Date:         Thu, 5 Aug 2010 11:05:06 -0600
Reply-To:     Shawn Wright <vwdiesels@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Shawn Wright <vwdiesels@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Quick tire/wheel/trip update
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Made it to Calgary on my new 16" BFG ATs & MSW wheels. Van is running well,
but still leaking some coolant from somewhere, but not enough to worry
about. GPS shows my speedo is now off about 5% at 100km/h, and mileage
appears to be suffering, but won't really know until I get back to more
normal roads to compare with old data.

We picked up tires/wheels in Blaine, bolted them on, them dropped off old
wheels at NWCampers in Bellingham - talked to John there, very nice guy.
Continued on to Winthrop via Hwy20. Had someone compliment on the van at
Washington Pass summit - he thought it was a syncro... :-)
Continued on Hwy20 as far as it goes to Sandpoint - no sites, so had a nice
dinner/swim at sunset, then parked in Walmart. Next day drove Hwy200 to
Flathead Lake, swim & lunch at the lake, then through Glacier (some major
construction delays on Going to the Sun road), then on to Calgary. Tires
feel great - nice and solid at all speeds, with good crosswind stability.
I'm running 45psi front/50psi rear, could probably run a bit less if not
loaded.

Definitely will need to install the GoWesty springs to make things look
right, I'll do that when we get home. Tires are BFG AT 215/70R16 on MSW T15
16x6.5 ET38. Clearance at front is better than stock steelies, no spacers
needed. Chains at rear won't be an option unless I clearance the lip on the
control arm. Centre caps won't fit as both front & rear hubs stick out at
least 15mm too much, so a custom design will be needed. Stock brakes look
really wimpy now... one problem with open wheels... :-(

Top speed by GPS is about 125km/h at 4000rpm. I think I need a TDI now....



--
Shawn Wright
'88 Westy 1.6TD