Road trip - what spares?

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james12345
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Road trip - what spares?

Post by james12345 »

I know this could prove to be an endless list, but we are taking my wife's '65 convertible to Europe for an extended trip in the summer, and wondered what spares I should take?

I was thinking of:
fuel pump
ancillary belt
head gasket?
fuel / oil filters
spark plugs

Plus some imperial tools, of course!

I don't want to end up filling the car with spares, but what would be recommended as far as basic spares that would be hard to come by in Europe?
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Re: Road trip - what spares?

Post by bmcecosse »

Complete spare known good dizzy is essential.
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james12345
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Re: Road trip - what spares?

Post by james12345 »

A complete distributor, or just cap / rotor arm and leads?
ASL642
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Re: Road trip - what spares?

Post by ASL642 »

I would add AA or RAC European Breakdown - just in case :wink: A good set of spanners/screwdrivers, 2 ltr bottle of water, oil, plugs, points, good jack, spare windscreen wiper blades. If you run on standard morris tyres these can be hard to find in Europe so if you can squeeze in a spare tyre do so.

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Re: Road trip - what spares?

Post by bmcecosse »

Complete spare dizzy. Take the one from your engine - and fit another now, so you KNOW the spare works well in your engine.
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Chipper
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Re: Road trip - what spares?

Post by Chipper »

I would also add spare bulbs, and at least one propshaft UJ to that list, along with brake fluid and maybe brake linings and cylinders, unless you know the ones on the car are good.
Maurice, E. Kent
(1970 Traveller)
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Re: Road trip - what spares?

Post by KeithGSY »

Plus at least one known good ignition coil and a set of hoses, especially a bendable bypass hose.

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Re: Road trip - what spares?

Post by bmcecosse »

You can easily buy brake fluid/spark plugs etc abroad, but carry them if you wish - and I suggest a thorough brake overhaul, renewing anything doubtful before setting off. And of course - all fluids changed and nipples greased! Check and set the valve gaps with at least 15 thou on the exhausts (I now use 18). Be SURE to have a spare accelerator cable - and a return spring...it's alarming when the spring breaks and the car takes off like a scalded cat! :oops: :roll: Maybe take a couple of cans of the 'puncture fix' goo (Morrisons) or a tube and some patches (and tyre levers) if your tyres have tubes?? And a tyre pump.... The spare hoses are a v good idea too - and a can of Rad Weld could be handy. And I would change the thermostat to a 74 degree version if you have fitted an 88 for UK 'summer' use. Many of these items you will be carrying in the car anyway! :lol:
Last edited by bmcecosse on Mon Jan 06, 2014 8:13 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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TFM150K
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Re: Road trip - what spares?

Post by TFM150K »

If you are in the RAC or the AA I believe they both do a recommended list that may be useful> you are required by law in some countries to carry such things as a spare set of lights(includes headlight) or bulbs and a warning triangle and a hi-viz vest or jacket. France was asking for everyone to carry two disposable breathalysers - these are available at a couple of Euros each once you get over the water. Have a nice time!
p.s. Possibly the best spare part to carry would be the latest spares list from your favourite parts-supplier with their phone number!
Andrew Fletcher
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Re: Road trip - what spares?

Post by Andrew Fletcher »

we did 4000 miles in 4 weeks in a '66 convertible last summer and had the following spares / tools in the car:
points, condenser, isolating tape, oil, fuses, fan belt, spare wheel, bulbs, tank tape, normal tool kit, tow rope, torch and a fire extinguisher.
All that we used were oil and the fan belt.

Andrew
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Re: Road trip - what spares?

Post by MarkyB »

Take enough 20/50 to suit the cars consumption, it's very hard to get in Europe.

"Once you break something you will see how it was put together"
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Re: Road trip - what spares?

Post by Matt Tomkins »

spare valve of each type (inlet and exhaust) -- not necessarily the lapping paste and compressor tool, but if you have to limp to a garage to get work done, it would pay to have a part to hand


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Re: Road trip - what spares?

Post by irmscher »

Duct tape and baling wire always come in useful for emergency repairs
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Re: Road trip - what spares?

Post by Matt Tomkins »

irmscher wrote:Duct tape and baling wire always come in useful for emergency repairs
not to mention cable ties


http://www.flickr.com/photos/46862234@N ... 671969048/
http://www.facebook.com/matttomkins

Misty, Morris Minor 2-door, 1970,
fully restored with the help of various of the young members to whom i am forever grateful. http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=43571
Also Mavis, 1960 Factory Tourer, and a '69 Traveller project: http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=53487

Join the young owners at: https://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/gr ... [sig]11392[/sig]
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Re: Road trip - what spares?

Post by Matt Tomkins »

irmscher wrote:Duct tape and baling wire always come in useful for emergency repairs
not to mention cable ties


http://www.flickr.com/photos/46862234@N ... 671969048/
http://www.facebook.com/matttomkins

Misty, Morris Minor 2-door, 1970,
fully restored with the help of various of the young members to whom i am forever grateful. http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=43571
Also Mavis, 1960 Factory Tourer, and a '69 Traveller project: http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=53487

Join the young owners at: https://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/gr ... [sig]11392[/sig]
rayofleamington
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Re: Road trip - what spares?

Post by rayofleamington »

Duct tape and baling wire always come in useful for emergency repairs

not to mention cable ties
always good to carry in any car! A wire coat hanger is a reasonable alternative to bailing wire as it can be used to fashion exhaust brackets etc..
For EU don't forget multiple hi-viz, spare bulbs and warning triangle (you may as well carry it at all times). You don't have to use a mobile phone abroad but it's worth to take one for emergencies and if doing so make sure you have an EU compatible roaming tariff before you find out the hard way.

