OK guys, here's the deal.
I've almost finished my 76 Kombi project and after breaking it in on some small trips, down the coast, down to Melbourne, I am looking to take it for a bit of a longer spin: from Canberra to Darwin! According to whereis.com.au it's going to be 4161.70 km (that's via Adelaide) which is a hell of a long way to go.
I've got all the basics down, take plenty of water, take some tools, food, entertainment, plenty of water, spare fuel and also some more water. So all that's fine, and it'll be at least me and another bloke, perhaps some chicks'll even come along for the ride. 🙂
But what is it going to do to my kombi? What should I look out for? How fast should I go? Should I fit a head temp guage, or extra cooling, or follow a strict driving pattern: 2 hours on the go, then 15 minute cool down period, etc etc...
I'd love to hear anything from anyone, advice, personal experiences and good tips to ensure I survive the journey.
Thanks,
Ash
[Edited on 22-4-2005 by ashman]
ashman wrote:What should I look out for?
Dodgy guys stopping kombis to tell them tail lights are out. They usually have a ute and a pocket full of cable-ties.
I did it north to south, and back again in my '73 2 litre auto.
cruised on about 100kph all the way. never had a drama.
I'd probably fit an oil temp guage, and keep an eye on it.
take a spare fan belt too, and make sure your spare tyres are good.
as long as you can get more than 300km out of a tank, you won't run out of fuel.
good luck with the trip, and if you need a place to crash in Adelaide, give me a call.
as vwtype2 says fan belt a few spare tyres "water" & the oil temp gauge
is a must for a kombi its connect to the dipstick not hard to fit in & as well
id take a clutch & accelerator cables as spares (90kl's an hr you will never overheat) have a good & safe trip p.s. dont forget camera for future pics to show wally
Thanks guys, it's sounding better and better. I will definitely be taking heaps of photos and keeping an eye out for dodgy guys in utes!
I also did some web searching and found this Q&A here (
http://www.lennysvw.com/vwforum.htm):
Q)I just got a 73 super Beetle this might be a dumb question but im wanting to know how far you can safely drive an air cooled bug in a days time. skip camas wa 11/14/2003
A)ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT LONG IF THE ENGINE IS PROPERLY TUNED BY A "GOOD TECHNICIAN." Older engines with some wear may require a heavier oil especially if you know you are driving long distances. Anybody that tells you otherwise is wrong. The Beetle was never a toy and always a real car. During the war Hitler used them with smaller engines in the frigid north because because they had no water to freeze and crack the block. Rommel used them in the hot deserts of North Africa once again because there was no water to leak out in a desert where there was no water tospare. What you need is an expert technician and you need to tell him that this not an around the town car so he won't over advance the ignition timing to gain more power only to run to hot. By this time your car should have a 009 distributor and probably a new carburetor. Lenny
We drove from Sydney to Perth (5000km+) in 6 days (not smart) in a 76 kombi...we fitted a sump temp sender unit (not dipstick unit) aftermarket oil cooler, rabbit ears(I think this is what there called) and slip-streamed a lot of semis:thumb
travelled at around 90km/h and never drove at night.
It was the best trip we have ever done and would do it again..
ps: when you arrive in Darwin, have the kombi serviced (tappets)
and have fun:thumb:thumb:thumb
[Edited on 22/4/2005 by phat rat]
yeh i think the main out of this is the 90k's ive always heard the
saying "keep the oil up & sit on 90 & it will run for ever"
wally
I drove my manx buggy from Cairns to Darwin in about 24hrs, the only drama was the road trains on that lovely little stretch past Mt Isa and some pretty intense sunburn
😎 but it ran like a dream all the way. A lot of poeple run the extra ears on there combis for extra cooling Don't know if they work or not but they couldn't be a bad thing!
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=72456&item=4544297819&rd=1Yep, don't be scared of travelling in a well tuned kombi.
Regular service, spares and tools + a workshop manual and you will be fine.
On our recent round Oz trip in our '77 (30,000km and 6 months) we meet a fellow traveller in WA in a '76 high top. He bought it in Sydney and had not done a single service on it. We saw him a number of times, the last was heading through NT, he had still not serviced it and it was still running fine.
I DON'T recomend it, but I'm sure there's plenty of kombi's that have survived similar abuse.
