Finally the journey from Michigan to Oregon is underway

[davepl]

I like the fixture you made for the bed to safeguard your stuff!

If I were making a cross-country trip in a vehicle of this vintage (which I've done, but not in a truck) I'd carry a couple of parts:

a) fuel pump
b) alternator
c) belts and hoses

That's a fairly cheap investment and are the weak points, at least as I recall. My Dad carried spares even in the 70s for roadtrips.

It's not that you need to change them on the side of the road (I suppose you could) but more about being able to get parts quickly if you need it repaired. You don't want to wait 2 days in Rearintercourse, Iowa because they don't have a fuel pump.

Edit: Maybe climate specific, but I used to keep a block heater on hand too. Why? I had a freeze plug pop out once and it required a tow truck, service center, etc. Didn't have a socket and so on to drive a plug in even if I had one. But a block heater expands with a screw, so you could install one and cut the cord off just as a way to plug the block.

[70cst]

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