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)

[davehg]

We arrived home late afternoon today, tired and beat. Grand total for the trip:

1556 miles
~80 gallons of fuel pumped
21 avg mpg (not bad for an older 3.2)
12 terrific meals
10 stellar roads
Three hotels
0 914's spotted on the route
0 mechanical breakdowns
0 performance awards
too many memories made to count

Only car issues: my rear brake lights aren't working - no way to tell if this was the whole route or not (nobody flashed me). Didn't notice this until we got home - no fuses or bulbs burned out so I'll have to chase it down.

So so glad I made this tip with my son. Longest day was 461 miles (about 10 hours with traffic and stops). In Coos Bay, we bunked down with a group of VW owners on a Treffen run from San Diego to Port Angeles and back, so I was pretty humbled versus my own long haul.

Kudos for the ear plug suggestion - car is just too damn loud to drive without it. There's a loud drone from about 2500-3500 rpm, and quite loud otherwise. Ok for the track but not sure if this is ok for the street.

Oil temps averaged 180-190, highest was 215 going up the grapevine during a short section, where the temp hit 104. I dressed for the heat, but forgot how cold the coast was - it was low 50's this AM on the Oregon coast.

Thanks for all the tips and encouragement - I am not sure I would have done this trip without the feedback, and am confident in the car to try another trip, perhaps not as long (or in shorter segments).

Pix:

I got a personal escort out of town from a dear friend who has a wicked 2.2 911
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-21443-1532322926.1.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-21443-1532322926.2.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-21443-1532322926.3.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-21443-1532322927.4.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-21443-1532322927.5.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-21443-1532322927.6.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-21443-1532322927.7.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-21443-1532322927.8.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-21443-1532322928.9.jpg)

Highway 36 in Oregon:

Links to videos:
Highway 36 in Oregon

Having Fun in Big Sur on Hwy 1

My own private racetrack leaving Pine Mountain

Chasing my friend's 911 up Hwy 74

[dr.tim]

My own private racetrack leaving Pine Mountain

That's the one.. part of my weekly commute for about a year.