Enjoy the trip!
My bro drove his kombi from Perth to Canberra, then to Tumut. And 3 months later when he broke up with his gf he drove it back again ! (packed to the gunnels with crap).
It's sounding better and better!
I'm going to get some real-world figures for my fuel economy by driving to Sydney and Melbourne a few times before I head off to Darwin. But what should I expect? I did these calculations just to put the pricing into perspective:
As of today the cheapest Qantas flights from Canberra to Darwin are $320 (Virgin are $350) each way. My calculated fuel expenses at $10 for 100km is just over $800 TOTAL, so with two dudes that's $400 each return, then with 3 it's $266, with 4 it's $200, with 5 (probably best compromise between space and economy) it's $160, then if we got all 8 in it's only $100 each for a return trip to Darwin.
Is $10 for 100km a good figure round figure for a 2L, twin carb, 76 Kombi sitting on 90kph? Or can I expect better?
More weight = more juice use! But just take it easy on the ol girl and drive her at her speed, dont lug it, keep up on the oil, and regularly set/change points, clean/replace plugs, set timing and she should be sweet!😉
On my travels ive seen some busses that havent been serviced since Harold went for a swim, and they were still travelling - i certainly wouldnt recommend it, and it makes me cringe every time i hear a clapped out VW.
Id suggest a sump temp sender, for a more usable reading, but thats just me! Oh yeah and you'll need some water :thumb
Looks like everyone's suggested most things. Take some cable ties too, as they're always handy if your accelarator cable breaks. Take a collection of hose clamps too. Check your fuel line, and pack a FIRE EXTINGUISHER! A must have.
ashman wrote:Is $10 for 100km a good figure round figure for a 2L, twin carb, 76 Kombi sitting on 90kph? Or can I expect better?
That may be a tad ambitious but should be close enough. What has really killed my kombi's mileage on long trips are hills and head winds! (Did I mention an overweight right foot?)
take some sunscreen. with hands on the wheel the arm sticks out in the sunlight and goes lobster red whereas the rest of the body don't. this looks interesting...
take sunscreen, splash some on your arm every hr or 2 and you should be right.
early 60s beetle for sale - ex bush basher - spares - $100 or offers
Hunt around for a second spare, best thing you can pack.
Can only second mnsKmobi on the might be a tad ambitious, the price of fuel at some spots will make your eyes water! Makes it almost worth the hassel of carrying jerry cans.
When you see what the backpackers drive around in you'll think the Kombi is a limo!
lots and lots of water
survival manual
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I'd say it's impossible and don't believe a word anyone before has written on the subjet. Tommy rot.
simoninoz wrote:I'd say it's impossible and don't believe a word anyone before has written on the subjet. Tommy rot.
well theres only one way to find out, huh.
early 60s beetle for sale - ex bush basher - spares - $100 or offers
...no people do it all the time...you just have to plan and be sensible....Don't say no to that water when it's offered either...carry heaps if not for the car...for yourself....and fuel
Those two guys and their poor dog that perished last week...so bad....
BUT so many people do it
There's a group in Bendigo who go outback in their kombi's Desert Bug is one of the group but is on his journey up north...maybe u2u hiom and get contacts...I'm sure they would answer any questions
travelled at around 90km/h and never drove at night.
Definately sit on this speed, they'll just drive forever, and you'll love the fuel consumption even more.
Yeah and try not to drive at night, kombi's hate hitting roo's, cause usually the roo wins.
P.S - Take plenty of water, not for the kombi though!
have done a few long trips/ various vws
1300 bug with 7x5 box trailer sydney adelaide broken hill sydney, loaded to hilt, 50 miles an hour all day(except hills)definately no nights!
kombi ute adelaide perth via every little town in between, inc esperence and kalgoo....(914 porsche motor) 120km/h, there, 90km/h back, a/framing a split panel doubledoor loaded to the hilt!!!!.no nights!~
sydneyadelaideayers rock, tennant creek, mt isa etc stanthorpe... 50 mile an hour 1500cc bug, untill i let my mate drive and he proptly broke the engine.. "i was only doing 80!"..miles that is! engine patch in stanthorpe and back to sydney(by the way this was in 5 days..express trip!)
etc etc,
go slow! 90 is best fuel economy and best for engine!
dont put shit on the roof!( ie single cab gates on a bug)
take spares ,service the van and put new fuel lines in
dont drive at night, otherwise u might end up as roadkill!
have fun ,wish i was going!
