Side curtain question from a newb

It's kind of a pain, but doable.  I installed an EZPass last summer to avoid this.

A pain for sure, but I'm guessing the best way might be for you to plan your approach to the toll carefully, stop the car, get out and pay then drive forward, pull over and reseal the window into the roof lip. If the weather is just plain dirty, not raining and you're in a frequent toll area just leave the window in the right seat temporarily.

I've found that the EZ pass works on the East coast all the way to Florida and the Sun Pass works there. There might be one that works for you and they are pretty cheap. ($25 refundable here) . Hope you can go top down all the way. Safe trip

EZ pass +1. Only way to fly with tolls, especially with side curtains. In NY the pass is free, you just have to link it to a credit card or bank account. Mine drops $20 into the account when necessary which isn't very often. I swap one EZ pass between my daily driver and my Spyder.

EZ pass x2. I used it on my drive back from Bremen last May. 

Doug,

 

If you expect to hit rain on your drive, ask the previous owner if the top header (above the windshield) leaks.  If it does, take along a roll of the blue painters tape.  Apply it liberally across the gap between the windshield and the header - before the top gets wet.  You might be glad you did.    

Regarding tolls (I think you're talking Oklahoma), I just passed through there last week. They seem to have a propensity of throwing in an un-manned booth right in the middle of the route around Tulsa with little to no indication of how much or how to pay. Supposedly there's bill changers there at the gate, but I sure had a hard time finding them (not to mention the fee). If you have my same experience after bolting on the fee owed and the bells ringing as you drive away, tell the next toll attendant. They'll give you a number to call and the friendly lady at the OK authority will tell you everything is okay and they will not be sending out a posse searching for you...at least that's what they told me. If you find a bill changer, you're in luck...FYI...and have a great trip back to the warmth and sunshine of Austin. Bring your jacket to Bremen!

Doug, the Beck's have a leak point vulnerability where the latches are.  Yours might not leak, but mine did.  The top seals to the top of the windshield frame.  I added an additional seal that seals to the face of the windshield frame, which is possible because the top overlaps it. My first version had some issues. It sealed, but made the top hard to close.  Carey perfected it this winter with a different type of seal.  I would anticipate leaks here and get yourself some blue painters tape.

These guys are just ribbing you, speedsters never leak......

Mine hasn't leaked since I added the shower curtain over the top.

 

I'm jus sayin........

Doug, you may be new to this game. I offer (tongue-in-cheek) a gull-wing option to your potential looming wet and toll booth problems. Currently (almost) available in the green, blue and brown color variations. If sales pick up, a silver model may be made available. Not really sure how this will improve your leaks at the front windshield bow, but I'm always trying to be helpful to the newcomers. Hold downs suggestions are a good set of bungie cords (those too are optional). Have a nice trip 

Thanks for the heads up that is the sort of info that is invaluable to a newb except for mr Merklins haha

i will be picking up some blue painters tape

Those blue gull wings would match my car

Doug, let me know when you are interested in ordering a set. Manufacturing lead times vary based on weather forecasts...but I was serious about those crazy OK tool booths. They certainly threw me for a loop! Carry plenty of nickels, dimes and quarters and pay whatever you think is fair.

Doug,

Don't forget to keep us updated on your trip and let us know how it goes.   

Doug, do you need help tethering up the sled dogs today for tomorrow's departure? Welcome to Spring in the upper midwest. I hope you get outta there, weather forecast looks bleak. Sorry!

Keep us posted.

Yep.  I just postponed my pickup again until Tuesday the 26th.  Let's hope that works.  He's headed south so should be out of everything quickly.

Dont foget your...............

The soap gets hung on the rear view mirror ~

iPhone typing here so excuse stupid autocorrects. Lol.

