Thank you for the brief history of the Victory school. Although I enjoy exploring and photographing them, it is a bit sad to see all the ruins and dying towns throughout the Great Plains, especially ones that you had a personal connection to.
Texas to California and back in a formerly derelict 1966 VW Beetle
- Thread starter slowlane
- Start date
Thank you for the brief history of the Victory school. Although I enjoy exploring and photographing them, it is a bit sad to see all the ruins and dying towns throughout the Great Plains, especially ones that you had a personal connection to.
Heading out for another cross-country trip with the '66 VW
Well my grand plans of traveling the country living out of my '85 Chevrolet C20 came to an abrupt halt all of 4 days before departure. Over the past week or so it developed a bad wrist pin knock in the number 5 piston. So the '66 VW is going back in action at the last minute. I filed and gapped the points, adjusted the timing and valve lash, changed the oil, aired up the spare tire, dug out my tent and sleeping bag and am getting ready to head out on Monday for 2 months on the road. I am a bit bummed because I sunk time and money into the truck getting new tires, a bed cap, and building a sleeping platform. Oh well, I am looking forward to another, albeit impromptu, VW adventure. I'll make sure to do a report after the trip is over.
Well my grand plans of traveling the country living out of my '85 Chevrolet C20 came to an abrupt halt all of 4 days before departure. Over the past week or so it developed a bad wrist pin knock in the number 5 piston. So the '66 VW is going back in action at the last minute. I filed and gapped the points, adjusted the timing and valve lash, changed the oil, aired up the spare tire, dug out my tent and sleeping bag and am getting ready to head out on Monday for 2 months on the road. I am a bit bummed because I sunk time and money into the truck getting new tires, a bed cap, and building a sleeping platform. Oh well, I am looking forward to another, albeit impromptu, VW adventure. I'll make sure to do a report after the trip is over.
Well the day is here and the VW is packed up to go. It will be interesting to see how two months of living out of a VW Beetle will pan out. I am not taking a computer along so I will do a full report when I return mid-August.
The VW and I ready to set off.
DSCF5750 by louiethespelunker, on Flickr
Pretty basic packing job. Food, propane grille, and clothes are on back seat. Tent and sleeping stuff behind the seat. Spare parts and tools under the hood. water and other stuff on the front floor.
DSCF5748 by louiethespelunker, on Flickr
DSCF5749 by louiethespelunker, on Flickr
See you in August!
The VW and I ready to set off.
DSCF5750 by louiethespelunker, on FlickrPretty basic packing job. Food, propane grille, and clothes are on back seat. Tent and sleeping stuff behind the seat. Spare parts and tools under the hood. water and other stuff on the front floor.
DSCF5748 by louiethespelunker, on Flickr
DSCF5749 by louiethespelunker, on FlickrSee you in August!
ifixpc
Observer
I really enjoyed your report.
I'm a VW guy myself, however never got to own a beetle, yet.
It's great to see that big trips can be done with smaller efforts. Just like the others said, "no fridge, no 4x4, no fancy shmancy stuff" and it's still doable.
Best of all trip well planned with no gps, but regular maps. I remember when I was 18 I took my first road trip with only a map and went from NJ to mid WI.
It's not hard and more enjoyable to plan out a trip and use maps along.
I'm looking forward to your next report!
I'm a VW guy myself, however never got to own a beetle, yet.
It's great to see that big trips can be done with smaller efforts. Just like the others said, "no fridge, no 4x4, no fancy shmancy stuff" and it's still doable.
Best of all trip well planned with no gps, but regular maps. I remember when I was 18 I took my first road trip with only a map and went from NJ to mid WI.
It's not hard and more enjoyable to plan out a trip and use maps along.
I'm looking forward to your next report!
Last edited:
justcuz
Explorer
Love to see the last trip report too.
You mentioned checking the timing quite frequently. I've owned several bugs and the points and the fuel pump pins were more of a concern than timing.
I used to replace the bug shifter with a Karmann Ghia shifter, it was much more comfortable.
Those bugs were truly a versitlle car, I never hesitated going down any dirt road with mine and it seldom got stuck.
When it did it was easy to jack up and shove some more dirt or rocks in the holes and putter out of them.
My favorite bug was my 1958 that was an oxidized salmon color, with a sunroof.
You mentioned checking the timing quite frequently. I've owned several bugs and the points and the fuel pump pins were more of a concern than timing.
I used to replace the bug shifter with a Karmann Ghia shifter, it was much more comfortable.
Those bugs were truly a versitlle car, I never hesitated going down any dirt road with mine and it seldom got stuck.
When it did it was easy to jack up and shove some more dirt or rocks in the holes and putter out of them.
My favorite bug was my 1958 that was an oxidized salmon color, with a sunroof.
voodootruckers
New member
Any updates?
'round n' back again
Explorer
bamboozelled by a beauty in beaufort
scalped by a skin walker in tsegi
over run by a flock of flightless fowl in farmington,
last i heard he set up shop in cisco utah as the town's vw mechanic.
there was rumor he was opening a branch in taos, in john muirs old shop.
but thats just gossip.....
honestly this write up is a delightful mix of
zen and the art, and muirs idiots guide. how much fun can one fellow have?
scalped by a skin walker in tsegi
over run by a flock of flightless fowl in farmington,
last i heard he set up shop in cisco utah as the town's vw mechanic.
there was rumor he was opening a branch in taos, in john muirs old shop.
but thats just gossip.....
honestly this write up is a delightful mix of
zen and the art, and muirs idiots guide. how much fun can one fellow have?
unkamonkey
Explorer
I see the joke. I've been through Cisco UT many times and have never seen a VW there. Taos, I could believe...
Yeah, I drove a Bug for many years.
Yeah, I drove a Bug for many years.