What about using the axles from the 78??? Just for now since that is down IIRC.

That is a possibility, I plan to work on the 78 this coming month. If I removed the axles, I could probably just take em into the local diesel shop and have them stretch some boots on.....

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Great sounding trip. Reminds me of the old days where we went long distances in older vehicles without a lot of money. Always camped out as well.

Strange looking back we never had a serious breakdown on any of them. Although on my travels from the east coast in later years with more modern cars. Lost a rear wheel bearing and a front cv joint.

Both changed out myself as there were no garages locally that could get the car in promptly if any. Amazing what tools a total stranger could borrow back then. What population that remained seemed to have become more self sufficient.

What had changed over the years was the small general car service shops had pretty much dried up. Plus earlier all the interstate road improvements where far from completed so you went through all the small towns on your path.

It almost looked like the local economies had pretty much failed and the population was dwindling in many areas of the northeast by then. No railway passenger trains or buses. Not much left of anything actually unfortunately. I think the term for what we did earlier was busman's holidays.