Longhaul

I just won the car I wanted out of college on eBAY, 88 RX7 Convertible 5spd. I'm in GA, it is in CA. That one letter, only separated by D, E, & F in the alphabet is 3000 miles on the map! Any tips on what I should do to prep the car would be greatly appriciated. I am going to put new tires on, align it, & change the oil before heading out. Here's the stats on the car:

New Motor (15K miles)
New Radiator
New Clutch, master and slave cylinders
New Battery
AC "needs a charge"

I ran the carfax and it is listed as a "Gross Polluter" I guess this might mean getting a new Cat, but I'd like to wait till I get it to my shop.

I'll check the belts, hoses, and fluid levels as well.

What am I missing?

Innovation

iTrader: (1)

15000 miles in a car you don't know about, how about a prayer. Do you know for a fact that it has a rebuild?,

SayNoToPistons

a prayer, trailer(just incase), friends, phone, lots of cash, and food... that is if you dunno anything about the car.

Apathy

Wow.... I thought about doing that before. You know buying a cheap rex online that seems to be in good condition and then drive it back home b/c overall it seems cheaper. But then I thought that I would never wanna take that gamble b/c its risky. I would check compression before you accept the car. Look for bubbles in the radiator for signs of coolant seal failure. Look to see if the car smokes excessively. I would stay for a little while driving around the town to see if its stable first. If I had a truck and I were you, I would just tow it back.

Iketh

long trips can be hard on the tranny bearings as this is when they'll reach maximum temp... mobil 1 80w90 synthetic is highly recommended... not saying the tranny is gonna fail, just that it will help preserve it

i took MANY long trips in my 7, from florida to tennessee to mississippi and everywhere in between... and i remember the first time i began hearing the main bearing for the tranny input shaft at idle, during the first trip

u could also do a favor and run premix the whole way and disable the OMP, see how it works out .... this way you could also run synthetic in the motor... then pull a plug once your back and get a video of the inside

Bunchies

iTrader: (1)

it's funny, but having the car transported to your door might actually prove to be a cheaper solution.

jeff_man

i'm sweeting driving my new tII 400 miles home =/ so good luck

Longhaul

I'm sorry, but judging from the responses I thought for a moment I was on the FordClub forum! : )

I've had a friend pick up the car for me. The 13B looks very new as well as the rest of the equipment mentioned as new. The Cat rattles a little, but other than that, all seems sound. The radio is gone, but at least the last owner put in NEW leather seats.

I will replace the trans fluid as the ONE helpful post above recommends.

I will be bringing a laptop with a verizon card along for the ride. My family wants a daily email with pictures along the way. I plan on heading from SJC up to San Fran and across the Golden Gate Bridge. From there to Tahoe, across the "Lonely Highway" into Southern Utah where we (my 17 yr old son) will hike around in Bryce Canyon National Park. Denver is next (family) and then we shoot back to GA as fast as possible, unless some one can think of anything interesting along that route! If you would like to be on an email list with the pictures and updates, PM me.

djmtsu

iTrader: (3)

I wouldn't worry too much. The car appears to be pretty clean, which in turn means it was (hopefully) taken care of. I've driven total shitboxes that far and never worried about it (Ford Escort from Chicago to Austin and back).

idsigloo

And I thought I drove a long way to indianapolis to pick up my 7.

Isn't the mazda sticker on the wrong side of the front bumper? Mine is on the driver side.

cluosborne

Obviously, change all fluids and filters, make sure the important ones (brakes, transmission, suspension) all work properly. Unless there are signs of trouble or abuse (unusual noises, lack of power, etc), I don't see any problem with a 3000 mile trip.

Bottom line: know your car.

These cars love gobbling up miles of road. Back in '01 I drove my car (88 GTU with 114000 miles) over 2000 miles with only one problem (worn out alternator, typical at 110000 miles, that was quickly fixed the next day-Monday). Bear in mind that I have done a lot of work on my car since '01. Overhauled brakes, rebuilt engine, CB radio, and other bits and pieces. I'm also going to be carrying a tool kit, but I doublt I'll need it.

In fact, I'm going to be on a 5600-mile trip starting this Saturday morning. I spent the winter fixing a few problems (nothing that would've stranded me) and changed the coolant and brake fluid.

tonybcrazy

Just rememebr your cell phone wont work for long stretches between cali and texas if you are taking I-40. Have someone play headquarters for you and just set up a schedule of regular communication.

The parts I would be most worried about would be the tranny. Make sure it doesn't leak and is full of oil and there isn't any excessive noise coming from it. Also check for old hoses and PD failure. The prolongued heat exposure while driving long stretches might be what it takes to push an old hose to the point of failure.

Buying a AAA membership would also be a wise choice. They do free trip planning. I got it when I drove across the country. They gave me all the maps I needed plus a step by stpe booklet of where to turn and when. I made the trip very easy to navigate.

