As far as cost goes I would think there would be very little savings in flying to the East coast and driving back when you consider the cost of fuel,meals,motels and wear on the car plus also it would be pretty hard to really go over the car in a strange town with limited time a bad heater hose might cost you an engine.I would save the cross country trip till when the car has been brought up to snuff what ever that means........
William Rogers.........