Going to go on a road trip upto cresent head from sydney in a month or so.

I have an accufire so dont need to adjust points or timing, how ever when i checked the dwell it was 38 ?? anyone know how to adjust the dwell on an accufire?

Distributor cap and rotor havent been replaced since i got the bus (1.5years) how do i know when they need replacing?

Carbs are recent reco jobs so no worries there. Not worried about overheating or anything.

Changed oil bout 1000km ago, did valves just before that but will check them before i go.

anything else i should be checking before i head away and what are some spares/tools likely to be needed to make it a trouble free trip?

cheers

if you dont know how old your cap is replace it
i just replaced my cap and rotor for around the $50 mark
they both looked fine the cap had slight corrosion on the four posts but it has made starting alittle easier

i dont know what theyre life span is but most every day VWs have ancient caps and rotors that look fine but probably break down a bit once hot

hth
Joel

yea was thinking about replacing them so i know that they wont go crap on me and i know how long till i have to replace them.

anything else i am forgetting?

This comes up from time-to-time, so I've added a page to the aussiekombicampers web site where anyone can post their "Kombi Kontents", including tips on what tools/spares/camping kit/conveniences to carryin their Kombis.
I've set the ball rolling with the Kombi Kontents of my double-cab, and it's appalling how much junk I've accumulated.

Visit:

http://www.aussiekombicampers.com/kombi_kontents.shtml 

to post your own Kombi Kontents or just to laugh at others excesses.

hth

id say things like cap and rotor u arent sure about. replace them and keep the old ones as spare.

also keep a set of points in case your accufire buggers up.

i carry all sorts of crazy spares in the baja.

axle seal kits, spare wheel bearings, fan belt, spare dissy, spare carby, spare clutch cable, spare accelerator cable, spare spark plugs, spare leads.

you get the idea.

chances are if u take a spare it wont break. but if u dont it will break in the most inconveinient time possible.

i also carry a big red tool box with ring spanners, socket set, screwdrivers, spark plug socket, feeler guages, test light, wiring stuff, zip ties, hammer, mallet, loctite etc.

Nick

wow. Didnt realise people carried so much stuff with them! Got most of those spares. Might take a clutch cable with me, some tools, tape, wat ever i see and think might be useful. And i keep a set of points in the car the whole time :-) (but not the tools to change the points lol) dont have accelerator cable but might get one before i go. Might go buy myself a nice tool box.

Is there anything else that should be done to my motor or running gear before i go?

my spares list might be overkill........but when u drive a baja or a buggie and u are in the middle of nowhere on some dirt track and u have a problem its better to be prepared.

tools are important.

oh and i forgot OIL! OIL! take spare OIL!

id check tappets. check timing before you go and just dont drive insanely fast. take it easy and u will be fine.

sydney to crescent heads would only be about 400km maybe 6hrs driving at 80-90ks kombi should do it on one tank of fuel.if you did the valves and oil 1000ks ago all should be well just take your tool kit and a litre of oil. I've been driving far south nsw to byron (1300km) 3 or 4 times a year for the past 4 or 5 years in various kombies takes me a day and half worst thing that has happened has been clutch cable down to one strand from kempsey to byron the local vw guy at mullumbimby fixed it. always lots of kombies on the north coast roads, the one thing you don't want to do is travel at night nothing like a b-double up your bum doing 100ks an hour thats what nighmares are made of. oh and do be careful and attentive on the drive there are lots of road works goin on. oh yeah the only thing i freak out about is fuel lines make sure there in good nick especialy in the engine bay.

1 tank?? thats awsome! only on my P's so cant go any harder than 90 which is a good thing :-). Lines and clamps are in good order. Might change the filter tho, its been in there for around a year... ill check all the lines at the same time.

do a quick check on everything after a first trip
i usually do but was slack with this coz everything was running sweet
i popped the cap off this arvo (2 weeks later)
hhhmmm what are all these plastic shavings in my dizzy

the new rotor had a disagreement with the plastic sealing disc
most vws i've worked on dont have these anymore but it has worn a bit of a track in my new rotor
oh well no harm done but lesson # 300165 for this week learned
even if it is running fine check everything after the first trip

Joel

Hi 76camper,
Have a look at my web site and my tips for what to take with you on a big trip. My girlfriend and I rebuilt a 76 camper and drove it across Australia last year with very few problems. The only thing that went wrong was the aftermarket ignition so just to be safe take the points and condensor with you. I had to travel over 1000 kms to buy a condensor to fit. any how have a look at my tips page http://www.engelhardt.id.au/tang/archives/2005/04/klaus_kombi_tip.html 

Fire Extinguisher!

Everything else can wait, you can get it couriered to you if you are desperate. But you don't have time to wait for a fire extinguisher to be delivered, you need it NOW.

got a fire extinguisher in the bus atm, its only a .9kg one so i might get another .9 or something bigger... tang, when i first got my bus i was cruising your pages for a bit, good to see you made the trip, will have another look.... and yes i do have a spare set of points and condenser in my bus atm. thanks guyz... 2 weeks till i go, cant wait :-)

lol
I was thinking of maybe one day hooking up an automatic fire extinguishing system with a industrial sized fire extinguisher connected to plumbing above the engine bay and if there is ever a fire in the engine bay just pull a lever and it will dump the contents of the extinguisher quickly extinguishing the fire.

Might pay to check the boots on your CV joints...you don't want dirt getting in there.......

cv boots are freshy and full of yummy fresh grease :-) keep the check list coming, im bound to have left something important out!!

May I suggest a spare legrope and wax for Cresent, I mean you would hate to get all that way and then ding your board

hehe yea, taking a spare board with me aswell as a few mates so there will be plenty of fibre glass if something does happen :-) just hoping we get some good waves :-)