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breinicke
Samba Member
Joined: October 06, 2008
Posts: 33
Location: Dayton, Ohio
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 Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 3:11 pm Post subject: Tools & Spare Parts for a Daily Driver? |
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My 73 super is within a month of becoming my daily driver. As I approach this day, I am thinking through some tools / parts that should stay in the beetle for those "just in case" times, should something happen.
Can any veteran VW owners give advice on essential tools and spare parts that I may want to have with me as I make my daily commute? (in case it matters, I'm in Ohio where winters can get below zero for weeks, and summers can hit 100 degrees.) |
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GA_Boy
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Joined: October 10, 2006
Posts: 1405
Location: Jefferson, GA
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| Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 3:27 pm Post subject: |
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Spare tire, Jack, spare belt and fire extinguisher are a must.
Jumper cables are nice in the winter more than summer.
Other items are optional but a few are clutch and accelerator cables, bulbs, and duct tape.
Some carry spare points and condensor.
And lastly----the tools and knowledge to replace stuff.
Marvin |
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bon2198
Samba Member
Joined: August 04, 2008
Posts: 1969
Location: Nashville, GA
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| Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 3:57 pm Post subject: |
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bentley manual, assortment of wrenches and sockets. points, condensor, belt, cap, rotor, plug wires, clutch cable, accelerator cable. all along with the stuff mentioned above. (i know i mentioned some of the same stuff).
oh yeah, and a CELL PHONE!!!!!!
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1970 VW Beetle 1776cc MOFOCO w/hydraulic lifters, 042 heads and dual dellorto's
"It's better to be hated for what you are than loved for what you are not"
At the end of the day it's YOUR car so do what YOU want to it. |
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cactu4r
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Joined: October 23, 2007
Posts: 54
Location: decatur, al
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| Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 4:43 pm Post subject: |
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| bon2198 wrote: |
| oh yeah, and a CELL PHONE!!!!!! |
no joke! with the luck ive had with this car, i dont drive my beetle without a cell. hell, i'd almost consider it to be a more valuable tool than the fire extinguisher 
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2008 VW Jetta S (Wilhelmina)
1973 VW Super Beetle (Kürbis)
its twelve parsecs to kessel, we've replaced the negative power coupling, its dark, and we're wearing welding goggles...HIT IT!!!
...our lady of blessed acceleration, don't fail me now!!! |
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Max Welton
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Joined: May 19, 2003
Posts: 11151
Location: Black Forest, CO
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| Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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I've been daily-driving aircooled since 1999. I started out carrying nearly an entire engines worth of parts and most of the tools I owned. Probably added 50 pounds to the traveling weight of the car.
Now, I'm down to a handful of common hand tools in one of those tool-rolls Duluth sells, a DYI throttle cable kit (20 feet of 1/16" wire rope, a cutter and several crimps and ferrules) and a set of points.
I have used the throttle kit several times (once on my own car) but have never needed the points. The only time I've been stranded was in 2006 when a 40 year old coil died about a thousand miles from home. I still don't carry a spare coil, the one on the engine is the new one I put on on 2006.
Max
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Under the Knife https://shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=151582
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theadmiral1000
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Joined: September 27, 2007
Posts: 251
Location: Bothell, WA (near Seattle)
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| Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 6:09 pm Post subject: |
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I carry pretty much everything including the kitchen sink.
However the most important thing to have is a FIRE EXTINGUISHER! Don't leave home without it.
Off the top of my head:
Metric wrenches and sockets, screwdrivers of varying lengths, channel locks, vice grips, scissors, wire strippers electrical and duct tape, hose clamps, hammer.
Clutch cable, throttle cable, spare points, condensor, oil, fan belt, electrical spade connectors, fuses.
Timing light, tach/dwell, feeler gauges.
Paper towels.
Lug wrench, scissor jack, spare tire, jumper cables.
However, I am the kind of person that wants to be able to fix anything when and where it breaks and be able to assist others. If you have free towing, dragging the car home would prevent the need to haul a lot of this stuff.
