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Old 15-09-2018, 02:52 PM   #1
sgt_doofey
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Default Roadtrips

Thought that I'd might start a thread about road trips seeing as we have different forms of holidays on here but nothing about how we get there!

With Bathurst rapidly approaching, and this being a bit of a special year with it being the last year of the Falcon on the mountain, my mate and I have decided that we'll do the road trip across this year in my 34 year old XE Falcon.

This car has been in our family since new with my parents buying it. My brother and I have kept it ever since my dad passed away in 2005. It has lots of memories and photos of family holidays spent in it travelling to different parts of Australia.
This car has basically been a spare car for the family and has spent the last 14 years in storage, hardly being driven. That changed slightly last year when the South Australian Government changed the rules regarding historic registration, meaning that we could finally register it under that scheme. It's been driven to a couple of shows and my brother has driven it around Adelaide a little bit, but it still spends a lot of time under cover not get driven.

That all changed last weekend with the decision to take it over to Bathurst! I've since picked it up from my brothers house in Adelaide and driven it home here in the Barossa. And today I went and got some new tyres put on it as the ones on there, although still had a lot of tread, were quite old and I didn't trust them especially after having an old trailer tyre let go earlier this year. Also bought a few spare parts, namely radiator hoses, fan belts, points, windscreen wipers.

Still to do:
  • adjust the headlights (it's a bit cross-eyed at the moment)
  • change the oil and oil filter
  • check the brakes
  • grease up everything!

Apart from that, it should be a fun drive over in the old girl! Taking a car that hasn't been driven more than 100kms in a day in the last 14 years to do a 2500km round trip to Bathurst. I mean... What can possibly go wrong?

Here she is home on Wednesday night


New tyres getting fitted this morning
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Old 15-09-2018, 06:00 PM   #2
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Default Re: Roadtrips

Great story and I'm sure the Falcon will do it with ease.

How many km's on the XE?
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Old 15-09-2018, 06:23 PM   #3
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Default Re: Roadtrips

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How many km's on the XE?
Approx 163,000kms. Even when it was a daily drive, it spent a lot of time in the garage as my dad caught the bus to work.

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Old 15-09-2018, 06:29 PM   #4
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Default Re: Roadtrips

Thats a very tidy XE you have there, i still miss mine and its been a decade since i parted with her, time flies they say.

We're heading over for the last Falcon race too only i've taken a slightly different tact, I just traded my BF on a 2013 SZ Territory Diesel today so that will be our mode of transport.
To be honest, the first time i've ever driven a Territory was today and i think i've fallen in love with Ford all over again..
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Old 15-09-2018, 06:38 PM   #5
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Default Re: Roadtrips

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I just traded my BF on a 2013 SZ Territory Diesel today
welcome to the club

the perfect roadtrip vehicle. I used to sing the praises of the mighty falcon for just eating up the km, but SZ diesel territory kills it, and you hop out the other end feeling surprisingly fresh.
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Old 15-09-2018, 06:53 PM   #6
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Default Re: Roadtrips

speaking of roadtrips, I've done Adelaide - Brisbane pretty much every year since I was born, as passenger when younger, and then driver when left home. A result of having parents from 2 states. Dad from Bris, Mum from Adel.

Went via broken hill one year due to flooding, but otherwise travelled the same route every time. From Adelaide, I live south so out the freeway, through the mallee to Balranald, Hay, West Wyalong, Forbes, Parkes, Dubbo, Gil, Coona, Narrabri, Moree, Goondi, Warwick and in to Bris. There was a bit of work going on with Cunninghams Gap for a few years so we went in via Toowoomba. I've never been one for sight seeing, so all our trips are about getting somewhere. I do stop for meals though as i'm a bit anal about eating in the car and it gives everyone a good chance to have a break and stretch the legs. Mostly we take a day and half to 2 days each way although the last 4-5 years we've left in the arvo and driven straight through on the way up.

I love the roadtrip. The family, not so much. That's where portable dvd players are worth their weight in gold, although the last few times we've entertained ourselves a fair bit of the journey. Kids only watched a couple of dvd's the whole trip.

We go again at xmas, and possibly the last time as a full family as my eldest will be 18 and starting uni next year.
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Old 15-09-2018, 08:30 PM   #7
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Default Re: Roadtrips

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Originally Posted by prydey View Post
although the last few times we've entertained ourselves a fair bit of the journey. Kids only watched a couple of dvd's the whole trip.
Play Windmills Rob, just block your ears going through Gil
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Old 15-09-2018, 07:02 PM   #8
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Default Re: Roadtrips

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Originally Posted by prydey View Post
welcome to the club

the perfect roadtrip vehicle. I used to sing the praises of the mighty falcon for just eating up the km, but SZ diesel territory kills it, and you hop out the other end feeling surprisingly fresh.
You were my inspiration Rob, i saw how impressed you are with yours and the idea has been growing on me ever since so with Bathurst only 3 weeks away i figured now was the time to take the plunge so i have time to get to know it and have it through my mechanics for the all clear, not that i expect any issues with only 100k on it.

