I am taking a long trip in the next month or two. I plan to drive from
Washington to Iowa for my cousin's wedding, and then on down to Texas
for the summer. That's about 2500 miles.

I am trying to get my car ready to go for the trip and prevent a
breakdown.

Here's what was done 60,000 miles ago in 2000:

-New fuel pumps ("upgraded")
-New RSR and fuel pump relay
-New Nissens radiator
-New O2 sensor
-New AMM and airbox thermostat
-Fuel injectors, rail cleaned and serviced
-New shocks and struts
-New knock sensor
-Throttle switch, kickdown cable adjusted
-Steering rack replaced
-Brake system overhauled (hasn't been touched since then)
-misc small electrical things replaced
-New plugs, wires, caps, rotor (hasn't been touched since then)

In the last year, or 5,000 miles ago:

-A/C repaired, charged with R12
-New drivebelts
-New battery
-New Bosch Alternator
-New front brake pads
-New Ball joints, tie rod ends, control arm bushings, tie rods
-New front brake pads
-New exhaust from cat back
-New steering column
-ZF transmission flushed, filter replaced, filled with Mercon 3
-other small stuff

In the last month:

-New timing belt, water pump, tensioner, and seals
-All new hoses, thermostat, heater valve, black cap
-Coolant flushed and replaced
-Ignition timing set
-Rotten wiring isolated and repaired
-Differential oil replaced with synthetic
-New air filter
-Bearings checked, in good shape (said they were a little loose?)
-4 new tires


As of now the only problem I have with the car is the headliner falling
off.....


I am doing the ignition system and fuel filter with my next paycheck,
fixing the melted fuse box, separating the transmission from the
radiator with an external cooler, and doing a few more minor things
before I go.

I also plan to pack spare relays, a distributor, and a spare fuel pump to
be safe.


Two things bother me though: The ZF transmission and the radiator.

The ZF shifts really smoothly and has given me no problems. Am I
risking a breakdown taking a ZF cross country?

The Nissens radiator is 8 years old and has 60k on it. No damage and
the plastic seems OK. I can't find a clear answer on how long these
last so I am concerned about its reliability. It doesn't leak and I
switched from the grey to black cap.


Am I missing anything? I cannot have a breakdown because I am meeting
people at the airport in Iowa and must be there on time.




Tim


Car has 128k on it.
--
1987 Volvo 740 GLE, 127k