What's the farthest you traveled in your Bug?

[vamram]

Forgot this one - in my 1st VW, a '72 standard I bought in '85, just out of college. After having the top-end rebuilt in Dayton, OH, my then-GF and I drove east to I95, then south to Miami. Never missed a beat, 33 MPG w/the 2 of us plus all of my crap (I was moving back to Miami).

That after Click & Clack told me on their show that I'd be a fool to do it!!

[EDIT] Roughly a 1,600 mile trip.
_________________
Eventually, "we are what we pretend to be.’”
Give peace a chance - Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!

'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!!

[keithnorm]

I drove from Cleveland, OH to Mountain View, CA 2 years ago in my 64 Beetle. I went Southwest through Missouri then Oklahoma and took I-40 (the new version of Route 66) all the way through Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and into California. I think it was something like 2200 miles and it was an amazing experience I would recommend to anyone.

That being said, though I never had any major problems, I did have many little problems. I had to take it really easy through the desert - between 50 and 55 or else my oil temp dipstick would start lighting up the oil pressure dash light. I was passed by every semi truck on the highway which is a bit disheartening at first but you get used to it. I had some problems with the car not starting when it was too hot so I'd end up hanging out at a rest stop longer than I'd like to while it cooled down and would magically start again. I had to fiddle with the timing a few times before figuring out I needed to replace the points. At a campsite one night I adjusted the clutch cable and disassembled and re-greased the speedometer internal gears that had started to go WHEEEEEEEEEEEE as I drove. My headlights were badly positioned and weak to the point of being mostly worthless, so I tried to do most of my driving during the day. I spent around 8 hours a day driving and intently listening to the sounds of the engine and keeping an eye on the oil light. At first it was stressful but then it became more of a zen, a state of being totally in tune with the car. Then the trip became magical. Out in the middle of the beautiful dessert, in areas where you only find nomadic types and quirky iconic roadside oases, stopping at a gas station where 50 Harley riders from a biker group trip are fueling up, and they are all interested in this little beige VW that just pulled in.

Here's a few pics from the trip https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10102202...27a41efd94

[eyetzr]

remember tape type stuff will leave residue. Tennis balls work good, I have seen guys use magnetic sign stuff as well.
I drove from Oshawa Ontario Canada to California for the Caravan way back with a brand new 0 mile engine & rebuilt car. No issues. As someone said to me drive your VW & it will serve you well.

[rcooled]

[wcfvw69]

In 1981, I drove a POS 69 bug from El Paso to San Diego with an overnight in Tucson. I had just bought this bug and the engine blew driving across El Paso. An old VW shop hodge podged an engine together for me.

100 miles out of El Paso, the main red ignition wire fried for an un-known reason. I has spare wire and got it running again. Outside of Tucson, the gas gauge stopped working. Around the California border, the speedometer froze up and snapped the cable. It over heated on the pass out of the desert into the San Diego area.

I made it home but the engine was junk and I had to have it rebuilt. The trip was roughly 700 miles and I was 16. Gosh I feel old now!

Don't forget to check your front wheel bearings to insure they are good, the races are not pitted and they have good grease and proper adjustment. I froze a inner wheel bearing a couple of years later going to PHX. Not fun. Find the thread on what to have for spares and you should be good to go.

As another poster stated, our VW's (if maintained correctly) should have no issues in driving across the country. I love seeing classics out in the middle of no where on the road headed somewhere. The drivers ALWAYS seem to have a big smile on their face!
_________________
Contact me at [email protected]
Follow me on instagram @sparxwerksllc

Decades of VW and VW parts restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.

**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored German Pierburg fuel pumps for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours**

[KTPhil]

[anthonycanchola]

[oldPSUguy]

[anthonycanchola]

so i covered the holes with this heat resistant tape/ wrap.............
_________________
1981 Vanagon (traded)
1967 1776cc
2332 coming soon

[KTPhil]

[anthonycanchola]

[obfuscurity]

[rcooled]

[KTPhil]

Radials usually also add 2-3 psi to the VW recommendations. You will end up around 22 front, 30 rear and that handles well.

Check where your oil is leaking. It may be valve covers, which you can replace easily. It may be tranny oil from cracked axle boots, which you should also replace before the trip.

