After 10 years of storage, pulling out the 65 for a 3500 mile road trip!

VintageBlueOval · 11-10-2009, 08:19 PM

Hey guys,

I've been basically a lurker on the forum for many years and I'm finally about to jump back into the game. My first car was a 65 C-code coupe. I drove it in high school in the mid 90s, into college and for a few years after. Through those years I preformed a bunch of repairs and a medium restoration. I was spoiled living in Los Angeles with an original Southern California car, there wasn't even surface rust on this car. I bought it off the shoulder of a local road with a blown up engine. I towed it home with a strap behind a buddies Ranger. Then I bought a 44,000 mile Granada for $400 and swapped in the 302/C4 using all the original 289 accessories. It evolved into a VERY nice driver.

Then life got going and I started on new projects. I bought a 62 F100 Unibody, a 67 DeVille, and a 67 A-code coupe. I couldn't part with my first 65, so after properly preppng it for a long slumber, I stashed it under a carport in my backyard. And there it sat, from 2000-2005. I moved to Atlanta in spring of 2005, so I talked my parents into storing the car in their barn outside of Reno. I towed it up there on a flatbed and it's there to this day.

This coming Friday I'm flying one-way to Reno. That old 65 and I are going to be back in Atlanta before November is out. And I'm driving it there! I've been planning this for months. Here's the plan...

I bought a complete steering/suspention kit from Mustangs Unlimited, I'm gonna replace everything on the front end. I have all the parts for a full brake rebuild, including hoses and wheel cylinders. (this is a 4 wheel drum car) Every drop of fluid in the car will be replaced including the rear end. The Holley 4 BBL will be rebuilt, all rubber fuel and cooling hoses will be replaced. I'll clean all the steel fuel lines and remove and clean the tank. Of course I'll replace all 5 tires and 4 new shocks. I had replaced the single point distributor shortly before storage, so I'll replace points, condensor, cap, rotor, spark plugs and wires. Set the timing, dwell, and adjust the valves if necessary. I will adjust the carb and idle, replace fuel and air filters. I'll install a new battery, and change the oil and transmission filters. I will lube everything that requires it and have the front end aligned at a shop. Then I get to give her a serious bath... and hit the road! I'm prepared with tools, manuals and a pretty good know-how in fixing this car.

My route will be: Reno to Los Angeles via 395, LA to Vegas via I-15, Vegas to the Grand Canyon off I-40, I-40 from Kingman, AZ to Memphis, TN, then southeast to Atlanta. All told, it'll be near 3500 miles over 6 days.

So what do you all think? Am I missing anything in my plan? Am I nuts? Have any of you guys ever done this before?

I can't wait!!

Ted

JDM4401 · 11-10-2009, 08:35 PM

Two items I would check or replace would be light bulbs and the windshield wipers. The last thing you want to do is get got in the rain with inadeqaute wiper blades and even worse poor lighting.

Unless of course you don't plan on driving at night or when it rains.

One more thing goodluck, sounds like it could be a great experience!

VintageBlueOval · 11-10-2009, 08:44 PM

Good call on the wiper blades, that would be an easy one to overlook! I'll definitely check all the lights and electrical goodies. I just got my Georgia licence plate and got her insured.

I'll be sure to post pics from as she sits today, through the mechanincal repairs and some from the road.

Ted

SpitFire · 11-10-2009, 08:50 PM

This is too cool. This is the reason to rebuild these cars - to drive them

! I'm 16 and I'm restoring my '68!

lunarweasel · 11-10-2009, 08:51 PM

How much time do you have!?!? All that stuff would take me a while, before I would even hit the road.

Did I miss you saying wheel bearings?

lunarweasel · 11-10-2009, 09:01 PM

Oh, don't forget a jack in case you need to put that 5th tire on.

fulbuyer · 11-10-2009, 09:04 PM

I give you credit, this is a big task, but is worthwhile. Good luck, I hope you have a great trick. It seems that you have things covered nicely!

VintageBlueOval · 11-10-2009, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lunarweasel

How much time do you have!?!? All that stuff would take me a while, before I would even hit the road.

Did I miss you saying wheel bearings?

Well, I'm gonna take 6 days to make all the repairs. Hopefully it isn't too cold in that unheated barn! I was going to be optimistic and go with 4 days for the work, but I decided to err on the side of realism

Oh, and I do have the replacement wheel bearings, just forgot to mention.

Speaking of bearings, other than gear lube and brakes, is there anything else needed on the rear axle? I can't think of anything.

silversport · 11-10-2009, 09:18 PM

Pretty cool story. Keep us posted with pictures along the way.

I hope you have smooth sailing the whole way. However, I'm sure there are VMFers spread all along your route home who would be willing to help if you run into problems.

daves67ss · 11-10-2009, 09:47 PM

If you are going to redo all the brakes, you may want to consider new rear bearings while everything is apart.

At a minimum, I would clean and repack the front bearings.

If you are going to do all the heater hoses...new heater core

Pressure test the radiator (while the hoses are off and fluid out)??

Dave

Tims65 · 11-10-2009, 09:54 PM

I'll be following along with this thread also! I drove my '65 fastback across country and back with no problems about 12 years ago.

Good luck and please keep us posted.

Tim

Kyle67 · 11-10-2009, 10:00 PM

that sounds close to my story.....I made a list of all the things about my 67 coupe that bugged me in high school and starting fixing them. Got mad at the car for about 6 years and just pulled it out. My wife and I are going to drive it through Savahna Ga to the North Carolina coast for our second anniversary in March.
Post pics man! good luck!

Renegade600 · 11-10-2009, 10:03 PM

take lots of pictures and post your trip here when done.....good luck, this is a cool trip...

VintageBlueOval · 11-10-2009, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daves67ss

If you are going to redo all the brakes, you may want to consider new rear bearings while everything is apart.

Well, that's what I'm unsure about. I've never replaced rear bearings in anything. I wasn't even sure there were bearings at the flanges on the rear axle. Logic says there should be, but somehow rear bearings have flown under the radar for me all these years. How difficult are they to replace? It's still got the factory rear end.

Ted

VintageBlueOval · 11-10-2009, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Renegade600

take lots of pictures and post your trip here when done.....good luck, this is a cool trip...

Thanks! I'm taking my camera and my laptop so I'll post some pics of the starting point when I arrive in Reno... then some of my progress through the repairs, then a bunch from the road!

Ted