Detroit to Alaska Adventure!

[Malokin Martin]

Love this thread.

[Jim Bear]

The word epic is often used too lightly and too often, but few words can describe this journey like epic can...maybe hardcore, but another oft used and taken for granted word. Nice work and you are now officially a different person than when you left. Good luck getting home and with future endeavors.
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"You're either on the bus, or you're off the bus." ~kk
'85 Vanagon Westy - George In the Stable 2020-?/'74 Weekender - Ophelia In the Stable 2007- ?/'69 Beetle Convertible - SOLD 2017-2020/'67 Beetle - September SOLD 2013-2016 /'67 SO42 Westy - Sage SOLD 1996-2001 /'69 Transporter - Baby Blue SOLD 1995-1995/'72 Westy - Nelly - SOLD 1990-1995--STOP FRACKING

[Wheelie Pete]

[Wheelie Pete]

I kept driving down the Alaskan highway backs towards Edmonton.

Everything became flat

Frankie wasnt having it

Traffic picked up, lanes widened

a few nice bridges

then downtown Edmonton

and back to Kevin's house!

Spent a day washing the bus, and helping Kevin on his bus. Since I left he took the front door off, and I offered him a hand welding his bus up and getting the door back on

His bus could be a candidate for Gerson doglegs, front clip, rockers, and what not, but there was a decent collision on this bus, and one panel replacement would quickly escalate into another panel, and another,.....

so we decided to fix what was there,

first was cracked a-pillar / hinge area

so I performed a little welding and grinding and it soon looked like the rest

next was the dog leg. I was able to cut out the rust, but that's where we stopped for the day

There were a 3 broken door screws, so we welded nuts to them and took them out. Soon a spare front door was on. Looks better already!

Tomorrow I'll head towards Calgary, visit Concept 1, and visit Mr. RiffRaff.

Next, I'll head south to Montana, and maybe visit Thermopolis, and maybe Jewel cave.

or I was thinking about driving through oil country in North dakota, via US 2. Haven't decided yet!

[cdennisg]

Williston ND has turned into a dusty, noisy pit of ugliness. I barely recognized it when i passed through a couple of years ago, having spent some family reunion time there in my youth of the 70's-80's.

Unless you want to see what pure unadulterated capitalism has wrought, I'd say steer clear. It would be an incredible contrast to where you have been and what you have seen recently, though.
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nothing

[BarryL]

How is re-entry? Thermopolis will make you

s l e e p y.

Good way to shake off the road, though.

[Wheelie Pete]

[Wheelie Pete]

The next day we arrived at Concept 1 in calgary.

Clean well stocked shop!

They work on everything here....

from these...

to these!

The owner, Ken took some time to show us around the shop. There were interesting things going on everywhere!

Then into the back room -

his car collection,

barndoor row!

Ken even took the time to show off his newest endeavor... -

reproduction 16" barndoor rims! He said he'll be making custom 15" crowsfoot bus rims next, followed by smoothie bug rims!!

Thanks for helping the hobby out, Ken!

Next, we drove across town to visit Western Canada's most congenial host, Mr Riff Raff! Most of you probably know him as the owner of this fine single cab!

He lent me a parking spot for the night, and he gave us a quick tour of his shop, including this newest acquisition

Beautiful car, and very very dry!

Keith just bought the vehicle, and it needed an inspection to register it. He didnt know how long it would be there, so we followed him to the shop in case he needed a ride back!

The folks at the shop made sure it was inspected properly!

On the way back, Ken suggested that I switch my valve covers to vented ones. I'm still losing a lot of oil, and from what I can tell, is that my 86mm crank is throwing it way higher and more violently than the stock 69mm crank does. One solution is a deep sump, and a lower oil level. However, venting it through the valve covers, where the splashing doesn't occur should help.

So I pulled the bus into the back of his shop,

and away we went!

Thanks Kieth! Hopefully this will help!!!

Soon after it was lunch time - so went on last impromptu cruise to lunch!

After that it was time to hit the road again!


Looks like I'll be headed East on US 2 towards Michigan!

[GDOG57]

86mm crank? You running a 2213cc motor? Great thread by the way,very interesting read.
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'57 oval window deluxe,Agave green(L240) 2276cc w/51.5 IDA's
'57 type 2 panel ( L31 dove blue) project daily driver,Singleport 1955cc
'69 Squareback (L30A Royal Red)

[Wheelie Pete]

[scottvw]

I would add at least a 1 1/4 qt sump. You need as much oil as you can given the long drives you are doing. You don't want to starve that motor at any point.

Great thread and pics!!!

