Club 80-90 Forums

OK, so I'm preparing for a little roadtrip to the Middle East / India / China... and I am trying to plan what I should take in the way of spare parts. I'm not super engine savvy so I would probably search a man that can if anything happend but I know that if I already have some the basic parts on hand it could save me a lot of hassle.

Can anyone recommened some things that I would be wise to buy here before I leave?

And if anyone has any other non engine related tips these would be welcome as well!

Thanks loads.

I ought to have mentioned that I have a 1.6TD.

How many miles is on the engine? Oil and filter change Check gearbox for oil level .Take spare VW expansion cap test fan switch temp sensor on rad.

Well, it reads 260000km but it got a new reconn'd engine just last summer so...

Just to say whatever spares you do take, make sure you take the tools with you to do the repair. Other than the usual belts and bulbs, take hoses, clips and a big roll of gaffa tape.

mate, im not trying to be funny or owt, BUT if you need to ask questions like that, may i suggest a world tour is out of your technical boundries. people who travel 1000s of miles by road need to be "in tune" with vehicle mechanics!! your LIFE depends on it. the far east is not in the "AA" recovery area and a little mechanical bodgery(wizardry) maybe called for by yourself 500 miles from the nearest goat, in 120degree heat.
ps, not all people in the world are as humane as we in the west.(i speak from experience)!!

mate, im not trying to be funny or owt, BUT if you need to ask questions like that, may i suggest a world tour is out of your technical boundries.


Great support!!!! If you stand about to long and think about it....you wont go.

Im sure these are wise words... But Just go for it

That said ,get the van up 2gether. Have a good one. Sherlock

Thanks sherlock. Road trips are not exclusively available to people who know how to fix engines. I have already driven 11'000 miles around America and something similar in Europe and I am very sure that I can handle most places. I'm not a mechanic so if something goes wrong it will cost me more money and time but isn't that true wherever I am? I am just trying to be sensible and prevent long delays because I know that VW parts are not as common in many places.

Of course I could buy a LandRover and kit it out with roll bars, GPS and paint it cammo with stickers saying 'Camal', I guess that is more the style of some people, but is all that really so important? My friend has driven through Africa three times in cars that cost her less than £200 and she knows less than me.

At the end of the day I'm not stupid, I know not to take risks and my co-driver drives an ambulance for a living so, whilst we won't be swapping out the cambelt in the middle of the dessert, we will be safe. Oh, and we'll have a great time too.

Don't get eaten by while u wait for the AA man. Maybe try stripping the engine & box out once or twice before you leave, just so you know how, or maybe replace the front & rear wheel bearings for a little practice. Good luck, enjoy.

In the 60-70s hippies set out for 'Nirvana' in all sorts of weird and wonderfull vehicles, some made it across to the land of their pipe dreams, others fell by the wayside, I'm sure 99% of them had no mechanical knowledge, but they went non-the-less. The VW is well known in many parts of the world, so fixing it shouldn't be a big problem.

Go for it, and may I wish you the very best of luck.

From an envious Tex Ritter.

yes, stripping and rebuilding a spare moter a few times is a good idea get on a college course etc. ive driven around america, russia, poland, iraq, kuwait (broken down in a minefield) and all of europe and im no mechanic but if i holed a piston or wasted a crank oilseal i would know what to look for etc etc, what you need to think about is china, india and the countries you need to cross to get there is not relatively freindly USA or EUROPE. in the present climate of hostility toward westerners you may aswell drive around with a target on your van ?? robbery with violence etc. are you profficient in underwater knife fighting ? (joke).......... we want to good stories not horror on your return

It would be a good idea to replace your cambelts before you go
and have a very thorough service.
I would add a starter motor, alternator,fuel pump,fuel filter. Air filter for the dusty/sandy conditions out there.Rad weld,radiator hoses,I would remove the thermostat. Cable ties come in handy also hose clips and duck tape. Flexible brake hoses.If yours has a hydraulic clutch then I would take a spare slave cylinder.

If I think of any more I will add to it.
Good luck Richie

The list is not endless, but pretty long......
I would..
Ensure that it has had a really good service and inspection by somone that knows aboutt hese vehicles.. (Another plug for Brickworks) telling him what trip is intended..
consider new disca nd wheel bearings as they will be difficult to get not matter where you are..
full set of quality belts, a supply of oil and air filters and prob at least 1 change worth of oil..
get the cv joints either replaced or at least regreased/booted as required
Change the oil in the gearbox..
flush the rad (consider a quality replacement) and ensure the thermostat and fan are working (gen VW stat)

The idea is to minimise the potentials ..

then there are the sensible things like a protection plate for the gearbox/engine, as you may well encounter some rough roads.. and a good set of quality van rated tyres..
the list goes on...
Preperation is the key..

It might be worth getting some heavy chain from passenger door to drivers .Keep all doors locked travelling through parts of spain and eastern europe and the extra security with the chain.There are road gangs that will force entry on the pretence of a road accident you may stop for.

eyup duck,i personally would pack a st chistopher,a rabbits foot,a lucky gonk,some newky brown and some bog roll!,then jump in n go.............