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It can be for a purpose, but I'm thinking more of a road trip where the destination is less important than the trip...
I want to drive the Mound from Austin, Texas to California and on up the Pacific Coast Highway until I feel like going back. Maybe detour to Colorado on the way or way back, hit the grand canyon, etc. Camp on way, cheap motels, good times, me and the open road, maybe a buddy. Just to get out and explore the roads for a few weeks.
Most of my friends and coworkers scoff at me thinking the Mound won't make it, but the engine is still strong with 162,000 miles. I take care of it better than most people do their cars, so I have more confidence in it then in others. And if it breaks I can probably fix it. Of course I'd replace the hoses and belts, maybe even get a new radiator, etc to get it roadworthy.
Just curious if the first gen is a good car to hit the road with. Not much room for gear for sure, but I want to keep it simple anyways.
If anyone has any route suggestions for roads between Texas and Cali let me know.
Right on.
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__________________
Mike
84 GSL-SE
www.browmound.com
Sounds like something I would do. Just go for the sake of going. Did that a few years ago in an import pickup, and have considered using my '83 GS to repeat the trip. Only has 191,000 showing on the odometer, just getting broke in good...........
With the cost of gas these days, it may be a while before I actually try though.
If you had seen some of the 'vehicles' I took road trips in, back in the day, You would be very confident and comfortable on the Mound.
Btw i bought a GSL Turd on eBay a while back. It made the trip home, 900 some miles, and all we did before leaving was an oil and filter change, check fluids, and duct tape the passenger side headlight so it would stay up.
We had a 1st and 2nd gen running together, through the Smokies, at night, 25+ over the limit, zig-zagging traffic, never had so much fun driving. Much more fun than running the Rockies.
My 7's have made a lot of trips out there that I was curious about; never gave me a hint of trouble.
One trip in my 80LS, a friend and I were in college and headed up to Las Vegas from Phoenix - long drive to get there, but we were flying. That car had about 150k miles on the clock, and got us there without any incidents.
My 84SE made 4 trips back and forth to San Francisco via PCH and mostly through LA and up. This is about a 700 mile trip each way, non-stop, and never a hint of trouble. Some of these trips were made in this car by my dad, but I wouldn't try to take a trip of that nature and length. My saying is; if it takes more than an hour to drive there, I'm flying.
There's nothing special about a rotary car that is different than any other car re: freeway reliability. In fact, freeway miles are some of the easiest out there compared to in-city traffic that has you spending a lot of time with little to no airflow and high underhood temperatures. Tires are probably the biggest risk on a long trip, followed closely by belts and hoses. Take care of these ahead of time, and you should be fine for the trip.
i was a bit worried before i took my 83 to sevenstock last year, but after i pulled up the grapevine with barely even tipping the temp needle at all, all worries were gone. The thing ran absolutely awesome. I got 19mpg the whole way doing around 70-80. Sometimes faster when i was right next to all the other rx-7's on the caravan, we got some good speed at times.
2000 miles, and not a problem, it consumes oil and always has, i almost went through a case on the way!
the car has ~290k on odometer, from what i've guessed theres around 40k on rebuilt 74-78 13b with rb holley 600 setup with headers and all rb exhuast minus the muffler. At the time of the trip i also had an lsd out of a gsl-se that has been since replaced with an lsd from an 82 gsl with the disk brakes.
The oil consumption has gotten worse so i doubt id take it on a trip that long again before at least a gasket rebuild. I may take it to sevenstock 8, but the current plan is to take my fc.
me and my friend where thinking about taking his 93' sr 240 and my 85' gs from charleston sc to newport cali since that is where he lives but his car is in sc but my parents wont let me so he is gunna drive there with his brother in his 240 and im going to fly and meet him.....lol will only take me half a day to get there and him like a week.........haahah
LA to SF, LA to LV, done it many times but those were the days when I was single and gas prices were in the range of $0.90 - $1.10 ---- the cheap AM-PM 87 octane
Location: San Antonio, TX ........hell this place it pretty much Mexico LOL!
Posts: 3,008
thats something i been thinking about doing....but i am thinking about going the opposite direction...driving from San Antonio,TX to Miami,FL...and cruising south beach in my FB!!! i wanna do it this year some time...i just need to do that damn carb rebuild first...i keep putting it off....
Hey, if you DO make your trip, keep contact with me. I'm in Las Cruces, which is a common waypoint for that trip. Hell, you may even get a driving buddy
With helluva lot of vacuum problems, and a lot of other stuff, the Tan Turd made it from here (NM/Texas border, pretty much) to Tucson, with only the normal problems.
I live about five hours from Saint Louis, in Indiana, I drove my '83 GSL all the way there and back without even the thought of something going wrong. Although on the way home, counting stops for food, urination, and gas, it only took 3 hours and 45 minutes back. And not much of a road trip in comparison, but I'm traveling an hour for rotary revolution this weekend.
