Potential of VW BUS (T1) - Fast on the freeway?

My bus is the slowest car on the freeway. But what is the real potential of VW Bus if you modify it? I can only drive my bus at 45 ~50 mph comfortably. Can you drive your bus at 65 ~ 70 mph for 6 hours? I followed 2 buses that can run fast on the freeway. We were driving to Terryville Bug-A-Fair car show in Connecticut.
Chapters
00:05 Introduction
00:32 Heading to Terryville Bug-A-Fair in CT
00:43 Map to destination
01:13 Meeting with 2 VW friends and start driving with their VW Buses
02:07 Start driving on the free way with 2 VW Buses
03:03 T1 Buses can pass slower cars
03:29 How slow my 1961 bus on the free way (45~50 mph on the free way)
04:03 Reduction Gear Boxes make the bus slow...?
04:09 Casey's bus with bigger engine
04:16 Todd's bus with 1641 cc engine
04:32 Driving on a bridge
05:04 Off the freeway and drive local highway
05:10 Porsche 356 passing us
05:48 Break at the Gas Station
06:24 Driving up hill no problem! Mountain Roads
06:39 My bus can't climb uphill
07:04 Covered Bridge
07:41 Driving through Small Town in Connecticut
08:21 Arrive at camp ground
08:45 Camp Fire
09:02 Camper Buses (meeting people)
09:47 Brazilian Bus
09:59 VW Bus with mural painting
10:48 Euro Van
Music：
3Chords Symphony by Anonyment (anonyment.com/f...)
おどれグロッケンシュピール by Sharou (dova-s.jp/_con...)
Past-Y
Suit of Blue by Anonyment (anonyment.com/f...)
Time to Relax by MFP (Marron Fields Production) (www.marronfiel...)
Reborn by Kei Morimoto (www.keimorimot...)
#volkswagen #Aircooled #VW #空冷ワーゲン #vwbus #ワーゲンバス #splitbus #ワーゲン #ワーゲンイベント #Volkswagenbus #ワーゲン #vwsplit #MangoBus #splitscreen #CarShow
#空冷ワーゲンイベント ＃ワーゲン・カーショー #aircooledvw​ #ClassicVWCarShow #旧車​ #ビンテージカー​ #クラシックカー​ #ClassicCar #VWBusLife

[@jamie-r2034]

I was a little worried taking my bus on longer trips at first because I can't go that fast either (50-60mph at the most). I learned to avoid highways and take all back roads. Yes, it may take me a few extra minutes (or hours. lol) but the backroads are amazing. I can take my time & look at the beautiful scenery too.

[@VWBusLife]

Thank you Jamie. You have a nice camper. I love the blue-green color of your bus. I used to drive only local way, then when I tried to drive freeway, I found it was much easier to drive. Mainly because I don't need to use brake so much. Unlike T2 bus like yours, old T1's brakes are not so good. On the local way, we never know when we have to stop. This is the video of my first time driving on Freeway: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYLViKeXp5ung6M If I was by myself driving on freeway just around 45 to 55 mph is not bud. Only thing I don't like is that I can't drive with other VWs. They can drive much faster and I can't keep up. Also If I push too long it would overheat. I hope I can see you in VW shows somewhere this year. Take care. - Toshi Tagawa

[@baxterscientific]

Its not the reduction boxes. It is your ring and pinion. To travel on highway with the vw aircooled motor not going beyond 3500 rpm you need a 3.44 ring and pinion with .89 4th gear. You can keep your reduction boxes. "Mike Fn garage" has many videos discussing this. You cannot do this with a stock 1600 motor as it does not have enough torque. You need a motor that makes on low end 80hp. I own a 67 bus and live in RI. I have been going to the Terryville show since 2000. The best thing you can do for your bus is disc brakes in front and the 3.44 ring and pinion with bug .89 fourth gear. It will drive like a more modern vehicle and the engine and fan wont be over revving. If you need parts I recommend "Eddie and Daves " garage in Cali. Great service and very knowledgable about buses. Fast shipping and again great service for anything VW. Cool video love your bus!!!

[@VWBusLife]

Thank you very much for great information. My RGB has a lot of play and leaking oil form left side axle. I changed the seals but still leaking. So I am thinking to remove it. But it takes $$$ to replace whole back end, and I have to lower the front as well. Thank you for telling me about Eddie and Dave's Garage. I found their website. I will check what they have. I hope to see you next year in the car show. Thank you for everything.