[Wheelie Pete]

I left Calgary and head south to great falls. What a nice town - nice and clean, tons of vintage building / business signs, and it full of friendly folks. I recommend a stay if you ever can! The sip and dip mermaid tiki lounge is worth a visit!

The next morning I hit the road,

Made a few stops on the way -

Montana is gorgeous!

Soon after I was in North Dakota,

Past the grain towns,

Past the mile long trains

Into the evening

I picked up a stinky hitch hiker, who looked a lot cleaner than he smelled.
After talking to him for a while, I found out that he grew up two miles away from where I grew up! Small world!

This guy was a true traveling man - worked where ever he could - sugar beet harvest, road crews, whatever, a few months at a time. Then he would get back out there (usually by hopping train) to fine a new adventure.

He told me everything about hopping train that I'd ever want to know -

such as stay on the high lines (the trains transporting traillers) - because you can camp between the wheels or underneath the trailer fairings.

hop on at night when know one can see you,

and despite it being illegal, it's not always frowned upon, and he's run into several conductors /engineers that tell him exactly when and where to hop on!

He said plan on being on for a few days, and you'll always run into other train hoppers - in fact some guys are 70 years old still hopping trains!

And of course he said it was dangerous - people fall off (maybe when they're asleep) and die. Other people will lose limbs trying to hop on. Train wheels don't care! Be careful out there!

In any case, right before I dropped him off, I noticed my engine was only running sorta on 3 cylinders. Hmmmm - must be that distributor again. When I stopped for gas, I noticed it had a funny clinky noise. Nothing I've heard before,

So I took the valve covers off, and found this

You can't really see it, but thats a broken valve spring on exhaust cylinder #4.

10,000 miles since new. .470 lift" Mostly steady state driving around 3000 rpms.

So I went to home depot to find a replacement

It'll keep my valve in place! I removed the two pushrods which gives me 3 cylinders. Only 1100 miles left! Which valve spring will break next??

[cdennisg]

There are folks in Fargo and Minnesota that may be able to help with a new spring.
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nothing

[BulliBill]

[nlorntson]

He has a PM.

[Wheelie Pete]

[Wiggy]

Awesome stuff
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Kevin "Wiggy"

My 58 Ghia Vert

My 51 Split 11G

My 57 Deluxe

My 56 Oval

[Clara]

[Wheelie Pete]

Starting a thread is a commitment. Starting an adventure thread is a real commitment. The best part of starting a thread is sharing your successes! The worst part is showing your failures. I've been honest with my thread -there are a few break downs and a few mistakes that I omitted, but the samba community can only handle so much! I'm sitting here in a bar in indian river - the bar maid just let frankie dog loose in the bar.

I should be at home. Today was the last day I was supposed to drive. Today is the last day I drive. I'm 263 miles away from home. 2. 6. 3. miles. I traveled over 10000 miles. Multiple breakdowns, roll -over, engine fire (sorry couldn't talk about everything!!), just incredible and and incredibly lucky goofy shit happening over and over -to the point where neither my camera or words could do it justice - here's the bartender from the last bar. He does Elvis impersonations on the side. Who can make this stuff uP??

I spent last night in a hotel. Shaved. Clean underwear. I borrowed some cologne so I would smell proper. I even washed the mighty one!! I was well prepared for my triumphant return!!!!!

I was able to do 50 / 60 all day on three cylinders - no problem

600 miles all day yesterday,....

300 miles today....

roads were wet when I left,

and turned sunny later on!

I crossed the Mighty Mac!!!

and then without warning - just a flapping sound that sounded like a broken fan belt. No warning. No telltale sound. The end. The end. The end.

The cylinder with the broken spring crapped out on me. Hole in the cylinder. Idk what else i broken - it was still running when I turned it off. Not sure what happened - maybe the temporary spring came lose, and jammed up the cylinder. Temporary is rarely permanent.

I walked down the road

caught a ride into town

borrowed a phone, called a tow truck.....

and tonight I reside here. In the tow lot. Sigh.

I was hoping for a triumphant return to town with a rolled over 3 cylinder bus!

Alas, it is not to be!! Tail between my legs - Laughing stock of town! Follow the oil trail to the mighty one! I must resort to finding a different way home!!

So here I sit at the bar! Definitely feeling sorry for for the mighty one. I can not help but shed a tear!!! Tomorrow is another day. Tomorrow is a another day!!

[mandraks]

a sad day, but a great adventure! what are you going to do with all the lessons learned...
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regards

Uli

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'53 3-Fold Oval, L35 Metallic Blue, looking for a narrow hatch panel