• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Am i crazy (Driving 69 Satellite from Kentucky to Oregon)?

A longer way more chances for breakdown.

Very true. I'm gonna feel it out for a while and go from there. Shipped down a bunch of spare parts so if it's nothing major like a blown head gasket, transmission failure, rear end, i'm hoping to be able to get it back on the road.
 
I understand your wanting to drive, but just in case it looks marginal, I can recommend four corners transport in mill plain, Washington. they have moved many cars for me from the west coast to Nebraska. They are very reliable, and honest. I believe that is near the oregon border?
 
I understand your wanting to drive, but just in case it looks marginal, I can recommend four corners transport in mill plain, Washington. they have moved many cars for me from the west coast to Nebraska. They are very reliable, and honest. I believe that is near the oregon border?

Good to know. I'm already committed to go down there though so it's either driving it back or hauling it back myself on a trailer. Hoping to drive it back or else i'm gonna spend as much or more than paying for transport. It's definitely a gamble.
 
If you get side tracked through michigan...ill buy you a beer....lol. I still say it sounds like fun. We will all be watching closely...no pressure!
 
Hey guys/gals,

I'm the proud new owner of a 69 Satellite. Been looking for one for a long time up here in the Northwest but couldn't find any. I ended up locating one down in Kentucky and found fellow car enthusiast who agreed to go look at it for me. I ended up buying it but now i have to get it back to Oregon. Supposedly it starts right up and runs but i'm not sure how road worthy it would be for a 2100 mile trip.

Now i'm weighing my options now on how to get it. First thought is to have it transported but it's kind of spendy for me (around $1700 - $2000?). I'm not totally against it but who doesn't want to save money for the car instead?

The next though was to drive there and haul it back on a trailer. I'm pretty sure it would be a little cheaper but would take quite a bit of time and fuel. I do have relatives nearby so i could spend a week or so before towing it back.

Third thing that crossed my mind is to fly down and drive it back. Flights look really cheap last time i looked. I know this would be by far the most risky but it would also be pretty cool if i made it back without a serious breakdown. Should i try it or do you guys think i'm totally nuts? Any tips on what to check or do to the car before driving it back? It doesn't sound like it's been driven a lot recently and could have been stored for quite a while. Looking forward to any replies.
The most economical and safest way for you is to trailer it back. Drive down rent a trailer, towing a trailer down would cost as much as a rental. I wouldn't even attempt driving it back in a Decades old 73 I thought I knew about.
 
The most economical and safest way for you is to trailer it back. Drive down rent a trailer, towing a trailer down would cost as much as a rental. I wouldn't even attempt driving it back in a Decades old 73 I thought I knew about.
Really your 73 in that bad a shape or are you just ashamed to be seen in it? These things were meant to be driven.
 
The most economical and safest way for you is to trailer it back. Drive down rent a trailer, towing a trailer down would cost as much as a rental. I wouldn't even attempt driving it back in a Decades old 73 I thought I knew about.

Good thing mine is a 69! You could be right though. I'm about to find out.
:lol:
 
Really your 73 in that bad a shape or are you just ashamed to be seen in it? These things were meant to be driven.
I don't have a 73. i was talking about yours, I have a 67 Satellite big block 4 speed and a numbers matching 69 Roadrunner that i drive 100's of mile all the time going to cruise ins, I don't trailer I drive them and do all my own work on them.
 
I don't have a 73. i was talking about yours, I have a 67 Satellite big block 4 speed and a numbers matching 69 Roadrunner that i drive 100's of mile all the time going to cruise ins, I don't trailer I drive them and do all my own work on them.
So what was your point?
 
Good thing mine is a 69! You could be right though. I'm about to find out.
:lol:
think positive! The minimum speed limit is 40 on the Interstate, and you can go as SLOW as you want on the two lane!

HAHA
 
think positive! The minimum speed limit is 40 on the Interstate, and you can go as SLOW as you want on the two lane!

HAHA

?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.jpg
 
The crazy trip has begun. Picked up the car yesterday. Haha... was doubting my decision to drive it back in the first few minutes. Right away the car pulled dangerously hard to the right. I knew there was no way I could drive it more than a few miles and slow. Luckily the guy that went to check the car out for me when I purchased it had a shop nearby. We were able to get it on a lift and found a bad drivers side brake hose. Passenger side had been replaced recently. Got the brakes bled and good to go. Was really lucky that guy had a lift. It would have been real hard to attempt that by myself roadside. I owe him big time. I’m on the right and my buddy Troy on the left at his shop. And the 69 Satellite I’m attempting to drive 2100 miles home.
303D1865-4FBC-4EEB-B900-BCDE98C45BAB.jpeg
 
don't forget there are members along the way, stay in touch.being on the side of the road can be dangerous!
 
Day two (today) began with me finding out the cigarette lighter doesn’t work so I’ll have to work on that. Phone battery runs down pretty fast when you have google maps open all day and No way to charge it. Brake lights didn’t work either. The guy had them unplugged because the would stay on and drain the battery. Since I was at Walmart getting some supplies and waiting for my spare tire to be fixed, I used that time to look at the brake light switch. The switch was about 3/4 of an inch from touching the brake pedal arm. There didnt seem to be a way to adjust it closer. I fiddled with trying to tape something to the end of the switch to make it closer but had no luck. Ended up using some small vice grips clamped to a bolt on the brake pedal arm as a temporary fix. No idea yet why it was that way but at least they’re working.
 
don't forget there are members along the way, stay in touch.being on the side of the road can be dangerous!

Definitely. I meant to post sooner but it was hectic the first day and also ran down my phone battery. Any help is greatly appreciated.
 
My brake lights did the same after the disc conversion - the pedal sat slightly lower and didn't push on the switch to turn the lights off. I just glued a small foam pad on the top of the arm (the ones used under chair/table legs to stop scratching the floors) - works a treat.
Car looks good - enjoy your trip!
 
Take a look above the switch... The bracket slides by loosening one bolt...

Screen Shot 2021-04-05 at 9.46.01 PM.png
 
Once I got the tire and brake light situated it was time to hit the road. First leg was from Bowling Green, KY to my present location in Champaign IL. Decided to head north first and stay on some smaller roads. The old car ran pretty good. Stopped often for gas and to check fluids. There was a power steering fluid leak but it seems to be fixed or almost after addiing some fluid with anti leak
Take a look above the switch... The bracket slides by loosening one bolt...

View attachment 1093804

Ok I did see that but didn’t know it could be adjusted that way. I’ll have to do that. Thanks!
 
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top