long road trip ahead... advice needed

[orionmojo]

ok, run to the sun is tomorrow and i've been thinking about taking the cortina to meet up with a convoy just south of bristol. this is a camprvan and veedub convoy and they'll all be doing the same speeds roughly. am i mad for thinking of this, should my engine last?

i doubt it was built to do 500 miles in a weekend.

i just dunno

 

and if anyone better at maths than me could work out how long it should take i'd be grateful

 

260 miles at 55mph.

 

i'm off to check my breakdown cover

 

the alternative is to take the orion and put my foot down when i get bored of the journey.

[Wessie]

do it in the tina just check the rad/pipes/thermostat etc are all in really good condition otherise its gonna get a bit hot

it might be worth giving it a quick nut and bolt check and filter/oil change

[orionmojo]

done the checks, the alternator keps rattling itself loose.

 

all seems well, but its one of those 'you know you shoudn't ...but'

[Wessie]

you only live once ! just make sure that breakdown cover is up to date, it might be worth carrying a spare gallon of fuel in the boot incase you run out of petrol

[Vista]

done the checks, the alternator keps rattling itself loose.

 

all seems well, but its one of those 'you know you shoudn't ...but'

 

Fit a spring washer behind the nut or change the nut for a Nyloc.

 

Go for it, as long as you have breakdown cover what have you got to lose? Using it is the only way you'll gain confidence in the car

[orionmojo]

i trust the car completly, but i've never taken it on anything nearly as long,

 

still thinking

[GT_Jim]

she'll b ok i did 1000 miles in 3 days last year and my tina didnt miss a beat

[orionmojo]

good stuf

 

keep those pos vibes coming!!

[Slik 50]

Do it mate, Camper vans can only do about 45 mph anyway cant they

The cortina will sit at that all day

[orionmojo]

 

can anyone work out how loing it should take? i did it in 4 hours and 17 miutes from my door to fistral beach car park last time, 261 miles exactly!! that was with a 15 or so minute break at some services

[andrewg1323]

you'll be fine

[Jimbob-Squarepants ©]

Get going mate. As Wessie said, check your cooling system and do an oil and filter change. If your still running points and condenser... take spares of each.

 

Also, remember to slightly over inflate your tyres as you are doing alot of motorway miles, this stops tyres getting to hot and blowing out.

 

It should take you approx 5 hours to do that mileage at that speed mate. All will be fine, but as I said to my mate once, if there are any problems that you think will make the motor sit on the hard shoulder... get them done before you leave, because if you don't, sod's law will see you breaking down to those problems.

 

As Vista said, get a sprung washer or Nylok nut on that Alternator... hell, do all three while your there.

 

One final thought, take some drinks and some munchies with you, also make sure your phone is charged. If I am right in saying, it is Bank Holiday Monday this Monday. The last thing you need is to be sat on a Motorway in masses of traffic with nothing to eat or drink because someone has been a spanner and crashed. (Not saying this will happen, but if it does, you will have munchies!)

[tim]

do it i did 550 miles the other weekend up to and around the lakes didnt miss a beat in a standard mex,loads of people did the german the german tour that was over 1500miles for most and alot of cars did it trouble free

[Osgood Isgood]

As someone who drives 800 motorway miles to and from Kilmarnock to Maidenhead every month I would offer the following advice;

 

Remember that 80% of truck drivers are homicidal maniacs who love nothing better than waiting until you are half way past them before pulling straight out into your lane!

 

Remember that all drivers of Black Range Rover sports think they are the most important people on the planet and therefore believe that everyone else should get out of their way so don't be surprised if you are in three lanes of heavy traffic (all doing 70 and keeping a safe distance officer) when they race up behind you and flash like lunatics for you to get out of their way.

 

Remember never to smirk when the other carriageway is standing still as you cruise past at 70, because the second you do your side will come to a total standstill as well.

 

 

Oh and the obvious of course, remember that ALL BMW drivers are tw*ts!

 

By the way, if you see a Silver Skoda hanging on your arse, it is old bill!!!

[flyingbanana]

 

Remember that 80% of truck drivers are homicidal maniacs who love nothing better than waiting until you are half way past them before pulling straight out into your lane!

 

 

the round ones....just means you are not watching the traffic

[escort21]

Stick ya foot down mate...xflow can take 5000grand for a few hours ...I cruise at 70-80 in my tina and i have smaller diameter tyres than you

[orionmojo]

^^nutter!! ^^

 

cheers for the confidence guys, the clutch is brand new, but it dont feel right, so i've just got some brake fluid, got a spare dizzy cap and leads/arm. loads of spanners tools etc. oil, water, more petrol.. thanks for the tip about the tyres jimbob there aint no way i'm doing 5k all theway there and back, 3.5k at 55mph will do me fine. it will cruise at 70, but the tappets start to scream after a few mins.

[Osgood Isgood]

the round ones....just means you are not watching the traffic

 

 

I knew it would be my fault, it usually is!!!

[bomber1]

the round ones....just means you are not watching the traffic

 

 

I knew it would be my fault, it usually is!!!

 

as one of them lorry drivers! i only pull out on people when a there paceing u when ur coming up to somthing slower or b u stick ur indercator on when a car is way back and u can see them nail it to stop u coming out 32ton and 12 wheels they normally get out the way

[flyingbanana]

the round ones....just means you are not watching the traffic

 

 

I knew it would be my fault, it usually is!!!

 

as one of them lorry drivers! i only pull out on people when a there paceing u when ur coming up to somthing slower or b u stick ur indercator on when a car is way back and u can see them nail it to stop u coming out 32ton and 12 wheels they normally get out the way

 

[Mr.Sumo]

 

Remember that 80% of truck drivers are homicidal maniacs who love nothing better than waiting until you are half way past them before pulling straight out into your lane!

 

 

the round ones....just means you are not watching the traffic

 

2nded Flyingbanana !!! Was about to go on a massive rant then...you beat me to it !

[mr squidian]

the amount of times my dads old tina went up and down from worcester to cornwall ive lost count

only broke down once and that was the fanbelt .. or cambelt .. cant remeber now

youl be fine dude

[Osgood Isgood]

Now listen guys, I did say only 80% of truckers are homicidal maniacs!

 

I know what you mean about the car drivers that floor it to try and stop you pulling out though, quite pathetic, but be fair quite a few of your colleagues can be down right bloody dangerous when pulling out at times! Like you said, umpty squiddly tons of weight in your favour can result in a certain degree bravado!

 

As for this thing of driving six feet behind the truck in front to save fuel...well all I can say is they must be totally barking!

 

One thing I will say is that until I started doing the Killie trip four years ago I had no idea just how much freight gets shifted by truck, especially overnight. I'll be on the M74 and it's just me and one long line of wagons as far as the eye can see!

[orionmojo]

thanks everyone,

 

i must say that i've just done 530 odd miles in the cortina and she never spat, spluttered or stalled once. unbelievable. i did 55 ish most of the time and took 7 hours to get there. i got mucho respect rom the people i talked to for going that far in it (from birmingham) and at that speed. plus i cannot fault the car one single bit. it defied everyone (including me )

 

but Ta for the support

[john_3.0s]

you'll love it mate, just think of that fun u will have cuising past the piles of fooked VWs overheating at the side of the road

 

u can always tell when there is a VW run on as the hard shoulder is littered with them!