General Road Trip Planning

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General Road Trip Planning

Fayray

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I'm planning to tour the South Island of New Zealand in my 500. Leaving Napier (North Island)29th March and spending around 3 weeks driving through much of April.
Some of you will have tried something similar and I'm looking for tips on what spares and tools to take. Also any tips on keeping the car in good health during some long(ish) drives.

About the car: He's a 1973 500F with standard engine and gearbox fitted with 123 distributor and a 28mm carb from a 126. Right now he's running like a top. I'm looking to limit the journey to 120-150 kilometres per day although the first and last days will be over 300kms (Napier to Wellington ferry terminal).

We are in training already:D. This photo was taken on Saturday during a 100km drive around rural Hawkes Bay. It was a great drive.

Am I crazy? Surely not.
 

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I do long miles / KM in my 500. 250KM a day no problem. A lot of it at speed 100KMH on the motorways. Car is fine for long distance, it's more the comfort that might be a limiting factor and the noise.


In my car I always carry spare:
Oil
Plugs
dist cap
coil
rota
toolkit

Will be a great adventure!
R
 
I can see no problem with the daily distances that you are planning, especially as you are in a country where mechanical assistance, even if it is not "Fiat specific" is easily available. As I have mentioned before, in out 'courting' days, Ann and I used to travel from south London to/from Edinburgh--and that is 400 MILES (640km) each way! I had only one 'hiccup', and that was rectified (with a bit of ingenuity) on the spot and i was able to continue onto Edinburgh.
You mention that you have '123' ignition---therefore the only additions that I would add to 'Lazylobster's) very sensible list is, if you still have it to hand, the original 'points' distributor and a simple test lamp. The electronic ignitions do not like heat and when they have decided that they have 'had enough' they stop--permanantly!
Have a great adventure---wind us all up by keeping us informed as to how it is going , complete with pictures of your beautiful country.
 
+1
my thoughts also take original Dissy with new Points and x2 condensors(made in china:D)
We visited south Island about 6 years ago very nice. Don't forget the hardware store visit with the fastest Indian.
Alan
 
Even with the postal service as stretched as it is, if you ordered one of the "Swiftune" competition condensers NOW, you would get it in plenty of time. You could have it already set up with the coil, (due to the wires attached to it, you do not have to have it actually on the distributor) just needing to actually connect it---yoiu won't need a 2nd one!
 
Thanks for the tips and encouragement. I needed that. Good idea about the original distributor, I have that somewhere but fitted with an Accuspark system. I'm sure I have the original parts too, including a coil as well. And oil and plugs too.
I will be sure to document the trip and share here. I've driven around the South Island quite a few times (in more modern machinery) and it never fails to impress. Many of the roads are fantastic too.
 
Get the AA Premium cover, a free ride home if it breaks..... we were transported from Tirau to Welly, got a Toyota Landcruiser to get home too.
 
cheers Chris, I have a few old bangers so AA Premium has long been part of my life lol. Out of interest, what was the problem that stranded you in Tirau?
 
As well as the prescribed spare parts I like to take a car first aid kit for the unforeseen. Things like a length of electrical wire, a couple of crocodile clips, some soft iron wire, insulation tape, cable ties, super glue, etc.
Only did the South Island once, we flew into Christchurch, met my son who flew down from Rotorua. Stayed one night in a hotel when the all Blacks were playing and it was a bit mental. Picked up a camper then headed cross country towards Greymouth then down that coast. Loved the old mining railway line down that way, had to be seen.my only ever helicopter ride up onto the Franz Josef glacier then on down. Pointless mentioning the scenery, Milford Sound, loved Arrowtown near Queenstown. Just ran out of time to get down to Invercargill but made it all the way back up to Kiakora for a bit of Whale watching before flying up to the North Island, fond memories.
 
I have actually compiled a bag of such items but there's a couple there I need to add.
It certainly is a beautiful part of the world. I last drove around it 3 years ago. It never gets boring that's for sure
 
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..... any tips on keeping the car in good health during some long(ish) drives.

Am I crazy? Surely not.

....Do a daily oil-level check on the engine and a visual on the gearbox.
....Take spare petrol at all times.
....Lift the engine lid and have a look inside, every time you stop; get used to how everything should look and be ready to deal with anomalies.
....Put on a new fan-belt, air-filter and sparking-plugs before you leave and take the existing ones for spares on the journey.
....Take several spare sun-hats.

....You're definitely not crazy.
 
....Do a daily oil-level check on the engine and a visual on the gearbox.
....Take spare petrol at all times.
....Lift the engine lid and have a look inside, every time you stop; get used to how everything should look and be ready to deal with anomalies.
....Put on a new fan-belt, air-filter and sparking-plugs before you leave and take the existing ones for spares on the journey.
....Take several spare sun-hats.

....You're definitely not crazy.

It's reassuring to know I'm not crazy. I will follow all of those sensible suggestions. I have recently replaced the plugs, fan-belt and air-filter but I will take spares. I've greased the king pins and the valves are adjusted. Will check the g-box oil (it leaks a bit) and do another oil change before leaving. And yes, spare fuel indeed.
As it's running so faultlessly at the moment I don't want to dismantle anything for fear of messing his current smoothness up:eek: But I am going to get my mechanic to give it a once over after I've done it as well.
 
Get the AA Premium cover, a free ride home if it breaks..... we were transported from Tirau to Welly, got a Toyota Landcruiser to get home too.




IMG_0578.JPG
 
cheers Chris, I have a few old bangers so AA Premium has long been part of my life lol. Out of interest, what was the problem that stranded you in Tirau?



Stripped splines on the drive shaft. It was on our delivery run to Welly after buying it. We were told we were mad to try it, so we did! Once we got it home it was completely stripped and restored back to original over 4 years. IMG_1054.JPG
 
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