Reviving a 1962 Strato Chief for a drive home - Edmonton to Toronto

Morty · Veteran Member

Reviving a 1962 Strato Chief for a drive home - Edmonton to Toronto

Greaser · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Morty,

Wishing you nothing but success on this adventure with your new Pontiac.

-G

DonSSDD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Good luck!!

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Make sure you let us know when you will be in Winnipeg region and hopefully we can arrange a coffee break.

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Plan your fuel stops, as there will be long stretches with no opportunity to fill up. Typically fill up in Alberta before entering BC or SK as their prices are higher.

Morty · Veteran Member

I will for sure keep you posted when Im headed through! Would love to meet up.

dualquadpete · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

5 gal jug in trunk [ just in case] will bail you out!!!!

Prefectca · Poncho Master!

Check the gas tank straps! A buddy had a 62 Biscayne that he used for going to the hunting camp to save his new at the time 1977 Impala. When he arrived at the camp everything was good until a couple of days later when the group at the camp needed some supplies the car wouldnt start. He noticed that the gas gauge showed way past full. Opened the gas door to put gas in anyway and the gas tank was gone. They found it a mile and a half down the road and put it in the trunk to be able to drive home.

Paul

Morty · Veteran Member

Guys this is sage advice - honestly I've done this type of thing twice (68 F100 from BC and 64 Comet from Red Deer) and this time I am the least prepared. and the car is the oldest I've done it with. Send good thoughts, she's such a sweet car I really want her to get home so I can preserve her.

-- Edited by Morty on Monday 2nd of May 2022 07:51:30 PM

Morty · Veteran Member

Just pm'd you

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

If anyone is free likely mid to late Friday afternoon I'm planning to meet up with Morty for a quick coffee, likely somewhere on the south Perimeter.

Morty · Veteran Member

Thank you Greaser, and all the folks here. Much appreciated. Excited to learn about this car and the 261.

Howmac · Guru

4SPEED427 wrote:
If anyone is free likely mid to late Friday afternoon I'm planning to meet up with Morty for a quick coffee, likely somewhere on the south Perimeter.

I'm in for Friday afternoon... I'd love to see this 62 ( I grew up with one in the driveway )

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Any updates on this adventure?

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

I hope Morty is ok. He hasn't logged in for 4 days and I never heard from him re meeting in Winnipeg yesterday.

timbuk · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

well lets hope he is doing ok go morty!

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

You don't realize how big this country is until you drive across it. Maybe he's fallen in love with the wide open spaces of the prairie, and doesn't want to return to Ontariario.

timbuk · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

MORTY! hope nuthin went sideways...

-- Edited by timbuk on Saturday 7th of May 2022 11:27:21 PM

Morty · Veteran Member

Hey guys sorry for the delay - I am okay, didn't mean to worry you. I wasn't allowed to board my flight because I had just gotten my 2nd vaccine. SO I have rebooked it for the 19th. I got annoyed by the delay and didn't really want to think about my Strato Chief. I will update you guys as I go along. I am now considering going across to Winnipeg and then down through the states. Last time I went up and over it was stressful as hell because if you get into trouble there's no one to help you, you always end up driving at night and its terrifying frankly. Thanks again for looking out for me guys!

oshawacliff · Poncho Master!

Morty you created an element of concern.

Driving at night requires excellent headlight power and range.

Can you have the LED headlights put in before your trip along with the proper relays for maximum brightness.

The current custodian has been helpful to this point.

There are a few articles about relays and LED you can reference on here.

-- Edited by oshawacliff on Monday 9th of May 2022 10:02:41 AM

Morty · Veteran Member

Hey Cliff - thats a great idea, I can totally get that done. Sorry again for creating concern!

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Morty wrote:
Hey Cliff - thats a great idea, I can totally get that done. Sorry again for creating concern!

When my friend came from Oakville a few years ago to drive his 64 F**d home it got a new set of tires and 4 halogen headlights before it left here. Both offer good peace of mind for a trip like you are taking on. New belts as well, repacked wheel bearings etc.

When the time gets close I'll update you about your route. Currently the highway south from Winnipeg to the US has a small detour on it because of flooding.

Morty · Veteran Member

This great advice, thank you. So the bearings are greased, the tires are 1 season old, and a new cap,rotor and points are in the trunk. Haven't done headlights but I am also going to try to avoid night drives if possible. When I look at G maps it shows me a few ways to take that are all kind of the same distance. I'd like to stay in Canada to save me some $$ but Northern Ontario is just such a remote place. I plan to do an oil change at least once on the way home and get some sea foam into it.

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Earlier you said the owner did a new cap, rotor, plugs and points in it. Did he install them, or just put them in the trunk?

I wouldn't worry too much about halogen headlights at this time, the sun stays up longer than you're probably driving.

Morty · Veteran Member

He said he installed them but upon further investigation he just tossed em in the trunk. Either way I might be able to manage that on the road, or I might not need them entirely.