If you set off on a major adventure in a car that's literally just been put back on the road after decades of slumber then you should expect some teething trouble (been there, done that, done it again.. never short of anecdotes )
If the car is well maintained and regularly used, there is far less chance of having any issues. If you need new parts fit them sooner rather than later and dont just take them with you.

You can get torches that flash/pulse a red light - breaking down in the dark on a fast road without hazard lights can be frightening whatever country you may be in, so as much warning as possible is good.

Other than keeping your previous working plug set, leads & dizzy cap & points with you and a new spare inline fuel filter, a good spare wheel, scissor jack and a gallon of oil & gallon of radiator water I would only recommend to have a very thorough service 4 to 6 weeks before going and use the car regularly after the service to give it a good shake down.
e.g.
Not much need for carrying a spare fuel pump if you have an SU and check the pump points are good during the prior service and check again before going.
If you have a dynamo, check the brushes are good during the service. If you have an alternator, good luck.
If your exhaust straps are perished don't wait until they fail.
If a propshaft UJ has some slack... you can guess the answer.

Dizzy points in good condition and checked regularly tend to be more reliable that worn out points that were never looked at..
If the brake shoes are well worn, it's best to replace well before you go rather than find out coming down the Pyrenese!*
However engine braking is a good skill to have!

*I had a brake m/c seal fail coming down the Pyrenese. My co-driver was in the driving seat to start with and thought the brakes were playing up but then they were fine later on so he forgot about it (due to being very tired). I took over driving before we dropped down into the town that evening and got a nasty surprise to find them rather intermittent!
The next morning we ordered some mail order to the hotel we were going to stay at next before leaving Europe. We had to wait an extra day in Algeceras (near Gibraltar) for a replacement complete m/c from UK. It arrived Christmas eve and we made it straight to the ferry and fitted it in Morrocco in the sun. The entire braking system had been transferred from a daily use car and I'd replaced the m/c seals only as a precaution (much to my regret). One of the replacement seal was faulty, and this was one of the very rare cases where a problem took a few months to appear.

If your brakes have been recently rebuilt don't worry - if not then as an extreme precaution I'd make sure all the brake pipe fittings will unscrew (probably just my paranoia). If they don't come apart then fix things now now rather than try to work it out later away from home. In my case I knew it would all come apart so didn't bat an eyelid at changing then m/c in a Morocco camp site!

Many of the uk parts suppliers will do next day shipping to EU. Therefore don't try and carry everything as you can predict the unpredictable.
Anything from a couple of tyres to brake parts, seals, engine parts etc..
We were doing a lot of off roading in West Africa so took many spare wheels - in European tarmac, this shouldn't be an issue.

Someone I knew had a classic Land Rover and broke down in Spain. Their recovery service towed them to the Land Rover main dealer in the nearest major city. The main dealer didn't have much interest in fixing a 30 year old car and they gave up and flew fly home, and 9 months later when I heard the story they didn't know what happened to the Landy :roll:
Therefore if you think a recovery service is a get out of jail free card, check the fine print. Even "European Relay" has limitations. Some other friends of mine broke down in the first part of their holiday (in a modern car) and as parts were not available in 48 hours their options were to be brought home (which they did).

If you can DIY then it's worth to consider a very broad tool kit. If not then only carry the basics, and for anything serious you'll have to find a "simple-car friendly" garage. If you're of the well-prepared inclination, try and log some 'local' contacts before you go (e.g. classic car clubs) and see if they can help by at least getting someone to talk to a garage on your behalf if your language skills are limited.
Ray. MMOC#47368. Forum moderator.

Jan 06: The Minor SII Africa adventure: http://www.minor-detour.com
Oct 06: back from Dresden with my Trabant 601 Kombi
Jan 07: back from a month thru North Africa (via Timbuktu) in a S3 Landy
June 07 - back from Zwickau Trabi Treffen
Aug 07 & Aug 08 - back from the Lands End to Orkney in 71 pickup
Sept 2010 - finally gave up breaking down in a SII Landy...
where to break down next?
2013... managed to seize my 1275 just by driving it round the block :(
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Re: Road trip - what spares?

Post by bmcecosse »

The 'handy contacts' tip above does work - and was the means (through this forum) for me to keep an MGA touring couple from Germany going, by giving them a spare dynamo I had lying around this summer !
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Chipper
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Re: Road trip - what spares?

Post by Chipper »

I would also consider taking one of the handy 'fix anything and everything' type gloops such as Chemical Metal, JB Weld, etc.

Very handy for repairing holes in radiators, sumps, engine blocks, etc.
Maurice, E. Kent
(1970 Traveller)
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Re: Road trip - what spares?

Post by lowride stepside »

I would fit most of the above beforehand, stick a spare set of bulbs in the car as these are a legal requirement in some European states ,along with a first aid kit , fire extinguisher and warning triangle .
So A tow rope , tools for adjustments ,jump leads .points and condesor .
A bike trick used to be to cable tie , new cables routed with the existing,so if throttle cable goes you clip in ya new and away you go, ideal for storage keeping it where you need it .
Leave the breakers yard at home , all the Morris specialist's post globally so don't worry
speed not tweed
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Re: Road trip - what spares?

Post by bmcecosse »

Don't forget a spare wheel for the trailer - which you now need to carry all these spares!! :lol: :roll:
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