Get Your Kicks From the Longest Test Drive

"LongbowMkII" (longbowmkii)
08/15/2016 at 11:30 • Filed to: Oppomeet, Nova, Test Drive

I’m currently the caretaker for a 1971 Chevrolet Nova. I can’t call myself the owner as it’s not mine although I’m the only one who has driven it in the past 18 months. My dad finished restomodding it about 12 years ago. I use the term finished loosely, hell, I should probably use the term restored loosely as well. I find a new unconnected wire every other time I look under the hood. Almost all the lights work and the stereo works. I don’t know much when it comes to electrics, but I do know when to leave well enough alone.

Anyways, after the transmission got its new set of gaskets, new alternator, and fresh oil. It was time for a test drive. Oppositelock 2016 in Bolingsbrook, IL should work. It’s only 6 and a half hours away. What can go wrong?

Lens flares are still cool right? Yeah, you know they are.

My 5am departure was enhanced by a Red Bull, the preferred energy drink of extreme athletes and the habitually unaccomplished. I was greeted by a temporarily squealing belt, a noise which I would become well familiar with on this trip. Loaded up with hand tools and extra fluids, just in case, and I was off.

The ride is... fair.

This was the real... I don’t want to say disappointing, but entirely uneventful part of the trip. Not that I could honestly expect anything more out of an interstate in southern Indiana. I figure the speedometer reads a bit low as I was occasionally tailgated and passed in the usually (strangely) highway law abiding Hoosier state. I’ve never been pulled over in this car and plan on keeping it that way, not going 20 over through the endless construction zones in a bright blue muscle car is as good a plan as any.

Wind farms creep me out.

I’m doing my part to destroy the Bug menace. Would you like to know more?

Obviously, weather was not one of my issues of the day. My only first world problem was being forced to stop at a BP outside of Lafayette, IN. 16mpg highway and a ~12 gallon gas tank doesn’t give you the luxury of being picky in farm country. At about 80mph those gallons go quickly. Let me take this moment to thank our proud allies in Saudi Arabia for driving down oil prices. Your continued market manipulation make road trips powered by big block Chevrolets possible. Thank you!

First!

Thanks to time zones and unlimited horsepower obviously, I was the first to arrive for lunch despite taking the scenic route through northern Illinois. I’ve heard that my trophy is in the mail. I used this opportunity to get gas.

Waiting for the others turned into an impromptu car meet with a brown V8 wagon and even the rare Mazda Miata. Being Opponauts, we were too distracted by stories of towing and wiring to remember to actually eat on schedule. Oops.

Going down Route 66 was tantalizingly boring. If I had days, months, years to meander down the highway I could find endless things to geek over with my love of history and cars.

“Is that the old highway?”

“This Art Deco garage that has been abandoned for 30 years is neat. What’s inside?”

“Is that Winnebago for sale?’

Since I didn’t have time to answer these questions I was stuck focusing on a mostly straight highway and it’s assorted stop signs. Sigh. Four hundred-ish cubic inches makes much more sense with roads like this. Not that I did anything. The corn outside Saunemin, IL can keep my secrets.

People mock midwest farms, but I rather enjoyed Illinois’ back roads. It’s like traversing a green ocean.

The trip back was just as uneventful. This 45 year old car largely restored by an amateur shadetree mechanic had zero issues or problems the 18 or so hours it was on the highway last weekend. Not that I was hoping for any ills to befall it, but it makes for a boring story. Oh well. Classic Chevrolets are too dependable.

Many, many miles of pointless orange barrels in Indiana. As if I needed another reason to hate Mike Pence.

DISCUSSION (11)

crowmolly > LongbowMkII
08/15/2016 at 11:39

Doesn’t hurt that the Nova is about as simple as they come to work on. :)

LongbowMkII > crowmolly
08/15/2016 at 12:06

Aside from the wiring idiosyncrasies, the magic fuel box and stuffing a 12 lb engine into a 10lb bag it really is dead simple.

crowmolly > LongbowMkII
08/15/2016 at 12:11

The wiring is one of the best parts, though! The underhood is so simple compared to a Vette or Chevelle.

LongbowMkII > crowmolly
08/15/2016 at 12:56

Under hood is fine, I'm referring to under dash haha

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > LongbowMkII
08/15/2016 at 13:16

Was great to meet you! Cool shots and I just love that car.

crowmolly > LongbowMkII
08/15/2016 at 14:25

Oh fuck that noise.

I do have to say, I am in awe of your dash brightness. I haven’t seen a 60's-70's dash that clear in a long time.

Bandit - destroyed his car > LongbowMkII
08/15/2016 at 15:17

That gas station sucks...

LongbowMkII > Bandit - destroyed his car
08/15/2016 at 15:27

It seemed new enough to me, it’s the whole buying BP issue. Yes I realize that BP itself gets very little per gallon, but it's the principle.

Bandit - destroyed his car > LongbowMkII
08/15/2016 at 15:36

Ah, that I understand. Their prices at that station are usually a lot higher than the rest of the town as far as personal experience goes.

LongbowMkII > Bandit - destroyed his car
08/15/2016 at 15:52

Maybe but I wasn’t going to put my faith in a tank that said there was about 15 miles of range left either. Maybe there was, maybe there wasn't.

shop-teacher > LongbowMkII
08/15/2016 at 17:43

Your Nova was my favorite car at the meet. I’m glad you were able to make such a long drive trouble free.