A road trip to buy a car hauler.... or buying a car hauler to take a road trip?
 

The plan started out as the former but became the latter. :)

Been looking patiently for an old vintage truck/hauler combo for almost a year and finally found one I really liked. But it couldn't be further away -- New Hampshire. No problem. After a few calls with the seller (ebay listing that did not meet reserve) it became a good enough reason to fly out and make a road trip back out of it all.

Since the truck has a 360" FT (beefier version of the FE) motor, the man for the job of co-pilot and Chief Fjord Engineer could only be that Torino guy, Rob.

Ok, pics do the best talking. Here she is in all her 34,000 original mile glory.


http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/f...psde3567f5.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/f...psf4401306.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/f...ps045efbb7.jpg



And here is the rough route we plan to take. We are heading up to get the truck next Thursday Jan 16 and are actually picking up a Camaro for a friend and bringing it back to Socal. So there's more justification to take a trip. :D



http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/f...ps59b0866a.jpg



So if anyone is along our route, wants to try to meet up for a beer or just shoot the shiat, hit us up and we'll see if we can make it happen. Also, if you have any advice on what roads to avoid or fun car or eating places to hit, we are open for suggestions.

We are meeting up with Payton in NC to hook up and see some NASCAR related shops there for a day. I'm sure some beers will get drank. :cheers:

Rob is a fish taco & waffle sandwich snob and I am a beer snob so we are on the lookout for breweries and cool eats. We are using this site as a guide so far. Pretty cool.

http://www.tvfoodmaps.com/

3400 miles. No overdrive. A 40 year old truck none of us have ever seen before. Probably 8 mpg. What's not to like?

Wish us luck. :popcorn2:

The Long Haul - A Love Story :)

Not going to Austin Tx? Best food & music.

Cool trip, Just a year too late for me, would have tagged along. Have fun

You should stop in and visit Jay at ABS!

Looks like a fun road trip for sure.

Sounds awesome! I hope to do something like this in my lifetime. Best of luck.

Holey crap!! Cool truck. Looks like you are gonna add 10% to the trucks total mileage...just on the way home.

Sounds like quite the adventure, be sure to post updates as you are along the way.

Im in CT 06488. If you get hung up on something i have welder, tools, jack ect if needed. If not safe travels. Oh and going through NYC avoid 684, 95, and the Jersey turnpike in the great NYC area not only is traffic aweful you will get hit with heavy tolls.

What an awesome road trip.

Just tell Rob to sing solo. So low you can't hear him. :lol:

P.S. We want stories! So post along the way.

That should be a lot of fun, filled with a ton of stories. Good luck!

Agree with the tolls. Swing over the TappanZee in NY than 287 s to 78W (or 80 W). This will take you to 81 S which cuts out all the NJ, DE & MD tolls sans the NJ PA boarder which is cheap. 81 S will bring you directly to 40 W in TN. DE has to be the highest $ toll per road mile. I am in the North J area if you have time or need something.

Okay --- this sounds like we need to put in some votes -- which would be way more interesting than what Charley is going to get for The Mule!



#1 - How many miles before the first breakdown

1A) - How many miles from civilization and no cell service will they be


#2 - Actual MPG for total trip


#3 - Miles per quarts of oil


#4 - Cost of kidney replacement


#5 - If they go to Austin - will they or will they not finally eat at The Salt Lick

Cool... looks like a fun trip. At least you'll get to visit several mechanic, and auto-parts locations. Make sure you take plenty of tools and your AAA card to tow that Ford!! :) Wouldn't hurt to throw a bike up on that Thule rack to pedal your way to the next stop, when it breaks down. :lol:


Its awesome you can make the trip., boy that's a lot of seat time sitting. Very cool. Hope you miss that big freeze. Looks like its pretty nasty in that area. Safe travels!. :burnout:

"Live to drive, drive to eat (and drink)"

Pick me up some stuff in NASCAR country and safe travels boys.

:cheers:

I was having a reflective moment reading this thread, and for some reason this life altering event came to mind...



Looking forward to the trip updates on twitter. :bump:

A couple you left out:

• Avg MPH
• Max speed obtained
• Lbs. of fuel
• $ in repair parts
• $ in repair labor
• # of texts
• # of Starbuck stops
• Geographical point at which they bag it and put it on a transport and fly home.

:D

That's so Bad Ars in so many ways?

Cool old school vibe to go along with the Nascar theme.
A Ford guy going to help a Chevy guy pick up a Ford.
A Chevy guy picking up a Ford to tow his Chevy.

:hello:

No matter what, I'm in love with the hauler. Those things just keep popping up on my radar. I would love to find one and put a Diesel motor in and still be able to tow a 24" enclosed trailer.

The Camaro owner should pay for all your gas and repairs. :poke: :D

Dave I can't get enough of this thing... What a find!

Let me lower it for you! Something simple or even fancy like a RideTech air bag system.

Too funny Greg,


I don't think that's a detour they'll take after that many days on the road.

You guys have some big balls taking a truck that probably has never been out of the state on a huge road trip like this, and not only that hauling a car back on it.

Take pics cause it will be an adventure. How many weeks do you think it will take to get back home?

LOL I can't wait for the stories.

Plus ya got the Thule racks up top so you can take bikes along so you want have a long walk in the middle of bum f....k with no celll service....I see it as a win-win...

