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The spridget long trip emergency tool kit

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regularman

regularman

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Some of these other threads got me to thinking. I want input from everyone's ideas for this. If you were going to take a 400-600 mile trip what emergency spares would you bring?
<ul>[*]New Points and condenser (if applicable) Let me say this also. At advance auto parts in their el cheapo tool area, they sell a little dayglo orange screw driver thing that comes apart and has bits in it and is short and is absolutely perfect for working on the spridget points. Might buy one of these and put a little bit of sand paper in it as well. [*]spare axle shaft [*]Fan belt [*]Fuel pump [*]spark plugs [/list]
 
One other thought. My evaporative fuel canister is empty and is essentially for show. I have thought of using it as a storage compartment as the bottoms srews right off of it. I was thinking of putting one of those screwdriver sets, new points and condenser, any pertanent paperwork in this canister in a cloth of some kind and just leave it there and I will always have what I need. Maybe a new set of plugs as well and a spare aftermarket fuel pump depending on how much room there is.
 
In additions to what you said I carry:

<ul>[*] Hose clamps of various sizes[*] Spool of wire to fix Lucas errors[*] Spare throttle cable, had one break and had to move choke cable to throttle[*] Assorted bolts, esp extras for my alternator as they shear[*] Fire extinguisher[*] Brake fluid, Engine oil, & Water[*] Small Jack[/list]
 
Why do your alternator bolts keep shearing? Never thought about the gas cable. I bet that was fun having the gas on the dash /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/lol.gif But, still it gets you home and is a good option. Sounds like it beats the "string through the window" deal that we had to do in a mini once.
 
In addition to most of the above, I carry a dizzy cap with wires already installed, that way if there's a bad wire, you can just whip that spare one on, I keep it in a small ziploc bag with plugs, points, rotor, condenser etc.
I also carry a trunkmonkey.
 
regularman said:
Never thought about the gas cable. I bet that was fun having the gas on the dash /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/lol.gif
Click to expand...

Its not that bad because you can turn the choke nob to lock it in place, wouldn't want to do it if you had to hold it the whole time.
 
400-600 miles?
Credit card and a cell phone.

Now... if on an endurance rally, I might make up a spares and repairs toolkit. But for the most part, I only drive the midget that far if it is not urgent that I arrive or return at a precise time.
 
Kim, sounds like the only thing I can add to the list might be a spare cap and rotor. I thought I read a story on BCF where a rotor wore out and wouldn't fire the plugs, but a new rotor fixed it. I carry that, the spare fuel pump, various fluids, floor jack, wood block, and my AAA card.
 
duct tape? my luck i would breakdown just far enough away from civilization not to be near an autozone!
 
Here is your list, no clue what it weighs but a small trailer might be in order. heh. Store in a plastic bucket, and add a flash light.


spare axle shaft
Fan belt
Fuel pump
spark plugs
Hose clamps of various sizes
Spool of wire to fix Lucas errors
Spare throttle cable, had one break and had to move choke cable to throttle
Assorted bolts, esp extras for my alternator as they shear
Fire extinguisher
Brake fluid, Engine oil, & Water
Small Jack
dizzy cap with wires already installed
duct tape
 
looks good to me ... spool of wire can be both an electrical as well as mechanical repair tool!
 
Kim (Regularman) --

I have had the issues with the alternator bolts shearing off. I assume mine is the similar design issue when converting the gen to an alt -- the pullies don't line up perfectly (ie eyeballing it when installling) and cause a little bit of torque.

Had to rebuild the custom bracket 3 times - getting stronger & stronger as I went. Now all strong and no shearing.

Hope this explains it.

George
 
Ah, ok. I understand now. I kept working and made my Hitachi alternator fit with pulleys aligned. I got my alternator from an old subaru and went through it myself. Guys I have one thing to tell if doing a conversion and you cannot find an arm that works. Look for the arm on an old garage door opener. Its thick steel and a nice sharp curve. I kept mine when I had my opener quit and bought another.
 
jlaird said:
Here is your list, no clue what it weighs but a small trailer might be in order. heh. Store in a plastic bucket, and add a flash light.


spare axle shaft
Fan belt
Fuel pump
spark plugs
Hose clamps of various sizes
Spool of wire to fix Lucas errors
Spare throttle cable, had one break and had to move choke cable to throttle
Assorted bolts, esp extras for my alternator as they shear
Fire extinguisher
Brake fluid, Engine oil, & Water
Small Jack
dizzy cap with wires already installed
duct tape
Click to expand...
Does no one here use the factory jack? I used mine a couple times without a problem. The only thing I am missig is the ratchet handle for it, Had to use a wrench instead.
 
So easy to tear up the paint with the factory jack.
 
Baz said:
I also carry a trunkmonkey.
Click to expand...

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/iagree.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif
 
jlaird said:
So easy to tear up the paint with the factory jack.
Click to expand...
Ah, never thought about that. Before, I wasn't too concerned about the paint. I would also think that a couple "jumper" wires with alligator clips on both ends would be handy and one of those cheap kits with the butt splices and all and some spare fuses and electrical tape. Most of this stuff could be minimized and all fit in a tool bag of some kind in the trunk. I have no trunk monkey, I find that the little MOWOG gremlins are quite enough help. They live inside the engine and make little pinging noises on occasion and drink up lots of expensive fluids in the wee hours of the night /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
 
Forgot to mention I usually carry one of those jump-start battery packs, never know when it will come in handy.
 
I would hope I could get a jump from somebody or something. Those things are fairly heavy IIRC and pricey. I thought about buying one but I was afraid the battery inside would go dead before I ever got any use out of it. But a cheap set of jumper cables could be tucked away quite nicely somewhere. I like to have the trunk space to actually haul luggage or shopping or whatever if I can. I used to carry a huge tool box in the back and never had any trunk space. I am going to try and avoid this in the future if possible. I would like to be able to store most of the spares, tools etc in the wings of the trunk, stored nicely out of the way. I saw one guy had the spare axle in there and it just fit with room for more stuff. Might be handy to have a print out attached to the inside of the trunk lid telling where everything is stored.
 
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