Drive a stock 50's car cross country? Unsafe?

I'm sure it's unwise, especially since I'd be buying it from someone I don't know, but what I'm wondering is it at all safe?? Keeping in mind my car driving adventure tolerance is greater than most(I drove a $1400 4x4 to central america and back) and I can spin a wrench decently, is it possible/safe to do? The car in particular I'm looking at is a 52 Poncho with a stock 6cyl and stock suspension, all supposedly in good working order and driven daily(where have I heard that one before). Are the brakes/suspension/engine up to modern highway speeds?

I have maybe an unreasonable fear of drum brake cars, having driven a couple that either wanted to change lanes when I hit the brakes, had the brakes go away after one good stop, or scared the piss outta me trying to make a fast stop on the freeway.

It also just chaps my ass to spend a grand just to ship a damn car. I'd rather fly out and pick it up and have the fun of driving it cross-country, and use whatever is left of that grand after buying a plane ticket to fix something that breaks along the way.

I know it's mechanically risky, 50 year old car and all, but if its in good working order, what do you think that highway trip is gonna be like with a stock 6 cyl and stock brakes/suspension?

EDIT: I forgot to mention that I'll be 'between jobs' so time shouldn't be a big factor

EDIT: I shoulda mentioned it's a 3 speed manual, FWIW.

 

id say source brake rebuild stuff fly over change all the fluids shake it down and see what falls off and then go for it!

though i wouldnt expect to be flying on the interstate plan to take your time getting home. rocky drove his stock 40 poncho coupe from omaha to bonniville and back just fine just take your time

tim

 

the trip is gonna be slow, fairly smooth, and you'll meet lots of gas station employees. Why are you worried about freeway speeds? Take the back roads, see this great land of ours. The most fun is seeing the things you'd miss cruising on the "boredway". Hell, I went 700 miles out of my way once just to see the "World's Second Largest Ball of Twine". If time isn't a constraint, go for it.

 

whackedshoebox: Good point!

I've driven cross country a few times, and you're right, the interstate is fast but no character at all.

I love seeing the country, so it'd be a great excuse to take smaller highways. I've driven a bit of route 66 and it was totally cool to see everything in the small towns and stuff and like the tee-pee hotel, but it's sloooooooow, or at least the part I drove. But that sounds perfect for driving this '52!

I never miss a chance to see a roadside attraction either!!!

 

Brakes are obviously important...check them real good. Maybe bring a bottle of fluid with. The car would have no problem with highway speeds...if this was 1952. If it's got a two speed trans you probably have a pretty short gear (numerically higher) so I agree with taking your time. I'd keep it under 60 to be on the safe side with rpm. Either that or put a super tall set of tires in back... Make sure the belt is good and tight on the water pump...speaking from experience with my buddys '53 Poncho. Hopefully the gauges work too.

I'm sure it'll be fine...brakes, limiting rpm and cooling are usually my main concerns.

 

what about the gas tank and fuel lines, they can get alot of shit and rust in them. Has the guy been running the car lately.

 

Yeah don't even think about the interstate. Like whackedshoebox said enjoy the road, enjoy the trip. You'll go a lot slower but you'll be a lot easier on a car that's going to be a senior citizen soon!

You probably won't make it if you took the interstate anyway, too hard on everything. You have a damn good chance if you take the back roads. Your only worry then would be overheating, make sure the gauges work, CHECK OIL OFTEN and check the tires and brakes.

Just because it has oil in it when you pick it up doesn't mean it will 5 miles down the road, for the love of god please check your oil right after leaving on your trip, like at the very next stop. I ran into that problem once. A few miles down the road and it had burned every damn bit of oil outta there.

Oh and someone said keep it under 60, I think 60 is too fast, 50 or 55 is more like it.

 

People drive 1950s cars all over the continent every day. I do. Well mostly my 4 state region. I ONLY drive cars from the 30s, 40s and 50s. I dont drive any car newer than 1959. You are concerned abut drum brakes? Maybe you need a different hobby.

 

Yeah but with this guy it's new to him so he has no idea how it will hold up. With you and I, that's all we drive but we know our own car.

 

Since when do southern-californians buy cars and drive them back? Don't get to do as much rust repair as you'd like?

 

Take some small parts, points brake fluid, a new belt and small hand tools. you will enjoy a trip on the back roads. that is where the car was meant to be.

 

Bring a brake spoon to even out the brakes. When I have something I haven't taken apart like that I crank all four up until the wheel barely makes one revolution after a hand push. That usually straightens out the stops until they all get gone over.

Carry the usual fix-all items. Duct tape, Hammer, Vise-grips, screwdrivers, .45, cell phone.

