Leaving for the Atlanta area next week to attend the Petit Le Mans and I have decided to drive the Barth. Planning on going 65 south the whole way. Looking for any advice that anyone may have to offer. I have never driven anything this large through mountains. The one thing I know for sure is to not ride the brakes. Past that, I'm planning on staying right and going only as fast as I feel safe.

This coach hasn't been on any real substantial drive on over 10 years. Did a lap around the beltway this week to double check for problems. No issues. I have replaced the brakes (every bit of the braking system. everything.), six new tires, new front springs, air helpers, shocks, sway bar bits, a full tune up, new carb, oil change, and coolant flush. Many bits like plug wires and other rubber and rubber like parts have been exchanged. I have spare fuses, bulbs, even spare marker/clearance lights. Jumper cables. Spare battery. Tools and electrical tester. Rain-X. I'll even be carrying 5 gal of gas. Yes, I'm a bit paranoid.

Anything I'm forgetting? Anything to pay extra attention to? Any advice?

As always, thank you for anything you have to offer!

A cooler with beer
KB seal for your radiator. Little blue bottle. Works good.
Wouldn't you going 65 - 24 - 75? Only mountain is Monteagle in TN but you will be alright. Not towing just drive a car, take it easy in curves.

quote:

Originally posted by Marvin+Doris:
A cooler with beer
KB seal for your radiator. Little blue bottle. Works good.
Wouldn't you going 65 - 24 - 75? Only mountain is Monteagle in TN but you will be alright. Not towing just drive a car, take it easy in curves.

I won't be bringing any beer. Hall County, GA is a dry county and alcoholic beverages are not allowed inside the Road Atlanta facilities. I certainly wouldn't want to break any laws. It won't be so bad sitting in the Georgia sun for 4 days, watching racing, not drinking any beer. I'm sure sweet tea will be a wonderful substitute. Much to my delight, I have found sweet tea conveniently packaged in 12oz cans. Curiously, they are labeled Budweiser. Ain't that crazy???

Thanks for the KB seal tip. Can never have too much insurance.

Going down 65 so that I can swing thru Nashville and visit a friend.

Mountain braking technique is to apply the brakes vigorously to slow, then completely release, then apply again when the speed rises to your personal limit.

Have a safe trip and have fun at the races!

quote:

Originally posted by Rusty:
Mountain braking technique is to apply the brakes vigorously to slow, then completely release, then apply again when the speed rises to your personal limit.

Right! Stab 'em.... Don't hold 'em
did a lot of that on my trip from MI to CA and back

We will be there in our Regency for the fourth straight year. Who said its dry? The parties go on all night and everyone can bring their own adult beverages, just no selling. I do not remember if they sell beer but I think so. We are inside in reserved Rv near turn 9-10. Where are you setting up?

quote:

Originally posted by Tom K:
We will be there in our Regency for the fourth straight year. Who said its dry? The parties go on all night and everyone can bring their own adult beverages, just no selling. I do not remember if they sell beer but I think so. We are inside in reserved Rv near turn 9-10. Where are you setting up?

From the Road Atlanta website:

NOTE: Due to Hall county ordinance, no alcoholic beverages may be brought into the facility. All vehicles subject to search.

Not that it has ever stopped me in a dozen plus visits to the track. Or stopped anyone else for that matter. And you are very, very correct...the party runs all night. Frankly, all week. We will be set up in 10A/10B on the inside of the track with all the non-reserved RVs and tent campers. Kind of across the pavement from the vendors area. My personal preference is to camp in turn 1 at the bottom of the hill, but the folks I'm meeting up with are loyal to 10A/10B. Plus, getting into turn 1 for the Petit is not the easiest accomplishment.

Would love to check your Barth out! Have yet to see another one in person that runs. I'm afraid that mine is not too easy on the eyes in it's current state and I am always looking for ideas for the winter gut and rebuild.

I am guessing you have a Chevy chassis? What year?

Bring along an HEI module or a whole extra distributor, bring along another fuel pump, try to keep your tank filled so a failure of the fuel pickup doesn't ruin your day. The rubber hoses between the fuel tank and the steel lines are a concern. Bring a voltmeter. Be prepared to rewire the grounding. Bring along another fan clutch.

>Yes, I'm a bit paranoid.
Not at all.

When the "isolator" failed late in the afternoon for me, near the south rim of the Grand Canyon, I was happy to have a battery charger with me and a 100' of extension cord that I could plug in to an exterior wall outlet at an unmanned ranger station.

happy motoring,
Matt

quote:

Originally posted by BarthBluesmobile:
I am guessing you have a Chevy chassis? What year?

It sure is. It is an 86 w/454. My Barth was (and kinda really still is) a Bookmobile. No RV bits like a bed, windows, water, or seating. That is all coming this winter.

I have a whole cabinet of extra parts, will have to go through them to see if I do indeed have a spare fuel pump. I'm thinking I saw one.....

Thanks for the advice!

quote:

Originally posted by BarthBluesmobile:


Bring along an HEI module or a whole extra distributor,

Sometimes used cam A will not like used dist gear B. Better to put the same gear onto the replacement distributor.

quote:

When the "isolator" failed late in the afternoon for me, near the south rim of the Grand Canyon, I was happy to have a battery charger with me and a 100' of extension cord that I could plug in to an exterior wall outlet at an unmanned ranger station.

If the generator works, a 1 ft cord is all you need to make a jumper. Or maybe just drive on the house batteries. Depending on the size of the house battery bank, an engine can drive a lot of miles without lights.

An '86 454. OK, check if you have Chevy option 7N4! What that is, is an aluminum bracket from a third-party vendor, to hold a Sanden AC compressor for dashboard AC. This feature doesn't seem to be well documented in the diagrams that many mechanics have easy access to in the work bays. You should have two belts which go from the crankshaft pulley around the hydroboost pump pulley. The belts should be 3/8" wide. Some mfrs have outsourced to China and what is specified as being 3/8" comes back as 10mm or 11mm. I have seen one brand that comes back with both! Double check the routing of the belts and make sure all belts are where they are supposed to be, and that no mechanic left off a belt or had a belt skip over to the next groove. If you have the right belts in the right grooves, this is a robust and reliable accessory drive system. If not, you will share the frustration of many other RV owners and I have found many websites where people complain about the belts.

At a minimum, bring a spare set of belts.
Happy Motoring,
Matt

10 years.... What is the condition of the exhaust system? Perhaps bringing a few extra pipe clamps and "universal hangers" would be prudent, but not paranoid! And plumbers putty could be a stopgap measure for a loud muffler. These things are cheap and easy to stow.
Happy Motoring,
Matt

Had to go back and re-read your original post. I was going to mention brake lines but you say the whole brake system is new, so I assume ALL the rubber lines are new? If not, replace them. They swell shut and won't allow fluid to be released back to the master cylinder, and the brakes burn up.