as the title suggests I'm planning to drive my 1990 Corolla from upstate NY to central California. It has 137k miles on it and no major problems so I'm not too worried about it making it there. That being said, what should I do maintenance/prevention-wise before the trip?
As well, I have a lot of shit to bring and it's a small car, so I want to look into putting a roof rack on it. How are they usually affixed?
I'd love to hear stories of other anons driving cross-country in older cars. Let's hear em.
Oh man, I'd be more worried about the cops. I had a similar car and got pulled over all the time just because it was an older car, it'll be a cop magnet.
Oliver Wood
Did someone throw paint stripper on it?
Cameron Richardson
Please tell me that's a tach on the hood. Do an oil change coolant flush and check the alignment and the breaks. Roof racks can be mounted straight to the roof. You are going to need to drill some holes in that beauty.
Camden Thompson
strangely enough even with the stripped paint and hood-mounted tach I've never been pulled over in it.
nah I'm repainting it so I'm stripping the current paint
it is a tach lol. cheapo $20 from aliexpress, lightly waterproofed it and it's been goin strong in rain and snow for 7 months now. I'm gonna make the roof rack myself out of hollow square steel bar stock, could I just weld it on? I'm a little worried about waterproofing if I have to drill holes in the roof.
Lucas Moore
OP here, another concern:
when I'm driving 80 mph in 5th gear, I'm running at about 4k rpm. is this sustainable over ~4000 miles of driving or will it fuck the engine?
Josiah Lee
Take it easy, drive speed limit. It's a long trip enjoy it.
I drove from MA to TX with a buddy in his $500 Oldsmobile. Make sure to bring an extra bottle of fluids (oil, coolant, brake/clutch, power steering, etc etc).
Getting there fast and getting there are completely different goals. Just cruise, maybe make a few stops on the way. Make sure your stickers are up to date, I know there's a few places here in TX you wouldn't believe the headache and risk of getting arrested over what should just be a ticket.
Are you carting people around? no? Rip your back seats out. 88-92 corollas have a lot of room back there and someone is less likely to go into your car to steal something than just pick it off the top.
Justin Nelson
Good advice, I'll cruise. The only person coming along is my girlfriend, so I'll pull the back seat out and throw it on the roof. I'd rather not take em with but I don't see many AE92s in junkyards so they'd probably be a bitch to replace.
Luis Hall
>worried about waterproofing if I have to drill holes What about all the holes you're gonna blow in the roof with your piece of shit harbor freight welder?
Isaac Campbell
How thick is the steel on the roof likely to be? It shouldn't be a problem if it's relatively substantial.