 

I drove my '50 Pontiac for a couple of years to work and back with the stock flat 6. It was a real tired motor and smoked alot till I "fixed" it.
I did not be kind to this car for two years and kept up with freeway traffic till the water pump let go in a big way one morning.
If you check it over real good and the drivetrain seems fine just take the trip nice and easy and it'll make it no problem.
Good Luck!!

 

When I bought my 59 F100, it was literally in a junkyard in North Carolina. I drove it 9 hours back to Indianapolis in one night and used 14 quarts of oil on the way. It made it though. I had a blast. I'll always remember that trip.

My friend Tom has driven his 56 Lincoln to Vegas four times and to the east coast at least five times. They just drove a 57 Plymouth to New York and then to Vegas. These old cars are great if you just check em over like everyone says and use common sense. If you've got the time like you do, it should be a kick ass trip. I'm jealous.

 

Drum brakes are not a problem - they work well. You might want to install a seat belt.

 

Did I miss something? Where is the car located? I tried this once back in the 70's and didn't make it 100 miles before the engine blew. Broken ring. It was a mint condition 55 Chevy with a 235 six. I think $1000 is a bargin for shipping a car across country. If you have problems, and you will, it will cost you alot more than $1000. You've also picked the hotest part of the year to do this. I remember cross country trips back in the early sixties and it seems the Rockies and the desert were the worst enemys. Good luck

 

I did this last summer, from Nebraska to Ohio. I planned on being gone a weekend. 10 days, and 4 breakdowns in 3 different states, I got home towing it with a rented dolly and a Uhaul.

Would I do it again? Never. Did I have a blast? Yes. Did I save money? No, it cost more than if I'd had it shipped.

I don't think the key question is safety--you get a feel very quickly for what the car can and can't do. And being able to turn a wrench might not help you on a Sunday in small-town Iowa, when you need a water pump and everything is closed, or don't stock 56 year old parts.

The key question: do you have AAA?

Have fun if you do it, and take a camera along. And a cell phone charger--my phone died somewhere in Illinois, kinda hard to get 3A's by semaphore or smike signals!!!

Tucker

Tucker

 

In addition to what has been already listed, I'd take a carb rebuild kit, some hose and a handfull of those cheap plastic fuel filters.

Incidently I own a '52 Pontiac 2dr sedan, straight 8, hydro...

Let some of us know your planned route, maybe we can help out if you break something.

s.

 

Personally, I'd stop in a NATIONAL brand place and get new brakes all th way around.
I'd also do a tune up, oil change and lube, Coolant flush, and careful tire check before I left.

Take the tools and spares with you.

I've been across the country several times in 50's vehicles without issue. Actually 55 on the expressway is EASIER on a car than stop and go driving on the back roads. BORING as hell, but easier because the grades are generally sloped milder, less wear on breaks and such, and at 55 a car engine running on flat ground is basically loafing.

Have a safe trip.

Glenn

 

Yanno, I hate to admit it because cruising the back roads in a new(to you) 50's car is just bitchen, but this mofo has a point.

There's a quote that floats around the shop here all the time "hell yeah I'd trust this thing to drive to california and back." That's what I heard when I bought a car from a guy, this car was parted together to sell and to sell only.

It was cleeeeeean as can be, so cherry clean. But it was all smoke and mirrors, this car was fucked off something awful.

So yeah, on second thought, haul it.

 

You can do it. My 50 model Plymouth was driven from San Diego to Virginia Beach by a woman and her three kids. Her husband was transferred by the Navy and they followed him there. All that way across the deserts, Texas etc. with three kids, and no front brakes. When I got the car it had a blown head gasket, and the front brake shoes didn't even have linings they were so worn, just nice and shiny from contact! If she did it, you can do it.

 

if you've got the time,when you get there to get the car spend a couple of days there drive'n the shit out of the car,if it holds together then set out cross country,if things dont feel right then tow it.After you put a couple of hundred miles on it you will have a good idea if it will make it or not.Besides theres uhaul places everywhere across the U.S. if it comes down to have'n to tow later in the trip,not to mention all the good ol'e hambers along the way that would probablly help out if needed!GOOD LUCK!!

