A few extra parts and a basic tool kit. If I can't fix it with that I might as well call a tow truck. I should carry a scissor jack because if I had a flat tire the last thing I would do is use the bumper jack. Rechromed bumpers cost too much. 
Do you get nervous?
- Thread starter Ron816
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doogievlg
Well-Known Member
My Darts been rear ended, broke down on the road and in parking lots. I spent $6000 on an engine rebuild and it spun a bearing two years later. It will see many more problems but it’s just a car and can’t take it with you.
If im at a show and shine, and people want to look it over, it doesent bother me,kids want to sit in it,im cool with it too. I give em a sticker. Same will go for barracuda and the dart.
This!!
At 18 years old I had a 74 Dodge Tradesmen van, slant six. I drove that thing everywhere. I mean 4 hours to the beach. Even took it from Southern Pennsylvania to Connecticut and back. The trip there was in snow with L60 tires.I never gave breaking down a second thought.
Now....get nervous driving my Barracuda around town.
Oh to be young, lol.
JDMopar
Well-Known Member
When I build something new, I always take it out and pressure test it. I will run the pee out of it on the back roads testing take off's and stops, and G test it in curves. The G testing involves how many times I st st st stutter when it scares me and I say "GOSHALMIGHTY" Then I'll take it 30 or 40 miles out the interstate to see how it likes cruising at 70-75. If all that is good, I'll not worry anymore about it whether I'm going a mile up the road to Sonic for the cruise in, or headed across country. Like everyone else has said, I most always take my junkyard tool box with me on road trips.
Yes.
DesertRat
Leading edge boomer
Yes I have been nervous when I first got my Barracuda together. It took two years of shakedown cruises to fix all the mistakes. But now I have been driving the car for four years and put a couple 600 mile road trips on it. I just spent three days servicing the car and detailing it to show condition. I don't get nervous now and the car is ready to go for the season, road trips no shows though. My daily driver.
Never a second thought.
What's to be worried or nervous about, like it really makes a difference in an outcome.
What's to be worried or nervous about, like it really makes a difference in an outcome.
mopar head
Well-Known Member
Breaking down is embarrassing, It`s like everyone that drives by is pointing at you and laughing, when in reality they probably give a 2 second glance and say sucks to be him
My tight wad *** incorporated a used wiring harness in my ol Dodge and took a couple of weeks to work up the courage to leave the battery connected over night in the garage
My tight wad *** incorporated a used wiring harness in my ol Dodge and took a couple of weeks to work up the courage to leave the battery connected over night in the garage
I have Hagerty Plus insurance with free towing, and I also have AAA for my regular cars, both of which would call my buddies service station up town, so I don’t worry about breaking down. And, I can fix just about anything on the side of the road. Just do as stated above, satellite around your home going farther and farther each time until your nerves subside
I ain't skeered. Our county has 1 traffic light (at the school) and 1 tow truck, and I have a flip phone!
Part of the problem is that our classics are not the same cookie cutter shapes as most modern cars are, so they stand out and naturally draw attention. Unfortunately, far too many drivers today do not have the skills and abilities since the standards are far lower than what most of us needed to prove when we were first licensed. Now add to that the fact that so many people have let their own abilities and skills deteriorate, toss in a couple of distractions and far more vehicles on the road can make it nerve wracking.
To me it's completely normal to be a little anxious about the first few trips in a new ride. There's always the chance that something can go wrong mechanically and leave you in a bad spot, but if you have done most or all of the work yourself it should be something you can correct. Breakdowns can be embarrassing, but in reality no one passing by knows what's wrong, and any vehicle is subject to breaking down.
As for the risk of some clown running into it, well that can happen no matter what you do or what you're driving, so enjoy the rewards of all your hard work and put some miles on it.
When I went on the Hot Rod Power Tour in 2005 with my 1970 Dart, a friend of mine also came along with his 1966 GTO, 421 tri power 4 speed car. My Dart made the 5000 plus mile trip without any issues, but the GTO experienced a few things, nothing catastrophic and no tow truck was required, just some good troubleshooting, a few basic hand tools and some patience. It was and still is the most enjoyable vacation I've ever had, I would love to do it again.
To me it's completely normal to be a little anxious about the first few trips in a new ride. There's always the chance that something can go wrong mechanically and leave you in a bad spot, but if you have done most or all of the work yourself it should be something you can correct. Breakdowns can be embarrassing, but in reality no one passing by knows what's wrong, and any vehicle is subject to breaking down.
As for the risk of some clown running into it, well that can happen no matter what you do or what you're driving, so enjoy the rewards of all your hard work and put some miles on it.
When I went on the Hot Rod Power Tour in 2005 with my 1970 Dart, a friend of mine also came along with his 1966 GTO, 421 tri power 4 speed car. My Dart made the 5000 plus mile trip without any issues, but the GTO experienced a few things, nothing catastrophic and no tow truck was required, just some good troubleshooting, a few basic hand tools and some patience. It was and still is the most enjoyable vacation I've ever had, I would love to do it again.
