Date:         Sun, 31 Oct 1999 12:22:50 -0500
Reply-To:     John Benditt <JBenditt@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Benditt <JBenditt@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject:      Have tire question, also working on a amphibious Vanagon!
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Hi everyone!

New to the list!

I own an 87 syncro. Two tires sustained side wall damage.

Identical new tires are available but there is an 1/8" tread difference
between
the
old and new tires.

So, the question is, can I get by with getting the 2 new tires or do I
have to
replace all
4 tires? I was under the impression that the Viscous coupling does
provide
limited slip why would it cause a Viscous coupling ware problem?

One comment on my Syncro. What a weird vehicle! Only the Germans can
design such
a weird vehicle and sustain a high level of quality!

Also what is the biggest off road tires that can be installed on the 14"
rims?

I bought the Vanagon to make it amphibious as a catamaran using pontoons
that
store on the roof and ride a track coming down the sides. When one goes
onto the
water the vehicle would sit low in the water and then the winch driven
tracked
pontoons assembly would lift the vehicle totally out of the water. There
are
milestones to accomplish like making the pontoons light enough so the
vehicle
does not become too top heavy. That's a trick!. 300 lbs per pontoon is
acceptable. so there will be 600 lbs on an aluminum track assembly
encircling
the van. I wanted to put in a 3.6 Ford V6 engine with aluminum head and
manifolds to get 200+ hp in the Vanagon so I can ski behind it on the
water.
Also was considering super charging the watervoxer engine with a blower
to get
150 hp.

Now that I am a Syncronaut. Also thinking about becoming a Cybernaut.
What will
I become if I combine the two? I'm also a amphibiousnaut on a really
nice
amphibious aluminum recumbent bicycle. :-)

I would sincerely like to thank everyone who responds,  in advance!



John