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croSSeduP
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 Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2015 1:20 pm Post subject: '67 Rear Track |
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When I had my '67's transaxle rebuilt I opted for '66 shorter axles/tubes because I thought I'd like the look better. I don't. I want my '67's factory rear track back. The tranny is coming out for some mods. My trans builder might still have my original axles/tubes, but then again, maybe not. Are 1" wheel spacers a safe alternative to getting my track back? Will they shorten the life of the wheel bearings because I am in effect changing the wheel's offset? Here's the part I'm talking about:
http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=C21%2D2527
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croSSeduP
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61SNRF
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| Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2015 6:53 pm Post subject: |
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Generally, I hate messing with any sort of spacers, let alone 1"
Safe? Maybe one time when they are brand new. Taking the wheels/tires off a half dozen times over the next few years for regular maintenance is going to be the true test of their integrity and durability.
I think you will never be happy with those monsters, especially with those super long lug bolts. They must make them just to fill a demand 'cause I see no engineering benefits to them.
Yes, any spacer will add extra wear due more leverage because the wheel is further any from the wheel bearing.
Hindsight is 20-20 as they say, you might have asked for the axles and tubes back 
Anyway, can't tell from your pics, but what brand/width rear wheel/tire do you run? IIRC Flat Four's latest generation 5.5" BRM replica is a little wider than EMPI's, or at least the outer lip/ring is deeper looking.
I have 5.5" Mangle wheels on my short axle '66, and with a 195/60 R15 tire it's right out to the inner edge of the wheel arch. Perfect IMHO.
"Short" of a long axle change back  , wheel options and/or a bigger tire would be much "safer", more practical in the long run and maybe just as esthetically effective for you.
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drscope
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| Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 9:08 am Post subject: |
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There really isn't any reason that a properly installed set of wheel spacers wouldn't give you years of trouble free service.
But I wouldn't use the lug bolts that come with those spacers. Instead I would replace them with a GOOD set of lug studs and ball seat nuts.
Look up Bildon Motorsports they have really good quality lug studs and nuts in both 12 and 14 mm sizes - racing quality stuff, not Chinese crap! They are plenty strong and will make dealing with the spacers a lot easier.
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67jason
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| Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 11:24 pm Post subject: Re: '67 Rear Track |
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| britegreenVWSB wrote: |
When I had my '67's transaxle rebuilt I opted for '66 shorter axles/tubes because I thought I'd like the look better. I don't. I want my '67's factory rear track back. The tranny is coming out for some mods. My trans builder might still have my original axles/tubes, but then again, maybe not. Are 1" wheel spacers a safe alternative to getting my track back? Will they shorten the life of the wheel bearings because I am in effect changing the wheel's offset? Here's the part I'm talking about:
http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=C21%2D2527 |
you could do what i did on my 67.
66 short axles and tubes. Install 68+ backing plates and rear brakes. Use 2 stacked gland nut washers per side to space the drum out far enough from the backing plate to keep it from binding (depending on your rear drum you might be able to get away with just one glamd nut washer, I had to use 2 per side). Install 67 wide 5 rear drums. Track is almost identical to stock 67 with better rear brakes and i no longer have to remove my aftermarket raders to adjust my rear brakes.
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bill may
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57BLITZ
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2015 10:20 am Post subject: |
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| bill may wrote: |
| so the difference is 5/8" and you want to use 1" spacers? do I have correct info ? |
The difference between a "short" axle and a "long" axle is approx. 29mm.
More info here . . . http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php/topic,21431.msg294659.html#msg294659
BTW britegreenVWSB . . . yer car looks great!
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croSSeduP
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surfbeetle
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2015 11:25 pm Post subject: |
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Two other options are to switch to disc brakes that can push the rear track out. Or you can do the type 3 rear brake conversion that will also push the rear track out.
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croSSeduP
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| Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 12:15 am Post subject: |
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| surfbeetle wrote: |
| Two other options are to switch to disc brakes that can push the rear track out. Or you can do the type 3 rear brake conversion that will also push the rear track out. |
I like the idea of a T3 brake conv. on the rears. Where can I find more info on doing that?
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surfbeetle
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| Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 1:25 am Post subject: |
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I had bought Type 3 drums years ago, can't remember where from. They were drilled for the wide 5 pattern, I had to put studs into the drums. The center nose of the drum was machined to match that of the stock 67 drum, short spline, as opposed to the long spline. Remember stock 67's are long axle short spline and now you are short axle still short spline. I had to go to a junk yard and get type 3 backing plates from a squareback and bought new shoes and brake cylinders. It was all bolt up and stopped much better than my stock 67 brakes and the parking brake worked also. One last thing, I don't remember how much it widened the track, but the type 3 drums were wider, thicker and the track was widened. I have since changed to discs and BRMs so my rear track is even more off from stock.
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croSSeduP
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Todd66
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| Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 10:35 am Post subject: |
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| You may love the wheels you currently have, or may have spent a fortune, but you could install wheels with a different offset. Just a thought. |
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croSSeduP
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| Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 2:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Todd66 wrote: |
| You may love the wheels you currently have, or may have spent a fortune, but you could install wheels with a different offset. Just a thought. |
I want to keep my berms. However, I have to wonder if the 6.5" wide berms have a different offset that makes the wheel deeper on the front side.
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57BLITZ
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| Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 4:35 pm Post subject: |
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Flat-4 B.R.M.s are 6.5" wide?
Or are you thinking about getting a new pair that are 6.5" wide?
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croSSeduP
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surfbeetle
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| Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 9:38 pm Post subject: |
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You're welcome. My BRMS are the Midwest wheels that CIP sells, I bought them years ago when all they offered were 5.5 inch. Check out this link, http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=C32-BR6S and there's some info on the 6.5 inch, "15 inch diameter x 6.5 inches wide - backspacing: 4-1/8 inches" . Also, the 15 inch diameter x 5.5 inches wide - backspacing: 3-1/2 inch. But since you have Flat 4's, I would suggest you measure your backspacing or see what Flat 4 says since they are different wheels.
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croSSeduP
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| Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 10:46 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, I've looked at those wheels. I don't really know what "back spacing" means or how to measure it. The pics of the silver BRM's have a different width front lip than the black ones. I feel like the only way to know for sure, and to make sure they match my Flat 4 fronts, is to actually see them. No one locally has any of these wheels in stock.
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57BLITZ
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| Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2015 9:40 am Post subject: |
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| britegreenVWSB wrote: |
| I don't really know what "back spacing" means or how to measure it. |
Take the wheels that Surfbeetle mentions . . .
5.5" wide with 3.5" B/S = 2" of wheel extends from the brake drum.
6.5" wheel with 4.125" B/S = 2.375" of the wheel extends from the drum.
The lip of the 6.5" wheel will be 3/8" further towards the outside.
Of course the same sized tire will not have the same dimensions when mounted on different width rims.
Given that info, I do not think that the 6.5" wheels on short axles will not look the same as 5.5" wheels on long axles.
This has me curious because I just mounted a 5.5" Eagle Alloys B.R.M. on a long axle and the 205-70 WILL rub the fender . . . makes me think that I need to go to short axles!
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61SNRF
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| Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2015 6:02 pm Post subject: |
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That's exactly what I was thinking in reply #1. Gives you more options for wheels/tires.
Short axles on '67 Cal-Look Beetles is old school, long done so you can fit 6" Fuchs with 205's or Slicks 
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