TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Jun 20, 2014 2:30 pm

It's vacation time! I have 2 weeks (16 days total) off and as the title says we are embarking on a 3000 mile trip to Cali and back. The plan is to get across Utah and Nevada as fast a possible. Hope we don't get profiled by the Utah police :). To beat the heat and to try and stay off the cops radar we are leaving tonight after work. The first leg of the trip will be to Green River State Park right in the heart of Morman land just off I70. Saturday we plan on an early start to make good use of the cool morning temps. Looks like it's gonna be in the high 90s across Utah for the weekend. So we will most likley stop around lunch time and wait it out till the evening and hit the road again. This is just a rough plan, if the bus temps are good we will press on in the day light. We plan on taking the 50 across Nevada to Reno and once we get into Cali we will break off onto the 20 and take that up to Fort Bragg. From there we will take Hwy 1 south to San Fran where we will visit with friends and sleep in a real bed :). We are planning on around 5 nights of camping in the red woods while on Hwy 1. We have some spots planned out but we are mostly just going with the flow.

Not sure if we will go further south then San Fran but of time allows we will. Then we will go through Sacramento and Reno to get home. I want to stay away from Mojave, we don't need to experience that heat.

Where are the Cali peeps at??? If you see us feel free to stop us or just give a friendly wave. If anyone knows some places we need to see or any killer camp spots please feel free to post them. Like I said we are just going with the flow.

I know the rules, pics or it didn't happen. I will be updating on a regular basis like I have done in the past.

Thanks for reading,
Rich P.

Fri Jun 20, 2014 3:28 pm

+1

I'll be in San Diego & environs from June 28-July 3rd, and Los Angeles on the 5th & 6th. Any VW peeps want to say howdy, or have suggestions for meets?

Last year I toured the Interstate yard in Lake Elsinore. Anyone?

M

Fri Jun 20, 2014 3:42 pm

Anywhere on the 1 between the red woods and San Fran is a good place to drive through.

Fri Jun 20, 2014 4:39 pm

I can't wait for your narrative (both visual and verbal.)

Yes, the 1 is a wonderful drive, anywhere from Mexico to Eureka. I had a maddening timing and oil leak struggle between Santa Cruz and Legget last year but, let me tell you, there is probably no finer place on earth to break down.

Enjoy the journey :)

Fri Jun 20, 2014 5:57 pm

On the road, Cali here we come!

Fri Jun 20, 2014 8:53 pm

Hey Rich...I'll be heading down to Huntington Beach, Ca. on the 23rd from Seattle area. My first stop will be in Grants Pass on the 23rd. On the 24th I'm going via 199 to 101 south to San Francisco. I plan on staying with a friend for a couple nights (likely 24th and 25th). Dates might change but plan is we'll see...no rush. After Frisco we're going down the 101 to 17 (Santa Cruz) then onto Monterey via highway 1. Then on down the 1 to the 101 in San Luis Obispo. From there we continue south on 101 to 126 then east over to the 5 for a stop at Magic Mountain for the kids.

Perhaps we'll meet or pass up each other? What are your nights in Frisco?

Fri Jun 20, 2014 9:47 pm

Think we should be at Ft Bragg on the 23rd and SF on maybe the 28th. Not sure, no real plans.

We made it to Moab. Crusing 60-65, temp around 210* got 21.06 mpg on the way here.

Fri Jun 20, 2014 9:50 pm

richparker wrote: Think we should be at Ft Bragg on the 23rd and SF on maybe the 28th. Not sure, no real plans.

We made it to Moab. Crusing 60-65, temp around 210* got 21.06 mpg on the way here.

210 degree oil temps? What oil you using? Carbs or FI.

Fri Jun 20, 2014 10:28 pm

udidwht wrote: richparker wrote: Think we should be at Ft Bragg on the 23rd and SF on maybe the 28th. Not sure, no real plans.

We made it to Moab. Crusing 60-65, temp around 210* got 21.06 mpg on the way here.

210 degree oil temps? What oil you using? Carbs or FI.

Oil gauges are relevant to their location and setup. There also might variance between individual gauges as well. The op routinely takes his bus all over creation with that temp, and while I can't speak for him directly, I know he has tens of thousands of miles under his belt in that setup. It's probably one of the best gauges for general trending but worst gauges for discussing numbers on the internet.

Rich- glad to hear all is well, and that your fuel economy is staying relatively good.

Fri Jun 20, 2014 11:42 pm

udidwht wrote:

210 degree oil temps? What oil you using? Carbs or FI.

IDF 40s

asiab3 wrote: Oil gauges are relevant to their location and setup. There also might variance between individual gauges as well. The op routinely takes his bus all over creation with that temp, and while I can't speak for him directly, I know he has tens of thousands of miles under his belt in that setup. It's probably one of the best gauges for general trending but worst gauges for discussing numbers on the internet.

True dat!