[@b.chuchlucious5471]

I agree with Neil, you can keep the reduction boxes as long as they are the 'Big Nut' (46mm axle nut '64-67' era). The early 36mm axle nut boxes are going to spin your engine too fast at high speeds. I run a 3.88/.82 gear box and it does fine with the later reduction boxes. Gambatte!

[@ANDRE-VW]

Hi Toshi, greatings from Brazil !!! I know well your feeling about your bus, I have a 65 brazilian bus, with a 1200cc 36hp engine, 6 volts and reduction boxes in an original gearbox. It's very very slow, like an old turtle with three legs. But your 61 bus is perfect, beautiful model. Great color, great interior, great engine. I have many friends with buses and bugs with 36hp engine and they road a lot, with no problems. They just "respect" their engine limitations, and go slow. Great video Toshi, congratulations my friend !!!!!

[@VWBusLife]

Thank you for watching from Brazil! I can't imagine running 1200cc bus. It may be difficult to drive on highway. I agree to respect what it is. But I want to drive with other VWs also. Thank you for watching.

[@stevecanyon23]

Thanks a lot for the gorgeous views throughout. Splittie Bus butts forever! Greetings from a '77 T2b Westy driver (1600cc 'AS' engine), love them T1s though. well, one day ...

[@VWBusLife]

Thank you. Westy is nice. 77 T2 must be strong and reliable to drive. Thank you for watching.

[@DanTheManIOM]

My 67 goes like yours 45-50. Yea, 5 hours to go 180 miles...my friend Dave and I went to that same show, it was so windy, tent camping sucked...the breakfast sandwiches were so good and yea, it was cold.

[@VWBusLife]

I see, so the stock bus goes around 45 ~ 50... Were you there that night? It was cold and raining. I was glad that I had a hotel room that night.

[@HongKongFD2]

Other than the reduction gear and engine displacement, it's better to soup up your engine by dual carbs, high performance valve train, larger tires, an additional oil sump and MSD to max out your motor. Guess it all depends on how much you want to invest in your bus.

[@VWBusLife]

My engine has dual Kadron carbs. But not sure what's inside the engine... Thank you for watching.

[@harryfaoki]

Hi, Toshi-san! I watched your video! I miss US-road way in New York area. And your vehicle is so wonderful. Way to go!

[@VWBusLife]

Thank you very much for watching my video, Harry! I hope some day I can use your music on my video.

[@95clubman]

I just love your video's, i'm sure that you were sad not having your bus there I know that I would have been, looking forward to more of your content, happy new year from Australia and please keep the video's coming, cheers Greg

[@VWBusLife]

Thank you Greg for encouraging me from Australia! I will keep making more videos.

[@SkaterStimm]

1979 年のウェストファリアと 1968 年のダブルキャブの 2 台のフォルクスワーゲン バスがあります。 彼らは素晴らしい趣味です。

[@VWBusLife]

Thank you for watching. I saw your camper shot with 360 camera, cool.

[@geofftonks8960]

Interesting video. Thank you for the effort.

[@VWBusLife]

Thank you. Your train home video is very interesting.

[@stanfordkoch1271]

My T2a lowerd bus with a subaru wrx engine can do 80 to 90 mph with no problem fot hours, has a 914 5 speed gearbox

[@VWBusLife]

It is so nice to have Subaru engine and 5 Speed gearbox!

[@SUBDUB67]

Yes I can confirm that, my 2lt 2004 Subaru Impreza engine in my 67 makes it so much more reliable, generally cruise at 70 miles per hour. Just have to be very careful of other drivers etc, 😅

[@ausmartin1]

The engines are definitely high output & torque to perform like that without reduction T2 wheel gear boxes.

[@VWBusLife]

I was wondering about that. The blue bus has 1600cc engine but it is as fast as the yellow one that has over 2000cc engine.

[@jamesmorris7074]

Event near my home-old home.

[@VWBusLife]

Were you there? or you moved far away...? Thank you for watching.

[@callalilycollective]

got a custom license plate from on my bay window that says "I cant drive 55, literally I cant" 53 is about it's fastest happy speed, can get up to like 58 or even 60 if really pushing it.

