RE <VV> loong trips

[N. Joseph Potts]

FEW mechanical parts of my car other than transmission cases and the like
are the full age of the car anymore, but it takes the failure of only ONE
40-year-old part to stop the car, or worse. Actually, I think my engine is
running its original (over 90,000) pistons, connecting rods, and on in.
     I also am subject to Morgan's Pucker Factor, but I also have what I'll
call the Lindbergh Factor (no, I'm not related to Lindbergh) to offset it -
I LIKE challenging my car with long trips, and have driven trips approaching
1,000 miles quite without trouble. I've got AAA, and I'm too old and ugly
for anyone to want to rape me, so I'm not much afraid of breakdowns after I
get out of my own city, in which I would HATE to break down.
     So, my major hesitation in taking Fireball on a long trip is more that
I don't want to pile a lot of miles on him, and that, cruising down the
interstate, it doesn't make much difference whether you're in a Corvair or a
Crown Victoria, except that the latter is quieter, roomier, and, yes, more
reliable (a newish Crown Vic, of course).
     I'd take Fireball from Miami to Portland, for example, except that I
don't want to take the time required for doing this to drive in ANYTHING for
that long. Now, I might not MAKE it to Portland, but since getting there on
time or even at all is a matter of pleasure, the trip would in that respect
be a perfect one to undertake in Fireball.
     I think the CAR would make it. Me, that might be something else.

Joe Potts
Miami, Florida USA
1966 Corsa coupe 140hp 4-speed with A/C

-----Original Message-----
From: virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org
[mailto:virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org]On Behalf Of Arjay Morgan
Sent: Monday, May 30, 2005 12:27 AM
To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
Subject: RE <VV> loong trips


The thread about long trips home with questionable
cars was fascinating.

My query deals with just what length trips y'all are
comfortable making in your now 40 year old and older
cars.

But first a  confession. I suffer from Morgan's
Distance disease, wehrein the pucker factor increases
by the square of the distance traveled.

Because of that malady I guess I'm somewhat of a
whimp, not being interested in taking trips of more
than about 100 miles roundrip.  This may be compounded
by the part of Florida in which i live....seems like
the only you can get there is via an Interstate and
the consequent high speeds.

I wonder what the consensus of the membership is when
it comes time to take their cars long distances.
Obviously, florida to portland, while a desired trip,
looks to be one taken only the foolhardy to me.

>From what I've been reading a Corvair driver should
expect to have a disaster of some sort on a drive
from, say, Tampa to St. Augustine -- about 700 miles
RT.

Or, have I just not heard of the dozens and dozens of
trouble=free trips of many hundreds of miles.

Or, should I continue to defend my wimp status and
just drive it to local events. The car is well
maintained, but you never know if that 40 year old
frammis pin will let loose---at 89 on the interstate,
right over there by the Land of the rat.

Arjay Morgan
64 monza conver

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