Zach
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Zach S.
71 Ghia
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SkrapMetal
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Joined: January 18, 2006
Posts: 2558
Location: Dallas, TX
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| Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 6:12 pm Post subject: |
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It's starting to sound like you'll need to be towing a spare parts car behind you. 
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bon2198
Samba Member
Joined: August 04, 2008
Posts: 1969
Location: Nashville, GA
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| Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 8:15 pm Post subject: |
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| SkrapMetal wrote: |
| It's starting to sound like you'll need to be towing a spare parts car behind you. |
good thing you got all that room behind the rear seat 
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1970 VW Beetle 1776cc MOFOCO w/hydraulic lifters, 042 heads and dual dellorto's
"It's better to be hated for what you are than loved for what you are not"
At the end of the day it's YOUR car so do what YOU want to it. |
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Mark33563
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Joined: November 13, 2005
Posts: 1667
Location: Tampa Bay. FL
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| Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 10:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Max Welton wrote: |
| .....Now, I'm down to a handful of common hand tools in one of those tool-rolls Duluth sells, a DYI throttle cable kit (20 feet of 1/16" wire rope, a cutter and several crimps and ferrules) and a set of points...... |
I used to carry pretty much everything needed to rebuild an engine on the side of the road.
I am down to a coil, points, condenser, cap, 1 quart of oil, fan belt, spare tire, screw driver (multiple tip type), 13 mm wrench, 10 mm wrench, some wire, some crimp terminals, combo wire tool (el cheapo striper-crimper), and some feeler gauges: .006" and .016".
I did, however, change the nut on the distributor clamp to a coupling nut (basically a nut that is about 3/4" long. That way I can get to it with a wrench.
I can see where duct tape would be handy, maybe I need to toss in a roll or partial roll.
I figure I would only really need to take what could not be readily purchased at the common auto parts store. When I go on a LONG trip I take a bit more stuff. But for the daily driving stuff I am usually within 80 miles of the house and figure that my wife could bring the tow bar and tow lights or any number of acquaintences, family, and friends could bring a trailer if the problem is really severe.
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"That's an ultra-rare Dung Beetle... in reverse, it rolls up giant balls of crap. " - Dave24 |
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train99
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Joined: March 21, 2008
Posts: 467
Location: AZ
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 12:27 am Post subject: |
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I carry a door mat in my trunk. It provides some cushion for working under the car. The one I have is a thin black ribbed cloth with a rubber backing. It came out of my dad's garage so I don't know what it cost, but I'm sure it was cheap. It also prevents dropped parts from rolling away.
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andk5591
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Joined: August 29, 2005
Posts: 16825
Location: State College, PA
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 4:17 am Post subject: |
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If you are talking about an in the car kit - Get the biggest Snap-On tool chest with casters - load it with everything and strap it to your bumper.....
But seriously - Fuses, jack, Flat blade, Phillips, Decent Leatherman, Crescent wrench, I have one of those cheap universal sockets and a rachet, Medium needle nose and regular pliers. Oh yeah - hub cap removal tool. Thats pretty much it for me.
The logic is that I can deal with most minor things with this set - for catastrophic issues, I am getting towed home anyway.....
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Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
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Cusser
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Joined: October 02, 2006
Posts: 33567
Location: Hot Arizona
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 11:53 am Post subject: |
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I carry a spare accelerator cable, a spare clutch cable, spare points, spare generator belt, and a few basic tools. I also carry stock lug bolts for the spare tire,a s mine runs mag wheels with special non-dished lug bolts.
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1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297 |
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KrAzY-BaJa
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Joined: May 22, 2008
Posts: 1409
Location: Sacramento CA.
