Motorway cruising?

[jacksoncaddy]

I usually drive my bus (1600) on the motorway at about 55mph. The engine seems quite noisy though like its straining? It's got 185 / 65/ 14 tyres on the back, but it sounded the same with standard size tyres.

It drives 100%, just seems to have quite low cruising speed! It will go faster if I want it to quite easily, but I am worried about the load on the engine. It flies up hills etc, just sounds like it needs to shift up a gear :roll: The engine has done about 400 miles since a rebuild and it doesn't run hot at all.

What's the best for long motorway trips? Keep it around 50mph?

I've heard talk of 1500 bug IRS gearboxes? What's all that jazz about then? :?:

 

[noddy]

I usual cruse at about 60mph, but I tend to stop every 2 hours or so for a break and to let engine cool down, having said that Ive driven from the highlands of scotland to the midlands with only one stop and van was fine, and yes it was noisy.

 

[jacksoncaddy]

Might just be me being a drama queen then :roll:

 

[Tiki-Al]

yep it's noisy alright! :lol:

between 55-60

65 for overtaking

 

[Guest]

50-55 is fairly safe to trundel along all day at.

Regarding 1500 irs boxes, If you can get an AT code 1600 1303S box (much cheaper than a 6 rib 2L box) they are much stronger and have a higher final drive 3.82 (i think) makes crusing at 70 a doddle.

You can buy the hanger for the gear box to fit to a Bay from monkeyspinner Tim @ roadhouse retro this side of the atlantic, im sure tim runs a fitting service for them as well so it takes any worry out of the job and you'll know it will be done right. And try Andy @ Grease Monkey Racing, stateside. The hanger is a Rancho Pro product, it comes with all the bits including the hanger and extension as the Beetle box is slightly shorter.

 

[Tofufi]

Mine will sit at 65-70, but is much happier sounding at 50-55mph. If I'm in a hurry, I'll do nearer 60 normally. Anything more and it drinks heavily :lol:

 

[theanimalbus]

I usually drive my bus (1600) on the motorway at about 55mph. The engine seems quite noisy though like its straining? The engine has done about 400 miles since a rebuild and it doesn't run hot at all.

What's the best for long motorway trips? Keep it around 50mph?

I personally would take it easy on the engine till at least 1K under the belt as it won't feel at one with the bus just yet, the engine has to get a feel for the job its got to do, but it will improve just get to that crusing speed a little slower dude