Im over black cars and the missus loves silver so a Lightning Strike TX it is.
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Old 15-09-2018, 09:58 PM   #9
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Default Re: Roadtrips

Or spot a bug whenever you saw a VW Beetle.

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Old 15-09-2018, 10:00 PM   #10
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Default Re: Roadtrips

Good call on changing the tyres. I had a blowout on a not that old tyre on a trailer a while back. 90% tread on a LT tyre that had sat for a couple years. It ruined my day. Maybe also get the spare replaced for peice of mind. Just because of the time the car has sat, they can do monster kays and be reliable, possibly also change out the diff and gearbox oils because 2500km is a bit further then a trip to the shops and oil degrades over time. Well thats what i have been told anyway, possibly a sales pitch.
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Old 15-09-2018, 10:07 PM   #11
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Default Re: Roadtrips

Yeah, after we had a tyre on our trailer that suffered from tread separation as we were driving home from Halls Gap earlier this year, I thought it best to replace them. They probably also weren't round anymore from sitting around for a while.
Diff and auto trans fluid. Thanks, will see about getting those done too.

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Old 15-09-2018, 10:21 PM   #12
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Default Re: Roadtrips

The old girl looks mint, so why not give her the full treatment.
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Old 15-09-2018, 11:33 PM   #13
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Default Re: Roadtrips

i'd be making sure the cooling system is also in good order, incl. radiator and water pump.

i'd also be putting some km's in to it between now and then just to make sure everything is working as it should. Better to have something fail now than half way across the hay plains.
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Old 16-09-2018, 07:24 AM   #14
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Default Re: Roadtrips

Thanks Rob.
If the drive home is any indication, then the cooling system is working well. If anything, the thermostat might be stuck open as she was running quite cold at 110km/h.
Also drove it around yesterday to give it a run and to listen for strange noises.
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Old 16-09-2018, 09:18 AM   #15
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Default Re: Roadtrips

I recently made the trek down to Heathcote for the AFF drag nats with a fellow member and a holden driver. We had a ball on the 3800 Klm round trip. I’m north of Brisbane. Went down the Newell and back on the Hume. Camped in truck stops in swags, cooked on portable BBQ’s, no fires on the way down and at Sox’s inland from Newcastle somewhere on the way home. It’s all about good company and good times, meeting people and putting faces to names
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Old 16-09-2018, 09:57 AM   #16
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Default Re: Roadtrips

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Originally Posted by sgt_doofey View Post
Thanks Rob.
If anything, the thermostat might be stuck open as she was running quite cold at 110km/h.
Just that would be enough to want it changed. If it can stick open it can also stick closed.
They are easy to do and a small investment will give you piece of mind.

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Old 16-09-2018, 06:56 PM   #17
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Default Re: Roadtrips

pack the car, jump in and enjoy the drive doofey

dont over think it
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Old 04-10-2018, 03:07 PM   #18
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Default Re: Roadtrips

Took your advise pottery beige.
Packed the car and drove it over.

We had a breakdown in Renmark though. For some unknown reason, we lost spark and the car wouldn't start. Conked out on us going around a roundabout. After about an hour and just before the RAA turned up, she started again!
All we'd done was take the distributor cap off and put it back on again and push on the leads. Was going to take it to a mechanic as the RAA bloke was thinking it was either the coil or distributor. Decided to push on through to Mildura and see how it went.

Made it all the way to Bathurst!

Been enjoying our time today, just relaxing a bit.



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Old 04-10-2018, 05:02 PM   #19
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Default Re: Roadtrips

Good work, how was the road between Hay and West Wyalong?

Last time i was through that way in 2016 the bitumen had a slight corrugation about it which gets a bit much after 200kms, lol.
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Old 04-10-2018, 11:47 PM   #20
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Default Re: Roadtrips

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Good work, how was the road between Hay and West Wyalong?

Last time i was through that way in 2016 the bitumen had a slight corrugation about it which gets a bit much after 200kms, lol.
been a few years since I've driven that stretch in daylight but I don't recall it being any worse (or better) than most of the other highways. It has sections which are worse than others.
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Old 05-10-2018, 01:49 PM   #21
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Sitting up in the Adelaide hills outside Gorge Wildlife park with 45 minutes to go until i return my passengers to their place of origin and then im done for the week, a quick tub of the Terri, load the JD cans in the Waeco and im in Bathurst mode .woohoo!!!
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Old 06-10-2018, 04:57 PM   #22
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Im thinking you guys must have been extremely fatigued by Hay as that stretch was so bad im still vibrating 4hrs later..lol

Nah, not really, the Terri soaked it up without hesitation and i have to be honest i was a bit sceptical about the notion that long trips leave you feeling as fresh as before you started in a Territory but its bloody true.
Best vehicle to come out of FoA imo.

With 4 blokes, chairs, bags and a waeco it returned 8.8L/100 with A/C on from Hay.
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Old 04-10-2018, 05:06 PM   #23
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Not too bad from memory. Don't remember complaining about it so mustn't be too bad.

