3.2 Conversion - outlaw Street and track car project, (Was “Would you do This 1400 mile road trip?) Options

[davehg]

Last year I bought a 914-6 conversion with a 3.2. The car was an autocross car, and the PO had removed everything that wasn't essential - no more side windows and mechanism, no door panels, no carpet, no radio, no heater. Nada.

I had a mechanic friend go through, check and adjust everything, and the car runs great! It's loads of fun to run up and down Hwy 74 in the desert. It does smoke at idle, and needs a top end job, but otherwise ok, brakes are fine and tires are new, though the toe needs to be adjusted for a road trip. The car is geared for the track, and 80mph runs at 4.5kRPM. Oh...new battery too.

I've put about 800 miles on it since I bought it and the only issue was a faulty switch easily replaced. I'm planning to bring it back and upgrade the interior and do a top end job.

I'm bringing it back to the PNW and the cost to ship is $1200. I have a flatbed car trailer and can tow it, but finding the time to go down and fetch is a challenge - I'd need a week - three days down a day to pack up, and three days back, and the fuel/hotel costs wouldn't be much less than shipping up. Plus, crossing CA at 55mph with a trailer makes me want to puke in my mouth.

So....I had an idea. Me and my 16 year old kid pack light, fly into Palm Springs, and do the 1300-1400 mile trip home, stay off I5 and take my favorite motorcycle twisty roads home (I've done this trip on various motorcycles and cars over the years). The downsides - race seats, no creature comforts, wind blowing, may be very hot in the summer, my ass will ache at the end of a 350 mile day, and if we break down...well, that's when the real adventure begins, right?

Upsides - just about everything else, and we'd have that trip to remember for ages.

So what say you? Do the trip? Or bring the car back home the more secure way? If we do the trip, what should I bring along? Fuel pump? Relays? (going to bring plugs, belt, small tool kit, fuses)

Here's the pix of the car for clarity:

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-21443-1505926526.2.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-21443-1505925313.3.jpg)

[VaccaRabite]

I remember when everyone (including me) had a tool kit and spares for almost everything so we could fix on the side of the road.

These days its just "AAA and send it."

Defiantly agree to do the road trip.

Zach

[settador]

I remember when everyone (including me) had a tool kit and spares for almost everything so we could fix on the side of the road.

These days its just "AAA and send it."

Defiantly agree to do the road trip.

Zach

Heading back to New Hampshire from NYC in my 71 VW bus on a Sunday after noon in 86 or 87, I lost a cylinder on Rt. 84 in CT. Made it up the next exit ramp and into a closed, gas station parking lot. Had my older daughter and her mother with me. Lots of tools and spares too. Pulled the valve covers to discover that #1 exhaust rocker had eaten it's way through the thrust/spring washers and the retaining clip on the rocker shaft. Called my brother in-law, who had a non-running bus in northern Westchester from a pay phone, and asked him to go out and pull the rocker assembly, then deliver it to me! He did and the rest is history--still talk to the kid, age 32, but not her mom!