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sam_w
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 1479
Location: Petaluma, CA
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 Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 1:06 pm Post subject: Mojave road run |
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I am getting ready for the off-road of all off roads.
I will trailer the thingster to Barstow, then drive it to the AVI casino in Laughlin.
There I will meet up with maybe 7 other off-road VW's and drive the 200+ miles on the Mojave Road, back to Barstow.
That means that I have to carry enough gas to drive 230+ miles without a gas station. We will camp at ~ 6000 feet so it will be cold and hot. We will take three days and I really have no dilemma as to go to this versus Bugorama at the Sacramento raceway. This is an amazing route set in in the 1850's for the pony express. It goes across the Mojave desert but there are springs of water out of the rocks every 20 miles or so.
This time I have reinforced rear trailing arms so hope the Thingster stays together.
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63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing |
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Deckard
Samba Member
Joined: April 07, 2012
Posts: 296
Location: Knoxville, TN
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| Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 1:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Good luck, and I hope your radiator does not... Oh wait... |
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sam_w
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 1479
Location: Petaluma, CA
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| Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 2:04 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, just wait until you get to be my age and realize you're running OUT of "some days." smiley: ohwell
This is what Mark in the black Thing posted,
The route I have in mind works out to be approximately 220 miles from the gas station at the Avi to the Gas Stations near Peggy Sues in Yermo.
The daily breakdown looks like:
Friday: Avi to campsite: 70 miles
Saturday: campsite to campsite: 80 miles
Sunday: campsite to Peggy Sues: 70 miles.
This route will include the Mojave Mailbox, Lava Tubes, Jackass Canyon, Soda Dry Lake (and Traveler's Monument).
However, if enough people want to run up to Aiken Mine (north of Lava Tubes) that will add another ~6 miles.
So, PLEASE bring enough gas to go at least 230 miles minimum
Carpe Diem!
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63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing |
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cecil
Samba Member
Joined: February 23, 2005
Posts: 461
Location: Stockton, CA
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| Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 2:58 pm Post subject: |
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I think you are going to have a blast. Just take lots of pictures and videos to share. I will be in Fallon that weekend for milder off road action. Oh…. And dinner at Atlantis in Reno.
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I may not be that funny or athletic or good looking or smart or talented....I forgot where I was going with this
I have this wierd desease called "must tear everything up and put it back together when there's nothing wrong with it...Itus." |
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DougD
Samba Member
Joined: October 11, 2011
Posts: 334
Location: Auburn, WA
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| Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 3:09 pm Post subject: |
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| I've always wanted to travel the Mojave... I probably would take my jeep instead of the Thing. Not sure I have the upmost confidence mine would make it the whole way. |
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sam_w
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 1479
Location: Petaluma, CA
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| Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 8:49 pm Post subject: |
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Getting ready to trailer there on Thursday. Will stay at the AVI casino and meet other SoCalBajas in the parking lot at 8 AM.
I was thinking of replacing the hardtop with my bikini top, but decided to leave it on.
Have re-attached my 2 5-gallon jerry cans, and replaced the rear light plastic lenses with some from Cecil.
Tomorrow I will adjust the main jets one more time, and try to fix the gas gauge.
We will drive 220 miles plus, so I am planning on taking an extra 20 gallons of gas.
Also will have a massive amount of spares, but hope my reinforced rear trailing arms will be OK.
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63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing |
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doublecanister
Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2008
Posts: 1184
Location: Richmond, Va
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| Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 9:22 am Post subject: mojave trip |
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Hey Sam!
I wish I could do one of those trips, I bet it is an adventure for sure!
I know you'll take movies, we all love to see em!
Be safe and hope you have a swell trip.
Tom T.
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2020 - Mustang Eco Boost [High Performance]
1973 - Thing
1966 - Mustang GT- Fastback
1951 - Ford F1 pickup Flathead V8 |
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Rev. Scott
Samba Member
Joined: June 04, 2006
Posts: 770
Location: Philo, Ca.
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| Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 6:55 pm Post subject: |
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Once again...I have the ultimate respect for your adventures. Have fun, be safe, and bring us along with some documentation. Cheers!
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"I haven't seen one of those since I was shootin' at 'em!" |
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sam_w
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 1479
Location: Petaluma, CA
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| Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 5:15 pm Post subject: |
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I leave early tomorrow morning, and I think I have most of everything. Of course I know I will forget something but I did check out my toolbox carefully so I hope it is only camping stuff left behind.