Longhaul

Thanks for all the good feedback. I had my friend check out the shocks. The rear shocks are shot. How involved is swapping them out? I don't want the back end getting squirrelly as I wind around Tahoe or twist through the contenental divide. I might have to settle for the local special until I get it home. I had my friend check on the belts. The one to the AC is not there. I'll be searching the forums when I get back on that!

I have signed up for the towing package with State Farm. @ $4 a year, it's hard to go wrong. I've spent some time at TireRack and it looks like the Sumitomo HTR 200 is a very highly rated tire. Both by the tests and the people who have bought them (205/60HR15)

So the check list of things to do before heading out is now:

1) Say many prayers!
2) Change oil
3) Change transmission fluid to Mobile 1 80w90 synthetic
4) New tires and 4 wheel alignment (replace tie rod ends as necessary)
5) Check belts and hoses
6) Fix rear shocks
7) Check all fluids (Radiator and it's hoses are new, anti-freeze is the right level and looks good)
8) Check brake pads and rotors. (I'll search the forums on how changing them is most easily accomplished)
9) Check spare

Stuff to bring:
1) Cell phone!
2) Duct tape and radiator hose tape
3) Gallon of water
4) Spare oil
5) Good lug wrench
6) Socket set and screw driver set
7) Coat hanger
8) Notebook PC with RX7 shop manuels and broadband wireless card.

I head out to SJC 5/21. I'll let you know how it goes.

blackb15

Well, obviously it looks like shipping the car would be cheaper...

-BUT-

I'm always up for a road trip, and this one sounds like it'll be great. I'm worried about taking my new '88 SE on a road trip, because that is what (I think) killed my '85 GS. I miss that car.

jeff_man

broadband wireless card... hope it's a cell tower link not a wi-fi.

jackhild59

iTrader: (7)

Add a set of metric combination wrenches, a gallon of antifreeze, and don't just check the belts and hoses. Change them unless they look new AND you see a reciept for recent replacement. Add an oem radiator cap.

Sound like an exciting time.

jackhild59

iTrader: (7)

How bout a Travel-Blog post on the RX7Club board? Daily impressions and pics?

fcdrifter13

Why do people think 3k miles is that far.

sintri

cause normally when people drive west further than that, their cars end up at the bottom of the ocean, course you could try alaska, but who wants to go there anyways. plus who would really want to drive more than 100 miles less you're pushing 100+, which is one of the nice things about the midwest.

Longhaul

I'm not sure why 3K is that far other than I'm starting a long way from home. The direct path is 2500 miles. I don't think that I-40 is worth saving 500 miles. Bay Bridge, Tahoe, Lonely Highway, Souther Utah, Continental Divide. That's stuff worth risking a little time on the side of the road! (I think I'll add paper towels for cleaning my hands to the list!). After those detours, I'm pushing 3k miles.

I'll look up how to do the blog as mentioned above.

Changing brake pads looks to be pretty easy. I don't have an "expander", so I'll borrow a c-clamp and a thin block of wood.

Terrh

iTrader: (7)

changing brake pads is really easy.

REALLY easy on the fronts.

So easy in fact that theoretically if you had 18-19" 5 spoke wheels it could possibly be done without even jacking the car up or removing the wheel. Or any tools, even.

bring a stack of CD's.

If you are going to bring a toolkit, here's some basic's for it.

10,12,14,17,19mm sockets, same sized wrenches.
sparkplug socket
phillips and slot screwdriver
short extention, 3/8" ratchet.
sidecutters/pliers, channel-lock pliers too
battery terminal cleaner and wire brush
duct tape, electrical tape, roll of shop towels, etc.
buy a spare quart of coolant and oil
some misc. electrical stuff is probably not a bad idea.
hammer
I'm sure there's other stuff you should bring but that's not a bad starter list.

fcdrifter13

WD40, road flares are also good. Maybe even some wire and crimpers and strippers for worst case scenario. I have travled across country alot and notheing helps break up the trip than breaking it up into small sections of 100 miles or so.

Longhaul

I've searched and clicked on about every link and I can not find where the blogs hide. Can someone send me a link?

Good catch on the WD-40. Maybe some liquid wrench to help break free a stubborn 18 year old nut. I think I'll get the $20 brake pads at the local autoshop and replace them with better ones when I get home. I will probably want new disks and I don't want to waste $$ milling the old ones.

I hope I have room for my suitcase!

classicauto

iTrader: (3)

holy crap, what a bunch of paranoid nancies

3000 miles.........how many times does a major component on the car (like mentioned tranny main bearings - hahaha) fail in between an oil change?

3000 miles is jack, just check all the rubber things on the car and drive it!! bring some tools and a phone just in case - and please for the love of God don't be driving it worried every second that the thing will fall apart.

jackhild59

iTrader: (7)

My sentiments exactly! These RX7's are cars and they were made to be driven. Be prepared, but drive the thing!!!