If you want to take a classic car on a road trip, all you need is fuel injection and overdrive. Right? Well, that depends on the specifics of your situation. The beauty of a restomod is that you get the killer looks of a classic car, but have all the modern advancements, so you can jump in and drive it anywhere without a hitch. Only, when you’re driving a rolling project like I am, you really can’t count on things going smoothly on a long trek without a bit of prep work.
Over the past year, I slammed a BluePrint Engines Gen III Hemi Compatible 426 crate motor in my ’69 Charger paired with a Tremec TKX swap from American Powertrain. As I’m gearing up for my annual trek south to the Outer Banks, North Carolina, I’m finding that, while things are different from the last time I drove the car down with a carbureted 440 and a 4-speed, I’m still doing quite a bit to get ready. Yes, it’s more reliable and will be more comfortable on this journey, but there are still some things that I need to sort out before I jump on the open road. I know many of you are also cramming to get ready for some last-minute summer romps in your own project car, so I figured I’d share some tips from my own preparation process of getting my ratty restomod Charger ready for a 500-mile road trip.
Tuning The Engine
If you’re driving a project, tinker toy, or any other sort of car you constantly mess with on a long trip like this, it’s important to set the right tune. If you’re like me, this is something you’re constantly playing with and ironing out. While it doesn’t have to be perfect, you want it in a good place to yield the best economy to lessen the price of gas.
Really, this is nprocess is no different for any car. Only, rather than doing it with a screwdriver and timing light, like I did with the 440, I’m changing the tune on the Holley Terminator Xapp or handheld on account of the swap to fuel injection.
Changing Break-In Fluids
A universal rule for any car going on any major trip is to freshen up all of your fluids. In my case, I just did my first oil change on the motor after the break-in period. That’s good to go. The transmission just finished its break-in period, so I need to get that gear oil swapped out before we head out. Regardless, this is a 1,000-mile round trip, which doesn’t factor in the driving I’ll be doing during my stay. I’d definitely want to make sure I’ve got good, clean fluids to work with the entire time, so as not to hurt the most expensive thing I’ve ever put into my car.
Setting The Alignment
My Charger restomod is currently riding on a Heidts Pro G IFS with a number of adjustable settings, and the 4-link outback also has adjustable ride height. Being the busy-body that I am, it’s something I toy with a lot. That said, it’s been in an experimental state for some time. Now that I’m hitting the road, getting it set in a place that I’m happy with and properly aligned is critical. This is definitely not exactly unique to my car. Keeping your alignment in check is always of utmost importance, and there’s no better time to do so than before a long drive.
Cup Holders Are Essential
No. It’s not permanent, but I am loving it. Like any other classic, my Charger lacks cup holders. I’ve had several universal units over the years, and they pretty much suck. This year, I decided to actually make the late model Challenger center console I have lying around work. It honestly was no small feat, as I had to cut the console in a few places to make it fit, and ended up making a custom bracket that relocated the shifter so it didn’t run into anything. It actually does work now, and I have a place to keep my coffee. I even got the USB charging ports working to charge my phone up on the drive.
Fog Lights
Some rain is expected on my trek south, and maybe on the way home. This classic Charger doesn’t have any fog lights from the factory, so forward visibility in inclement weather is very poor. To make sure the car’s safe to drive, I added some fog lights to help me see a bit better if we happen to face the rain in the dark, which is very likely. If your car doesn’t have fog lights, I definitely recommend doing the same. These Hella 550 Comets do create a very particular look on this car, which I’m on the fence about. What are your thoughts?
The most important component of any road trip survival guide is having the right tools and parts to get off the shoulder if things go wrong. It’s important to remember that you can’t fix everything, nor should you attempt to. Some problems just need to place you on a tow truck so you can get to a better place to sort things out.
Still, you do want a few odds and ends to help you get by. A full-size spare and tools to change a tire are absolutely essential. It’s also good to have some spare fluids in case you spring a leak. Fuses and some basic wiring tools can also be tremendous lifesavers. I like to bring along some basic hand tools as well to deal with minor jobs and replacements of parts that commonly fail, which tend to be specific to your car. In a classic car like this, those tend to be your starter relays, ballast resistors, spark plug wires, and a distributor cap and rotor. Last but not least, a portable jump starter and tire inflator can be a real life saver.
Plan A Safe Route
Planning your route should go beyond just finding the fastest possible way there with the fewest tolls. If you’re driving a valuable car that is likely to break down, you really need to consider the worst-case scenario. For starters, you should be considerate of your proximity to parts stores in case you need anything. Going the scenic route is tempting, but maybe not worth the risk. You should also make sure you have a roadside emergency service in case you need a tow.
Another thing to be mindful of is where you park your car if you need to stay somewhere overnight. If you can, plan ahead so you don’t end up in a place where your car is likely to get stolen. It’s really smart to invest in a tracker for your car in case something happens to it during your travels.
Go Over Everything Twice
It’s easy to get into a rush and start cramming to get out the door and hit the road, only to find you didn’t sort out a major detail that needs attention. Don’t fall prey to the vicious cycle. Take your time and go over everything twice to make sure it’s all right. Doing so will ensure all the big things are in check and is your best chance of guaranteeing that, if something goes wrong, it will only be something small that you can easily handle anywhere. From there, the only thing left to do is get behind the wheel and enjoy the journey.