*REMEMBER ITS NOT A RACE ITS JUST A LONG CRUISE*
kombi's don't like getting hot and I have towed plenty that have cooked their motors.. It always seems to be the number 3 cylinder and normally it's from being run for long periods non stop...
As a tow truck driver, the best advice I can offer is, stop every few hours and rest the motor for long enough to cool it down... maybe an external or remote oil cooler would be a good thing and possibly some sort of extra ducting to direct fresh air flow onto the engine...
best of luck....
I hate to admit it, but man, I think you're right....
not possible...
the center of australia is a huge lake that is very very deep and contains sharks, drop-bears and aboriginies with canoes.
no one has ever crossed and come out alive.
zac
MOB: 0423890217
zac_smits wrote:not possible...
the center of australia is a huge lake that is very very deep and contains sharks, drop-bears and aboriginies with canoes.
no one has ever crossed and come out alive.
zac
and Zombies, you forgot the zombies.
THe MC Bat Commander's motto: "Never do now, what you could do for 24 hours straight, all night, the night before."
whatever spares you take you probably wont need so take heaps as it wards off the breakdown demons
My List
fan belts
plugs
points
leads
fuel pump
fuel filter
condensor and coil
generator brushes
regulator
rocker cover gaskets
and adjustable push rod tube
Clutch and accelerator cables
If your keen install a deep sump and external oil filter and oil temp
Like i said if you have them you wont need them make sure the car is in good order before you go and have fun
Keeping it real !
to reiterate...
no it's not possible...
the center of australia is a huge lake that is very very deep and contains sharks, drop-bears (extremely dangerous!) and aboriginies with canoes, as well as zombies.
no one has ever crossed and come out alive. we are not sure how big it is and what else is in it..but travellers beware....
zac
MOB: 0423890217
G'day Ashman,
Yeah it can be done without to many hassles if you do your preparations right. Make sure the the engine bay seal is perfect (fit a new one if it isn't) and never drive with the engine lid open like a few missinformed Kombi owners i've seen up in the Top End as this causes the engine to run 5 - 10 degrees hotter, not cooler as they think. Check fuel lines and renew if any signs of weaping as the orig equip fabric covered lines tend to perish also the vacuum hoses from the manifold to the brake booster are made from the same stuff so replace them too. Put hose clamps on all ends of hoses and tie wire them to the bodies of the carby and pump as extra insurance.
I always carry 2 spare wheels because if you can't fix a puncture yourself it can be a long way between service centers, I always carry string plugs and a reasonable airpump and tyre pliers and tyre levers and rubber mallet.
The list Silver put up is a good guide for other bits if you are a reasonable DIYer and if not as long as you've got the bits ther's a chance someone will come along who will do it for you.
We've done over 13000ks in the last 9 months in the Desert Splitty mostly towing a loaded trailer. One thing to keep an eye on is the air cleaner and the connecting hoses particuarly if travelling on dirt roads.
Have a great trip,
Cheers, Ian.
Excentric (wife says) VW nut, having owned 250+ VWs in 40 years.
I went to nambucca via the northern territory once. Hmmm wouldnt be a good example for you because I died at My Isa. But if your kombi is a standard engine, and you dont attempt a land speed record you will be fine, and you wont need the extra fuel. Even with my turbo kombi trying to average 120 I never ran out of fuel. If you sat on 110 or 120 esp with a 2 litre box, you wont have any problems. 90kmh would be a very long trip.
I would fit a real bullbar, not one of those silly pipe things. The eagles are big, the emus bigger, the kangaroos even bigger, but the bloody cattle roaming around unfenced are friggin huge.
BTW there are no zombies but the yowies are quite fearsome.
[Edited on 24-4-2005 by amazer]
Chris.... kombi pilot, oval dreamer... finisher #26971 2005 city to surf
hey ashman, go south to north, you'll be doing the "inside lane" all the way round and therefore it'll be quicker, mite save you a bit of water.
i plan to live forever.....so far so good.
