Long trips..., Should I try? I'm I a wimp? Options

[oldschool]

This was out of the blue...My wife and I planned a trip to Santa Barbra ( about 2.5 hours )Trip She said LETS TAKE THE 914! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) ....My car drives ok, but man I don't know about driving her that far (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)
I'm I just a wimp....It was on a flat bed trailer before.If you know what I mean.\Not to sure if I can trust her. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

['73-914kid]

Just go over it Jaime. Create a check-list of things to go wrong, or just convert to carbs (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) Once I'm back at school, we can go over everything, pre-flight checklist per say. and SB is really only 2 hours in a 914..haha

I've made that drive many a time for Field hockey games for the GF. It's an easy drive, apart from the giant hill right south of Oxnard. That is seriously tough on cylinder head temps.

What put you on the flatbed last time?

[Dave_Darling]

2.5 hours is doable. Some of it depends on the weather. Take earplugs. Those made long trips in the 914 much more bearable.

--DD

[Rand]

Cracks me up when people call 2.5 hours a long trip. Is your car really that anemic? Are 914s really that lame and fragile?

NO!

Mine is not because I know its state of tune and have some basic tools and parts on hand.

If you are not confident that you could drive your 914 on a several-hour drive, then do everything you need to do to have that confidence. Then enjoy it!

The 914 is a pleasure to drive. It is not a pleasure to fear.

Just another $.02.

[johannes]

2.5 hours trip? I do more than that evey week end. This is how you get your car reliable. Failure is an option and is part of the 914 experience... It never happend to me but I know it will happen one day. Have an insurance, I think you call that AAA in the States.

[hot_shoe914]

I did 814 miles in February in the middle of the night with a motor I had tested for about 400 miles. Then I drove it back. Man up and drive that car! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

[FourBlades]

What are the most likely failure points for an FI and/or carb-ed 914?

The fuel pumps? Points? Alternator belt? Relays?

What maintenance can you do to make your car more reliable?

What 40 year old parts does it make sense to replace and/or carry with you?

If the 914 old timers could chime in it would help a lot of people.

John

[johannes]

I never carry parts nor tools outside of the basic first aid.

...

[SLITS]

On long trips ... I carry the following:

Fan belt
Fuel Pump
Points
Throttle Cable
Clutch Cable
MPS (when I had a four)
Couple of feet each size fuel line
Rags
Gloves
Tools
Water
AAA Card

Most of which I have used on other people's cars when they broke down.

[Jgilliam914]

2.5 hours is a long trip?? Thats just getting the oil warmed up! Yeah the Canejo grade does suck so take the Coast highway then! Mine has seen 5 trips from the west coast to the east coast. Not all without issue. Once I had a heater pipe wear a hole in the oil filter in the middle of the high desert in Az. It was more of a mess and nuisance than anything else. I broke a accelerator cable once in K.C on a Sunday afternoon heading back to LA . I had a pair of vice grips hold it to the pedal linkage and drove it to a family friends house near Wichita where I could work on it and early the next morning I was back on the road. Come to think of it the oil filter issue was on the same trip. SO make sure you have some small locking pliers soft tie wire and duct tape added to your tools list and you will be set!!! And drive it!!!!

[MoveQik]

This is a joke, right?

[majkos]

This is a joke, right?

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)

check out Red Rock Classic thread (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)
lot's of great pics. of HUGE smiles,
drive her! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

[Mike Bellis]

Bought mine in Anaheim and drove it home to the SF Bay. 6-7 hours. No issues during the trip.

[timothy_nd28]

I find your lack of faith disturbing. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.millan.net-8154-1347373373.1.gif)

[eric9144]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

Guys, maybe I'm just crazy (likely) or maybe my 914 is just a freak of nature...I think it's as reliable as my DD for the most part and wouldn't hesitate to drive her pretty far (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stirthepot.gif)

[JStroud]

Bought my last one last November, hadn't run in 10 yearsand had no idea the condition on the engine, by December I was driving to work occasionally and every weekend, fixing thing as I went, only left me stranded once, bad relay board, even autocrossed it a few times, total miles to date 9300, mostly 1-3 hr drives.

I guess too it depends on why you bought your car....I bought mine to drive (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

And yes you're being a wimp, the wife wants to ride in the 914...take the 914. And remember a break down can be an adventure, it's all how you look at it.

Jeff

[GeorgeRud]

From my past experiences, I wouldn't hesitate to jump in the 914-6 I purchased back in 1977 and drive it across country. Of course, I've owned it and maintained it for all these years, so I know it inside out. Only had to have it towed once in all those years, and it was a minor problem, but dark and raining so I didn't want to deal with it myself.

Now, I don't want to think how my body would feel after that long of a drive, but the car would do fine. A friend of mine drove his 1972 911 from Chicago to the last Rennsport Reunion and back by himself just after an engine rebuild last year. These cars do wear out, but don't break down that often.

Go and enjoy the drive!

[Richard Casto]

I bought my first 914 used in Baltimore in the mid 1980's and it had issues. I drive it home (approx 6 hr trip) with me having to add brake fluid along the way due to leaky master cylinder! Granted, I did have someone following me. In late 1980's I commuted to college everyday in my second 914 and that was about a 1.5 hr trip each way. That car was also a bit of a heap (not in the best condition) and it never failed on me!

If you feel the car is in good shape go for it! I wouldn't hesitate.

Regarding tools, in my current daily driver (Honda Civic), I generally carry a flashlight, some gloves, baling wire, duct tape, a small gas can, a multitool, a small cheap socket set, 1Qt extra motor oil, jumper cables and some water.

Richard

[dlestep]

Back in the early 90s, I drove my '73 from Indiana to Brandon, Florida on holidays,
and long weekends. The only thing that occured after four 1800 mile trips was a
passenger side front wheel bearing failure. A failure I blame myself for, because
I stopped in just inside Georgia and checked and readjusted the front bearings.
I did not displace the washer with a screw driver (a check I normally perform) and
I believe that I over tightened that bearing.
My normal driving during the trips was 75mph for 12 to 14 hours, depending on how
many stops I made.
I always clean and double check EVERYTHING the day before.

My usual spares kit for long trips is as follows:
new throttle cable
new clutch cable
spare distributor with new points already set
spare new coil
front wheel bearings
small can of grease
three qts of motor oil and filter
spare electrical fuel pump
tool bag
small aluminum floor jack
spare gasket kit
simple green
everything fit inside a small cardboard box in my front trunk next to my duffelbag of
clothes.
Just check everything and go for it.

[monkeyboy]

I drove mine from LA to Pismo and back in a day to pick up parts. It was a great trip. Just enjoy the ride.

If your machine needs service, do it before the trip, not during.

If I may make a suggestion, take the 10 until it ends, and then take PCH through Santa Monica, Malibu, and Oxnard. It's much prettier than the 101, and a lot cooler in the summer. It is a bit slower, but the trip is worth it.