Roadster 427 cross country

[Kmcallahan]

To you Roadster 427 owners. Would you drive your car cross country?

[Big Blocker]

Absolutely . . . with proper planning, finding out where every eatery stop, rest stop, every parts store on the route is, a trunk with every critical part I can think of that might break, a top for the car and some great tunes to listen to, sure, why not.
I built my car to be reliable, perform routine maintenance, drive the car every few days a week.

Plan your drive time to be what you think you can handle for "seat time". These cars are not that comfortable so frequent "dead butt" stops would be required.

Talk to Ralph Buttons, he holds the record for miles driven . . . I'm sure he could fill your ear with stories.

I say, go for it.

Doc

[Jim1855]

Not sure how much cross country I’ll do with the Challenge Car currently under construction primarily due to lack of any creature comforts, not saying I won't. But I drove my first Superformance from Michigan to Colorado, Montana and back to Michigan twice. Two trips to VIR for weekend track events. Second Superformance went to Colorado and back home. Multiple 2-300 mile trips. Probably a half dozen trips to London Cobra Show.

Good planning makes the difference, lots of test rides to sort out what does and doesn't work for you. Tools, a few basic parts, oil, rain gear, sun block, Rain-x, warm clothes, hot weather clothes, hat, ear plugs and more.

You're going to get wet, you'll roast in the sun, the wind will beat you silly and the rumble of the exhaust will be old 50 miles out. Season and location dependent, and this is not always obvious as to when and where, you may see snow/hail, ahhh summer in the mountains, run out of air at 14,000 feet, fiord streams, pretend you're a dirt racer and be really happy with a ten minute break every few hours where you’ll make new friends and make kids smile when you let them sit in a Cobra. There's nothing like being a cowboy and life on the open road.

Go for it! I've already talked myself into a Colorado/Montana ride.

Jim

[Kmcallahan]

Thanks, for the insight of a ride in a car like this. I had an 09 HD Street Glide and rode from Houston to Midland Tx which was about a 10 hr ride with stops for fuel and restroom breaks. I thoroughly enjoyed that ride. I am looking forward to long road trips in my Roadster. I just hope the wife enjoys it as much.

[R. Button]

I40 is a great route doing a coast to coast drive. You MUST stop in The Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, NM as not only will they leave the light on for you BUT the garage door open! It's an restored motel from the 40's. Also watch for the brown route signs for parts of old route 66.

From middle of Maine to Sacramento, CA it's 3570 miles one way...

Back before anyone knew if these cars could make a long trip, 3 of us made the trip across the USA. I left from upstate Maine and the destination was the Sacramento, Ca area. To go racing against the west coast cars. That's 3570 miles one way. This was back in 2001 with basic cell phone service... had to keep plugging into to the next cell area. No idea what the weather was going to be as we were not getting weather maps on the old basic cell phones. You carried with you a list of people that if needed would come out to help you if you broke down. That was just my first across the country trip, there were many more that followed as I serviced these new devices called network servers. And you had to be on side to get to the the server to fix them.

As you have begun to realize riding in a cobra gives you the chance to really live in the country you drive through. You smell someone cutting their grass, you know you are close to a farm when you smell the manure being spread, and you learn to detect the smell difference between a McDonalds and a Burger King hamburger restaurant. Some days it's cold other days you cook and you look for any kind of shade to try to get out of the heat... as I drove through the Mojave Desert.

And just for the race event on that first trip for the American Muscle Car Challenge... the west coast drivers generally beat us!

Long distance drives - make sure your seat is comfortable... I can sleep in mine! I tweaked the angle it tipped back to not put too much pressure on my legs. But still felt that I was not sliding forward in the seat. Plan for weather. You have all the tools now in the new smart cell phones. Both road maps and weather maps. IF you use the tools well you could avoid having to install a soft top. I just opted early on to install a soft top.
I also chose to deal with rain and cold and keep driving so wipers, soft top, and all weather performance tires. Some tires are for dry roads only but awesome for autox or road course. For a car being ued as a daily and long trips you make compromises. Example - for ignition I used a stock ford distributor with the duraspark box. Brakes I used the stock 90's brakes for a long time same reason - easy to get a part at the local auto parts place. This long distance drives started long before you could get 1-2 day deliver on parts.

If you haven't already it will happen even more while traveling. You stop for gas, someone pulls into the same pump but on the other side of the pump. Soon they are peaking around the pump asking 1) what kind of car is that? 2) or is that a new vette? 3) my grandfather had one a few years ago. That starts them moving around the pump to look closer. People that never ever would have spoke to you now want to see THE car and maybe talk a little about the car. I've had cars lined up at the pump waiting for gas - not mad but out of their cars or trucks talking and looking at THE car. Then the kids! If there are kids in the cars they are out of the car running over to look too. Best part is when I open the door to let the kids sit in THE car. All so parents can take pictures. I put the full harness on them, add old leather helmet with goggles for them to put on too. Parent are so afraid the kid will break something - I just say it will give me a project to work on later - not to worry. BUT the best part is not the kids as they are never afraid to ask can I climb in THE car, but the parents who you can see would love to ask, "can I get in too?" So if they are shy I wait then ask them would you like to try it too and I'll take your picture for you.
If this has not happened to you yet - take a drive out on the interstate - stop at the gas pumps or a rest stop along the way. It will start happening. Remember for most of these people you will meet along the way - have never seen one of these cars before. So will ask you the same questions every one else does. Be patient as it's the first time they get to ask you. It fun and I have meet a lot of people along the way that I still keep in touch with using that new tool called a smart phone.

