Within the next week, I plan on flying to Victoria to drive, I hope, a '67 Grande I have bought on Salt Spring Island back to Saskatchewan! This one....
March 21st 1967 76657 327ci M40 D(517 blue bucket) B.C now Sask. #os741959 Grande Parisienne 2 dr hrdtp Nantucket Blue 67Poncho link
Since I asked Lemans64 about the ferry schedules and recieved great info, my next question since I have not driven in BC, what would be the best and easiest route to get to Sask?? Wheather it would be through Calgary or Edmonton? And what should know in advance and expect!!!
I guess it depends where in Saskatchewan you're going.
Take the Coquihalla (Coca-Cola) from Hope to Kamloops, that's where you need to make the decision to go through either Calgary or Edmonton. Turning East and staying on the #1 Calgary is a prettier drive, but more mountainous. Turning North and heading towards Jasper is less mountainous, so if you've never seen the Canadian Rockies, take the #1. There is some road construction on the #1 by Golden BC and Lake Louise, but probably not too bad.
I've been to Salt Spring Island BC before to see a 1965 GTO for sale back in the 90's, the guy had a 64 GTO as well and another 65 GTO parts car, I ended up yanking out a Pontiac 455 out of his 1974 Grand Safari to transplant into my buddy 69 GTO. Nice place to visit make sure you take the time and have a good and safe trip, enjoy the ferries.
I guess it depends where in Saskatchewan you're going.
Take the Coquihalla (Coca-Cola) from Hope to Kamloops, that's where you need to make the decision to go through either Calgary or Edmonton. Turning East and staying on the #1 Calgary is a prettier drive, but more mountainous. Turning North and heading towards Jasper is less mountainous, so if you've never seen the Canadian Rockies, take the #1. There is some road construction on the #1 by Golden BC and Lake Louise, but probably not too bad.
I've seen alot of cars on the side of the road on the COKE. Alot of hills and that means boiling over. Have some fluids with you if you take the Coke. Thru Carlgary is the shortest route to Regina.
If you have the time I would take hwy#3 and head through Nelson. Beautiful town, worth spending at least the night if not the weekend.
Taking the #3 takes forever. Nice drive, but add an extra day to the trip. I've done Victoria to Calgary in a day a number of times, including the ferry ride.
I guess it depends where in Saskatchewan you're going.
Yea, should have made that clear!!! OK, I am just an hour west of Yorkton on the #16 Yellowhead. Regina is closer to me than 'Stoon, so the Calgary route may be better depending on the car. It is a runner but this is not your typical run to the grocery store and taking someone elses word may be a stretch!!! I just looked at the Mapquest map just for a quick familiarizationof the routes you guys provided. I see that Swartz Bay is a short distance from the airport to the ferry to Fulford, so that should be easy enough! Then it looks like I come back to Swartz and jump the one to Tsawwassen and then beyond?
65ssd, I will get your p/n just in case I run into issues or if I have time to chat. But just to let all now, I have to try and get back for Monday the 29th.
If you want to find out what's wrong with an unknown car, the Coquihalla highway will show it to you. It's steep climbs out of Hope, and out of Merritt, and hot in the summer. Your trans and cooling system will get a workout. The speed limit is 110. Take either the Hope/Princeton, or the Fraser Canyon route as they are easier on old cars. Like others have said, going north from Kamloops is a flatter trip, but not much in the way of services. Rogers Pass route has construction east of Golden and through Banff National Park. You might want to stop in Penticton on Saturday for the Peach City Cruise, as it's a good show in a nice spot!
When I bought the green/gold 2+2 in Nanaimo a couple years ago, it was in need of a tune-up when I left, but I figured what the heck. I caught the first ferry to Horseshoe Bay, getting there about 10:00 pm. I was hoping to get a hotel in Chilliwack, but hadn't booked anything. I called a number of them while enroute, but they were all full. I pulled into a rest area west of Hope 12:30 am, and bedded down for the night in the back seat of the car. I slept for a while, but woke up around 3:30. After tossing and turning for a while, I figured I'd hit the highway. Nice thing about driving at night is little traffic on the road. I hit the Coca-Cola, and sailed through the toll plaza at 4:13 am.