[@VWBusLife]

I didn't know the bay window bus is slow like that.

[@callalilycollective]

@@VWBusLife I don’t know about bays in general, but my bay is definitely that slow. It does have undersized tires on it from the former owner. Though quick napkin math shows I’ll only gain about 2 mph putting the correct size on.

[@raulsaavedraviolante4350]

@@VWBusLife That's because they are heavier and the gearing was designed for torque, not higher speeds. The 2000cc VW Bus T2 from later years was capable to travel at 75-78 miles per hour, provided the engine was in excellente condition and its air cooling system did not malfunction.

[@harryloibl5183]

We like our bus also, we reside in Australia so we get hot summers but with the overheating issue you mentioned you have a reduction drive but I would copy your mates blue kombi and also what we do is also add a extra oil cooler with a electric fan😊😊😊, keep on vw an and God bless you

[@VWBusLife]

Thank you SO much for watching from Australia!

[@harryloibl5183]

@@VWBusLife cool 😎 it’s good to have a hobby, it helps keep the marbles in your head , you don’t want them on the floor slipping on them😊👍

[@andgate2000]

Just remember...theres only 1/8 sheet steel and dodgy brakes between you and a head on.

[@VWBusLife]

Yah... We need to be really careful. Thank you for watching and your comment.

[@jeffdbaker71]

Great video

[@VWBusLife]

Thank you very much for watching.

[@raulsaavedraviolante4350]

I've known of some VW Bus T1 owners that ditched the smaller displacement engines for a 1600, retrofitted them with pistons from a fuel injected model and added electronic ignition. The difference in torque was noticeable and made up for a far better acceleration and less struggling on hills. Perhaps its top speed was not that higher, but the modifications allowed the bus to be driven with less strain. All of that provided that the fuel system, carburetor and engine itself were in perfect working order. One of those owners did change the gear box and its top end increased to 78+ miles. Although traveling at that speed is not recommended. In my point of view, 50 miles with the smaller engine is good enough (driving in backroads) and 60 to 68 miles with the 1600.

[@VWBusLife]

Thank you very much. That is ideal for me. I don't mind driving around 50mph if I was driving by myself. But when I drive with other VWs it will be a problem. They are going over 60 mph all the time... I hope I can update my transmission soon. Thank you for watching and giving me a comment.

[@raulsaavedraviolante4350]

@@VWBusLife My pleasure. Thank you for your kind words.

[@geofftonks8960]

We’re renovating a Kombi now. But. Our current camper van is a modern unit and can easily travel freeway and for hours and hours. But we most often drive the “back roads” because they’re so much more interesting. And time is secondary to our trip concerns.

[@VWBusLife]

I agree, driving back road slow is nice with bus. It will be nice if I could drive my bus long distance without overheating. Thank you for watching and supporting me. Have a happy bus life.

[@geofftonks8960]

@@VWBusLife I’m wondering why you can’t drive it without overheating. Is there something wrong with it?

[@VWBusLife]

@@geofftonks8960 Something is wrong, I suspect it is cooling system. I need to take the engine off and see what is going on with the shroud. But I couldn't do that yet. It came with the after market shroud. Who knows what's inside...

[@geofftonks8960]

You've said what I was suspecting, these motors need all the tin, all the original tin and in place correctly to keep cool. @@VWBusLife

[@heliocezarcostadossantos5063]

Bom dia

[@VWBusLife]

Good morning to you too. Thank you for watching.

[@robertvose7310]

1641 with twins and a mild cam makes a big difference..

[@VWBusLife]

Thank you. Good to know twin carbs and 1641 cc can make a difference.

[@robertvose7310]

cute kids- my 66 i try not to drive the freeway but will run 65 miles per hour but prefer 55...

[@VWBusLife]

I prefer 50mph, 55 feels pushing. On freeway, I don't need to stop often, that is the good point for driving on freeway. Thank you for your comment. And thank you for watching.

[@dbk_kvd]

Great video, you seem like such a nice person I love the van its a piece of history for sure

[@VWBusLife]

Thank you very much!

[@yoshinoyajones8924]

Ohaio Toshi san. Jeffu desu. Is your engine stock? I will have to watch all your videos before I comment. choto mate.

