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reezvaan
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Joined: April 14, 2011
Posts: 218
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 Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 3:55 pm Post subject: Stock 1965 with SP 1200 Motor in Desert (Now w/ Pics/VDO) |
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Hello there all; I have been sifting through the forums here to read on the DOs and DONTs of sand/dune bashing in a stock bug with stock suspension/motor, as in near future I plan to join a Desert Rally in this part of the world (South East Asia) with my 1965 bug. Thats when I came across this post:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3...mp;start=0
Great post this but nothing real on the desert stuff and all.
What are your thoughts on taking a stock 1965 with 1200cc SP motor with stock 5.60x15's bias plys on, to a desert (non-racing type) rally?
Please no modification advice! I want to test run her stock with stock wheels...just looking for different opinions on what to expect and what not to. Please share your experiences, if any. Expedition pictures are more than welcome!
Thanks in advance.
And here is the terrain and its attractions:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cholistan_Desert
Last edited by reezvaan on Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:48 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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drscope
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Location: Baltimore, Maryland USA
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| Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 7:44 pm Post subject: |
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If you get in the soft stuff you are going to want wider tires.
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BDSBSS23
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blue77bay
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Location: Brisvegas Australia
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| Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 8:51 pm Post subject: |
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Yep i,m with the good doctor,just consider a bit wider radial so they can bag out in the soft stuff,a radial down to 12-15 lb gets real baggy with the nice soft compliant walls,doesn't need to be excessively wide just low pressure ,and make sure you have a portable compressor to pump them back up when you get on hard stuff
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reezvaan
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Joined: April 14, 2011
Posts: 218
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| Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 4:49 am Post subject: |
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| drscope wrote: |
| If you get in the soft stuff you are going to want wider tires. |
| Brett Ross wrote: |
| X2. Ur tires arent gonna make it. It needs mountain tires to make it... like drscope said best wider tires. |
| blue77bay wrote: |
| Yep i,m with the good doctor,just consider a bit wider radial so they can bag out in the soft stuff,a radial down to 12-15 lb gets real baggy with the nice soft compliant walls,doesn't need to be excessively wide just low pressure ,and make sure you have a portable compressor to pump them back up when you get on hard stuff |
Thanks all.
So basically there is just one concern at the moment and that is tires which need to be wider radials instead of the bias ply?
I personally believed this shouldn't be a problem because back in the day when the bugs were originally designed there were no radials in existence and bias ply tires were the only option. Based on the above fact, I believe deflating them to lower tire pressure (to say 12psi) should do. Thoughts? |
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drscope
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Location: Baltimore, Maryland USA
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| Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 8:50 am Post subject: |
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The 5.60's are going to be really skinny! And even at very low pressure they will still be skinny and sink in.
Even way back in the Kubelwagen days they had special sand tires for use in the desert.
Running stock tires at low pressures can cause other issues. Heat build up is one. And if you get a little aggressive, it's possible to push the tire off the rim resulting in an instant flat.
If the rest of the car is in decent shape, I think the most trouble you are going to have is with the tires. So make sure you are prepared for that! A couple spares as well as a hand pump, some tire spoons, and maybe even some soapy water would be good things to carry along.
Also throw a few extra lug nuts in the glove box just in case and ditch the stock jack for something that will work on a soft surface. A scissor jack and a piece of 2x8 works pretty well in those conditions.
And don't forget the water. Just in case the radiator springs a leak!
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reezvaan
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Joined: April 14, 2011
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| Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 8:53 am Post subject: |
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| drscope wrote: |
| And don't forget the water. Just in case the radiator springs a leak! |
Are you kidding? We are talking AIRCOOLED here! |
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GtiKyle
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Joined: March 27, 2008
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Location: Tacoma, WA
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| Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 8:58 am Post subject: |
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| reezvaan wrote: |
| drscope wrote: |
| And don't forget the water. Just in case the radiator springs a leak! |
Are you kidding? We are talking AIRCOOLED here! |
 
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drscope
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Location: Baltimore, Maryland USA
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| Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 9:00 am Post subject: |
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| reezvaan wrote: |
| drscope wrote: |
| And don't forget the water. Just in case the radiator springs a leak! |
Are you kidding? We are talking AIRCOOLED here! |
When you are out there mounting tires in the hot desert sun you'll be glad you brought water along for the radiator!
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reezvaan
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Joined: April 14, 2011
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| Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 9:04 am Post subject: |
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| drscope wrote: |
| reezvaan wrote: |
| drscope wrote: |
| And don't forget the water. Just in case the radiator springs a leak! |
Are you kidding? We are talking AIRCOOLED here! |
When you are out there mounting tires in the hot desert sun you'll be glad you brought water along for the radiator! |
lol...gotcha
b/w the scissors jack is quite valuable tip. I am thinking to take the bug to a nearby river bank for some test run this weekend. Will see how the stock bias plys perform on the sand bank there. Would share the pictures for all for reference in future. |
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61SNRF
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Location: Whittier 90602
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| Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 11:11 am Post subject: |
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In very dusty conditions be prepared to change the oil in the air filter every day. You're going to have to prepare a "kit" of essentials to be able to do that. A pan to wash it, a waste oil container, solvent, fresh oil etc.