Got Doug on the road about 1pm and glad he stopped. Right front wheel bearing would not have made it to Texas, and I'm pretty sure the carb linkage would have been an issue too.
Anyway, went over everything, made a few corrections, oil change, replaced a few sump studs, added camber compensator, fit up the crusin' windows, changed wheel bearing, rebuilt carb linkage and got carbs in sync, then sent him on his way. His goal was Springfield by sunset.

Congrats Doug! I think I saw your car when I was in Bremen visiting Carey last month. That car is SWEET!!

 

Cheers,

Anand

The car you saw was the same color, different interior. The sister car to Doug's... :-)

Oops! Well, I love Moro blue

Made it home late last night. I froze my feet off but thanks to the seat warmers I survived  My drivers side curtain was not fitting partly because it was on the wrong side doh I went through some good rain and the blue tape held up well unto about an hour out side Bremen and the leaks started I had snow coming and going.  Thank goodness I went to Bremen even if I did freeze i totally under dressed and it was quite an ordeal But on the bright side Carry was amazing helping  get me road worthy Kevin set me up with a good B&B two miles from the shop.  I got to see the cool facility where the cars come together The trip home was cold but the car was fantastic It was the most comfortable car I ever did a road trip in.  Its hard to believe i have been in some nice cars.  I felt like I was in a cocoon with the top on. The ergonomics worked with my old knee and back injury's The car had no problem holding its on in traffic and it was steady as rock when the big trucks blew past.  I am a big fan of the cars!!! I had a pretty bad oil leak out of a valve cover about Texas on the way back and had to feed it oil at each gas stop and my gas gauge quit about the same time. It shows full all the time I checked the wires but they all look attached. If the weather had been nice it would have been a blast

Also my wife drove it today and loves it. She it a natural with a VW transmission she had a VW before and shifts it better than me.

Doug

Well, Rock on Doug...yer doin't it right !

Oh yea whats the story on the soap on a rope ?

Well, typically, these cars leak like sieves, so when the water intrusion starts, especially along the top of the windshield, the best thing to have is soap on a rope, preferably within reach of the cockpit crew.  Like hanging from your mirror.

 

Obviously, Marty likes the imported stuff, while some of us just go for Old Spice or Irish Spring.  Whatever suds your tub.

 

Sounds like you had a great adventure on your trip home, and glad everything worked out.  The gas gauge stuff is reasonably common, and I'm sure someone on here can talk you through fixing it.  The leaking valve cover is really common, too, and could be either a poor install of the cover gasket (pretty common, that alone) after the final valve adjustment, the gasket itself got bunched or sat funny when the cover was put on, or the cover "baling" spring (that big clip that holds the cover on) isn't seated right.  Regardless, it's an easy fix to a small problem.

 

Sounds like you're off to a great ownership start!

 

Welcome to the Madness!!

...gas gauge shows full ..you lost a ground  ~Alan

Congrats on making it safe and sound on your journey. You will have to post a few pics of you new ride. Happy to hear the heated seats worked well for you, just had them installed by Carey this winter and the way spring is going will be making good use of them. 

Doug,

Nice drive! Now that you're a seasoned Speedster long distance traveler, you'll have to consider cruising to Carlisle either this year or next.  You can pick up the start of the caravan with Jack Crosby in Hot Springs, Arkansas and cruise in with the group.  And we'll show you how to install that blue tape so it lasts through the worst thunderstorms!  

Congrats on you return trip, Doug. I told you to dress warm! We don't kid about the weather up here. These are just the lower layers for our conditions up here on a GOOD day

Yep you warned me and I learned a lesson the hard way.  I have the same steering wheel as you.

That red interior with that leather and steering wheel is sure purty

Doug - glad to read that you made it home safely. What an adventure, but it helps strengthen the bond between man & machine! Welcome to the Madness! 

Thanks, Doug, it's the gloves that makes the total package , C'mon back up next November and I'll show you how to dress for the occasion. Temps about 40 here in this video...warm...no heat or seat warmers for me!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...04bia8w&index=10