In a message dated 4/20/2004 7:58:04 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
owner-triumphs@autox.team.net writes:
> So, I'm looking at ~ 500 miles to get it back here.
> This has got me thinking about what spare/backup parts
> I should have in trunk for this trip. Currently on the list are:
>
> Dist. cap/points/condensor
> fan belt
> extra oil/antifreeze
> cell phone/AAA card
> Minivan following closely behind by wifey
>
> With this in mind, would you add any other bits to a
> not-that-long trip?
Richard:
My son and I took a very similar trip last year when we flew from Michigan to
Iowa and drove our new-to-us TR4 back home. We didn't have the luxury of a
chase vehicle but took along a goodly supply of small parts. In fact, our list
duplicated yours in most details, except the antifreeze. We also added a
bottle of Castrol LMA brake fluid, a compact but reasonably complete tool kit,
a s
et of spark plugs, an ignition coil, a selection of shop rags, a small grease
gun, a spool of wire and some crimp-on electrical connectors. I was going to
bring a fuel pump rebuild kit, but couldn't find the correct type on short
notice.
In the end, none of it was necessary. Out of a manly need to prove my ability
to survive in the wild, I did change the plugs on the morning of day two of
our leisurely, three-day 700 mile drive. This was more of a precautionary
measure since the car had been running rich due to a choke problem. That was
solved
in 5 minutes by tightening the clevis pinch bolt on the choke cable. The
lesson seems to be that the more you bring, the less you'll need.
I suppose the tool we used most was the cell phone to stay in contact with
the home front. My wife had (not unreasonable) doubts about the wisdom of the
whole proposition but my son and I had a great adventure. And as I told my
wife, if I have to buy a sports car so that my teenage son and I can have a
common ground for companionship and male bonding, well, that's just a sacrifice
I'm
willing to make.
Bob Sharp
Michigan
64-ish TR4
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