And, If your car has been maintained by the book and is otherwise in good condition then the next most important thing is to prepare yourself for the Rallye
Remember Murphy's Law, "if it can happen, it will happen". Also see my signature 
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reezvaan
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Joined: April 14, 2011
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| Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 11:40 am Post subject: |
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| 61SNRF wrote: |
In very dusty conditions be prepared to change the oil in the air filter every day. You're going to have to prepare a "kit" of essentials to be able to do that. A pan to wash it, a waste oil container, solvent, fresh oil etc.
And, If your car has been maintained by the book and is otherwise in good condition then the next most important thing is to prepare yourself for the Rallye
Remember Murphy's Law, "if it can happen, it will happen". Also see my signature |
Prep'ing a Oil Filter Change kit is a valuable input. Will ensure that I carry one.
Bug is maintained by the book except that I need to do the valve clearance adjustment tomorrow morning and may be I would choose to grease the suspension bits before hitting the sand once more.
Yeah the Murphy's law is something that seems to have been holding true forever, lol...
Love your signature! |
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reezvaan
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Joined: April 14, 2011
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| Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 9:15 am Post subject: School me on the Cylinder Heads |
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Just done with Valve Clearance Adjustment on my 1965 employing Rob & Dave's procedure from vw-resource.com. Want to be schooled on the Cylinder Heads - Please comment on the heads and their condition:
Specifically want to know about the embosed numbers "6" & "109". I am guessing that these are mold numbers? Are these long stud or short stud heads? I am guessing that these are long studs heads with round bosses? What do you think is the general condition they are in?
Thanks in advance.
Last edited by reezvaan on Sat Jan 07, 2012 4:55 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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reezvaan
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| Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 11:48 am Post subject: |
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Took my 1965 out for a spin after the valve clearance adjustment and she ran nice and quiet. All set to hit the sands tomorrow for a test run over the sands before she leaves to join the desert rally.
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reezvaan
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Posts: 218
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| Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 7:58 am Post subject: |
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My Stock 1965 1200cc bug just returned from the sand bashing test run on river sand banks...what an experience this has been...Fantastic!!!
Stay tuned...pictures/Video coming soon!
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KTPhil 
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Joined: April 06, 2006
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Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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| Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 1:41 pm Post subject: |
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| reezvaan wrote: |
Took my 1965 out for a spin after the valve clearance adjustment and she ran nice and quiet. All set to hit the sands tomorrow for a test run over the sands before she leaves to join the desert rally.
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What's up with the rope? You don't pull a Bug with the bumper, you use the torsion beams. |
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reezvaan
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| Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 1:54 pm Post subject: |
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| KTPhil wrote: |
| reezvaan wrote: |
Took my 1965 out for a spin after the valve clearance adjustment and she ran nice and quiet. All set to hit the sands tomorrow for a test run over the sands before she leaves to join the desert rally.
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What's up with the rope? You don't pull a Bug with the bumper, you use the torsion beams. |
No I dont, its not for pulling or anything. Its just that little touch we all want on our VWs with rope on the bumpers, just like the taped headlights |
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vwsteve
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Location: Virginia
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| Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 2:22 pm Post subject: Re: School me on the Cylinder Heads |
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| reezvaan wrote: |
Just done with Valve Clearance Adjustment on my 1965 employing Rob & Dave's procedure from vw-resource.com. Want to be schooled on the Cylinder Heads - Please comment on the heads and their condition:
Are these long stud or short stud heads? I am guessing that these are long studs heads with round bosses? What do you think is the general condition they are in?
Thanks in advance. |
You really need to know if they are short or long studs before adjusting valves. That determines the clearance. You can crawl under car with a flashlight to check. Also, you need to check both sides of engine. |
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reezvaan
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| Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 2:32 pm Post subject: Re: School me on the Cylinder Heads |
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| vwsteve wrote: |
| You really need to know if they are short or long studs before adjusting valves. That determines the clearance. You can crawl under car with a flashlight to check. Also, you need to check both sides of engine. |
Long studs with round bosses. |
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drscope
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| Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 2:39 pm Post subject: |
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River sand can be a lot different from desert sand. Keep your eyes open, look far ahead and try to keep out of the soft areas.
You can often see them before you get to them if you pay attention.
If they are short you can just increase your speed a little, but if you get to a long soft spot, you may want to look for a way around before you get into it.
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