I was wondering how you guys would figure out if it was "safe" to take your ponies on the freeway. I just redid my suspension and steering which thankfully took the "addict shakes" out of my car. It also tracks pretty darn straight if I let go of the wheel and my engine is strong so on the freeway I went.

I get up to 40, 50, 60, 70... better slow down because the limit is a good deal higher and it was still pulling strong. The speed limit is 65 but most would consider that a minimum and not a maximum. I figured if I was there I'd drive 70 and average it out right?

All is going pretty well except for a slight shake which bugs me and worries me. I figure it could be coming from a broken motor mount that the alignment shop just reported to me... it could be from something else. I don't like it either way so I slow and speed up when no traffic was around and it seemed to do it on all surfaces though sometimes it did feel exagerated on the rougher road.

I'm getting twards my exit and the car is warming up MORE than stop and go traffic, I mean CMON I did the suspension and steering so I COULD take it on the freeway and now it's looking bleak.

So I was wondering what I could check to see if I really am freeway worthy or if I'm still sidelined and have to watch everyone else zoom by.

 

Dont ask me,, as soon as mine was running i poped it on the I-5 in san diego.. It was scarry as hell, because the steering was soo loose.. But hey it did 80 with no problem and no oil pressure.. [:@]

 

So you only took it once or are you still on it? I'm actually curious as to how many people actually drive it on a daily basis and then out of that how many take the freeway because that's what I'm looking to do.

 

Daily driven and no problems running the freeways around 65mph.

Stock, '65, 6cyl. coupe with everything under the front rebuilt at least once over the last six or seven years.

But I don't race or autocross it.

 

Is there anything you watch out for as a freeway driver? shakes scare me alot at that speed and anything special with your cooling system.

 

Mine isnt a daily driver, but last year April 06,it looked like this;

And now.. its back on the road, and last month, I drove from Florida to Dallas & back. Cruising with the interstate traffic. No Worries.
I did the suspension, so I know whats there. I had a good alignment(Same specs Dazecars, reccommends), and a couple of short trips on area roads, mostly under 60mph. By the time I was doing 80-85 on I-20, even the Spouse was happy.

 

Any tips though or just make sure everything is tight in the car. If my motor mount is the cause of my problem should I worry? It's not a violent shake just a constant rumble type thing. I also got my specs to dazes recomendations. 4 hours and $200 later they finished it... also the heat bugs me. I never figured it'd run hotter than stop and go city so I'm buggered on that one. just stock set up as far as cooling.

 

mine is a daily driver and i take it on the freeway every once in a while. it gets very unstable at around 80 but everything below that is ok i guess.

maybe you have a cooling system issue now? i have no idea what it could be but there is no way it should be running hotter than stop and go traffic. could always be an electrical issue with the gauge as well...maybe a voltage regulator?

 

"nut and bolt" the car, (check all of the vital nuts, bolts and systems) Once you are sure nothing is going to fall off, begin with short runs and work your way to longer runs once your confidence improves.

You car may not ever drive like a "new" car, and these older cars are prone to have their own "personality". You will feel better about things once you are better acquainted.

And fix your motor mount, then you wont need to worry about it.

 

+1 fix the mount

the car should run cooler on the highway. whats the status of your radiator?

I would make sure brake pads are good, rotors machined, fluid new etc. Tyres in good condition and adequate (and even) pressures.

take it easy to start off with