Thanks for the help guys. I did hear of avoiding the 95 at all costs in and around DC.

We orig talked about going back there. But it's several hundred miles out of the way and we just spent a year there that weekend last summer.

We got Carolina and Memphis BBQ to sample this time. :y0!:

AAA actually will not cover a tow on this I found out because it has a "modified box" on it. A regular 1 ton pickup or camper truck is fine, but a flatbed or hauler or utility box on the back disqualifies it. So my regular insurance has towing covered in the UNLIKELY event we need it. :slingshot:

I'll be sure to subscribe to Sajak's feed for the trip. :D

Haha you are a bad bad influence! :lol:

The irony runs very deep with Rob and me going on this trip. Only after did committed to co-pilot did he realize a big motive for me was to slow down the Torino build so I could catch up. :idea:

Rich and I were just talking about getting an old Chevy version of this and throwing in the Duramax/Allison combo... man that would be killer.

Oh he'll be paying the piper. :idea:

Figured this was a real opportunity to do some "pro touring" since trailers are for boats and this technically doesn't have a trailer.. and I don't have a boat... so... what? :snapout:

The adventure and risk of this is the biggest allure to me. Right, Rob? :lol:

Can't believe none of you caught this, but they will be totally fine. The truck is a Transformer in hiding. If they get into any trouble they can just call Optimus Prime, hahaha. Check out the hood emblem. Sounds like fun guys good luck!
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/f...ps045efbb7.jpg

Mr. Sutton
 

Sounds like you know a lot about Arkansas. That is where I am from and my family still lives in North Little Rock.

When you go through Memphis you will need to go down to Beale Street. A few blocks off is Rendezvous Ribs.

http://www.hogsfly.com/TheRestaurant.php

Do you know if the wheel base has been stretched on the hauler and if so how much? Ron S. thought that it may need more stretch to it.

Just thinking out loud here...where are you going to put your luggage?

I lived in Moore & Norman, Oklahoma for 9 years in my drag racing days. As you know, I-40 is the conduit east & west, so I've been through there many times.

Fly in, hop in, turn the key and drive it HOME..WHERE'S THE CONFUSION??? :headscratch:

Nice truck, now put a Duramax eng in it

Ha. Nice catch! :hitaxeonthehead:

I wanna have some good ole Carolina BBQ too buddy. :D

Does not appear to have a stretched wheelbase. Only one way to find out if it will tip over or not. Test it on someone else's Camaro. :hello:

Rob's lap sounds like a great spot for my luggage.

No confusion here. Duramax may happen if this FE variant can't handle the Chevy riding on its back. :computer:

Very cool DG. Only concerns are cruise speed and mpg. D-Max would certainly cure that and Bret would love to accommodate you! Front splitter, sun visor, cab spoiler and side CURTAINS on the bed too! :stirthepot:

Nice eye!
That's awesome Dave. That is a really cool hauler. SOunds like a killer road trip as well.
Are you guys taking RTE. 95 or 495 South at all through Massachusetts? Not sure if I'll be around or not though.

Call me if you need me to come with the hauler and haul y'all....


The verbal abuse will be free of charge.

:lol: Cruise speed is just a built in governor. Not always a bad thing.

Not certain of the exact route yet. We have a couple dedicated stops along the way, but other than that are intentionally keeping it open and spontaneous.

Greggers, I think my hauler will be the galactic opposite of your hauler. :D

This sounds like an episode of HOT ROD RoadKill!
Good luck guys!

Mike

Well at least you can paint this one to look like a Ford and nobody would say a word.

Your a turbin, a lama and a cavity search away from what would be another classic National Lampoon movie.


Serious though, extra pillows and a hot water bottle should be in your load out. I'm praying your ass goes numb by Chicago.

You are out of your F'in mind. :lol: I'll just leave it at that.... ha

Mmm... I was there last weekend. :)

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m...psrsyvsrny.jpg

Gonna be a fantastic memory to have! Whether the trip goes smooth or rough...!

I'm just east of Memphis, very close to I-40. Beale Street has already been mentioned along with Graceland for touristy stuff. There are plenty of good BBQ joints around town along with Italian, Korean, Ethiopian, you name it.

I have welders, compressor and tools. A large shop you could drive into with a lift. A local good friend that is a dyed-in-the-wool Ford fanatic with probably a spare everything for that truck.

Safe travels and look me up if I can help!


Jeff-

Are you guys trying to beat the latest cannonball record of 28 hours and change? I'm pulling for you!

Nice!

Hopefully he's got this in stock too:
http://www.shescribes.com/wp-content...monkey-med.jpg

We'll pick you up something. I'm not sure what it will look like or what it will be worth but we'll pick something up for you:_paranoid

There will be updates but Skip why not take a drive South East and meet up with us Thursday night. And don't tell me the drive is too long that excuse won't hold water in this thread:lol:

Ford guy with two Vettes helping a Chevy guy with a Camaro painted like a Mustang who drives a Crown Vic.:confused59: :confused18:

You're a dick, why did I agree to this:headscratch: :censored:

If he never calls, the verbal abuse over an FE hauling a Camaro across country, will never end.:lmao:

To be a part of this site and start one of these builds you have to be a little insane. :hello: What's new:bitchslap:

:cheers: