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500 Miles in a bus bought sight unseen. Long!

 
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MintyBus



Joined: 15 Jan 2010
Posts: 17
Location: Royston, GA


PostPosted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 12:48 pm    Post subject: 500 Miles in a bus bought sight unseen. Long! Reply with quote

The subject line alone should lead you to think I'm a damn fool!.....nuff said there.

I found MintyBus on the Samba.....A toothpaste blue '71 and she was a beauty. (note: the PO is a professional photographer) Didn't know that until I got out of the airport taxi at his STUDIO! Ever heard that a good photographer can make poo on a stick look good? Ok, my bus is not that bad but those were some damn fine pictures if I've ever seen any.

His definition of "surface rust" differs from mine to such a degree that I can't help but come to the conclusion that one of us is dead wrong. I ain't me! Also, the words "small" and "insignificant" fall outside his realm of true comprehension. Alternatively...,.he friggin lied! Thankfully, I've gotten past the anger state and choose to believe he is just an ignorant SOB. He claimed to not know what body filler/Bondo is, even.

As for the first leg of the trip, you ask? First, my name is on every watch list known to modern man. Airport security froths at the mouth whenever they scan my passport. I could explain why but that's for another day. When you folks see me you will certainly wonder why anyone is afraid of me. I am belligerently questioned, searched, and generally harassed before every flight I stupidly choose to take. Even arriving two and a half hours early in anticipation of the requisite brow beating; they drag things out until I miss my flight. Whatever... I scan my boarding pass and catch a seat on the next flight to my destination....4 hours later! The flight goes smoothly but I arrive at my destination minutes before total darkness...the absolute worst time to inspect anything obviously.

Ultimately, we get the paperwork done and I begin leg two of the trip from hell. I get some fuel two blocks away where I am accosted by the first police officer of the ride. I have no tag as GA will only let you register a vehicle if you have the title or have the vehicle inspected by a "peace officer" to verify the VIN along with a bill of sale.....really hard to do over such a long distance. I had all the proper paperwork by this time so just a bit of gentle ribbing about looking a bit haggered, driving a 40 year old VW bus with no tags. He was a nice enough gentleman but this should have been a clue as to what was on the horizon for me and my bus.

The next stop was not more that 30 minutes later on I-75. I cuss profusely for a minute, pull over, and shut the bus down........big mistake! I very conveniently learn that Minty does NOT like to start when hot. Add to that revelation that this is the first carbed vehicle I have ever owned and you have a recipe for sitting on the side of an interstate until things are cool enough to crank back up....about half an hour. I'm in central Florida and let me speed up the story by stating that I am stopped three more times before I hit the GA border. Each time, I had to wait the prescribed amount of time before the bus would again spring to life. It is now well into the middle of the night and cold as brass balls. Remember the weather about two weeks ago? I have no heater! I knew that and prepared by UPSing down a few boxes of provisions including insulated coveralls, gloves, and this cool muskrat hat I got in Russia a few years back. I drew the line at actually wearing the balaclava I had.

Even so, you should be getting the image by now. Dressed to hunt...probably people. Been up nearly 24 hours and my eyes are gray and bloodshot, 24 hour beard....the works! Plus, the bus is packed with boxes of clothes, tools, and obligatory spare parts for a long distance VW trip: all still sealed up except the one that contained the lifesaving garb I was wearing. I am so suspicious that I start to question myself.

The final police harassment before entering GA netted me some useful information and some help traveling through South GA. I thanked the officer for stopping me pointing down a hill. He laughed, lightened up, and listened to a bit of my story of the past half a day. The best part....he showed my carb ignorant ass how to start a hot engine! I fully admit to being a dyed in the wool EFI guy. Holding the pedal to the floor and turning the key is completely against my core mechanical beliefs....but on a carbed, air-cooled VW it is the ticket to nirvana. He also threw me a bone and radioed the GSP across the border that I had all the proper documents.

Thus; I was left to tear-ass through South Georgia with no issues whatsoever. Except what sounded like a fan that was about to grenade. Found the shroud suspiciously missing a few fasteners that were there before, I swear. What? I brought wire! I did the deed and got it mostly centered ...just a sharp squeal that I could not "tune" out with the baling wire remained. It was a terrible, terrible sound but the fan was blowing huge amounts of air and I could feel no heat from contact friction so I traveled on to Tifton. This must be where the South GA GSP territory ends 'cause the Central GA GSP boys were on to me like stink on a shart.

The next stop reveled that the mill would no longer idle at all. I pull over, blue lights flashin' behind me. By the time the wind noise cacophony had subsided I had gone through a protracted but nearly instant process of discovery. She had died! The force on the brake pedal required to haul down the beast was my first clue. By this time, I had gotten pretty efficient at having my documents ready and in the proper order to speed up the requisite harassment and I was released to go in no time flat.

At this time, I decided to get off the interstate so I took 82 east over to 441. OK, now I'm starting to feel like I'm in familiar territory. I did a stint at low speed to cool the heads a little then shut her down to peruse the engine compartment for issues. Flashlight only here and it was dying fast. I had about five minutes to look around as best I could and found no obvious issues. Pulled dizzy cap, checked plug wires, pulled and inspected two plugs....all looked OK. Then, the inevitable. No more light. So, I got in and devised a system of left foot braking after putting it in neutral...all the while feathering the throttle to keep it chugging. By this time I was tired, very cold, very pissed off...which, in my particular case always leads me to a place of uncaring abandon. I was then prepared to do whatever it took to get home before daylight. If the engine died, so what. The only fear that remained in my head was fire. I was pretty sure the engine was getting fairly warm and the PO had placed the fuel filter deadass over the header. Whatever. I have a classic vehicle policy on the bus so if it burns I'll at least get my money back.

I was stopped one more time in Brockton, Brockville, Brockshire, something like that. This cop looked about eight and wanted nothing other than to look at the bus. He'd only seen them in pictures and on TV. That was pretty cool I guess but it wasted more precious time. Apparently, the VW bus is super rare in that part of the world.

I finally made it home at 12:00pm, a full 36 hours after leaving. I had not slept and had taken only one and half meals. I was shot! The four quarts of water I bought at the first gas stop probably saved my life.

But, me and the bus made it in one piece. I suspect the engine is close to letting go but I'd like to be wrong about that. It's an 1835cc so it's not the best combination anyway. I'm used to Mercedes parts pricing so even a new engine for a VW seems stupid cheap and that is on the docket for the not too distant future even if the old 1835 can be resurrected for a time.

I'm bringing it to Kingpins on Feb. 7th for all to see but here is a decent shot of Minty.




Thanks for taking the time to read this long story. I feel better just having put it all into words.

Sam
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Jon
Site Admin


Joined: 01 Jun 2006
Posts: 2421
Location: Bishop GA

1969 Volkswagen Type 3

PostPosted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 9:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Your story is entertaining to read, but I'm glad I didn't live it. Cool Thanks for posting it. We will get you fixed up and rolling. It is a good looking bus and in the long run you'll be glad you have it despite your first journey.
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Mountain Power House



Joined: 26 Jul 2006
Posts: 879
Location: Aircooled Heaven USA


PostPosted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 10:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
I'm used to Mercedes parts pricing so even a new engine for a VW seems stupid cheap and that is on the docket for the not too distant future even if the old 1835 can be resurrected for a time.


I might know a guy you could call :-)

Good to hear the sticker shock won't send you to the Hospital!
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71_georgia_beetle



Joined: 28 Mar 2008
Posts: 440
Location: Grayson, GA

1974 Volkswagen Westfalia

PostPosted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 3:12 pm    Post subject: Re: 500 Miles in a bus bought sight unseen. Long! Reply with quote

MintyBus wrote:

Ever heard that a good photographer can make poo on a stick look good?

HEY! I resemble that remark.
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MintyBus



Joined: 15 Jan 2010
Posts: 17
Location: Royston, GA


PostPosted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 2:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I certainly don't hate the bus because of the wild trip. It did give us time to bond if nothing else. Funny thing is; I've only been stopped by a traffic cop once previously in my life and I didn't get a ticket then. I now have a comparatively vast knowledge base where law enforcement is concerned and let me say that my level of respect has fallen through the floor. Aren't there better things for them to be doing? I see things all the time that make me want to get out of the car and flog someone........but there is never a cop within sight. Where has the night watchman/protect and serve style of policing gone? Oh, right! It went away with what was our great democratic republic form of government. Any other anti-socialists here?

Jake, you'll be seeing an order sometime soon. I get all jacked out of shape every time I look at the art on your site. My first goal is to get her "dried in" though. Can't see spending money on something that wants to rust like an old bucket.

Glenn, Speaking of photography; I got myself a Nikon D40X for Christmas and I know as much about photography as VW's. I seem to like jumping into things whole hog and playing catch up. There's just something about a good challenge.

Sam
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Mountain Power House



Joined: 26 Jul 2006
Posts: 879
Location: Aircooled Heaven USA


PostPosted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 9:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Good idea... We'll be ready when you are.
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Jake Raby
57 Oval
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66 Bug -The Plague Returns!
73 VW Thing (Will I ever finish it?)
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76 Porsche 912E (X3!)
79 VW Iltis 4X4
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