Overlanding a VW Bus Around The World?!

[richparker]

Ben,
I’m sure you have plenty of miles on that engine now. How does it run? Have you had to remap the Gen4? Have you made any major changes to the engine yet?
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’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’63 Deluxe Build

[HastaAlaska]

It runs great, I have had to re map it a little bit, but it was easy and intuitive to do. I've had CB Performance remote connect into the Kombi to check everything as good. It's been parked up for a while in Jersey (UK) whilst we work on building the interior, but we're itching to get going hopefully next month.

Got a bit of mechanical work to do to before hitting the road.
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Around The World in a VW - Follow the Docuseries
2011 - PRESENT
Hasta Alaska Series - https://kombilife.com/hasta-alaska/
World Overland Series - https://kombilife.com/world-overland-travel-series/
Latest Adventures - https://www.youtube.com/@kombilife

[merlinsbus]

Very much excited to see the interior come together, been watching the videos closely!
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"If I wanted a restored truck the most cost effective way is to buy one already done. My truck is special to me and the journey has enriched my life. VW people understand". -Glideking

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[HastaAlaska]

Had chance to meet up with our old kombi CoPito whilst filming the UK episodes.

Our new Kombi "Boomerang" is doing pretty well on the shakedown run. looking forward to sharing the videos of how it's all come together later this summer.

Hope you are all well.

Ben
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Around The World in a VW - Follow the Docuseries
2011 - PRESENT
Hasta Alaska Series - https://kombilife.com/hasta-alaska/
World Overland Series - https://kombilife.com/world-overland-travel-series/
Latest Adventures - https://www.youtube.com/@kombilife

[Clementine79]

Very cool we are waiting to see the new videos, hoping to get us bus running like one some day!

[HastaAlaska]

Guys, I'm just putting together a maintenance schedule ahead of our departure for Phase 2 of the trip (UK to Africa)

Please could you look at this and tell me if there is anything you would add to this list, or any other comments would be welcome. Thanks


Each Fuel Stop
Check Oil Level / quality
Check Fan Belt Tension
Visual inspection for leaks and damage, fan belt tension

Weekly
Clean out rubbish
Clean Solar Panels
clean mud off CV Boots
Check Tire Pressure

3000 Miles
Change Oil
Fill Brake Fluid
Fill Windscreen Wash
Check Lights
Lubricate Hinges, locks and door catches
Valve Adjustment

5000 Miles
Adjust Rear Brakes
Check E Brake adjustment
Clean Pressure Relief Valve ?
Check Wipers
Tighten Wheel Nuts

7500 Miles
Rotate Tires

10000 Miles
Clean and re-oil air filter (more frequently depending on environment)
Check all exhaust nuts, intake manifold nuts, alternator pully etc
check hoses and clamps
Inspect fan belt
Adjust Spark Plugs
Add Water To Battery
Tighten Transmission Front Support Nuts
Check for water leaks and gas leaks
Grease Front End

15000 Miles
Pack CV Joints
Inspect / Change Brake Shoes

20000 Miles
Change fuel filter
Replace Valve Cover Gaskets

30,000 Miles
Change Transmission Oil
Re-grease Wheel Bearings
Re-grease CV Joints
Replace Spark Plugs
Paint Rust
Oil protection on undercarriage

45,000 Miles
Replace Brake Fluid
_________________
Around The World in a VW - Follow the Docuseries
2011 - PRESENT
Hasta Alaska Series - https://kombilife.com/hasta-alaska/
World Overland Series - https://kombilife.com/world-overland-travel-series/
Latest Adventures - https://www.youtube.com/@kombilife

[vwwestyman]

My suggestion would be to adjust your mileage points to line up a little bit. I.e.

3,000 miles
Change oil, etc

6,000 miles
Adjust brakes, etc

9,000 miles
Rotate Tires

12,000 miles
Clean air filter, etc (I'd probably do this one at all the oil changes, and leave the rest of that list at 12,000 miles.)

That way you are doing your maintenance all in one fell swoop, adding tasks to oil change days. Seems like it would be easier to plan.
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Dave Cook

President, Wild Westerner Club

1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing

[Abscate]

Here you go, Ben...

Each Fuel Stop
Check Oil Level / quality
Check Fan Belt Tension
Visual inspection for leaks and damage, fan belt tension
Tighten Wheel Nuts - I would just inspect at fuel stops with a index mark

Weekly
Clean out rubbish ---Daily!
Clean Solar Panels
clean mud off CV Boots - Skip unless extreme
Check Tire Pressure

3000 Miles
Change Oil
Fill Brake Fluid None should be used in 2 years/24000 miles
Fill Windscreen Wash
Check Lights
Lubricate Hinges, locks and door catches
Valve Adjustment
Gap plugs since they are already out.

5000 Miles
Adjust Rear Brakes
Check E Brake adjustment - This tells you when the one above is needed. When you adjust the brakes, the E-brake will be back in spec.
Clean Pressure Relief Valve ? - leave that alone
Check Wipers
Tighten Wheel Nuts - I would just inspect at fuel stops with a index mark

7500 Miles
Rotate Tires

10000 Miles
Clean and re-oil air filter (more frequently depending on environment)
Check all exhaust nuts, intake manifold nuts, alternator pully etc
check hoses and clamps
Inspect fan belt
Adjust Spark Plugs
Add Water To Battery
Tighten Transmission Front Support Nuts
Check for water leaks and gas leaks
Grease Front End

15000 Miles
Pack CV Joints
Inspect / Change Brake Shoes

20000 Miles
Change fuel filter
Replace Valve Cover Gaskets

30,000 Miles
Change Transmission Oil
Re-grease Wheel Bearings
Re-grease CV Joints
Replace Spark Plugs = depends on what kind you are using?
Paint Rust
Oil protection on undercarriage

45,000 Miles
Replace Brake Fluid - 24 months max - In Central Africa, every 12 months
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.ssS!

[Spike0180]

[HastaAlaska]

[Abscate]

[airschooled]

I empty my garbage when it gets full, but I also made this recently:

http://asiab3.com/media/cavms.pdf

See you on the road,
Robbie
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[HastaAlaska]

[airschooled]

Consult CB for your engine service intervals.

In general, oil change intervals are shrunk more with operation in dusty conditions, and shrunk when the daily operation of the car doesn’t warm it up completely. VW mentions this in the owners manuals when talking about operation in extreme cold- changing the oil much more often.

Someone mentions “checking road draft boot” on stock Type 1’s, and that’s also on the bottom of the engine. Maybe that’s what made you think pressure relief valve?

I also enjoy logging fuel mileage and conditions. You can tell when something goes wrong you might not catch otherwise that way.

Ok, back to bed now... had a nightmare I lost my feeler gauges...
Robbie
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[richparker]

[Wasted youth]

That blue hi top looks familiar. I'd ask Dave, but he pussed out and probably got a job or something.

[HastaAlaska]

[quote="richparker"]

[richparker]

[notchboy]

I think you will be happy with the tire size. Running 215's is a bit much.
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[airschooled]

We’re the alignments done with the bus fully loaded or unloaded?

The specs for tire alignment assumes an empty bus with something like a 70kg weight in the front seat and a half tank of gas. If your bus is Consistsntly used with a heavier load, you should consider having the alignment done with some load. This might not be a popular opinion, but I travel loaded 90+ % of the time, when I did my alignment with my 200lb. tool box in its respective place, tire wear slowed greatly.

Robbie
_________________
Learn how your vintage VW works. And why it doesn't!
One-on-one tech help for your Volkswagen:
www.airschooled.com