Fri Jun 20, 2014 11:44 pm

Sat Jun 21, 2014 1:47 am

richparker wrote: udidwht wrote:

210 degree oil temps? What oil you using? Carbs or FI.

IDF 40s

asiab3 wrote: Oil gauges are relevant to their location and setup. There also might variance between individual gauges as well. The op routinely takes his bus all over creation with that temp, and while I can't speak for him directly, I know he has tens of thousands of miles under his belt in that setup. It's probably one of the best gauges for general trending but worst gauges for discussing numbers on the internet.

True dat!

Same here as far as carbs. Finished dialing mine in with an LM-2 ended up with 50 idles, 125 mains, F11 tubes, 180 air corr. and 28mm vents. That was shooting for low 13's.

Sat Jun 21, 2014 5:59 am

udidwht wrote:

Same here as far as carbs. Finished dialing mine in with an LM-2 ended up with 50 idles, 125 mains, F11 tubes, 180 air corr. and 28mm vents. That was shooting for low 13's.

55 idles, 120 mains, 210 air corr, 50 pump and 28mm vents here.

Sat Jun 21, 2014 8:58 am

richparker wrote: udidwht wrote:

Same here as far as carbs. Finished dialing mine in with an LM-2 ended up with 50 idles, 125 mains, F11 tubes, 180 air corr. and 28mm vents. That was shooting for low 13's.

55 idles, 120 mains, 210 air corr, 50 pump and 28mm vents here.

Interesting...I'd think that 55's would be rich given the altitude in Durango. 40IDF's come stock with 50's and higher altitude pushes carbs richer where as lower altitude is the opposite.

I was using a 120 main/180 air corrector combo but it would run in the low-mid 14's...a bit lean on the highway. I upped my man to 125 and she now hovers in the 13.0 - 13.5 range. Heavy accel or grades and it will stay in the high 12 - low 13's...perfect.

Have you used an LM-2 or other AFR gauge on your bus?

Sat Jun 21, 2014 11:11 am

udidwht wrote:

Interesting...I'd think that 55's would be rich given the altitude in Durango. 40IDF's come stock with 50's and higher altitude pushes carbs richer where as lower altitude is the opposite.

I was using a 120 main/180 air corrector combo but it would run in the low-mid 14's...a bit lean on the highway. I upped my man to 125 and she now hovers in the 13.0 - 13.5 range. Heavy accel or grades and it will stay in the high 12 - low 13's...perfect.

Have you used an LM-2 or other AFR gauge on your bus?

I would think it's hard to compare a T4 to a T1. I haven't used LM-2, nor do I know what that is. I used gas milage trending, how the plugs look and advice from my engine builder. I'd say my set up is working good, I am almost doubling your milage. Got 23.9 and 22.2 on the last 2 full ups.

We are in Delta, UT. Bus is running good, oil temps are in the 200*-220* range. I think that great it's like 95 out. We are pushing on to Ely, NV right now. We should be in Cali by Sunday evening. Man the scenery is amazing, thanks for reading.

Sat Jun 21, 2014 11:46 am

Sure is a lot of traffic on "the loneliest road in America."

Sat Jun 21, 2014 1:09 pm

richparker wrote:

Great pic!!

Sat Jun 21, 2014 1:22 pm

richparker wrote: udidwht wrote:

Interesting...I'd think that 55's would be rich given the altitude in Durango. 40IDF's come stock with 50's and higher altitude pushes carbs richer where as lower altitude is the opposite.

I was using a 120 main/180 air corrector combo but it would run in the low-mid 14's...a bit lean on the highway. I upped my man to 125 and she now hovers in the 13.0 - 13.5 range. Heavy accel or grades and it will stay in the high 12 - low 13's...perfect.

Have you used an LM-2 or other AFR gauge on your bus?

I would think it's hard to compare a T4 to a T1. I haven't used LM-2, nor do I know what that is. I used gas milage trending, how the plugs look and advice from my engine builder. I'd say my set up is working good, I am almost doubling your milage. Got 23.9 and 22.2 on the last 2 full ups.

We are in Delta, UT. Bus is running good, oil temps are in the 200*-220* range. I think that great it's like 95 out. We are pushing on to Ely, NV right now. We should be in Cali by Sunday evening. Man the scenery is amazing, thanks for reading.

LM-2 is a digital air/fuel ratio gauge. Trying to reads plugs these days with ethanol blended fuels is pretty much like driving blind. The numbers I posted are my AFR (Air-fuel ratio) numbers. My mileage is 20ish on the highway.

What oil are you using? I use Valvoline 10w-30 ZR1. Drive careful and have a great trip.

Sun Jun 22, 2014 8:07 am

Made Nevada

Camping on top of Conners Pass last night, with no cell service!!!

Hope to make it to Truckee, Ca today.

Sun Jun 22, 2014 9:04 am

I hope you're planning on visiting Lake Tahoe