[cob427sc]

I've never had the chance to drive one of my FFR cars across coast to coast but I did drive a VW powered dune buggy from Mass to San Francisco and back in 3 weeks back in 1970. Expect all the same weather issues- heat, rain, snow in the rockies and filled the whole car with hailstones in Kansas! Greatest trip ever and 50 years later I can,t fathom what convinced me to do it. Go for it with your car and make sure you enjoy all the questions and photos from strangers along the way.

[jrohrig]

For those with a bigger engine, is it worth outfitting your roadster with a larger fuel tank?

[Jim1855]

427 SBF. Previous car had a 17 gallon tank. New car has an 18. I figured 16-18mpg, generally ran about 80mph and stopped on approx. 2 hour intervals for gas and to stretch. One time though I was running north through Wyoming and a slight uphill grade was causing some sputtering, went away on level ground. I had to buy 84 octane at an Indian reservation gas station. Only put in about 4 gallons and filled up at a real station a ways down the road.

I've found that I need to get out periodically, 2 hours is about right, good time to fill up and empty the other tank. Generally never ran much below a third or quarter tank. I used to drive for 8-10 hours a day in the Cobra.

I'm not sure what the Mustang tanks hold but I think I'd like more than 14-15 gallons.

Jim

[NiceGuyEddie]

I personally would not be afraid to park the car at a hotel if it were covered at night, I would not be afraid to battle a little rain, and I'd have confidence in the car going a few thousand miles with no mechanical issues, but I personally could not take it on a long trip because of the noise.

I would positively spray the front nose with a temporary, peel-off clear bra. Doesn't look perfect like a professional bra but worth the money for temporary 'disposable' use.

https://www.amazon.com/3M-90200-Paint-Defender-Application/dp/B00BHH1QMG/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=3m+defender+spray&qid=1590078606&sr=8-3

[steno]

Most of my cross-country drives are dashes, meaning gas and go. On one trip to Florida from Chicago, I stopped for fuel in Kentucky. As I walked back to the car a school bus pulled up. One polite boy asked if he could take a pic. SURE, but it would be better if you sat in it. His friend took a pic... along with the whole bus load! Was totally worth it!
I stop about every 250 miles to fill up and stretch out the legs.
75k miles of smiles and counting on another 8 this year! Get out there and drive it! Every trip should be an adventure!

[weendoggy]

Back before anyone knew if these cars could make a long trip, 3 of us made the trip across the USA. I left from upstate Maine and the destination was the Sacramento, Ca area. To go racing against the west coast cars. That's 3570 miles one way. This was back in 2001 with basic cell phone service... had to keep plugging into to the next cell area. No idea what the weather was going to be as we were not getting weather maps on the old basic cell phones. You carried with you a list of people that if needed would come out to help you if you broke down. That was just my first across the country trip, there were many more that followed as I serviced these new devices called network servers. And you had to be on side to get to the the server to fix them.

As you have begun to realize riding in a cobra gives you the chance to really live in the country you drive through. You smell someone cutting their grass, you know you are close to a farm when you smell the manure being spread, and you learn to detect the smell difference between a McDonalds and a Burger King hamburger restaurant. Some days it's cold other days you cook and you look for any kind of shade to try to get out of the heat... as I drove through the Mojave Desert.

And just for the race event on that first trip for the American Muscle Car Challenge... the west coast drivers generally beat us!

I remember that trip out. There was four of you meeting up and coming west. Stooges Across America Tour! :)

I have to admit driving across the country was a goal and I did the same in 2009 all the way to the Open House. Wife included!! Stops along the way to visit and site see was great. Plus you get to meet all kinds of people. Some even got rides! Prepare for the worst and have fun. Weather is your friend or foe so be ready. I don't have a top and never intended for one so we were ready and also learned some wet weather driving tricks. We've also done a few other drives to the Rockies. If you have the time and gumption, go for it. I don't regret doing it and although there were obstacles, none were so bad it was a disaster.

[Jeff Kleiner]

I too still remember the "Stooges Across America Tour" with my good friend John Phillips, John Hannaford and Ralph! Glen, I also remember meeting you and Jeanne when you drove out for DVSF (predecessor to the London Cobra Show) in 2003. Those are a couple of epic journeys from the early days :)

Jeff

[David Hodgkins]

That's a Bucket List item for sure! I'd like to drive back for London and Open House... Still dreamin'!

:)