The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Route 66 cruise

Hoping to travel as much of the old road as possible from OKC going West. Bolting a car top carrier in the bed to keep suitcases tools etc. dry. Looking for what to take advise from anyone who has gone that way. Money, gas can, oil and water ar givens.

What will you be driving?

My 1953 GMC long bed.

You’re going to need an industrial size bottle of Asprin. The old sections of the road from El Reno west to Clinton are pretty darn rough. Take a small air compressor so you can air down your tires to 25psi for the bad stretches then back to 32psi for the smooth sections. If you wear dentures take them out. Lol 😂

Here's what I carry...I always have a second set of everything needed to do a tune up (plugs, wires, cap, rotor, points & condenser) as well as water pump, fan belt and fuel pump.

I also like to have a couple 10' long pieces of #14 gauge wire with misc but splices, ring/fork terminals, fuses and electric tape. I even have a pack of misc universal springs with the long tail on one that can be used for clutch, brake and throttle return springs in a pinch...you cut them to length and there are a few different sizes for different tensions.

Don't forget PB Blaster, rags, and Tub-o-Towels (hand cleaner of your choice).

Should go without saying, but make sure you carry a spare tire with jack and lug wrench.

In 2012 I did the ATHS Historic Highway Convoy from Morris, IL to San Bernandino, CA over 10 days. We had 35 antique trucks in the convoy. We had a start time and finish time everyday, but the in between time was ours, so we stopped at junk yards and car museums we saw along the way. The first Truck Stop in MN has a nice car museum inside, so make that's one of your stops. This was the trip of a life time for me!

Also, don't forget to "stand on a corner in Winslow, Arizona" and get a picture of the "flatbed Ford"...and stop at Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, TX.

Take a camera and have fun!

Mike B

Nice list, Mike,

Regarding "wires, cap, rotor, points & condenser", I carried those parts many years ago (on long trips), but, for over 15 years I have simply carried a spare "tuned" distributor/wires (all new parts, adjusted, and tested).

If you carry a vacuum gauge, you can also do a quick-and-not-so-dirty carburetor & timing tune-up.

And don't forget ... a *fire extinguisher* --- It really kept a bad day from getting a whole lot worse. for me, once. Mike B's spare electric fuel pump helped me that day, too, as I recall.

Good advice John.
I carry a fire extinguisher in most of our cars and trucks.
I have put out at least three vehicle fires over the years.
Luckley, none of them were mine.
The problem is, nobody ever paid to replace the spent extinguishers.
Oh well, it felt good to help someone!

Don

Truck ran hot for the first time today. Twice. Better near home than out in the desert somewhere. A new radiator may be in my future.

Check the simple stuff first--thermostat, loose fan belt, etc.

I replaced radiator, water pump, thermostat, brakes and ball joints prior to our trip. Took a ton of spare parts, fluids, etc. with us. Didn't need any of them. Should have taken a fuel pump, fuel filter and heater motor with us. overall it was a great trip. 2700 miles, a hundred or so of backtracking when the road would just end. I40 was used a lot more than originally planned. 75 mph speed limits going up mountains was a little challenging. Turned around and ran for home when we hit snow west of Flagstaff. Hope to do the Eastern half in the spring.

I did the ATHS Route 66 Convoy in 2012, we went from Morris, IL to San Bernardino, CA over 10 days. There were 35 antique trucks in the convoy. We had official start and stop point each day at a Motel, but the middle of the day was all ours to venture where we wanted. It was the trip of a lifetime for me! Mike B :)

Whoaaaa, Come on realdealhere. We need details and PICTURES. Things like mpg, any stories about the folks met, vehicles you'd love to have loaded on a trailer and towed home. If your trip was anything like mine have been, the two most common conversations at gas stations; What year, or they just try to guess and throw out a year, the year conversation is quickly followed by stories about trucks of the same generation they or their relatives used to have. Also, what if anything popped up as a needed upgrade prior to the next trip. I've made a couple of 1,300 mile drives in my '51 and a few items needing attention that were not apparent with a casual 25 mile drive did crop up. RonR

I had my Route 66 retirement trip all planned out in 2008. NOPE. Gas prices and a lack of funds put the nix on that.

Rusty, gas prices are currently about as cheap as they're gonna get. Although snow is a deal killer currently.... winter will pass. On a different note (thread hi-jack warning), the wife and I were in your part of the world a couple years ago on a early fall drive and passed through Lyons, Co. Saw, stopped and then lusted after driver '58, TR3 that had a asking price of $8,900.00. It was located at an old 1940'ish gas station in Lyons at 602 5th Ave, Vintage Motors. The lack of funds you mentioned is the only reason it didn't follow me home. Always wondered if it's still buy-able.