After rebuilding a car I normally take a few 3-5 mile trips. Pull it in the garage on fresh cardboard and inspect for leaks etc. Then I'll take a 15-20 mile trip including some 4 lane highway 70 mph run. Again parked on cardboard. No leaks I'd drive it across country. I had one of the most fun trips in my 71 Cuda after a rebuild like this. I drove it 205 miles each way the the Mopar Nationals where I put it in the For Sale corral. As soon as I pulled it in people came running. They got close to the car and were like "OMG that thing is HOT" I said Hell yea it's hot I just drove it 205 miles here. Then I got this puzzled look "You drove it?" YES it's a car THEY WERE BUILT TO BE DRIVEN. When did people forget we used to drive these cars everyday all year. (Ever drive an E-body in the snow?) I've had old cars all my life I'M NOT AFRAID OR NERVOUS. For God's sake DRIVE IT , ENJOY IT!!!
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dibbons
Well-Known Member
Do we also worry in our sleep? I just woke up from a dream where I saw our '72 Bahama Yellow Satellite surrounded by kids. My spouse had employed the kids to either sand, scrape, or scrub graffiti that had been painted all over the vehicle the night before while it had been parked outside on the street.
69moredoor
Well-Known Member
I was nervous about the 69 dart in the first lemons rally. 2800 miles in 5 days…that’ll make you question your limited automotive knowledge (mine). But ya gotta just live in the moments. We buy/work/fix these cars for those moments. Sometimes we let the background noise take over.
I feel really bad for the guys who have trailer queens. Don’t want to be your death bed wishing you made the memories. Ya gotta enjoy the ride.
I feel really bad for the guys who have trailer queens. Don’t want to be your death bed wishing you made the memories. Ya gotta enjoy the ride.
My "Numbers Matching Survivor" 70 Challenger RT driven in pouring rain for 90 miles with a group of newer Challengers and even a Viper. I got comments like "I can't believe that old car will keep up with us" and "Doesn't it run hot?" "I don't even like to get my new car wet" Which my reply was simply "It's a car meant to be driven , windshield wipers were not optional equipment" I had fun driving the car , went to a car show Got a First Place E-body Stock trophy and then had more fun driving it home. The car is gone , I still have the trophy , BUT THE MEMORY OF THAT DRIVE WILL LAST THE REST OF MY LIFE!!!
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No worries at all. I put airplanes together for a living, if something falls off a car I can simply pull over to the side of the road!
The LAST REALLY NICE Mopar I had was about 1998 there bouts. Bud found it for me and said I had to have it. '71 Cuda 340 4 speed triple black and a real 40,000 mi car. One repaint that was perfect. I would drive it town town (Mo.) down the 2 lane blacktop about 8 mi. Little traffic ever, but ever time I would meet a car coming it always get kept getting closer to the center lane and would being over in My lane! Damn it!
People see a car coming like that Cuda and they know it ain't the usual jelly bean car and they stare and its just easy to come toward the center line! Now days I have some decent cars but none really worth that much!!! I ensure them they Hagerty for a few $$$ and drive them and give a c***!
People see a car coming like that Cuda and they know it ain't the usual jelly bean car and they stare and its just easy to come toward the center line! Now days I have some decent cars but none really worth that much!!! I ensure them they Hagerty for a few $$$ and drive them and give a c***!
The Dart and the GTO at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee Fla at the end of the Power Tour.
Yup. That's my "Moth to the flame" effect. Same reason drunks wale into cops on the side of the road with their lights flashing. One would think to steer away from your eye target? But I guess it's opposite. You steer towards what you are looking at. Racers have known that all along.
I agree with this. Just have the mindset that something is going to happen. If it does, be prepared. If it doesn't, you can be pleasantly surprised.
Take short trips close to your house and make sure your friends/family are around in-case something major happens. Otherwise, have fun and have faith in your craftsmanship
1sttvbn
Active Member
Yes, every time I take her out. Getting older now without kids, so I'm real close to just selling her.
YES. Fired up a fresh engine today. Only my second build. First one fired right off with 1 small coolant leak. This engine has fought me the whole build. Today did not go smoothly but it's running but can drive yet. Now the punch list has about 5 items the worst being another coolant leak from the cam cover bolt behind the water pump lower hose inlet. It's gotta come off. ARGH!!
Im going to be nervous for the first month on this one.
Im going to be nervous for the first month on this one.
Tagged twice by idiots on phones or drunk. Always fun to get an ambulance ride, not get paid for it or costing you money because the A-hole is uninsured.
well fresh stuff needs to be run hard as is its limits , then everything checked over while its still clean n fresh . if it going to break it will . lol , hope for the best and prep for the tow , lol .
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