Wheels and Tires...compiling a list...ever so slowly

[SilverThing]

Bus 14" rims have rubbing/clearance issues on the front end due to different backspacing and offset which is why VW didn't use them.

Mexican 181 were equipped with reduction boxes until chassis 183 2493 402. Chassis nr 183 2493 403 was when Mexican production changed to IRS. The Thing (US model 181) was introduced after the change to IRS. I don't know if the changeover being close to the introduction of the Thing to the US market is coincidence or not. Since the Thing was produced in Mexico and the change happened a little earlier in Germany, I suspect not.

Something to keep in mind is that VW often made changes throughout production regardless of whether it would be mid-model year. In fact it was common. For example, early 73 Things (I will refer to US market 181 as Things and all others as 181) had a DIN power socket with a rubber cover. At some point this was replaced with a cigarette lighter (I don't remember when this happened exactly - someone might know). The EGR that the Thing used also changed three times during the short production run. Some really early 74 Things have both beetle heat exchangers and gas heaters.
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"I like how everyone likes talking about Zeke's Thing yet he's the only one that's ever seen it." - Katie
"I've seen pictures..." - Jeremy

[crofty]

Weird, That seems like a BIG change to make mid model year.

So I guess the bus 15's had a different offset than the 14's? I wasn't clear on the differences but what I should have said/asked was that the 73-74 US imports never had 15" rims.
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Your Vanagon sucks, Stop waving at me.

[Kafer Wolf]

hi!
just wondering if you guys know of some sort of database where all kinds of VW rims are posted for reference and identification?

thanks!

[hotrodsurplus]