Need advice RE; Roadtrip

What's on your "must have" list when road-tripping?

What am i forgetting? Does anybody use CB anymore?

I've got a 95 T/A with a STS turbo LT1 5.7 (rebuilt) that's finally broken in, and running fantastic. I also have a family reunion coming up at the end of March. So instead of taking some boring flight from PDX to Arkansas, I have decided to roll the dice and take a little me time and get to know my hotrod a little better.

So advice?

I'm planning on bringing the basic toolbox loaded with a few parts ( Ignition module, plugs and wires...?)

Fuzz buster? CB radio? Waze app? Pistol? Bail money? In my mind im thinking "Gumball Rally" but it'll probably be more like "Vanishing Point" We'll See

bring three spare optis. it's the only way to be sure.

seriously if you have a spare complete ignition system, coil, icm, opti, plug wires, bring it.

Every LT1 car should have a milk crate or somesuch container with an entire spare LT1 ignition system - don't forget the Opti-snorkel / Vent & Vacuum Harness.
Any other small parts that you would not want to wait to have delivered should be included - parts almost never get any cheaper or easier to source.

On a long road trip, I'd want to figure out how to effectively 'simulate' an Open Loop version of Highway Mode / Lean Cruise for even better MpGs.
I see no reason why an F- or Y-car should not be able to achieve at least 27MpG.

Most states consider fuzzbustas illegal, yeah? Does that mean that they can actually detect radar / laser jammers themselves?

Good call Steve, I will bring the one and a half OPTISPARKS I own and coil is a good idea also.
Thinking about springing for AAA?

LeMarky, thats a good point i've only driven 25 miles from home so far i dont even have a spare or jack yet...more for the list. I know that I'm in open loop all the time(Solomen Tuned) and I thought about bringing the lap top for some serious data logging to send in for my final tune. Come to think of it I think Solomen is located that direction.Hmmm.
I hadn't thunk about detectors being illegal really? better do some research
thanks

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Originally Posted by Ts95TTA

Thinking about springing for AAA?
LeMarky, that's a good point i've only driven 25 miles from home so far i dont even have a spare or jack yet ... more for the list.
I know that I'm in open loop all the time (Solomon Tuned) and I thought about bringing the lap top for some serious data logging to send in for my final tune.
Come to think of it I think Solomon is located that direction. Hmmm ...
I hadn't thunk about detectors being illegal really? better do some research
thanks

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As for roadside assistance, there are other options besides AAA, especially if your credit card and/or car insurance policy likes you.

Want to supplement my OE jack with an exhaust filled airbag jack.

Many states SAY that radar / laser detectors are illegal. If they cannot spot or detect them, all the better for us.
If they CAN spot or detect them, stick with Waze ...

look if you have a towing insurance plan of some kind all the better. if your distributor blows up, changing it on the road side isn't really that ideal

i always pack a 9/10/12/13/14mm wrench and some tape and tiestraps and tire plugs in every spare tire compartment of every vehicle i own. usually some jumper clips and a knife too. it's always there. sometimes i can fix my car with it, and sometimes i'm in a jam and i need to take a hostage with the knife/tape/tiestraps.

with the basic spares always stuffed in the car, just say f*(#5 it and hit the road when you need to go. the failures we have are part of the journey, and if your car dies maybe you'll end up somewhere more interesting than you were planning on going anyway

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Originally Posted by steveo

and sometimes i'm in a jam and i need to take a hostage with the knife/tape/tiestraps.

with the basic spares always stuffed in the car, just say f*(#5 it and hit the road when you need to go. the failures we have are part of the journey, and if your car dies maybe you'll end up somewhere more interesting than you were planning on going anyway

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:rockon::rockon::rockon: :happy:

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Originally Posted by steveo

look if you have a towing insurance plan of some kind all the better. if your distributor blows up, changing it on the road side isn't really that ideal

i always pack a 9/10/12/13/14mm wrench and some tape and tiestraps and tire plugs in every spare tire compartment of every vehicle i own. usually some jumper clips and a knife too. it's always there. sometimes i can fix my car with it, and sometimes i'm in a jam and i need to take a hostage with the knife/tape/tiestraps.

with the basic spares always stuffed in the car, just say f*(#5 it and hit the road when you need to go. the failures we have are part of the journey, and if your car dies maybe you'll end up somewhere more interesting than you were planning on going anyway

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Now thats what im talkin' bout, the journey not the endpoint
Besides I built this baby right and she only just turned 100k or as the kids say "YOLO!!!!"

