TheSamba.com :: View topic - What could possibly go wrong? Cali to Chicago.

Tue Feb 09, 2010 5:15 pm

Hello I'm new here and new to vw but Im looking to purchase a 57' Bug located in California. I would fly there and drive the car back to Chicago. If the car is in good mechanical condition, the owner drives it locally and never has any problems with it. Being realistically, what could possibly go wrong on a 2,000mile journey? (over heating? bearings? blizzard :) ? ps. I'm a fairly decent mechanic )

Please help me out. I really want a classic beetle and have actually been looking at other cars in California with the idea to drive the 2,000 miles back so I'm past that concept. Just worried about what could happen to the car at highway speeds for a long period of time.

Tue Feb 09, 2010 5:26 pm

Nothing.... anything or everything.

It's just not a good idea to drive an old car of any type (that you are not familiar with) that far. The trip will take you across some very empty spaces. Hire a carrier to bring your baby home. Much cheaper than a breakdown or the frustration of being in the middle of nowhere USA trying to get a part or just some help; getting a tire can be a three day wait or more. :shock:

Tue Feb 09, 2010 5:37 pm

True I understand what could "possibly" go wrong as being anything. It was more or less the trip and the journey back across half of America in the car I was looking forward too, as well as owning the car thereafter.

Shipping the car would be between 600 and 1000. Unless I could find a reliable person making the journey with an empty trailer for cheaper I could possibly meet in the midwest somewhere if not going to Chicago.

Tue Feb 09, 2010 5:52 pm

Yea pretty much guys. Thats why I'm asking the experts. If it was a Honda I could fix it on the side of the road with a small toolbox, two hands tied behind my back and my eyes closed. So aside from the banter you guys (experts) could either be nice and help me out, or keep all the VW's to yourself. I know you would like to choose the latter, but there was a time when you had your first VW too right?

Obvious problems that could arise, other than "anything and/or everything" that way I know what to pack in my carry on. If nobody likes the idea then no harm done, move on to the next thread.

It has a 1914, a pan off resto, new battery etc...

Tue Feb 09, 2010 6:04 pm

Well, obviously you don't want to listen to constructive input, so......I say go for it man!!!

Tue Feb 09, 2010 6:06 pm

Carry a Bentley Shop Manual, set of sockets, combo wrenches, feeler gauge, a few screw drivers and spare fuses.

Also bring your cell phone and AAA card.

Funny... i can fix my VW with my eyes closed, but if my Honda breaks down I call for a tow truck.

Too each his own.

BTW... welcome to the Samba.

Tue Feb 09, 2010 6:07 pm

I don't call "dont do it" or "anything or everything" constructive input. But thats ok, thanks for the info everybody, I'll continue the inquiries elsewhere. Sorry to bother anybody.

Ps. Thank you very much Glenn!

Tue Feb 09, 2010 6:18 pm

I think my biggest worry would be the dual carbs in different altitudes is going to be a pain in the ass..plus 1914..big motor= heat...who know how hard that motor has been rode...

Grab all your tools, an extra fan belt, coil, couple quarts of oil, some rags, cap, points, rotor, spark plugs and roll out!

Oh and probably write down the names and number of people or places along the way that you could call for help.....maybe someone or somewhere every 250 miles or so along your route wouldn't be a bad idea..and have some way to get on the samba incase shit hits the fan!

Tue Feb 09, 2010 6:50 pm

There is no better way to get to know your "new" car than to take it on a 2000 mile trip. You will have great experineces and meet new and interesting people along the way. Take a few tools with you, and buy a few spare parts after you have a look at the car. I would also make a post in the forum looking for people to meet along the way and suggestions of VW shops to visit should you need any parts. If you go through Reno, NV let me know. There is a good VW specific parts store here and I have lots of parts in the shed too!

Tue Feb 09, 2010 7:23 pm

I would take a known-good distributor, a complete gasket set, throttle and clutch cables, maybe even a good clutch and pressure plate. Take a regular tool kit, along with a floorjack and jackstands, a torque buddy and a multi-meter. Don't forget a good sized piece of cardboard for laying on the ground.
On the trip, take it easy. Don't speed and keep the revs consevative. The 1914 will feel really strong, but you want to keep the temps down. Take a lot of breaks to check the temps and for leaks. Keep the radio off and listen to what the engine is telling you. Noisy valves? Stop and check them. funny smell? find the leak. Feel the front wheel hubs for hot bearings. Pay attention to the clutch and check it for slipping.
There isn't much on a bug that can't be fixed on the side of the road. I have replaced a clutch and front main seal on the side of I40 near Knoxville Tn while on a 1200 mile trip in my old 21 window. I had everything I needed in my spares kit.
Don't let these old women scare you. These cars were made for driving, and also simple maintanence. My son just got a great deal on a 66 bug in Las Vegas and we were just talking about driving the car back to Wichita.

Tue Feb 09, 2010 7:25 pm

Just getting it shipped would be the logical choice, but if you have the time and want an adventure, I'm sure the car would do fine if it's truly been rebuilt. If you break down, parts can always be overnighted to a hotel.

2 friends and I drove our bugs from Chicago to LA and back 10 years ago and it was an awesome experience. My friend spun the splines out of a rear drum and we stayed at a motel in Needles, CA and had BFY overnight a drum to the hotel and we were on our way the next day.

Tue Feb 09, 2010 7:46 pm

Good thread on parts to bring

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=395083

If it were me, before I buy the car have it checked out by a local VW shop. Leak down, compression test, brake inspection etc. If you do buy it, do an oil change, trans oil change, brake fluid flush, repack front bearings, make sure tires are good, make sure the spare tire will fit. If it does not have any gauges get some. Oil pressure, oil temp and cylinder head temp, even crappy VDO are better than nothing. Being able to monitor engine vitals will give you a heads up before something blows.

