I just did an 8000 mile road trip in my 300D (with no issues)....but only after going over it with a fine toothed comb for a year.

Ship it!!

Get all the bugs worked out and then plan a nice road trip in it. Way less stressful. Its all fun and games until you get stranded in the middle of nowhere at night and nobody can work on your oddball custom car but you.

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'85 300D, 'Lance',250k, ... winter beater (100k on franken-Frybrid 3 Valve Kit)
'82 300D, 'Tex', 228k body / 170k engine ... summer car
'83 300TD Cali Wagon 210k, wife's car