[@VWBusLife]

Hi Jeff san, I didn't work on the engine myself, when I bought I was told that it is 1600cc. It has dual ports and Kadron carbs on it. It is 12V.

[@yoshinoyajones8924]

@@VWBusLife I had same on my 65 camper, but I had big nut transmission so taller gears from 67 bus. I cruised 65 mph often. Your bus is 60' early 61'. if so you have one year only nose cone on your trans, so if you change it for no reduction boxes KEEP that nose cone They are hard to find. Well I love your bus! Utskushi Ne!! I miss my old busses, I had a few. Now I just have my 70 Baywindow daily driver. also 1600 dp with dual kadrons. love the videos. Mata ne

[@VWBusLife]

@@yoshinoyajones8924 Thank you very much for precious information. I didn't know 1961 had one year only nose cone. I have to research about that. Nice to hear that you use your bay window as daily driver. Where do you live? How does 1970 bus run with 1600cc engine? Do you have any problem on freeway or uphill? I always wonder how they run, Bay Window bus is heavier than split and it uses 1600cc with no reduction gear boxes. If that can run good on freeway, split bus without RGB should be able to run like that, I think. Please let me know. Thank you very much.

[@yoshinoyajones8924]

@@VWBusLife Toshi san, The 70' does ok on little hills (Not a Pikes Peak car yet). The things that helped the 70' were svda distributor and Pertronix ignition, and I am hoping the dual kadrons will help a little more. I am in Sonoma county so no tall mountains to climb and my commute to work is very short. I dream of long trips. I drove my 65 camper from home to Washington state with 1600 and Kadrons 60 to 70 mph. That was newer trans. I want bigger engine also. If I was rich I would convert to electric and 270 hp!!! and takusan tourqe!!!! I like lowered also, which will be much easier with 70'. In the end the sacrifice is speed or stock height. I feel even I might be little older than you, I like lowered bus and stronger engine. Easier for me to get in and out.

[@tomsummers1137]

Don’t ruin your investment. Just fix the engine. No need to remove RGBs, or open decl lid.

[@VWBusLife]

Thank you for your suggestion. And thank you very much for watching my video.

[@breizizel3256]

These motor is the same of german WERHMACHT ! ok for. AFRICAKORPS and winter russian ... ( + 50 degrés and - 50 degrés !!! No problèmes = no water ! ( thanks Ferdinand PORSCHE ! ❤ ) There motor VW ( technologies of 30/40 is NOT FOR HIGHWAYS !

[@VWBusLife]

Thank you for watching and your comment. I thank Dr. Porsche, too for simple design that lasts long time and entertains us all.

[@pyronitro]

Curious if you have resolved your overheating issues?

[@VWBusLife]

Not yet but I am trying to bring it to a specialist in the spring.

[@DavidBrandão-q2w]

vw bus slow line road

[@takehirosawano9524]

初めてコメントさせていただきます。丁寧に編集された動画、とても見やすくて楽しいです。アメリカではこんなにたくさんのvwイベントがあるのですか。自分の車と比較できる機会って、いいですね。御自身の車も将来あのようにどんどん走れるようになるってことですもんね。　私は初めてのビートルを購入して四年目なのですが、自分の車だけが唯一の比較対象でして、試行錯誤の日々です。　長々とすみません。動画楽しみにしてます。

[@VWBusLife]

ご覧いただきありがとうござい。日本にも色々ワーゲンイベントあるのではないですか？　いつか、ちゃんと走れる様になったらもっと多くのイベントに参加できるのですが、いつになる事かわかりません。4年目のビートル・ライフ楽しんでください。コメントありがとうございました。次のビデオも制作中ですのでよろしくお願いします。 - Toshi Tagawa

[@takehirosawano9524]

言葉足らずでした、私はメキシコの片田舎に住んでいまして。元原産国だけあって、ビートルやバスは沢山走っているのですが、国民性なのか大切にされている個体は見たことがないです。ですので、動画の雰囲気が、とても良く感じました

[@VWBusLife]

メキシコにお住まいだったのですか。ワーゲン沢山あっても大切にされていないのは残念ですね。でも、その分安く手に入るのではないでしょうか？文化と国民性の違いで、同じ車に対する感情が全く違うのですね。