Road Trip Ready?

[dsab]

As some of you know I purchased my 2002 limited in December with 148K and have been replacing parts ever since. To date I have somewhere around 2700.00 in it (this includes the purchase price of 700.00). I'm also coming up on 159K on it

Cosmetically it's a good looking car, even better than some cars only a few years old and I knew it would need some work but never anticipated how much it had been neglected. From the records I got with the car at least it had regular oil changes done.

Luckily I have the ability and tools to do all my own work. I use the Cruiser as my everyday driver (106 miles per day) and decided I would give it a true run and drive it out to Pennsylvania next week when I go on vacation instead of using my wife's Toyota.

It's a 1000 miles one way and I'll drive it non-stop. Other than unforeseen internal engine or transmission failure I think the Cruiser will be a good road trip vehicle. The car runs well and has been averaging between 25 - 26 MPG

I'll hopefully have a good review of the Cruiser when I return.

Funny, I thought I'd wait until I retired to get another project vehicle. To date I've done the following:

Timing belt with all components
Torque struts and engine mount
Drive belts and components
Radiator hoses with thermostat
Coolant Temp Sender
Alternator
Front and rear struts (complete units) and shocks
Both front lower control arms
Front sway bar links
Front wheel bearings
Front and rear brake pads and rotors
Watts link (bell crank, lateral arms and rear sway bar links)
4 wheel alignment also done
Replaced all tires
Replaced windshield (had a crack)
Trans fluid/filter change ( I didn't do a full flush)
Power steering fluid change
Replaced instrument bulbs
Fixed heater control adjustments ( someone installed a heater core and loss the cable retaining clips and did not have the cables adjusted)
Fixed the driving lights
Replaced the spare tire hook
Replaced vale cover gasket(s) also pcv valve
New plugs, wires, and ignition coil
Replaced a few vacuum hoses
EGR gaskets
Fuel injectors #3 was bad so I replaced them all

There are a few other minor things and I didn't include. There's also the beer budget while doing the work.

[dsab]

Got back home last night. The Cruiser ran great. Just about 1100 miles one way which I drove strait through (17-18 hrs) only stopping for fuel. Average MPG 25.6. The cruise was used most of the time with the speed set between 73 - 75 MPH.

I used the AC a little but most of the time had the roof and driver window open

I was amazed at how comfortable it was to drive on such a long trip. There's a strange satisfaction from driving an old car, which many people think isn't able to make such a long trip. I'm sure they're the people I saw in newer cars broke down on the side of the road with their hoods up as the Cruiser rolled on by.

[rsrocket1]

Did you replace the radiator cap or at least give it a pressure test?
If you get a free loaner pressure test kit at an auto parts store, you might as well hook it up to your cooling system and pressure test it as well.
Is the radiator fan working at the proper temperatures?

Good luck on your road trip. It is a very nice roomy car.

[JoeX]

Glad you had a good trip.
I live South of Pittsburgh and did 5 trips across PA to Philadelphia (350 miles each way) a few years back, my 03 ran pretty good and got noticeable better mileage on the other side of the mountains where it pretty level.
A tank would get me 300 miles across the state.

[JonN]

Originally Posted by dsab

Got back home last night. The Cruiser ran great. Just about 1100 miles one way which I drove strait through (17-18 hrs) only stopping for fuel. Average MPG 25.6. The cruise was used most of the time with the speed set between 73 - 75 MPH.

I used the AC a little but most of the time had the roof and driver window open

I was amazed at how comfortable it was to drive on such a long trip. There's a strange satisfaction from driving an old car, which many people think isn't able to make such a long trip. I'm sure they're the people I saw in newer cars broke down on the side of the road with their hoods up as the Cruiser rolled on by.

Glad to hear the trip went well. My girlfriend gets nervous about taking my cruiser anywhere, as she is always scared that something will happen just because it is old and has some miles. It has never let me down though.

Meanwhile we got stuck on the side of the road once with her 2014 hyundai accent when it had 7,100 miles. Had to call AAA for a tow truck at 2am to tow a 1 year old car. That pissed me off lol.

[cruserdad1976]

mine doesn't go on many road trips but in a week of daily driving going to work I run up way over 1000 miles ( its almost 200 miles a day to and from work)
not one time since I have owned my 2006 na has it not got me to work and home again
The tranny did give it up but I was at home and it died on the drive way
I had a break lock up but that was pretty much my fault as I did not get the bolts tight

I still love driving mine its about to go in for its second timing belt and I may have the head done while im at it
not sure just yet or may actually trade it for some thing different
would like a Dream Curser turbo that did not have a bazillion miles on it

[rckstein]

Originally Posted by cruserdad1976

mine doesn't go on many road trips but in a week of daily driving going to work I run up way over 1000 miles ( its almost 200 miles a day to and from work)
not one time since I have owned my 2006 na has it not got me to work and home again
The tranny did give it up but I was at home and it died on the drive way
I had a break lock up but that was pretty much my fault as I did not get the bolts tight

I still love driving mine its about to go in for its second timing belt and I may have the head done while im at it
not sure just yet or may actually trade it for some thing different
would like a Dream Curser turbo that did not have a bazillion miles on it

Here's one recently listed!

2003 Dreamcruiser Tangerine Turbo series 2 #741 for sale

[VsandFords]

Glad to hear your trip went without incident.


It's ALWAYS good to have a "beer budget"!

[Vengence]

Glad to hear your trip went well. I was actually in Philadelphia on Friday the 12th for a Metallica Concert at the Lincoln Financial Field. 380+ mile trip for me but it was great and Metallica Rocked the stadium.

Philadelphia was great as well and much better roads than buffalo. mostly. Couldn't leave without getting myself a few Philli Cheese Steaks either. delicious and I will be going back in the month or 2 just to get some more. lol. That is a lot of work you put into your PT and with all that, just glad it ran well and everything was good. For whatever reason you went, I hope you had fun as well.

[JonN]

Originally Posted by Vengence

Glad to hear your trip went well. I was actually in Philadelphia on Friday the 12th for a Metallica Concert at the Lincoln Financial Field. 380+ mile trip for me but it was great and Metallica Rocked the stadium.

Philadelphia was great as well and much better roads than buffalo. mostly. Couldn't leave without getting myself a few Philli Cheese Steaks either. delicious and I will be going back in the month or 2 just to get some more. lol. That is a lot of work you put into your PT and with all that, just glad it ran well and everything was good. For whatever reason you went, I hope you had fun as well.

I will be attending Metallica at Gillette stadium in Massachusetts on Friday! Glad to know there are fellow metal heads on this forum