 

Install a seat belt. Lots of places have lap belts, and they're really innexpensive (I've even seen them at Auto Zone, etc.)
Buy new wheel cylinders, shoes, rubber lines, and ship them out there. Check the wheel bearings. Plan on buying new tires--some people's idea of "safe tires" isn't what other's is. If you don't have to buy new ones, you're ahead of the game.
Get the oil changed, trans and rear end fluid changed. Check the radiator.
It's got a generator on it--know that you won't be picking up one of those at the local NAPA if it dies. Same with a water pump and fuel pump. Change the fuel filter. I also like to add an inline filter (one of the visible, glass ones) right ahead of the carb to see what's going into the carb. Great diagnostic tool if the car starts sputtering.
A fresh set of plugs and wires is good too.
Pack a good, COMPLETE set of tools--if you need to use tools, you're already in a bad mood; getting back on the road with a chewed up Philips head screwdriver and crappy wrenches isn't going to improve your outlook on life. With a nice, complete set of tools, you can quickly--and even enjoyably--fix whatever stranded you.
Pack a few extra nut/bolt pairs (because, for some reason, one of the bolts that holds the generator in place will fall out, etc.), a roll of gasket forming material, etc.
When you get to the car, plan on taking two days to service the car and make any repairs.
Check that all your radiator and heater hoses are good.
And finally, get some Rain-X, because chances are, the windshield wipers aren't gonna work real well.

If I were you, I'd do this trip in a heartbeat. You may think you're over planning things, but it's better to be too prepared, and have things go really smooth, than leave on a wing and a prayer, and end up being stuck in the middle of nowhere.

I bought a '62 Suburban and drove it 1000 miles home with my 10 year old. No problems at all, but we were prepared for just about anything.

Have fun!
-Brad

 

6 cylinder and 3 speed are great, but sit down and think about gas prices-- it may be more then 1000 dollars right threre...

keith

 

this is just me, I'd change the oil (buy a case to bring along) get some stop leak crap for the radiator get a 5 gallon gas jug (fill it with water) if the brakes don't leak don't mess with them but make sure your emergency brake works bring a roll of electrical wire and some black tape and a few fuses. pick up a spare fan belt and a fuel filter you never know whats gonna get stirred up once you fill that tank a few times and it gets sloshing around, bring a few tools including a hammer and bar or at least a big screw driver, a roll of bailing wire in case chunks of exhaust pipe fall off, at least a set of outer front wheel bearings check all fluids including transmission and differential then jump in that thing and go!

after a 1/2 hour or so on the road stop and go around and lay the back of your hand against the hubs and see if any bearings are getting hot.

if you try and rebuild the car where it is something is bound to go wrong or get installed wrong cause you're in strange territiory and in a hurry to get going and its gonna break down as sure as your sitting there reading the responses to your post

 

Due to the nature of my work I am asked this question all the time about 50s and 60s restored cars, lead alone project cars. I would encourage you to definitely drive the snot out of the car before you even hit the highway for home. Look, listen and smell! Try to recreate a lot of the situations it will go through during the drive. Do a 'safety check' before you ever take off..check the headlights, turn signals, brake lights, things like that. It probably would not even be a bad idea to have a local shop go over it, give it a little tune up. That way if they find any problems you know what you are dealing with right out of the gate. Keep in mind a car can be shipped from just about anywhere so if you start out and then have a problem then worry about shipping. take duct tape, take rain-x, a HAMB directory and a BIG sense of adventure. I've had people drive from Ohio to CA, WY, TX amongst other places in their 'new' old cars and call it the adventure of their lives! From the sounds of it though you're a pretty good car guy and car guys are pretty resourceful. I would encourage you to drive it, just be sure to keep your head even during times of distress!
PS- If you PM me with your to and from locations I might be able to get you a better shipping rate...

 

We drove our 54 Bel-Air cross country twice. All bone stock except for dropped. 6 banger 3 sp. made 21 mpg @ 70 - 75 mph. Drove interstate to Iowa. Back roads through Neb. Colorado and New Mexico. Brakes went out 600 miles from home - solution: don't stop! LOL

 

Listen to all this advice...and then...DO IT!

It will be one of those things you never forget in life. How often do those things happen?

Not often enough, I think. Regardless of what happens, you'll have an adventure. You'll see cool things and meet cool people. You might not get the chance to do this again for a long time, if ever.

Bring all the stuff everyone has suggested, and don't forget a camera. Document the entire journey, and share it with all of us when you get back.

~Scotch~

 

I say go for it!!!! Plan ahead and think about rush-hours, re-reroute or find a place to sit them out. Screw the whole stuck in traffic thing with an old mill, brakes and radiator - middle of summer with no A/C. It'll give you a chance to relax and check out the fluid levels etc, grab a bite, pick up diner waitresses.

 

What Scotch said. I'd love to have an adventure like that. I'll probably never have the combination of free time and funds, unfortunately.

-Dave

PS Oh, and unless you're driving in Chicago rush hour, drum brakes in good repair and properly adjusted are unlikely to give you any trouble at all. I've got four wheel manual drums on my car and they work just great.