Check out the AIRS list on type2.com. Call the numbers ahead of time as the list is not real up to date. Look up vw clubs along the route as well as any shows or meets where parts may be purchased to correct a sketchy repair.

Maps, food and water are a must as well warm clothes. The bug being built in Cali usually means no heater.

A sat phone or computer with sat capabilities would be better than a regular cell phone in dead zones.

If all else fails, make sure to buy a tow bar and a roof rack (to tie the tow bar to). If your bug takes a big crap, rent a small truck from uhaul and tow it the rest of the way home.

Having driven old beaters long distances is nerve racking to say the least. If you are a mechanic it should be less scary. I build all my own stuff so I am not scared of breaking down, just scared of not having the tools or parts needed to fix the problem. I think its worse knowing how to fix the problem and not being able to.

One more thing I didnt see in the other thread that I usually take is a spare rear drum. When I take a dual carb car on long trips I also take two rebuild kits (master) and a parts carb. One year I bought a complete linkage setup at a swap and on the way back one of the heims stripped so lucky for me I had the parts to fix it, now I bring extra linkage pieces as well.

There is a lot of stuff to take "just in case" but Id rather have the stuff and not need it. Its not like the old days when there was a VW specialty shop in every good sized town or a wrecking yard with parts to use. Now you have to bring the parts and tools with you.

Make the trip, and start a blog and let us all follow along with the adventure.

If you do it like this guy you can see the dangers of not preparing the car or yourself.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=357558&highlight=

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=363860&highlight=

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=378988&highlight=

Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:37 pm

Just do it. It will be a blast. You may break down, but you will have a hell of a story to tell your grandkids.

I did a shorter trip across Australia in a 1954 Lancia B12 Aurelia many years ago, and I had a ball.

Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:42 pm

Volumex wrote: I did a shorter trip across Australia in a 1954 Lancia B12 Aurelia many years ago, and I had a ball.
Was it a car you never drove before?

Big difference between taking a known vehicle on a major trip and one you never drove.

I'll take my 74 across at any time, butt hen i've owned it for 35 years and built it myself.

And what can go wrong... a few years ago a friend bought a 63 vert in Chicago and decided to drive it back to New York. It was the summer and he thought it would be an adventure. Somewhere in Ohio it started running funny and then started to slow down. He nursed it a few miles until he got off the interstate. Lucky for him he found a VW mechanic in that town. The results were he overheated the engine and it was DEAD. He rented a truck with a trailer and finished the trip.

Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:54 pm

Glenn wrote: Volumex wrote: I did a shorter trip across Australia in a 1954 Lancia B12 Aurelia many years ago, and I had a ball.
Was it a car you never drove before?
Nope, never drive before.

Tue Feb 09, 2010 9:03 pm

I say go for it. Bring a bag of tools and as many parts as you can. It sucks to have the tools and not the part.
I just hauled a car to cali from vermont and then drove home to vermont. Nearly 8,000 miles in a truck with 120,000 miles. The distributor broke in Patterson, Cali. Dealership fixed it and was back on road in 4 hrs. Could have been much worse. What's life without a little adventure.

Dave

Tue Feb 09, 2010 9:33 pm

Having done a few ridiculous adventures such as this myself...

First off, read the above posts carefully, they include important items you don't want to leave without. Based on your comments about transport costing $600-1000 I'm assuming you're on a budget. Nothing wrong with that, we all are...and I'm with you, spend more on the car and hope getting home isn't expensive!. Having said that...Do you have a backup plan for if the car fails you and it's _has_ to be towed home? Before you leave, have an absolute-world-blew-up back up plan.

But if you're new to Aircooled VW's, you really really really need to have learned the following before you set out on your trip:

1) how to drive it without blowing up the motor. This isn't like any classic you've driven before, and definitely not like any water cooled car.
2) how do adjust the valves, change the oil, set the points.
3) How the engines sound when their "right", and the discipline to pull over the moment you think it doesn't sound that way any longer.

How you learn these things...I dunno. Two my dad taught me, the third I learned the expensive way.

-Dave

Tue Feb 09, 2010 9:37 pm

D. Haviland wrote: I say go for it. What's life without a little adventure.

Dave

X2... dont listen to the Naysayers... Glenn is a little old lady who only drives Super Beetles on Sunday. Life is about adventure. Make note of the people who have given you lists of parts and stash them. I have about 3 fishing tackle boxes prepared with just about everything I would need short of a complete rebuild on the side of the road. Oh and bring the Idiot guide...... it can walk you through most things in a readable fashion.

Tue Feb 09, 2010 9:38 pm

I think what you are looking for is information on what is specific to a VW that might break that is different from a Honda.

Clutch cable breaks.
Fuel leak in the engine compartment from bad hose clamps, bad fitment of brass nipple in fuel pump and/or carburetor.
Coil falling off from broken mounts, arcs a hole in something that has fuel in it, starts engine fire.
Burnt exhaust valve from bad engine building or failure to adjust valves makes it run like crap and/or breaks and destroys engine.
Fan belt breaks engine overheats from lack of cooling and siezes (check to make sure the generator light works and carry an extra fan belt).

That's all I can think of, the rest of it you should be able to figure out.

Tue Feb 09, 2010 10:20 pm

My opinion is to find someone here in Calif, close to the area that the car is, that is KNOWLEDGEABLE and in the Samba to help you check it out BEFORE you depart. If it is in the central area of Calif, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey counties, I could help you out. I have 43 years exp on VWs. What general area is the car? This time of the year would be a good time to drive an air cooled because of the cool weather. Drive 65mph.