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linearone
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Joined: April 21, 2008
Posts: 158
Location: Wappingers Falls, NY
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 4:20 pm Post subject: |
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| clutch cable, accel cable, leatherman, fuel hose fire extinguisher |
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Yayitsjake
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Joined: August 24, 2008
Posts: 81
Location: NW PA
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 4:31 pm Post subject: |
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i don't think i saw it mentioned so i'll toss it in. flashlight!
i got a real nice 8 led light that runs on 3 AAA batteries. small enough to fit in my mouth and nice bright led's to get a good idea of what you're looking at. it even comes in handy in the daytime but i'd hate to try to do anything at night w/o it.
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GEOLOGY ROCKS!!!
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deluxekombi67
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Joined: July 21, 2004
Posts: 940
Location: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 6:13 pm Post subject: |
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everything they all mentioned but i also carry a spare fuel pump and test light. I keep a box under the rear seat on the drivers side so its never seen with my spare parts in it and actually once needed the spare fuel pump so it paid to have it
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JeffT
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Joined: January 27, 2006
Posts: 236
Location: Hartland, Michigan
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 6:51 pm Post subject: |
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Everything everyone has stated above. I carry all that in a nice tupperware box under my speaker shelf in the back of the car.(Well, some is under the rear seat.) Seems the more I am ready prepared for trouble, the less trouble I have. I will throw some extra parts in if I am going to a show some distance away(200+ miles) just to ward off the break-down demons. Don't cost nothin' to carry the extra around!
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Maimas13
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Joined: July 06, 2004
Posts: 642
Location: Redwood City CA
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 7:17 pm Post subject: |
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| JeffT wrote: |
| Don't cost nothin' to carry the extra around! |
tis the truth 
x2 on the flashlight (even though I dont have one in there now) great idea. Oh and I keep the idiot's guide under the rear seat as well
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bsprajc
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Joined: September 11, 2008
Posts: 153
Location: Santa Clara, CA, USA
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 7:28 pm Post subject: |
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Jus' the basics: AAA card, cell phone, fire ext., extra fuses
I stick around town anyways, so no worries about being stranded in the middle of nowhere.
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fastinradford
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Joined: June 08, 2008
Posts: 2895
Location: Athens Ohio
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 8:45 pm Post subject: |
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You in no way need to be as prepared as me, but I couldnt afford a tow if I needed one, so I carry (not all, just what comes to mind).
3 good working cylinder heads.
distributor with points/condenser,
coil
cv boot (swing axle)
tranny oil
motor oil
gen brushes
every tool I have ever used on the car,
a large plastic mat rolled up for if it's wet outside.
1 gal gasoline
about 10 spark plugs
timing light
4 ft breaker bar across the passenger floorboards
torque wrench
FIRE EXTINGUISHER
enough wire for the whole car
a whole gasket set for the motor
4ft roll of gasket material
gorilla glue 
2 packs jb weld
a two dollar bill
and a of TON of odds and ends, like washers, misc. pieces of metal.
a spare mechanical fuel pump,
spare electronic fuel pump
whole set of plug wires
30ft rope
electrical tape
duct tape
lots and lots of nuts bolts and screws of all sizes
full size spare tire
2 extra tires (if I am driving more than 1,000 miles away)
lots spare bulbs
spare fuses
a few volkswagen manuals
spare wheel cylinder
spare brake fluid
spare voltage regulator
I still need clutch/accel. cables tho 
but then again, your talking to someone who drives thousands of miles just kinda... around.
I actually completed a 1,200 mile trip this weekend that went flawless, and carrying around all that stuff, I made, on average 35mpg, with a high of 37 and a low of 33 climbing a lot of hills (all between 50-60mph of course) (checked, and speedo and odometer were right on with the gps). Not bad for a 40 year old car. But you dont need all this stuff, I just really dont want to be stranded, as you can probably tell. More often than not, I use my parts for a fellow vw, but that's just all the better.  I say that just around town, you dont need hardly anything, just what these fine fellows have already sudgested. Always bring oil. though... you never know when she'll spring a leak.
Oh yeah, and 2 jacks and 2 jack stands...
and an extra oil cooler, with seals.
and gen pully
and 2 belts
Last edited by fastinradford on Tue Nov 11, 2008 10:37 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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