Preparing for road trip...any advice?

[allenms240]

Hey nicos. I am planning on going on a 2k mile road trip. My 91 hatch is my only car so I kinda wanted to take it. But I'm kind of worried about taking that across two states.Miles on the motor are unknown, the guy I bought it from said it had about 60k on it from an s14, but I doubt that considering how dirty it is under the valve cover. Any advice on what I should do to the car if I really do go through with this trip, what do you think I should tune up for the trip?I have a CAI I would take off to short ram for the trip.HKS exhaustksport coiloversand SE rims with New tires.I plan on doing an oil change before the trip as well.Any advice is welcomed, just be nice

[LugNut18]

1. Check tire pressure (bring gauge too)2. Check fluids (wiper, brake etc.)3. Check overall condition of car4. Get AAA (optional)5. Buy a good map. (If you don't have a GPS)6. Cell Phone (fully charged)7. No Hitchhikers (not even the hot ones...)8. Pain Pills (Your back isn't gonna feel good)9. Don't get pulled over10. If you're not doing a straight through run, plan out where you're going to stay for the night. (what city, hotel etc.)11. Water12. Money (In case that hot hitchhiker you just picked up tries to rob you)

That should be it. Just make sure to prepare for the worst cuz it can happen.
Modified by LugNut18 at 11:58 PM 2/22/2010

[AZ89two4Tsx]

Don't do it!!!!! You're gonna regret it.

Coils are HELL for long trips and the high gearing is super annoying. It sucked driving my hatch from Scottsdale to Prescott, but it was hot and my A/C is not working.

Hopefully you don't have s13 seats either!

As far as tuning up, definitely an oil change, check your tires, alignment if needed, wiper blades, check your coolant. I would bring a quart or two of oil if you burn any, some hand tools, and water/coolant.

[simmode1]

2k miles through two states? I can only assume you're driving through Texas. If that's the case... Good luck to you.

I'd fly or rent another car.

[allenms240]

Thanks for the replys. YEs, through new mexico and into texas.From Tucson to Witchita falls, tx.Eh money is kinda tight though that's why we can't rent. Coils and seats will suck the most exhaust is HKS Hi power to its actually pretty quiet.Maybe i'll ask to use my friends s14 seats, dont they bolt up?

[LugNut18]

Thanks for the replys. YEs, through new mexico and into texas.From Tucson to Witchita falls, tx.Eh money is kinda tight though that's why we can't rent. Coils and seats will suck the most exhaust is HKS Hi power to its actually pretty quiet.Maybe i'll ask to use my friends s14 seats, dont they bolt up?

"8. Pain Pills (Your back isn't gonna feel good)"

[allenms240]

Aren't s14 seats more comfy though?

[simmode1]

^^^Ride comfort would be the last of my worries. How long have you had this car? I would do a top to bottom mechanical inspection of this car before taking it anywhere more than 300 miles.

The last thing you want is to have an injector failure/ timing chain death rattle/ or some other catastrophic issue strand you in the middle of no where...

God, I remember getting stranded on the outskirts of Waco in the middle of the night with my car running on 3 cylinders... That was teh suck. Thankfully, I just needed new spark plugs and wires.

[allenms240]

Ivehad the motor since the beginning of summer. ITs blown like 2-3 injectors since I got it, maybe I'll bring some spare ones just in case another decides to go.What would you recommended looking for in the inspection though?

[LugNut18]

Depends who you ask. I felt s13 seats were more comfortable to me. Sit in the S14 seat first, to see if you like it.

[LugNut18]

The last thing you want is to have an injector failure/ timing chain death rattle/ or some other catastrophic issue strand you in the middle of no where...

God, I remember getting stranded on the outskirts of Waco in the middle of the night with my car running on 3 cylinders... That was teh suck. Thankfully, I just needed new spark plugs and wires.

Definitely agree. Just a simple trip back from CT to MD, we had an alternator go bad. Even stuck in NJ, it still took almost 2 hrs for a tow truck. But we had AAA, so the tow back to MD was free.

[allenms240]

We have AAA also

[lilRillo]

Repeat number 8

[LugNut18]

Repeat number 8

I see you are pushing hard to beat my post count.

[lilRillo]

I see you are pushing hard to beat my post count.

hahahah

[simmode1]

Ivehad the motor since the beginning of summer. ITs blown like 2-3 injectors since I got it, maybe I'll bring some spare ones just in case another decides to go.What would you recommended looking for in the inspection though?

Spare injectors and the tools to pull/install them FTW.

All the stuff Lugnut18 said earlier is good, but it also couldn't hurt to also inspect your belts, have your battery/alternator/starter tested and your heater system too (in case you get stranded in the cold).

