Bay window on a 10,000 mile road trip

[daniel51]

here's a short run down of my bus and my plans. I have a 1978 VW bay window bus that has a 2332cc beetle engine in it. The motor is duel weber 44 carbed, fresh transmission rebuild, with a magnaspark ignition system on the engine. their is an added exterior oil cooler mounted in the engine compartment( where I plan to mount a fan as well). I have added an oil pressure gauge, oil temp gauge, and a tac. Me and some friends are planning on going on a cross country road trip this coming summer. what are some tips for the preparation, and the maintaining of my bus from people who know what their talking about. Any help is welcome.

[BUSBOSS]

Welcome!

That's one heckuva 1st post.

Your question is really broad and you'd probably benefit from reading lots of existing threads.

I'll start:

Have you replaced all fuel lines?

Best of luck!
_________________
All the redemption I can offer, girl, is beneath this dirty hood
1976 Westfalia
1970 Karmann Ghia Convertible (sold - but not forgotten)

[Brian]

yea wow that's a lot. I'd like to see pictures of that
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Wash your hands

'69 Bug
'68 Baja Truck
'71 Bug
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Only losers litter

[daniel51]

I can post some pictures tomorrow

[old DKP driver]

Make room for bringing a replacement long block. and tools along with:

credit card
AAA towing
your friends credit cards
Beer.

Where in Kentucky do you call home?
as i have family there...Hopkinsville for one town.

We all will watch your trip and hope it is a good one.
_________________
V.W.owner since 1967

[airschooled]

In the first 12,800 miles of my road trip, the only tools I needed were feeler gauges, a 13mm wrench, and a 21mm wrench to drain the oil. After that is when shit got interesting.

Good luck with your trip; learn as much as you can about your bus, because when you have the cylinder head in your lap two thousand miles from home, you'll want to be able to tell if it's the left or right head and be 100% certain. I know that's a silly metaphor. But knowledge is power, and no amount of boring and stoking can match that kind of power.

Robbie
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One-on-one tech help for your Volkswagen:
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[TDCTDI]

Depending on your route, I hope you're familiar with those Webers, they are really sensitive to altitude. I've had several instances where I was just able to make it to the top of a large climb right as the engine flooded.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[Abscate]

Keep your speeds down and definitely set up a network of people to support you on the road. Find a way to give back to the community to pay this back....creating media and pictures is not " giving back" it's just self-promulgation.
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.ssS!

[curtp07]

[Slow 1200]

oil cooler in the engine comparment? you'd be better off putting it somewhere outside

[aeromech]

Get yourself a nice set of tools. Then get yourself a few replacement parts. Then learn how to use the tools and install the replacement parts. Then do a lot of reading here on the samba. Then chart your course and identify places where you can get help along the way. Then have a support system you can reach out to when the SHTF.
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Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
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Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
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VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[jtauxe]

[Globespotter]

More important than the things you posted is: How well do you know your bus? How long have you had it and how far have you driven it?

Have you maintained all the things that need to be maintained - fuel lines, adjusting valves, etc...

Are you comfortable doing work on it?

If it is well maintained and you are familiar with it and can work on it, you should be fine.

I have driven my bus all over and drove a Super Beetle across country - they are very dependable and tenacious when well maintained.
_________________
1977 Westfalia - October 2015 - Current
1971 Super Beetle - May 2012 - Current
1979 Westfalia - 1986-1991
1971 Super Beetle - 1977-1980

1971 SB Survivor Story: https://globespotter.com/
Road Trip Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=511800&highlight=
My 77 Westy Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=647114&highlight=

http://vw-mplate.com/mcode.php?lang=EN&id=30990
https://vw-type2-id.xyz/mplate/72067382

[chabanais]

[Derek Cobb]

If you're running a built Beetle engine in a bus designed for a type IV, you need to make sure the engine compartment is fully sealed or you'll overheat pretty quickly. If you can see the ground under the bus from anywhere inside the engine compartment you'll have to seal it up.

[timvw7476]

The only thing you need to do is put 750-1000 local miles on it,
note oil consumption & carry enough oil for the trip + oil change.
Don't get caught in the middle of nowhere with no lube.
As far as tools, once you witness your buses behavior driving locally,
you'll know what tools to take, or even if it's safe to leave your home state.
You are planning far enough ahead to have a stable bus to drive anywhere,
enjoy your Summer Bus Tour 2017.

[my59]

What they said and:
I would add a cylinder head temp gauge, and take it out for some runs fully loaded as you plan to travel. Make notes on what the gauges tell you for the driving you are doing, kind of as a benchmark so you know the parameters you have to work with. Make your traveling companions commit to driving the bus within those parameters, unless you are going to do all the driving.
Spend some effort getting the engine and brakes tuned and ready to go, the right tires and a spare, lay in parts not readily available on the road, and stash a few hundred in cash on board for the ohshit fund.
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my59: Well son, my grandfather died before I got to drive it, so does that answer your question?
our79: sunroof bus w/camper interior and 2.0 FI
Other:'12 Jetta, '77 Benz 300D, and a 74 MG Midget.

[richparker]

[daniel51]

[KentABQ]

Now THAT is the quintessential party bus!
Go forth and conquer!

(Are you sure that's an oil cooler? Could be the refrigerant coil for the kegerator...)
_________________
-Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"

"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!" ---WildIdea

Bus ownership via emoticons:
---williamM