We will be camping Friday and Saturday nights, so I know there is no water in the pics but I will take at least 4 gallons.
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63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing |
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Semper_Dad
Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2005
Posts: 3508
Location: Indiana
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sam_w
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 1479
Location: Petaluma, CA
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| Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 6:52 pm Post subject: |
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Loaded on the trailer, ready to leave tomorrow at 8AM. WIll get my co-pilot Jeff K who has a blue 73 Thing. Will leave the car and trailer in Newberry Springs and drive the Thingster to the AVI Casino for the start of the run at 8AM Friday.
Yes we need sustenance, I will bring beer and wine, on the trail nobody drinks.
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63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing |
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doublecanister
Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2008
Posts: 1184
Location: Richmond, Va
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| Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 11:41 am Post subject: make a list, check it thrice! |
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Hey Sam,
did you take a air pump for the tires?
some tire Slime incase of a few punctures?? 
BTW,
what does B.L.T.N stand for?
Hey, do like I do, if you forgot it, it wasnt important...hope someone else
remembered theirs!
T
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2020 - Mustang Eco Boost [High Performance]
1973 - Thing
1966 - Mustang GT- Fastback
1951 - Ford F1 pickup Flathead V8 |
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Semper_Dad
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Joined: May 14, 2005
Posts: 3508
Location: Indiana
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sam_w
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 1479
Location: Petaluma, CA
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| Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 1:00 pm Post subject: |
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Well the best laid plans of mice and men..............
I got there early and was ready for a great trip. There were 16 off road VW's, one other Thing.
I had gone about 30 miles out of the 220 when I came to a solid stop. The clutch had been making bad noises and finally the engine jammed in gear but was towable out of the desert. I did get a tow to a little town called Goffs on route 66 and the AAA came and flat-bed took me to my minivan and trailer. Today the engine came out and the gland nut holding on the flywheel had broken.
It looks as if there are four good holes in the crankshaft so we are going to try putting in another flywheel, that was drilled for 8 dowels. We shall see. I will keep the RPM down to less than 5,000 instead of being able to rev to 6500!
Here are some happy pics and some sad ones.
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63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing |
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n0limdon
Samba Member
Joined: October 06, 2005
Posts: 192
Location: Cresco, Ia.
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| Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 1:40 pm Post subject: |
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Sam, didn't you have any Super Glue? LOL. Met you either at Asheville or Bardstown, can't remember where for sure.
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Semper_Dad
Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2005
Posts: 3508
Location: Indiana
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| Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 2:43 pm Post subject: |
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Sorry to here about the breakdown.
At least the dowels held (a bit wobbled though). Can't say that I ever seen a gland nut go like that. Usually the dowels are the weak point.
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Walküre Restoration Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=737492 |
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sam_w
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 1479
Location: Petaluma, CA
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| Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 2:43 pm Post subject: |
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I understand that Gland nuts do break if overtorqued. I also am told that there are heavy duty gland nuts.
But I am just going ahead and will consider a rebuild in the future.
I will take the Thingster to the Classic in Irvine next week, staying at the hotel from Thursday through SUnday June 6th to 10th
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63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing |
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Rev. Scott
Samba Member
Joined: June 04, 2006
Posts: 770
Location: Philo, Ca.
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| Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 9:06 pm Post subject: |
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Bad luck there Sam, and undeserved. I was so hoping for some inspirational video clips...
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"I haven't seen one of those since I was shootin' at 'em!" |
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Bashr52
Samba Member
Joined: July 16, 2006
Posts: 5666
Location: On an island in VA
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| Posted: Wed May 29, 2013 4:45 am Post subject: |
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| Semper_Dad wrote: |
Sorry to here about the breakdown.
At least the dowels held (a bit wobbled though). Can't say that I ever seen a gland nut go like that. Usually the dowels are the weak point. |
X2, never seen a broken gland nut! Where you running a 4 dowel flywheel on an 8 dowel crank to begin with? Hard to believe 4 dowels would oval and 4 stay perfect if there were 8 to begin with. How far did you make it? |
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sam_w
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 1479
Location: Petaluma, CA
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| Posted: Wed May 29, 2013 8:53 am Post subject: |
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When I had my stroker motor built i said I wanted bottom end torque.
They put a standard 4 dowel flywheel on an 8-dowel crank. I will find out today if a flywheel can be connected to the crank after the bumps have been ground off.
Searching , I see all sorts of extra fancy gland nuts, but I think my mechanic is using a standard one.
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63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing |
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