Principals checks I need to do everyday on the car apart from water and oil?
The list will be different from everyone... and it depends where you can do the work and what tools you have access to.
Hopefully the seller will be helpful (with tools and space on driveway?) for the day-1 checks!
On first day:
1) oil level, water level - of course!
2) check condition of fuel pump points, If they look very burnt it will be a problem before you get home!
3) check condition & gap of contact breaker points (in distributor)
4) visual check of distributor cap, rotor arm, HT leads and spark plugs
5) grease the front suspension* (top and bottom trunnion) and the steering joints
6) top up gearbox oil**
7) check level / top up rear axle oil
8.) grease the propshaft joints.
9) check brake fluid level***
10) adjust the brakes****. Also check by hand for wheelbearing play when wheel is off the ground.
11) With a simple volt meter, check the battery voltage, then start the engine and rev up. Check the voltage increases, but never more than ~16v. Put a drop of oil on the dynamo bearings. If you have enough time, check the dynamo brushes.
13) Check fan belt and radiator hoses to see if they look old / cracked. There is a small hose at front of engine between water pump and cylinder head - check this also to see if it looks 'bad'.
With the right tools, all this (#1 to #13) would take me a couple of hours.
* I would normally use trolley jack, axle stand and a scissor jack. Be careful wen jacking up and removing a wheel! I recommend that you get a grease gun with lever (you need to use this often, so get one now?)
** need to remove some carpet on left hand side of gearbox cover. To fill you need a funnel or bottle with a ~150mm long tube, and use engine oil.
*** under RH drivers side carpet - without the right spanner, large mole grips should work to remove the cap.
**** same tools as '*' but needs a strong flat-head screwdriver in place of the grease gun. You need also to chock the other wheels so you can jack up the rear wheel without handbrake.
During the trip, look for oil/fluid loss and repeat some checks:
#1 - twice a day; every morning and at half distance. On first day check every 40 miles.
#3& #4- 1st check after 500 miles, then every 1000 miles
#5 - every 3000 miles is ok.
#6 - check level after 500 mile. if it has not lost a lot of oil, then check every 3000 miles is ok.
#7 - if you don't see any oil loss from out of the axle, then maybe don't re-check until you get home?
#9 - check every day for first 2 days, then if it doesn't change, then maybe don't re-check until you get home?
#10 - If you adjust the brakes on day 1, they should be ok for the whole journey. Only re-adjust if the brake pedal travel becomes long (on first time pressing the brakes)
Spares?!? Hmm - everyone will disagree!
my suggestions :
i) contact breaker points
ii) 5l engine oil, 5l water for radiator, 500ml brake fluid.
iii) cable ties, meal coat hanger, strong cloth tape, 2 x 2 meters of 30amp electrical wire
iv) inner tube (and make sure the spare wheel is good!)
v) fuel pump points (but if old ones are bad, change them before you break down!)
vi) in-line fuel filter (if old one looks dirty change it, don't wait to see if you get a problem)
tools & kit
a) hazard warning triangle. 2 x Hi-Viz jacket
b) 1 x head torch. Also a big torch that also has a flashing red light (the car does not have hazard warning lights)
c) 1/2" socket set with 'AF' sizes
d) spanners from 7/16" to 5/8" (and if possible also a 1/4" Whitworth spanner or socket = 5/16" BS)
e) 10mm and 13mm spanners / sockets in case somebody used metric fasteners.
f) extending wheel wrench with 1/2" socket drive. Normally these have 17/19mm socket- for the Minor you want an 18mm socket!!
g) pliers, thin nose pliers, wire cutters, large mole grips
h) electrical scewdriver, medium and large crosshead screwdriver, medium and large flat head screwdriver.
i) a fairly large scissor jack + something to chock the wheels.
j) grease gun (to do #5)
...not perfect but I think is ideal for this adventure.