[NismoZRS]

good luck!! hah tell us how it goes.. im gonna have to do the same when i drive from maine to new jersey just to go to Club Loose events.. and if i crash, im f***ed.. BUT THATS DETERMINATION BABY!!

ill probably have to sleep in the car too cause im too broke to afford a hotel/motel lmao

[allenms240]

Battery is newAlternator belt is new because the tensioner bracket fell out the other day. I got a nice fitting bolt with a locking washer in it this time so it'll stay in place. Ill go ahead and get my alternator and starter tested, thanks for that info

[LugNut18]

good luck!! hah tell us how it goes.. im gonna have to do the same when i drive from maine to new jersey just to go to Club Loose events.. and if i crash, im f***ed.. BUT THATS DETERMINATION BABY!!

ill probably have to sleep in the car too cause im too broke to afford a hotel/motel lmao

That's the benefit of the hatchback. The best sleep I ever got in a car was my S13. If I can save $80 buck by doing so then why not. Plus, I'll never stay at a $30 a night room ever again. Of course the benefit of said room is the free "adult" movies

[jeff420]

Battery is newAlternator belt is new because the tensioner bracket fell out the other day. I got a nice fitting bolt with a locking washer in it this time so it'll stay in place. Ill go ahead and get my alternator and starter tested, thanks for that info

if ya run into trouble in texas i know a guy who has lots of extra parts and expertise! yep. me. lol.

[allenms240]

Lol it is a hatch! but it will be filled with lots of tools and spare parts lmao. but we plan to go straight through the night. its 900 miles there and 900 back. 12 hr trip and there are two drivers. So if we can save the money, you can bet we will...Haha jeff I'll be sure to hit you up if something happens. What part?

[jeff420]

im in dfw. was just in witchita falls the other day. drove up to oklahoma to deliver some 240 parts and get my ps3.

Lol it is a hatch! but it will be filled with lots of tools and spare parts lmao. but we plan to go straight through the night. its 900 miles there and 900 back. 12 hr trip and there are two drivers. So if we can save the money, you can bet we will...Haha jeff I'll be sure to hit you up if something happens. What part?

[zachattack_5491]

Better bring some duct tape, zip ties, and 20 minute epoxy... that stuff saves lives. Hit me up if you need parts if you take the I40 route through Albuquerque.

[ILoveMyRHS13]

Clutch slave cylinder.Thermostat.Rad hoses.

[simmode1]

Clutch slave cylinder.Thermostat.Rad hoses.

OMG yes.

[jeff420]

theoretically he shouldnt need the slave. ive drivin my 240 without using the clutch pedal because mine went out and i wasnt about to leave my car on the side of the highway. 20 min epoxy and duct tape? i can understand zip ties but come on lol. on a side note my first crx had plastic fenders that were broke so they were essentially duct tape fenders lol.

[islidemys13]

everything stated before is very good info.

i live in central FL, and drove to tulsa,OK. in a 90' stock 240sx with a HKS hi-power exhaust. the seats did suck after about 500 miles of a 2000 mile trip but frequent streches help, and the exhaust was peaceful, drowned out the sound of snoring other noisy cars passing you. also...check your coolant mix (if going to cold climate change if needed as to not freez up and pop a freez plug or worse)1 or 2 gallon gas canjug of water and few quarts of oil full ratchet set full wrench set & assorted screw drivers(keep mine in backpack)mini jack and/or stock sissor jackatleast 2 flashlights (i had none )air pump for cig lighter tire pressure gaugeplenty of cdscheck your spare something for protection (i got license to carry but pocket knife is good)

and if you start to get tired/hypmotised but the road be sure to pull off and stretch or sleep of a lil bit. i ether fell asleep or dazed off and ended up with 2 driver tires it the wet grassy medean and had a fun/scary time sliding it out at 70 mph . ended up with 2 wheel wells so funn of snow i couldnt turn the wheel with no light to see how to pull the snow out. and thats just the start long story short a road trip is alot of fun if plannd out right, be careful and have fun. be sure to let us know about the follies and mishaps that are sure to insue.

[allenms240]

New thermostat, water pump, and rad hoses from the drive back from Cali when i picked it up. First stop to get gas, and i came out of the gas station to see a nice puddle of coolant under the car.New slave and master cylinder from the swap.Yeah I'll be sure to bring plenty of oil, coolant, and water. with a change for all fluids before the trip.

C'mon, it's an s13, of course I'll have my jack and tools in the car. Good advice peeps. thanks alot for it.

[zenkistic]

looks like the tools/stuff needed are gonna be more expensive than the road trip itself

have some fun man!

[Dire91]

1. Check tire pressure (bring gauge too)2. Check fluids (wiper, brake etc.)3. Check overall condition of car4. Get AAA (optional)5. Buy a good map. (If you don't have a GPS)6. Cell Phone (fully charged)7. No Hitchhikers (not even the hot ones...)8. Pain Pills (Your back isn't gonna feel good)9. Don't get pulled over10. If you're not doing a straight through run, plan out where you're going to stay for the night. (what city, hotel etc.)11. Water12. Money (In case that hot hitchhiker you just picked up tries to rob you)

That should be it. Just make sure to prepare for the worst cuz it can happen.

Modified by LugNut18 at 11:58 PM 2/22/2010

Check the brake pads too! Also bring tools, lots of tools.