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Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:08 pm

So, ive got my 69 bus, and its going to be my daily driver for college. i don't know how big the engine is, except for the fact that its a dual port. i know dp's didnt come stock on 69's either, so there's endless possibilites about how big my engine might really be. but anyways.

if everything goes according to plan, i'll be driving the 22 miles each way to Chapman University everyday. now this is a huge increase in distance from what i drove everyday which was about 9 miles during summer.

im asking the advice of all the samba sages here, as ive only had my bus for about 2 years and i'm not nearly an expert. what should i plan on doing exactly to prepare my bus for the increased driving distance, mostly on freeway.

i do have access to the autoshop at my school again this year, and the teacher is into bugs so he has type 1 knowledge himself.

i just do not want to get accepted and ready to go to college next year, only to find myself using my parents car because mine wont make the drive.

so what suggestions? engine rebuild, or at least a teardown? all thoughts are appreciated.

Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:17 pm

You're really considering rebuilding your engine to drive 22 miles a day? Dude...you've had it for two years, you've never driven it more than 22 miles in a day? I drove my rotted '79 from Syracuse, NY to Madison, WI stopping only for border crossing and gas, 15.5 hours straight through....879 miles door to door doing between 75 and 80 the whole way. If you're not confident your Bus can handle a daily 22 mile drive, I don't know why you would drive it at all. You've been driving it this long, what does it tell you?

Wed Oct 28, 2009 10:27 pm

Cell phone, AAA towing, and stay in the right lane. Also figure out ways for an emergency backup commute, such as Rapid Transit, or other students.
The size of your engine doesn't matter at all, so forget about whatever concern you have with the size. Is you compression decent? Is it burning oil? Smooth running without any wierd noises? Have your valves been holding their adjustments? So at the most you'll be doing 1,000 miles a month. A decent engine should hold up.
If you don't yet have them I'd put on some gauges. Oil pressure, oil temp and a volt meter. That should keep you well informed on how well the engine and electrical system is doing. As you've been finding out it's all the other items that cause the problems. It's the stuff on the outside of the engine and elsewhere on the bus that you need to be concerned with. In preparation, go thru every item in the Lubrication and Maintenance section of your book. Start at the begining. Pay attention to the little pidley things. Clutch cable, throttle cable, pedal linkage, wire connections. Get that thing spotlesly clean.
I wouldn't do a commute there for all the tea in China. I'd get out of there, and move to someplace reasonable like Arizona. O-Wait! I did move out of there. Whenever I'm back in the area I conclude those freeways are not VW friendly. Even in great condition and dependable, they are still like a fish out of water.

Wed Oct 28, 2009 10:51 pm

I am mystified at this post and really hate to dignify it. If you, after 2 years of driving the simpilest, most ingenious vehicle known in our time, dont have faith in that thing to drive it 50 miles a day. Get a... Honda.
Do you just post this stuff to hear yourself talk?

Thu Oct 29, 2009 12:21 am

Too little mileage per use can be worse than too much. 9 miles a day could actually be doing more damage than good. Except related to emissions, good for you to go a short distances in that regard, but motors need to be run.

Thu Oct 29, 2009 12:39 am

X10 above. I just got back from running 7000 miles in 5 months over some nasty eastern European terrain without any mechanical problem (just a loose sensor and regular maintenance issues), and I've done those all-day things like VDubMech talks about--stopping only when the bus needs gas. They love to run, as long as you can hold your water!

Check your fuel lines, wire the nipple in to the carb if you're carbed, proper clamps and lines all around. Read the bus fire sticky, as well as the recent thread about "Dude my bus just burned down!", and you'll be fine.

Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:44 am

I think you are being a bit of a worry wart :)

Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:51 am

Quote: What to do before college

1. Dump your girlfriend
2. Get a box of condoms
3. Get ready to have a good time for 4 years, drink, party, study, travel, read, adventure.

Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:09 am

Since most of you (excluding Ned) have never lived in California, a 22 mile drive from Long Beach to Chapman college is only 22 miles, but it is more like 1-1/2 hour on the Freeway. A ridiculous amount of stopping and starting.

With that I say go for it! Get a tuneup, oil change, have your brakes checked and repair if necessary, have a good stereo, and lastly a positive attitude!

