Looking for advice for a long trip

[marcr1]

    The longest drive i have done so far is 2.5 hours.  Should i allow for stops to allow for the engine to cool off. Or do i just drive untill i need to stop becuase i am tired and not the engine.

            Marc

[50split(paul)]

i drove my 57 five hours straight back from litchfield last summer. as long as your engine is well maintained you should have no problem. an oil change and tune up before a long trip couldn't hurt. remember those spare parts too. i never leave home with out my tool bag,fan belts,extra fuel pump,extra carb and extra dizzy. some even bring an extra coil.

[steveo]

true dat..what Paul said...
Whatever spare parts/tools you can carry.
Steveo

[jthw8]

We drove RDB 26 hours straight through from New Orleans, stopping once for food and a few times for gas.  It was neither well maintained or in good tune.  Bottom line is they are rugged little motors :)

[marcr1]

thanks guys makes me feel a little better

[hockeydoc33]

It's a little know fact that in Springsteen had the air-cooled VW flat-four in mind when he released "Born To Run" in 1975!

Long trip or short, go for it!

[bugs2much]

Hey Marcr1, I put about 2000 miles on my beetle between July and December. Had  some long runs with the club during that time. Just did a little tweaking and oil changes. It's a good idea to carry spare parts as mentioned above.  Also take some oil for the little dripper.

[njgt-1]

Marcr1

Don't want to brag but back in the mid 70's I drove my 1969 Beetle vert coast to coast several times. The car had a single port motor and was bone stock but I made several 3200 mile trips in it. I averaged anywhere from 300 to 400 miles a day and the car performed flawless. Before somebody jumps on here and sez "why don't you drive your super more" remember the vert had about 20,000 miles and was close to new. I still believe if your car is in proper tune with fresh oil and everything is in good shape you should be able to take it anywhere without too much trouble. An air cooled motor is a simple beast and doesn't ask for much and in return they are really a tough little mill.

[marcr1]

the oil should be fresh, i need to put some in every few days !

Thats one of the things i need to fix this winter.

[matt]

i drove my 57 five hours straight back from litchfield last summer. as long as your engine is well maintained you should have no problem. an oil change and tune up before a long trip couldn't hurt. remember those spare parts too. i never leave home with out my tool bag,fan belts,extra fuel pump,extra carb and extra dizzy. some even bring an extra coil.

  That is a good list, I always have an extra coil.
Bring a jack, stands and a breaker bar w/ 17mm socket for tire bolts.
I also bring wheel bearings, extra wire, fuses, accel and clutch cable wheel bearing grease........


I drive my bug every day, and it's doing great for the most part!

[jthw8]

 I also bring wheel bearings

Good advice...wish we had thought of that in 07

[matt]

  Yea, Not having that was what stranded me in North Carolina late at night about 10 years ago. Car was towed to a shop late that night and my wife came all the way down to pick me up. Drove down the next day when it was repaired. Head mechanic told me all of his mechanics were fighting over to fix it cause it was so different than other car they usually work on   :icon_thumright:                          Glad someone enjoyed it.

  So along with the wheel bearings ( which can be pregreased and kept in a plastic sandwhich bag) DONT FORGET the 6 mm allen wrench needed to undo the clamp on the spindle! - or the new bearings arent leaving the sandwhich bag!


Matt

[jthw8]

  Yea, Not having that was what stranded me in North Carolina late at night about 10 years ago. Car was towed to a shop late that night and my wife came all the way down to pick me up. Drove down the next day when it was repaired. Head mechanic told me all of his mechanics were fighting over to fix it cause it was so different than other car they usually work on   :icon_thumright:                          Glad someone enjoyed it.

  So along with the wheel bearings ( which can be pregreased and kept in a plastic sandwhich bag) DONT FORGET the 6 mm allen wrench needed to undo the clamp on the spindle! - or the new bearings arent leaving the sandwhich bag!


Matt

Yeah, our only failure on BABE 07 was a siezed brake slave cyl but it smoked the brakes and bearings on that side.  I was able to fix the cyl with a field repair but it was a scary ride for 80 miles to Juanita's foreign car parts to get new bearings.  Luckily we had the allen wrench...tools we were good with....parts...notsomuch.

[50split(paul)]

  That is a good list, I always have an extra coil.
Bring a jack, stands and a breaker bar w/ 17mm socket for tire bolts.
I also bring wheel bearings, extra wire, fuses, accel and clutch cable wheel bearing grease........


I drive my bug every day, and it's doing great for the most part!

aren't the lug nuts 19mm?

[matt]

  Uhhhh, ..............................YES!  


                           I was testing everyone............................................... 888





sorry for da slip

matt