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Emergency parts kit ideas for a long roadtrip in a GL


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I have a GL that I'm wanting to get prepared for long road trips and I have a Yakima box for the roof that I want to fill with some common parts that may go bad during a long trip away from civilization that I would be able to fix on the side of the road. I've acquired a mostly good parts car that I'm planning on salvaging parts from so I won't have to worry too much about cost. As my GL hasn't given me many problems in the short time I've had it, I'm not too familiar with what to worry about going bad, so my question is this:

 

What do you guys consider some essential parts to have spares of that would also fit in a roof box and replaced on the side of the road?

 

While I'm at it, anybody got need for parts off of a 91 Loyale push button 4wd? Trans is still good and most of the interior and body is in good shape.

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I'd bring an Alternator, distributor, coil, and timing belts/pullies. From there, obviously a good tool set, all fluids (if it's cold, I bring a gallon of straight antifreeze and quite a bit of water, if it's warm, all water), some QuickSteel Epoxy (similar to JBWeld, easier to work with, and won't run. I've repaired a leaking fuel line, and badly blown radiator with this stuff), some Silicone Hose Repair Tape, and zipties.

 

At stock ride height, I wouldn't worry about much else failing catastrophically enough to leave you stranded. Obviously it'd be a good idea to get it off the ground and wheels off before you leave to check ball joints, tie rod ends, bearings, and brakes.

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A roll of that little hose that carry coolant here there and everywhere,clamps\bands, radiator cap, thermostat and gasket as well intake manifold gaskets,bring some fuses, 3spd fan relay wiper blades, different gauges of wire, clutch and throttle cables, chiltons manual,distributor and rotor, bearing grease and seals !! pulley bolt !! mainly that for sure! because I had mine back out and lucky me I pulled over right away when power breaks and steering got tight before my dummy lights came on... and it amazingly stayed in place!

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Alternator & fuel pump, timing belts, timing pulleys, distributor, coil, and igniter (just get the entire coil bracket with igniter on it). 

Those all leave you stranded and are the most likely high mileage/age failiures, and aftermarket options are poor or unavailaible. 

 

From there it's just generic stuff - like hose and tire flat repairs. 

 

With that you can make an older Subaru pretty good road trip vehicles without too many horror stories. 

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I like to have a spare of each of the exterior light bulbs with me on an extended road trip. Especially the headlight-brake-taillight ones.

Side marker-license plate ones are optional, but I've been pulled over because one of those were out, So...........

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If you check major things like brake lines and all the parts BEFORE you leave for the long trip, you should be good to go. Replace critical parts if there is any question at all - brake shoes, hoses belts etc. Then after v that I would suggest carrying extra coolant and oil and check them religiously on the trip.

 

If the car was unreliable as your daily, it will be worse on the long trip. If it was reliable as the daily then it should be reliable on the long trip provided you have the consumable parts within their wear period (belts, hoses etc).

 

If the battery is over 5 years old, buy a new one. 

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That all seems like a fairly doable sized kit. Does it seem unnecessary to waste space for brake lines and such? Or should a combo of something like the tape and epoxy that Numbchux mentioned be enough to suffice?

 

The tape or epoxy won't do squat on brakes, but you can get a pretty good idea of their condition before you leave, and even if it blows, you can keep driving, just cautiously using the ebrake. But the tape will work fairly well on a coolant hose (not perfect, but enough to get you down the road quite a long way), like I said, I've used epoxy to repair rusted steel fuel lines, and a leaking radiator (both repairs held for years of abuse at my buddy's cabin ).

 

It's certainly not a bad idea to bring a few chunks of rubber hose in different diameters for a more permanent repair, but if everything is in good shape before you leave, there's a pretty slim chance of failure.

 

 

If you've got room, and a donor car (you're not buying a spare part), I would add a fuel pump to my list.

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