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Originally Posted by LeMarky Dissod

As for roadside assistance, there are other options besides AAA, especially if your credit card and/or car insurance policy likes you.

Want to supplement my OE jack with an exhaust filled airbag jack.

Many states SAY that radar / laser detectors are illegal. If they cannot spot or detect them, all the better for us.
If they CAN spot or detect them, stick with Waze ...

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Holy crap that jack is way cool! I wonder if it'll flip my car over if I hook it up to the downpipe!!

First time I'd seen an exhaust filled air bag jack was looking through an old Packard! The package must have dated back to the early '50s. Way cool!

I tend to bring a laptop and some cables, test light, electrical tools, wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers. Small stuff. Extra oil/anti/ATF/Brake fluid. GPS plus "real" maps. Towing service is good but check max distance. Anything that doesn't cover a tow longer than 40 miles isn't helpful when you're stranded in the countryside. Definitely bring spare Opti stuff. 20 years after the engine was released, we still have to sacrifice a Honda to the gods to keep the Opti-demons happy.

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Originally Posted by 1project2many

... 20 years after the engine was released, we still have to sacrifice a Honda to the gods to keep the Opti-demons happy.

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Thought the sacrifice was a Mitsubishi 3000GT / Dodge Stealth?
As in, I could swear that the '90-'00 also uses the same Mitsu optical sensor as the LT1 Opti-Spark?

Some more excellent ideas for the tool kit. My mom came up with the ultimate take along that will guarantee I arrive and obey the speed limit the entire journey...My little sister is gonna copilot. Now ive went from "Lone wolf McCaid" to 'adventures in babysitting'

:thumbsup::innocent2:

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Originally Posted by LeMarky Dissod

Thought the sacrifice was a Mitsubishi 3000GT / Dodge Stealth?
As in, I could swear that the '90-'00 also uses the same Mitsu optical sensor as the LT1 Opti-Spark?

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Now that you mention it, I think folks were trying to use that sensor.

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Now ive went from "Lone wolf McCaid" to 'adventures in babysitting'

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Well... different vibe but still a potentially great trip. Good luck!

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Originally Posted by 1project2many

Now that you mention it, I think folks were trying to use that sensor.

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Never heard any definitive news, only that those cars also use the same optical sensor. Don't know for sure if it's actually true.
Same goes for a Nissan 3.3L V6 ...

So thanks to the Gearhead community for the great advice, overall a great success, little sister was delivered safe and sound to our parents place. The car delivered way more than i could have asked for. 21 MPG avg. Top speed 155mph smoked nearly every car that tried us. Plus i added a run to Mexico for a total 4650 miles. We went through 3 blizzards at the passes had to test out the cloth chains i borrowed(A+). Nailed a bullseye on the turbo oil return fitting with some ice chunk for an easy yet messy oil change in Missouri(sorry Missouri). Radar detector saved me multiple times. And i saw so much new sights i'll never forget. Turns out the T/A is a road eating monster, designed with carving, and clawing its way through desert canyons and purring along 6th gear 2500rpm 120mph effortlessly. Cant wait for next year!

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Originally Posted by Ts95TTA

messy oil change in Missouri(sorry Missouri)!

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"How dare you" Gretta.... Lol
I'm sure I've dropped plenty on the state

Any CB chatter?

Woohoo!! Sounds like an incredible trip. I'm glad everyone was delivered safely.

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Originally Posted by ralmo94

"How dare you" Gretta.... Lol
I'm sure I've dropped plenty on the state

Any CB chatter?

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That's one thing I wish I had installed was a CB, I do know one thing though I was either loved or hated by the haulers.

It was long overdue and 10x as fun as I let on