Date:         Thu, 5 Aug 2010 14:31:14 -0400
Reply-To:     Robert Downes <bobdownes@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Downes <bobdownes@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Quick tire/wheel/trip update
In-Reply-To:  <AANLkTin2TCuN2Oan0z=2U4OK-s8w_wM4Ug_pGwJ59ViG@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Nice trip, man! i think we're unacquainted members of the same chapter of
the vanagon club, i also have a 1.6TD installation and just on monday i made
a visit to the cobbler to have 215/65/16 Nokian Hakka C Vans mounted to my
new 16" Mefro et30s from vancafe.(i figured, if i'm going to pay alaska
prices for tires anyway, i may as well get an alaska quality tire) after
driving up here from Florida on ...erm...inappropriate (read: UNSAFE),
mismatched, too small 14" passenger tires, it's like waking up from a
nightmare.

you know what's way cheaper and easier than a TDI conversion? an AAZ. i'm
seriously considering this for the winter. who really wants a computer in a
vanagon, anyway?

-bob

On Thu, Aug 5, 2010 at 1:05 PM, Shawn Wright <vwdiesels@gmail.com> wrote:

> 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
>