005, 07:02 PM

http://img193.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img1115sailboat11qf.jpg

http://img279.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img1145molly4pc.jpg
Place in Gibsons where the 70's & 80's series "The Beachcombers" was filmed.

http://img279.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img1157ferrywait14zw.jpg
Waiting for Ferry

http://img279.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img1159ferrywait20mr.jpg

http://img279.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img1160road12fc.jpg

http://img279.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img1165okanogan8xf.jpg

http://img272.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img1165okanogan5bu.jpg

Posted by: #1RAGE Jul 25 2005, 07:03 PM

http://img272.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img1155914fronttrunk3sc.jpg
Lots of room.

http://img327.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img1154914reartrunk0cq.jpg

That's all for now.

Posted by: VegasRacer Jul 26 2005, 05:13 AM

Nice pictures. Thanks for sharing. It looks like you had a great time.
I wonder how many people you passed took a picture of your car and are now telling their friends "Look what we saw on our trip".

Hubba-hubba.

Attached image(s)

Posted by: #1RAGE Jul 26 2005, 05:28 AM

QUOTE (VegasRacer @ Jul 26 2005, 03:13 AM)
Nice pictures. Thanks for sharing. It looks like you had a great time.
I wonder how many people you passed took a picture of your car and are now telling their friends "Look what we saw on our trip".

Hubba-hubba.

Haha... funny thing is we were traveling with my gf's grandparents on the way to the coast. We were using walkie-talkie radios to communicate. On one of the busiest stretches of highway we started to pick up other people talking. I actually heard some random person saying "Hey, did you see that red Porsche?"