My point is that if your concerned about the condition of the vehicle, try not to hit the Coca-Cola in the middle of the day. - and regarding going the old #1 through the Fraser Canyon, keep in mind that on any given summer day, Lytton BC is likely to be Canada's hotspot with +30C temperatures.
The nice thing about when you're making the trip is the sun gets up before 5:00 am, and it doesn't get dark until 10:30 pm or so - plenty of time for off peak hour driving.
If I was you I'd go the Coke. As mentioned there are 3 or 4 really good pulls but if you drop it down a gear you'll cruise up them no problem. Going now in June should be good as it is still cooler and the Coke is quite a bit cooler as it is quite high in elevation. I've gone over it many times with a variety of vehicles and never had a problem. As previously mentioned too if you really want to be sure about it staying cool try catch it in the morning but even if it does get a bit warm it really cools off nice when you're coasting down the other side. I find the guys that have the problems overheating are the ones who are trying to keep it at a 120 or more up those hills. Drop her down, you might only do 80 or 90 but you're revving good and she should barely rise in temp. Good luck and if you do decide to do the Okanagan route maybe we'll see you at the Penticton show, it's a beautiful venue with 5 to 6 hundred cars. Will have to see if the weather holds but I do have a spot reserved there.
I hit the Coca-Cola, and sailed through the toll plaza at 4:13 am.
It's not a toll HWY anymore. The toll plaza is all gone and is a free trip now.
I was going to ask that very same question!! Now I don't have to!!! I am still debating as, again, I am unsure of the car. Most likely the fastest, easiest route back would be the most favorable, of course. But I would like to stop at the for mensioned places of interest as noted!!! Also would like to stop in Kelowna as this is where my '70 2+2 Rag is residing... Hmmmmmmmmm.....!
You can take Hwy # 5 and Hwy #3 to Kelowna. As said before # 5 is lots of hills and no place to stop if you have car trouble. Once you leave Hope the only stop is Merrit and then Kelowna(Westbank) Then head towards Vernon and goes to Sicamous. There it connects with Hwy #1 again and off to Calgary. You should have a good idea of how your new car runs by Hope and then make up your mind on which route.
I agree with 455gto, you should have a pretty good idea on the condition of the car well before getting to Hope. While you won't have run into any hills by that point, you'll be scooting along Highway 1 through the Fraser Valley at a pretty good pace.
It might be a good idea to pull into a minute lube or something like that for an oil change and have them check the fluids before you get too far. Since 67's still had cannister oil filters, either bring a spare cannister filter, or get an adapter for a spin-on filter. Not sure if I'd trust the high school kids at the oil change place to install the spin-on adapter though.
It might also be an idea to wash off the engine so if you do get a few leaks you can spot them. Maybe also stop at a parts store and pick up new fan belts. Nice thing on these old cars, there's likely only 2 belts.
Check your battery cables, and clean the corrosion at the terminals if required. Taking a few minutes to check things like that before a trip can really pay dividends.
Bring a good selection of hand tools, possibly a volt meter, etc and if possible a set of booster cables.
i was towing my 55 on a trailer on the coke when the black box went on my ford f250. the towing company charged me for 2 tows. at least the garage didn't gouge me for fixing the infernal thing.
Good luck no matter which route you take. I did Edmonton to Hamilton last year in my T/A, Blew 2 tires, had to check the gas, and change the coolant, but I made it! What a ride, one eye on the road, one eye on the gauges. Alittle nerve wracking, but I'd certainly do it again. Like the guys said, bring spare parts, tools and definately a few (re: alot!) of bevrages in case you get stuck!
Catching the "bird" in the morning for the trip to Victoria. I will keep you posted as to the "adventures" of the road! Hope all goes to plan and if it doesn't, oh well!!! Since we all have only one go around, do what you can while you can and have fun doing it!!! I generally, play it by ear!!!!
If you can get to Penticton, and the car has issues, I get a good deal at NAPA, and have tools if something needs repair. I'm tied up Friday night, and Sat will be at the show but something can be worked out. Other members will be here too.
)and start climbing, that 400 will be in 1st and 2nd gear quite a bit.
!!
