Hey everyone. I was planning on taking my 71 f100 5.9L on a 1200 mile trip. From IL to TX. It hasn't been restored but runs great. I know the timing chain has some slop but I everything is in good working order. Engine has about 40 psi of oil pressure at 1000 rpm and never gets too hot. What I'm basically asking is if anyone has takin a trip with a similar situation and if you guys think I would make it or what else I should look at. Thanks. Andrew

 

Wouldn't hurt to take a basic tool kit, including jack, check the spare tire pressure along with all the others, plugs & points if not upgraded, plenty of drinking water, gas it up and head out. It will be cooler driving at night, but you'll miss some scenery.

guluk



John

 

Thanks for responding. Points are new and the plugs have about 2000 miles on them. I'm just a little worried about the timing chain. I don't know how often the actually break or jump a tooth. I love that fe though

 

Load up & head out, we don't hear about timing chains breaking very often.





John

 

Good luck on the trip. Just drove from Austin, TX to Indiana and back last weekend. Long trip...as Joe said night time will be much cooler...

I would go with Joe's recommendations and I would also look into AAA (saves you alot if you break down in the middle of nowhere. I would also bring engine oil, transmission fluid, and break fluid, and jumper cables with me...just in case. I carry all of that stuff with me plus tools and the longest trip I take in my 72 is about 30 miles but I know I could jump in her and drive 1200 miles no problem.

 

After having my '72 for six weeks I jumped into it in LA and drove close to 6,000 miles in 10 days to NY...I needed a new wheel (cracked Kragar rim) in Santa Barbara, CA. I busted my muffler baffle and needed my advance timing to be adjusted in Portland, OR. In Wyoming, my rear brake line got burned through while touching exhaust...stay away from Meineke. I drove rest of the way with just front brakes. It was fun!

 

you must have doing a lot of sight seeing to put 6000 miles on that trip.it's a lot less in a staight line.glad you seen america and had fun.what kind of mileage did you get?

 

I saved all 45 gas receipts and total gas cost amounted close to 2 grand. With all the math, it's around 10 miles per gallon. Between LA and Portland timing was off. I also drove through high altitude areas. Cargo was probably at 800 lbs + passenger + 1 dog. All that probably did not help the mileage. Nonetheless, these bricks on wheels are very reliable.

 

Yup, I hauled a loaded trailer 750miles with mine, dragged the empty trailer back, then loaded it even heavier and did it again. Only issue I had was a combination of too much weight and too much torque put a permanent reverse bend at the front of the leaf springs, and I didn't double check the universals so I wound up pitching the driveshaft in the middle of nowhere, OR at 5pm on a Sunday.

 

Drove my 70 from Colorado to Tulsa a few months ago, about 700 miles. Did fine excpet the lousy mileage and one of my tranny seals was already weak blew out, specking the truck with gear oil. Had to stop every so often and fill it up. Finally got smart/stupid and siliconed the drainhole in the clutch housing. Stopped leaking out, but destroyed my clutch. But it's all good now.

 

I am getting ready to embark on a 1050 mile trip the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I recently moved to South Florida from Kentucky, and left the truck back during the move. I am flying home for Thanksgiving, and giving her a good tune up and then driving her back. I rebuilt the engine a few years ago as well as did a front frame clip and notch in the back.... she sits about 3" off the ground and runs the original 3 on the tree! Should be a fun trip! Did I mention it had cherry bombs that dump just behind the cab..... LOUD!