Prepping for a long road trip

Post by **MattRuch** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:09 pm

I again request the consideration of those more experienced than I. This can be a big question, so thank you in advance.

I am taking my Morris (1969 Saloon) on an 800 mile (one way) trip down to Germany where I will leave it for a couple/few months and then driving back home.

The car is in good running order. I have new brakes and master cylinder as well as new tyres all around. I just tuned the car last weekend and am going to give it a full lube service next week. I will replace all hoses, radiator cap and fan belt as well. I'm going to wire in a cigarette lighter so I can plug in a SatNav.

I have a replacement dissy and internals
Spare (new) points for the fuel pump
Spare (new) new dynamo brushes
Spare (used) hoses
Spare (used) radiator cap
Spare (used) fanbelt
Spare spark plug

I am considering bringing a head gasket the associated studs/fasteners for the head and exhaust/intake manifolds.

I'll bring a set of spanners, sockets and other basic tools with me. I have a foot pump and me trusty Haynes manual. Of course I have duct tape, a torch, hose clamps, spare wire and fuses.

Is there anything else that I should bring? Any thoughts on the head gasket?

Post by **woodiesenfrance** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:43 pm

Forget the satnav & take a map
Check reliability of fuel gauge
Drive it at least 50 miles in anger before you set off
Leave handbrake OFF when it's parked up for several months
Fit a radio/K7/cd
I'm flying to UK from France on 23rd July to collect a van I've never seen to drive it over 600 miles back home - bovvered? who's bovvered?

Post by **bmcecosse** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 9:28 pm

Just make sure you have 'foreign recovery' on your insurance. RH include it free! Your spares sound fine - you could carry more - but there has to be a limit. Head gasket is an excellent idea - if you have it with you, you won't need it. Good luck!

Post by **Kevin** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 9:42 pm

Dont forget the carb & clutch return springs only £1 each and spare bulbs.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 10:00 pm

Indeed - but bulbs and springs are readily available in foreign parts! maybe a throttle cable would be a wise spare - I carry one at all times. The only time I didn't - was when it snapped, and had to bodge up using the choke. Lesson learned.

Post by **MattRuch** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 10:24 pm

Right...

Throttle cable and return spring ordered (really good idea), spare bulbs, headgasket set, and I ordered a water pump as well.

I ordered it all from GS Jones Morris Minor parts. I sent them a query to see if they had the bolts and fasteners for the cylinder head and manifolds.

Thank you.

Mary Hall, I think you have issues. Why not use a SatNav? And why drive any car in anger for 50 miles? Je ne cais pas comprendre. My French is not so good, but "tu es fou" comes to mind.

Post by **alex_holden** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 10:37 pm

You don't have to change the head studs at the same time as the head gasket unless they are obviously worn/stretched.

Some people prefer paper maps to sat-nav, and 'in anger' just means 'for real' - ie. go on a longish journey to find any problems before the really long journey.

Post by **woodiesenfrance** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 12:20 pm

Thank you Alex!
Sat-nav can go wrong

Post by **woodiesenfrance** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 12:23 pm

"tu es fou" comes to mind.

t'es folle would be more appropriate

Poor little car, has it lived in Norfolk a long time? Does it know about hills?

The ones over there are not the same as going up Ketts Hill

Post by **MattRuch** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 2:22 pm

No, I don't think the Moggie has been up any hills...ever...unless you count speed humps.

Up until a few months ago it was owned by the same couple (Basil and Ivy Cheese) in Hertfordshire and only covered a wee bit over 24,000 miles in 39 years. And yes, those really are their names.

I think the route through France to Germany will be quite interesting for both me and the car.

Post by **woodiesenfrance** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 3:17 pm

How about a weekend's practice, 'up north', in the hills above Sheringham towards Holt??

Post by **MattRuch** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 3:35 pm

Mary-
I've taken the Moggie on three 75-mile plus runs in my short ownership...no dramas. I'm sure (okay, well I'm hoping) it'll do just fine...if not, barring a catastrophic engine/gearbox failure, I should be able to sort with the bits I have in the car.

I must say that both your English vocabulary and geographic skills are most impressive.

May I ask for your recomendation for a good site (au Anglais, sil vous plait) explaining French driving laws?

Keep in mind that I'm an American (so yes, maybe I'm a a bit slow), residing in England (accustomed driving on the "proper" side of the road), going through France (in a UK-spec car) for the first time.

Post by **woodiesenfrance** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 3:57 pm

Thanks for the compliments!
Info on French motoring in English : there's a leaflet at
http://www2.securiteroutiere.gouv.fr/re ... geres.html
click on the UK flag
A new measure is that you must have a reflective jacket in the car (not in the boot) which the driver has to put on if he gets out to deal with a breakdown, plus a warning triangle
see this site in French, but dead easy to follow
http://www2.securiteroutiere.gouv.fr/in ... angle.html

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 8:10 pm

Consider changing the car to LHD then before you go - then you will feel completely at ease. If you are planning on going on the Periferique - God help you! They are all mad in Paris! Any time I had to do this (on Co business - driving to Bourge) I insisted on an automatic car - or the constant stop-start will drive you mad too.

Post by **MikeNash** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 10:15 pm

Matt,
I'd add to your list a spare wheel nut or two if I were you. If (when) you have a puncture and have to do a wheel change on a dark and stormy night you can be sure at least one wheel nut will escape into the long grass never to be seen again. Then you travel on full of worries - I speak from experience. MikeN.

Post by **MattRuch** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 10:19 pm

Mike-yes! Brilliant idea. Now...where can I source a couple of those?

BMC-no mate...I don't even own a left-hooker car, or an automatic gearbox car (at least not on this continent)...and I won't even come close to Paris...Calais to Stuttgart will be my route. Besides...I can't make it too easy, can I?

Post by **Kevin** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 11:52 am

Keep in mind that I'm an American

So Matt do you miss the juke box style dashboards and the other 8 cylinders from your homegrown classics then

Post by **woodiesenfrance** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 12:57 pm

Consider changing the car to LHD then before you go

You ARE joking, aren't you???
Seriously,anyone wanting to know more about converting RHD to LHD can contact the French club on morisminorfrance@neuf.fr (in English or in French). It's not impossible but it ain't that easy....

Post by **rayofleamington** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 1:23 pm

You ARE joking, aren't you???

no one is ever really sure ;-)

anyone wanting to know more about converting RHD to LHD can contact

or just ask me...

As for the list of spares
#1 I'd recommend not taking the new points unless they are already fitted in a good second hand fuel pump. (or just a good second hand pump with good points).
The fuel pump can be changed at the side of the road on a wet windy day in under 15 minutes as long as the metal pipe connector is not seized to the pipe.
Changing the points at the side of the road on a bad day, is not nearly as simple!

#2 - A spare inline fuel filter!

#3 a picnicblanket with a soft side and a weather proof side - to allow comfortable and clean repairs / inspections en route.

I think you already mentioned spare wire and cable ties etc...
I'd add a wire coat hanger to the list - it had a multitude of uses, not just for hanging your coat up in the car to help it dry off.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 2:05 pm

If planning much continental touring - and being an American used to LHD - I thought it was a sensible suggestion!

But it was a bit 'tongue in cheek'.