Made a few trips in mine between Raleigh and Atlanta and Atlanta and SW Virginia. Ran into some problems on one trip but I had been neglecting a tune up and it caught up with me. I also broke an alternator belt on one trip, but I have horrible luck with that (also happened in an old GTI I used to have).
I'd say just like any car make sure the maintenance is up to date, check your belts/tires and you should be fine.
Taking my 80 and my 88 vert to Rotary Rev tomorrow morning. Around 750 miles. Oklahoma City to Indy. Of course the 88 is still up on jackstands tonight. O'Reilly's sold me a brake caliper with bunged up threads in the hole for the brake line. Hoping I can find a 10mm x 1.0 tap in the morning.
I wouldnt call them full blown road trips,but I take mine on fishing trips and trips to Reno.About 300-400 miles each way,so its a full days driving round trip.
I stopped using the RX for ski/boarding trips since the new paint would get hammered by sand and salt,but with the old paint job I regularly drove up to the Sierras for 1-2 day snow runs.
I've thought about doing a road trip in mine...
I think once I've fixed the clutch it should be in good shape to do so, too....
'Cept I think I'll only be going as far as Toronto this summer (~4hrs)
Perhaps across the country (or down south at least) next year.......
Anybody know roughly how many expenses one would accrue per day? (that is, food, hotel (or campsite), etc.) (Gas I suppose I could calculate by speed & time)
I'd take any car that was properly maintained on a road trip. I know that you've done all the proper maintinence on your SE, so I figure it's good to go.
I wouldn't worry too much. I've got an '87 TII with around 220k on the original engine and it was my daily driver for 2yrs. My '84 went from PA to TN and back in one weekend (12hrs straight each way) without a second thought, and then I found an intake leak when I was doing a tune up when I got back. And I've got an '85 that sat for 5yrs able to run in a weekend despite some vacuum leaks. I'd be completely confident going across country in any Rx-7 in decent shape. Do your best to keep the car maintaned and know how to handle some basic repairs, but from my experience when something goes wrong, they can still run strong. Plus I think the cars appreciate the scenery and bonding time as much as the driver does. Change your oil, check your fluids, make sure you've got good tires, pack whatever basics you think you might need, and go!
I almost put new suspension, belts, and hoses on mine to make a trip through Mexico. The next day, though, there was a news story about tourists getting kidnapped and/or killed so that pretty much shot that idea.
Once I finish one or two of my restorations I'll probably plan a similar trip (assuming gas prices don't double or triple by then). Keep me posted, Mound, maybe we can plan a caravan.
took it from my house in jersey down to tampa in florida.... that's bout 1100 miles... and my 84 gs ran fine all the way down and back... and i didnt get pulled over once!!!!!
Near Sacramento on I-80 theres a sign that has a couple close places, like Sacramento and Reno or something and then theres randomly Ocean City, MD- 2,638 miles or thereabouts. Whenever me and my friend pass it we both look at each other and go "C'mon lets do it!" Don't think I'd really do that one though especially considering I'd at the very least need an oil change when I got there- or rather need at least three new quarts of oil sometime during the trip- but I'm still confident enough to put tons of miles on my GTUs though- driving back and forth between San Luis Obispo and Sacramento (exactly 300 miles each way). So far the only thing thats ever slowed me down was getting a flat once, and this year I've made that trip alot (about every other weekend at least)...
how about you hit old route 66 on your trip, i believe it runs from the pan handle all the way to santa monica. when i was going to college in houston i would drive my 83 from there back here to alabama every 3 day weekend or break in class we had(i made the trip about 10 times) and i hardly ever had any problems. ive taken my 85-se on a few here lately, i went to the tail of the dragon meet a couple of weeks ago(came home a borrowed alternator)and went to knoxville earlier this week. i wouldnt hesitate to jump in it and take off on another trip anywhere.
5500 miles from San Diego (where I bought the car on ebay) to Fairbanks Alaska. One oil change. My 80 never missed a beat - and the roads were incredible!! I WILL do it again - once I dump the crappy seats. Trip of a lifetime...
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska
I've taken the following trips in my 82 over the last 14 months.
Seattle, WA to Salt lake city, UT to Cheyenne, WY to Trinidad, co. to Albuquerque, NM to Ash fork, AZ to Dewey, AZ to Ashfork, AZ to Las Vegas, NV to saltlake City and Back home here in the Seattle Area. 3800 Milles
And two trips from Seattle to Dewey As. Both Down by way of Salt lake and Back up the after going over to CA.
the fist through Ca; We went to the coast highway at eureka. about 3200 miles.
The second we just came back up after hitting I5. and another 3000 miles.
So about 10,000 inter state miles. The only problem I had was in co, at 6800 ft and 102° temp. My fuel pressure Reg kept vapor locking my pump (crappy Dial Style). Bypassed it till we got to Santé Fe, NM.
changed oil, plugs and filters Before each trip.
Carried extra belts, plugs, Dist cap, etc but Never needed them.
My Avatar is my 82 in a drive through Red wood tree Just Before you enter Oregon from California.
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