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Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:39 am

I fly into Colorado tomorrow to pickup my 1967 SO42 Westy. I am pretty excited. Although I have picked up an old car and drive it home before, I have never done something like this where I fly in, pickup, and drive 1200 miles home. Will be an adventure I am sure. Just pray that all goes well!! :P

I will be packing light for the flight but will be picking up tons of camping stuff, tools, food, etc... when I get to Colorado. I had fan belt, clutch and accelerator cables drop shipped to current owner so I could have those aboard just in case. Never replaced the cables before so lets pray those are in good shape. I decided to play it safe and have them anyway.

So, wish me luck. Thus far I have only seen pictures so will be exciting to see the bus in real life. The owner seems on the up and up so hopefully, the pictures did it justice.

Anyway, if all goes well I should arrive home Sunday sometime. Plan on staying at KOAs on way home if they have any space. I figure day one I will try to get in 200 miles or so. Then Friday and Saturday try to get 350 to 400 mile days. Then Sunday coast in with a last 200 mile trip.

Happy bus-n

tj

Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:42 am

Good luck!

Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:14 am

Cool, good luck

Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:17 am

Where in Colorado? What route are you taking home? If you find yourself in New Mexico in need of assistance or advice on a couple of cool places to crash let me know. I-70 over the mountains is a BITCH in a stock bus. Even more so in a bus you don't know. I've also found the authorities in Utah to be very unfriendly to buses...

Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:18 am

Sounds like fun, best of luck!

Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:36 am

big bus mike wrote: Where in Colorado? What route are you taking home? If you find yourself in New Mexico in need of assistance or advice on a couple of cool places to crash let me know. I-70 over the mountains is a BITCH in a stock bus. Even more so in a bus you don't know. I've also found the authorities in Utah to be very unfriendly to buses...

Plan is to connect to highway 80 instead of 70. I figured maybe 80 is a bit more traveled? I plan on driving nice and slow so. :)

tj

Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:45 am

Good luck!

I'd pack a cap, rotor, condesor and set of points too.

Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:17 am

You probably know this but check all your fluids especially tranny fluid and reduction box fluid as well; never know when that was checked last. I would take some of those cheap fuel filters with me as well. You start running tanks of gas through it you could dislodge what ever junk is in the gas tank (ask me how I know). I would also change the oil and do a valve adjustment before I start out on the trip.

Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:33 am

Thanks for all the advice. Fortunately, the owner tells me the engine was rebuild at a shop 1600 miles ago (he has receipts) so hopefully the engine will be good to go.

I will be keeping a small picture album of my trips as long as all goes well. Folks can keep an eye on this site for the next 5 days or so.

http://gallery.mac.com/macsociety/100082

Thanks again.

tj

Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:56 am

Cool! Have fun.

Wed Jul 02, 2008 11:50 am

Do you have something to lay on in the dirt? After the first couple miles look under at the RGBs, backing plates, engine, and transaxle for weirdness. Feel the dipstick and outside of the rims for excess heat. If the brakes are flakey find out why. Tires should get a glance too. Have a good drive.

Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:41 pm

It's going to be pretty hot out there.

Wed Jul 02, 2008 11:13 pm

Good luck on this maiden voyage with your bus.

Wed Jul 02, 2008 11:17 pm

Good luck!

Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:12 am

amishman wrote: I fly into Colorado tomorrow to pickup my 1967 SO42 Westy. I am pretty excited. Although I have picked up an old car and drive it home before, I have never done something like this where I fly in, pickup, and drive 1200 miles home. Will be an adventure I am sure. Just pray that all goes well!! :P

I will be packing light for the flight but will be picking up tons of camping stuff, tools, food, etc... when I get to Colorado. I had fan belt, clutch and accelerator cables drop shipped to current owner so I could have those aboard just in case. Never replaced the cables before so lets pray those are in good shape. I decided to play it safe and have them anyway.

So, wish me luck. Thus far I have only seen pictures so will be exciting to see the bus in real life. The owner seems on the up and up so hopefully, the pictures did it justice.

Anyway, if all goes well I should arrive home Sunday sometime. Plan on staying at KOAs on way home if they have any space. I figure day one I will try to get in 200 miles or so. Then Friday and Saturday try to get 350 to 400 mile days. Then Sunday coast in with a last 200 mile trip.

Happy bus-n

tj

Cool,
You're probably in route right now but is this the one you were looking at a while ago or another one?
Lots of luck keep us posted,
Linda :D

Thu Jul 03, 2008 1:20 pm

One thing I found out this past week is a spare gear shift coupler may be more important to carry as a spare instead of clutch cable. If the coupler breaks you cannot change gears at all. If cable breaks you can still shift at right RPMs.

Wed Jul 09, 2008 6:27 pm

I am home with my ride. For those not reading the General Forum about my break-down in Utah, here is a picture after getting home today. Fairly rust free. Looks like the nose had some work as there is some thick ass bondo I think on front. I guess I will need to learn some body work.

Glad to have it home!

tj

Wed Jul 09, 2008 6:41 pm

65Busstop wrote: One thing I found out this past week is a spare gear shift coupler may be more important to carry as a spare instead of clutch cable. If the coupler breaks you cannot change gears at all. If cable breaks you can still shift at right RPMs.

A bus I was traveling with a couple of years back broke the shift coupler and I wrapped it criss cross style with bailing wire and it worked enough to get on the freeway and get around 400 miles to Lake Havasu City where Lou (Das Dragon) hooked us up with a replacement.

Bailing wire is a MUST have. Right below duct tape and right above zip ties and JB weld.

Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:34 pm

big bus mike wrote: 65Busstop wrote: One thing I found out this past week is a spare gear shift coupler may be more important to carry as a spare instead of clutch cable. If the coupler breaks you cannot change gears at all. If cable breaks you can still shift at right RPMs.

A bus I was traveling with a couple of years back broke the shift coupler and I wrapped it criss cross style with bailing wire and it worked enough to get on the freeway and get around 400 miles to Lake Havasu City where Lou (Das Dragon) hooked us up with a replacement.

Bailing wire is a MUST have. Right below duct tape and right above zip ties and JB weld.

big bus mike,
Does that JB weld really work?
Linda

Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:38 pm

amishman wrote: I am home with my ride. For those not reading the General Forum about my break-down in Utah, here is a picture after getting home today. Fairly rust free. Looks like the nose had some work as there is some thick ass bondo I think on front. I guess I will need to learn some body work.

Glad to have it home!

tj

Cool to have you back safe & sound what link is that post on?
Westy looks good rock on.
Linda