Just as a note for you, I drove my 63 deluxe from Mission Beach to San Diego State every day for 4 years, and a once a month trip to Los Angeles to get my braces adjusted. Don't laugh, it was embarrassing enough to have braces all the way through college........ :lol:

Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:34 am

enjoispammy8 wrote: ... im asking the advice of all the samba sages here ...

Daverham wrote: Quote: What to do before college

1. Dump your girlfriend
2. Get a box of condoms
3. Get ready to have a good time for 4 years, drink, party, study, travel, read, adventure.
Sage advice right there ...

Thu Oct 29, 2009 11:17 am

not an bus, but a t-1. When I was in college I got a ticket out of state, day before exams I drove 1000 miles to fight the ticket.

AND WON.
long damn drive.

Thu Oct 29, 2009 11:55 am

For all of you that think his commute is no big deal evidently you havn't been following his adventures :lol: since he got the bus. He has been doing a lot of work on it, lots of new parts but it still breaks down on him once in a while. He's been working hard on it and trying to do everything right. Until he get's all the potential problems identified and fixed naturally he is rightly concerned about the busses dependability. That daily commute is not for some "marginal" vehicle. Other locations and it would be no big deal.

Thu Oct 29, 2009 1:02 pm

You have a camper, just live on campus.

Thu Oct 29, 2009 1:21 pm

ned wrote: I am mystified at this post and really hate to dignify it. If you, after 2 years of driving the simpilest, most ingenious vehicle known in our time, dont have faith in that thing to drive it 50 miles a day. Get a... Honda.
Do you just post this stuff to hear yourself talk?

What's with the shitty attitude? Can't people ask questions? Some people have had bad experiences or their vehicles aren't quite long-distance-worthy yet.

Before I knew anything about engines, I had a bug that would leave me stranded after 10-20 minutes of driving. It was extremely frustrating, and at the time I didn't have the knowledge or connections to figure out the problem.

He's young and working on getting to know how to take care of problems on his own. I think it's best to encourage him, not berate him.

Thu Oct 29, 2009 1:27 pm

That not his point. Taylor has owned and driven his bus for 2 years, and he should have a feel for it by now.

Even though, you never really know, you could be confident that it will make it with no problems and break down half way there.

Plus, he knows engines well enough. I don't think you can own and daily drive a vintage VW bus without knowing basic engine troubleshooting/repairing skills.

Thu Oct 29, 2009 1:27 pm

Daverham wrote: Quote: What to do before college

1. Dump your girlfriend
2. Get a box of condoms
3. Get ready to have a good time for 4 years, drink, party, study, travel, read, adventure.

Truly words for the young college bound male to live by, if only I would have listened to the first part for the first half of college. You'll be fine man, bring your bus and have a blast.

Thu Oct 29, 2009 3:31 pm

alright alright, now that ive reread my post and all of your posts, i see how rediculous i sound. the engine runs well, no burning oil, compression is around 130, and im staying on top of my maintanace as well as i can. got the cell phone, AAA, and i can always use my parents cars in emergencies. i only ask because as desertbusman said, something unforseen always seems to happen, ex: dying on the freeway, brakes failing at intersections, ect. :lol:

ill just stay on top of the maintanence, replace the fuel lines, and fix things as they come (and the ones i still need to :twisted: )

thanks for the responses, they all helped whether they were negative, positive or "sage advice" :wink:

Thu Oct 29, 2009 3:43 pm

Right on, you seem to have it under control! And btw, I hate you too.... :lol:
I wish I was just going to college and living near the PC again.........soon, and I am going to look you up............for a beach hangout! :wink:

Thu Oct 29, 2009 4:01 pm

do the brake system completely, youve had some instances, new lines, cylinders, shoes, turn drums and rotors, and maybe even new or rebuilt calipers.....then dump your girlfriend. unless she goes to a different school then keep her if she has a job, or it was that one one girl you brought once when you brought seabass to the meet....then keep her.

Thu Oct 29, 2009 4:13 pm

420GOAT wrote: do the brake system completely, youve had some instances, new lines, cylinders, shoes, turn drums and rotors, and maybe even new or rebuilt calipers.....then dump your girlfriend. unless she goes to a different school then keep her if she has a job, or it was that one one girl you brought once when you brought seabass to the meet....then keep her.

the brake system probably. theres still some lines i havent replaced, and while im at it, ill be buying the appropriate tires as well...

naw its the not that girl. :lol: