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iubhounds Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2003 Posts: 339 Location: Southern Indiana
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 5:59 pm Post subject: Can I drive this 500 miles? |
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- New engine with less than 200 miles
- All new engine parts with that build not rebuild as previoiusly stated
- VW Stored for 20 months - started weekly to run a little in storage
- Never driven outside of warehouse during those 20 months
- Tires kept inflated to required psi
- Totally rebuilt from the ground up, brakes, engine, electrical
My plan is to change the oil upon arrival, add new premium gas since very little gas (old) was left in the tank and add a fuel additive to clean fuel system. I would then test drive it around the area where I am picking it up and then decide whether to hit the road that afternoon for the trip back home, a little less than 500 miles.
Will the Carbs (dual) be gummed up from lack of use?
I have driven plenty of old VW buses, bugs, a panel and single cab cross country many times so I know that anything can happen on the road no matter the age of the engine or VW.
I'll be doing this no later than this Wednesday because I cannot find anyone that can ship it to me. Still waiting for two to get back to me. I live SE of Tucson so its a little out of the way compared to where shippers want to go.
Plan B is to drive to destination in a rental ... rent a 10' Uhaul truck with their transport trailer and tow it home.
Thanks for any info.
Last edited by iubhounds on Mon Jun 08, 2020 7:24 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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TheVintageVw Samba Member
Joined: July 19, 2004 Posts: 654 Location: Porter Ranch California
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 6:22 pm Post subject: Re: Can I drive this 500 miles? |
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Just do the uhaul, for peace of mind. I did that to get a bus from AZ. You dont wanna get stuck. I rented a uhaul truck, drove to destinations, got a trailer and retuned both locally. |
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busdaddy Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004 Posts: 51057 Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 6:58 pm Post subject: Re: Can I drive this 500 miles? |
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I'm inclined to agree, the description sounds like there's room for it to be poorly built by shopping from a catalog and picking the shiny stuff, the sitting may just add to the trauma, no need to burn out a fresh engine due to fuel starvation on top of whatever crappy Chinese parts may have already been installed. Get it home, look it over (post pics here for scrutiny) and test it locally first IMO.
Did I mention that most "new" parts come from China these days?, quality control isn't in their vocabulary it seems. _________________ Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Слава Україні! |
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joe cool Samba Member
Joined: August 20, 2006 Posts: 1259 Location: Yolo County CA
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 7:08 pm Post subject: Re: Can I drive this 500 miles? |
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I would drive there in a rental with my tool box and spend a day with the bus. Check it out in person, drive it around a bit, fix what I found that needed fixing, then go for it. Or if you deem the bus undriveable after thorough inspection, you can still rent that uhaul.
You have the opportunity for a great adventure here, don’t give up on that dream too easily. |
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22566 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 7:10 pm Post subject: Re: Can I drive this 500 miles? |
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Uhaul it
You will find the stuff that you thought was rebuilt probably wasn’t , too. _________________ .ssS! |
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iubhounds Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2003 Posts: 339 Location: Southern Indiana
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 7:14 pm Post subject: Re: Can I drive this 500 miles? |
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busdaddy wrote: |
I'm inclined to agree, the description sounds like there's room for it to be poorly built by shopping from a catalog and picking the shiny stuff, the sitting may just add to the trauma, no need to burn out a fresh engine due to fuel starvation on top of whatever crappy Chinese parts may have already been installed. Get it home, look it over (post pics here for scrutiny) and test it locally first IMO.
Did I mention that most "new" parts come from China these days?, quality control isn't in their vocabulary it seems. |
I understand what you are saying but I have photos and the build sheet for the engine and all other mods that were done. I have called and had the engine builder and the company that inspected it before storage, download their invoices and were sent to me. This isn't poorly built by any means. I didn't buy it just from the looks. The owner has sent me all documentation and photos from the time he purchased it, then the restoration on the body with new metal where there was rust etc.
If Mahle, German parts, Silverline, Engle, Performance Racing, AA Performance, EMPI, MST, Kadron all use crapy Chinese parts then I guess I am screwed like the rest of us.
But I agree with you and the poster before ... renting a truck and trailer to tow it is the best option if I cannot get a shipper. Both have been reserved.
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iubhounds Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2003 Posts: 339 Location: Southern Indiana
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 7:18 pm Post subject: Re: Can I drive this 500 miles? |
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joe cool wrote: |
I would drive there in a rental with my tool box and spend a day with the bus. Check it out in person, drive it around a bit, fix what I found that needed fixing, then go for it. Or if you deem the bus undriveable after thorough inspection, you can still rent that uhaul.
You have the opportunity for a great adventure here, don’t give up on that dream too easily. |
That was another option. I could head over to the coast to see friends and my old neighborhood. Within those 40 miles I'd have a good idea what it needed.
I like that idea ... with the truck and trailer still reserved for that day in case I needed it.
Last edited by iubhounds on Mon Jun 08, 2020 7:23 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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iubhounds Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2003 Posts: 339 Location: Southern Indiana
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 7:19 pm Post subject: Re: Can I drive this 500 miles? |
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Abscate wrote: |
Uhaul it
You will find the stuff that you thought was rebuilt probably wasn’t , too. |
I have no doubt it was rebuilt, in fact it wasn't a rebuilt engine but a brand new engine from scratch. I have no doubts what the seller sent me in photos (100's) and documentation. |
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76760 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 7:28 pm Post subject: Re: Can I drive this 500 miles? |
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iubhounds wrote: |
- VW Stored for 20 months - started weekly to run a little in storage |
That's 60 dry starts. You're better off removing the rocker arms, running the carb dry and hand rotating the engine 360* ones a month. _________________ Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare |
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Culito 11010101
Joined: December 07, 2006 Posts: 5863 Location: Columbia Missourah
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 7:29 pm Post subject: Re: Can I drive this 500 miles? |
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Get AAA and drive that fucker (if the brakes and tires are good) _________________ Copyright CJ Industries, Inc.
'64 standard w/2.0L type 4
'62 bug
johnnypan wrote: |
...dont pay no attention to Culito,he's a cornhole.. |
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iubhounds Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2003 Posts: 339 Location: Southern Indiana
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 7:32 pm Post subject: Re: Can I drive this 500 miles? |
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Culito wrote: |
Get AAA and drive that fucker (if the brakes and tires are good) |
That's the kind of response I love and I have done that attitude before with VWs that were questionable but finished the trip with outstanding success. |
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marklaken Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2004 Posts: 2416 Location: fort collins, CO
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 7:58 pm Post subject: Re: Can I drive this 500 miles? |
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I wouldn't use a fuel additive. just add fresh gas to the old gas. bring some carb spray in case you have to clean the carbs on the roadside.
Inspect the brake lines, tires, and fuel lines before hitting the highway.
500 miles will be a stressful maiden voyage in any new to you vintage car.
I drove 60 miles along interstate frontage roads in an old chevy because I was too cheap to tow. One of the dumbest things I've ever done, but everyone lived and I saved a couple hundred bucks. _________________ Wish List:
1967 Wesfalia SO-42 Parts Needed: Kitchenette, Cot Poles
'65 rear left beetle fender
15" Bus Wheels in fair condition
Mark Laken
Fort Collins, CO |
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joe cool Samba Member
Joined: August 20, 2006 Posts: 1259 Location: Yolo County CA
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 8:03 pm Post subject: Re: Can I drive this 500 miles? |
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Bob Hoover used to say his bus ran better at the end of the trip than the beginning because he would experience and learn what was wrong with it and fix those things along the way. 500 miles isn’t a Sunday drive but it isn’t the Dakar rally either. |
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joe cool Samba Member
Joined: August 20, 2006 Posts: 1259 Location: Yolo County CA
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 8:07 pm Post subject: Re: Can I drive this 500 miles? |
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And you know if you posted here with a breakdown you couldn’t handle people would come to your aid. |
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67_SO42 Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2006 Posts: 668 Location: Oslo, Norway via Arizona
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 8:28 pm Post subject: Re: Can I drive this 500 miles? |
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iubhounds wrote: |
- I live SE of Tucson so its a little out of the way compared to where shippers want to go.
Plan B is to drive to destination in a rental ... rent a 10' Uhaul truck with their transport trailer and tow it home.
Thanks for any info. |
You know Tristain? He is in Tucson and has a bus tow bar. _________________ 58 Binz DC #151 "Nacho"
61 Norwegian, bug "Greta"
65 Swedish, Westfalia 400 trailer "Melania"
57 Binz scooter “Micha” |
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kpf Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2017 Posts: 847 Location: California, US
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 8:31 pm Post subject: Re: Can I drive this 500 miles? |
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I always wonder in cases like this, if the bus (or car) was restored perfectly and drives like a dream, then why is it for sale with so few post-restoration miles? _________________ 1971 Super Beetle |
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iubhounds Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2003 Posts: 339 Location: Southern Indiana
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 8:32 pm Post subject: Re: Can I drive this 500 miles? |
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joe cool wrote: |
And you know if you posted here with a breakdown you couldn’t handle people would come to your aid. |
That is one thing that has always been great on this forum. I sold my last 'batch' of vw's in 2008 and am just now getting back into them. This site has helped me many times in the past.
Thanks for pointing that out. |
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iubhounds Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2003 Posts: 339 Location: Southern Indiana
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 8:33 pm Post subject: Re: Can I drive this 500 miles? |
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kpf wrote: |
I always wonder in cases like this, if the bus (or car) was restored perfectly and drives like a dream, then why is it for sale with so few post-restoration miles? |
The seller moved out of the country due to life changes, family. It is something I thought about, "why" would you sell it after making all of the upgrades. |
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galexander Samba Member
Joined: April 17, 2003 Posts: 522 Location: Round Rock, TX
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 8:41 pm Post subject: Re: Can I drive this 500 miles? |
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Drive it.
That's what they are for.
Bring a few spares:
accel cable
clutch cable
gen belt
fuel filter
After 500 miles, you will learn everything you wanted to know about your Bus.
That's the best part. _________________ enjoy the journey,
Gary
Check out our YouTube Channel, VW Life |
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AS350driver Samba Member
Joined: April 17, 2016 Posts: 1340 Location: Tucson
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