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Old 07-10-2018, 09:18 AM   #24
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Default Re: Roadtrips

For a 34 year old Falcon, we felt pretty damn good when we finally rolled in to Bathurst Wednesday evening.
Weren't sore and weren't complaining! Seats were still quite comfortable.
See how we feel tomorrow night when we get home.

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Old 07-10-2018, 02:58 PM   #25
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Might see you on the road then, safe travels
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Old 08-10-2018, 06:41 PM   #26
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Back home now, i hope all those who travelled over this weekend from wherever have made a safe return or well on the way to doing so.
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Old 11-10-2018, 06:28 PM   #27
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Anyone know if sgt_doofey made it back ok, hasnt been active since early monday morning which i would assume was prior to heading back home.
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Old 11-10-2018, 09:40 PM   #28
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Yeah, made it back home without any dramas. Sorry, was straight back to work Tuesday morning after arriving home at 9:45pm Monday night, and still sorting crap out after the trip so haven't had a chance to jump on here.
Only problem we had coming home was the driver's side wiper decided it wanted to look in the mirror. One loose nut tightened and it was all good again.

The old girl did us proud. Loved driving her over and even my mate did, and he's a big Holden bloke himself. Very comfortable on the crappy roads, towed the camper trailer easily and very happy we made it home without incident.

Still got to finish unpacking, but that's a job for the weekend. That and giving her a good clean again to wash off the ash from the campfire and the road grit and grime from the drive back.

It's probably not something we'll do again, although I have no doubt that she'd make the trip over and back again without any hassles. Had lots of people stopping and talking about the old girl, or just making comment as they walked past our camp site. Was actually quite surprised how few classic cars were up the top of the mountain. Definitely saw more classic Fords than Holdens though.

18+ hours to get over there - including the breakdown in Renmark. 14.75 hours to get home again. Most of the time, we just sat on 100km/h so probably took a little longer than if we were in a modern car.

Fuel stops: Barossa - Mildura - Hay - West Wyalong - Cowra (splash and dash) - Bathurst - West Wyalong - Hay - Mildura - Renmark (splash and dash again) - home.

Splash and dash was done due to hills in to Bathurst and outside Truro as a safety precaution. Most times we put in about 40-50L for each fill. Cost around about $600 all up.
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Old 11-10-2018, 11:29 PM   #29
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Good to hear fella, how'd you go with those wombats between Blanchetown and the hill, i've never seen so many in that stretch in all my trips up the riverland and beyond.
We left at midnight Friday and was sort of in cruise mode until i saw the first one directly in our path, certainly gets your attention.
That stretch between the border and Merbein South is bad for roo's at the moment too, at one point i was sitting on 60k's as the way the scrub comes right up to the road shoulder doesnt fill you with confiidence.

It took us about 13hrs each way in the Terri so you did quite well towing the camper, we stopped pretty much at the same places and it cost about $320 in diesel which was quite reasonably priced, i paid less per litre at that servo across from the Macca's in Mildura than i do here in Adelaide.

Roads weren't too bad in the end, the worst probably the stretch between Hay and Goolgowi.

The 4 of us that went were sitting around this evening having a debrief of the weekends events and i said even if you never go again at least you can say you saw Falcons run on the mountain and my Nephew said, im not doing it again, i said didnt enjoy it mate, he's like, hell yeah, next year were camping, 1 day there isnt enough when it takes a day each way to get there and back.
Bring on 2019!!
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Old 12-10-2018, 04:10 PM   #30
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Yeah, made it back home without any dramas. Sorry, was straight back to work Tuesday morning after arriving home at 9:45pm Monday night, and still sorting crap out after the trip so haven't had a chance to jump on here.
Only problem we had coming home was the driver's side wiper decided it wanted to look in the mirror. One loose nut tightened and it was all good again.

The old girl did us proud. Loved driving her over and even my mate did, and he's a big Holden bloke himself. Very comfortable on the crappy roads, towed the camper trailer easily and very happy we made it home without incident.

Still got to finish unpacking, but that's a job for the weekend. That and giving her a good clean again to wash off the ash from the campfire and the road grit and grime from the drive back.

It's probably not something we'll do again, although I have no doubt that she'd make the trip over and back again without any hassles. Had lots of people stopping and talking about the old girl, or just making comment as they walked past our camp site. Was actually quite surprised how few classic cars were up the top of the mountain. Definitely saw more classic Fords than Holdens though.

18+ hours to get over there - including the breakdown in Renmark. 14.75 hours to get home again. Most of the time, we just sat on 100km/h so probably took a little longer than if we were in a modern car.

Fuel stops: Barossa - Mildura - Hay - West Wyalong - Cowra (splash and dash) - Bathurst - West Wyalong - Hay - Mildura - Renmark (splash and dash again) - home.

Splash and dash was done due to hills in to Bathurst and outside Truro as a safety precaution. Most times we put in about 40-50L for each fill. Cost around about $600 all up.
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