Date: Mon, 5 May 2003 21:55:14 -0700
Reply-To: David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
Subject: 215/85R16 tires - part II - what's the best way to cut sheet
metal!
In-Reply-To: <BAY2-F96IzpNcedZhot00013b97@hotmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
My modified trailing arms are now in place - what a job! After 17 years the
bolts that the trailing arms pivot on get corroded into place! The first
side took me about 3 hours to swap out as both bolts were rusted in place
and the second side a little over an hour as both bolts came out really
quick! If you are going to swap out trailing arms make sure you have a big
recipicating saw on hand and a few spare blades to cut those M12 10.9
harness bolts out! The installation times also included installing the
shims for my lift kit as well. Everything bolts back in place (wheel
bearing housing, shock, ebrake line) with the exception of the hydraulic
brake line. Because the trailing arms are 25mm longer the lines are now a
little on the short side. You *can* bolt them in place but it is a little
too snug for my liking. I ended up not installing the line through the
little eye at the front of the trailing arm, rather I held it in place with
two metal tabs similar to what holds the ebrake cable on the bottom of the
trailing arm. On that note, does anyone have any cool ideas on how to
protect the ebrake cables? They are quite gnarled up on my DoKa! Also with
this installation I installed the longer Syncro 16 wheel studs 41 vs 35mm -
I have some extras here is anyone needs them - $20 CAD for a set of five.
Now I have some LT215/85R16 tires (30.6" tall) mounted on 5.5x16 ET34 steel
wheels (Factory Syncro 16) with a liberal fingers width between the trailing
arm and any point on the tire. This is actually a little more space between
the tire and the trailing arm than there is on my 6.50R16s that mounted on
my Doka with regular trailing arms! I think I could squeeze a narrow 32"
tire in place if I had to (235/85R16 or 7.50x16). Hmmmm more Michelin XCLs
coming up! :)
With the lift kit installed, I have close to 14" of ground clearance - 52cm
between the center of the wheel and the fender lip. Now I am ready for
those eroded logging trails! :)
Tomorrow I will be installing the OME shocks at the front end along with the
taller springs. As it sits now the tire is about 1cm away from the rear of
the front fender!
One of the things I will have to do is open the rear of the fender openings
to the dimensions of the Syncro 16 - the bottom is 5cm away from the seam.
What is the cleanest, sharp edge free method of cutting sheet metal? I
don't want to mount the Syncro 16 wheels arches due to too much money being
spent on this project already! I definitely won't be fitting these tires in
the clam shell tire carrier (skid plate there anyhow) so the rear spare tire
carrier comes next.
Stay tuned for part III and some more photos of the finish to the first
third of this project. Yet to come - installation of the spare tire carrier
and the 155ft/lb "ALH" TDI motor - gotta have enough power to move all of
this great stuff!
David Marshall
Fast Forward Automotive Inc.
4356 Quesnel-Hixon Road
Quesnel BC Canada V2J 6Z3
http://www.fastforward.ca mailto:sales@fastforward.ca
Phone: (250) 992 7775 FAX: (250) 992 1160
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