Always replace wheel cylinders in pairs (left and right together). Bleed and also bring the can of extra fluid with you in case you burb some bubbles along the trip.

Bring overalls or at least rags and ground cloth so if you DO have to crawl around, it's not so dirty and greasy. Hand cleaner and paper towels are good. Carry 2-3 extra quarts of engine oil and an extra gasket set. Search here for "what to take on a trip" threads that guide you through tools and spares to carry. Good advice there.

[shortride]

With the Bug I've got now I've only driven 713 miles round-trip. When I bought my new 1966 Bug in Germany I drove from Germany through Austria to Italy and back through France and Belgium back to Germany on my honeymoon. I don't remember how many miles that was. I had other things on my mind at the time.
_________________
Pearl White 1966 Sedan

Retired US Army - 21 years 11B40, 173rd Airborne Brig. - Vietnam Combat Veteran

[bugandxbandme]

On the way back to Virginia from Texas BOTH my front tires went flat. Unfortunately I did not have two spares.

Went from LA to Vegas to Virginia in my first bug, had no problems til Colorado. Then we had to replace the head gaskets. That was the only real drama. Except leaky fuel lines with both. But not too bad.

[DIERNOSAJ]

Chicago to Key West and back. 3,000 miles. 65-70mph the whole way in a 1600dp. Coming back I drove from Stuart FL to Macon GA on 3 cylinders because I couldn't realize the spark plug wire was off one of the spark plugs.

that was last September.

When I bought the car about 4 years ago I drove it from Baltimore to Jersey shore to NYC then down the east coast to South Carolina then back up through the mountains to Chicago on my spring break in college.

All I do is basic maintenance.

[slo356]

Anthony,

Looks/sounds like your VW has a few little issues that you might want to take care of as time and $$'s allow. If you are going to use your machine for long distance travel (as your trip to L.V.) it could be a good idea to try and return your car to as close to stock as you can (when you get back from your trip). I know "mods" are sexy but the costs in reliability and the subsequent adventures into the unknown are shaky out there on the road. You live near some of the best VW swap meets in the world, buy old German stuff rather new Chinese. West Coast Metric and Wolfsburg West are great sources for new. Original used stock parts can be very reasonably priced as they made millions of these things!

I am very selective about what isn't stock on my two VW's.

Your temporary patch of tin holes looks good, you really should take care of leaking wheel cylinders no matter where you are going. Give some consideration to some of the maintenance before trip suggestions made by others above. Drive 60-65mph and please return with a post of how it went and a few pics.

Btw, manual transmission oil = gear oil as opposed to transmission fluid in an automatic trans. I was referring to checking your manual transmission gear oil.
_________________
'65 T1 Sedan
'87 T3 Syncro

[AlteWagen]

1200 miles in the middle of June from Sacramento to L.A. to Albuquerque. Averaged 30-39 mpg and only had one problem with a failed condensor which was swapped out in 5 mins on the side of the freeway with a spare timed 009.

Good thread on parts to bring

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

If you dont know the history of the engine I would perform a leak down/compression test just to make sure there is not already something wrong.

If it checks out do an oil change, trans oil change, brake fluid flush, repack front bearings, grease the front end, adjust the link pins if equipped, make sure tires are good and 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 will do the trick. Being able to monitor engine vitals will give you a heads up before something blows. Even the dipstick thing is better than nothing.

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.

AAA membership, maps, food and water are a must as well as a jacket or blanket.

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

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.

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 tools and parts with you.
_________________
Grapes of Wrath $200 Engine Rebuild
Official Dual Carb Thread
Cylinder Head Quick Reference Sheet

[Jon Schmid]

From LA to Vegas there are actually 3 hill climbs where you need to be careful going up--and down. First, Cajon Pass just outside of San Berdoo. Next, Halloran Summit just past Baker. Finally, Mountain Pass. Be careful going up and down there, the Nevada Highway Patrol loves to pop people coming down the hill once they hit Primm, although I doubt you'll be going all that fast. First rule of LA traffic--Leave Early!!! Not only cooler, but hopefully you won't be stuck in holiday traffic too much. Good luck and have fun.