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Narrowed beam question
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smitty24
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PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 8:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

He said Mike made them.

Derek, did you repaint the Jade green or is it the same? I remember it was cracking and peeling a little bit. Looks good with the new wheels. Still rolling the 1500?
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rich591
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 1:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi,

Has anyone got any pics of the headlight bowl mods carried out in order to reduce / stop tyre rubbing?

I'm running an 8" narrowed K&L beam, dropped spindles and 135r Firestone and I get terrible rubbing. Been looking for a solution surrounding the headlight bowls but unsure what to do.

Thanks,

Rich
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smitty24
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 3:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

rich591 wrote:
Hi,

Has anyone got any pics of the headlight bowl mods carried out in order to reduce / stop tyre rubbing?

I'm running an 8" narrowed K&L beam, dropped spindles and 135r Firestone and I get terrible rubbing. Been looking for a solution surrounding the headlight bowls but unsure what to do.

Thanks,

Rich


some Continental 145/65 or 155/60 should take care of it. If you still rub a tad, take a mallet to the back of the buckets, just a small amount. You can put the car on the ground and not rub anything with the correct tires.
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Cody1963
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 10:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Still waiting to make my beam... My friend has been busy lately.
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rich591
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 24, 2011 8:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

smitty24 wrote:
rich591 wrote:
Hi,

Has anyone got any pics of the headlight bowl mods carried out in order to reduce / stop tyre rubbing?

I'm running an 8" narrowed K&L beam, dropped spindles and 135r Firestone and I get terrible rubbing. Been looking for a solution surrounding the headlight bowls but unsure what to do.

Thanks,

Rich


some Continental 145/65 or 155/60 should take care of it. If you still rub a tad, take a mallet to the back of the buckets, just a small amount. You can put the car on the ground and not rub anything with the correct tires.


Okay, cool. I'll start hunting about for some 145/65 tyres then I reckon and sell my 135's. Smile

Thanks,

Rich
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smitty24
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 24, 2011 10:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Rich, they also make a 165/50--but that should be a last resort and is pretty extreme for a bug. Looks bad if you are not super low. a 155/60 is also a good choice for you. In the UK, you may be able to source them cheaper than us US boys due to the better availability of Smart cars, Fiats, etc.
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rich591
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 7:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks Smitty, I've gpt some 145/65 tyres coming this week so hopefully that'll solve the rubbing issue.

It is true what you say about the availability of 145s due to Smart Cars and Fiats etc, the main problem is they are so damn expensive!!! It's about £180 per tyre for Conti's or £100 per tyre for budget crap! Rolling Eyes
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Cody1963
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 9:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

My beam is on the car! Rubs bad with 135s on cornering. Straight it Dosent run at all.
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Cliff@BrownBags
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 10:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

rich.. http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.175239085839792.36816.175230362507331&type=3
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rich591
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PostPosted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 8:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cliff@BrownBags wrote:
rich.. http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.175239085839792.36816.175230362507331&type=3


Amazing, thanks for that. Just what I have been looking for, looks a lot neater that smasking them in with a mallet. Laughing
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Cody1963
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PostPosted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 8:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

How much can you take outlet doing it that way?
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smitty24
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PostPosted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 2:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Rich, with the correct tires you can damn near put your car on the road and NOT need to jackup your buckets! Yes, the old 135 and 145s hit on them. Also, Im not sure what it would cost to ship you tires from the states...but 180 pounds per tire is total bollocks, mate! That is like $250 or so to us for 1 bloody tire! Im sure you could get one of us on the Samba here, to buy them for you and you pay to ship from us. These are small tires shipping, not a car! Hell, I know guys that work for FED EX...Im sure they could get a far better deal.
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smitty24
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PostPosted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 2:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cody1963 wrote:
How much can you take outlet doing it that way?


(If you HAVE TO cut buckets)

You take out just enough to give the back of your headlight and connections adequate clearance...dont want shorting. I cut the buckets out of my old '67 (older fenders with early lights) back before Smart tires were available to us. I took out probably an inch, but then put different style connectors on my lights= instead of coming straight outward, they angled flat and to the side 90* for max clearance.

Also, you dont need to section the WHOLE piece...you mainly focus on the topmost area where the tire hits most. The cut you will make will be angled, not straight- at least that is what works best...at looks factory if done right.
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Cody1963
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PostPosted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 2:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I ended up just oakie clearancing the buckets with a hammer... Not proud of it but it worked.
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ice-beetle
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 4:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

will 155/60/15 fit my stock smoothies?
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Cliff@BrownBags
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PostPosted: Wed Jul 04, 2012 10:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

i think so
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smitty24
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 10:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

ice-beetle wrote:
will 155/60/15 fit my stock smoothies?


Yes! a 165/60 even fits but does start to bulge more than what looks "right."
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Erik G
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 11:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

anyone tried the newer kumho smart car tires? I want to use portawalls, so interested if the rim saver is smaller than the conti's?

thanks
erik
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rich591
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 4:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

smitty24 wrote:
Rich, with the correct tires you can damn near put your car on the road and NOT need to jackup your buckets! Yes, the old 135 and 145s hit on them. Also, Im not sure what it would cost to ship you tires from the states...but 180 pounds per tire is total bollocks, mate! That is like $250 or so to us for 1 bloody tire! Im sure you could get one of us on the Samba here, to buy them for you and you pay to ship from us. These are small tires shipping, not a car! Hell, I know guys that work for FED EX...Im sure they could get a far better deal.


Thanks for the offer but I think I may have found some Nankang's for £82 for 2 and with postage and fitting still only cost £130!!! Shocked They are 145x65 so what i was after really and they are new, not remoulds, not seconds, not used...totally new. Laughing

I see you guys in the States seem to run Nankangs quite a lot from what I have read so I'm going to give them a go, lets face it, they can't be any worse than my 135's and should hopefully combat the rubbing. Very Happy
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smitty24
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 12:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The old Nankangs are a very soft rubber. They dont last as long as better tires when used on low cars. They supposedly make a better compound nowadays, but I doubt it. It is all about cheaper products and more profit. Ive checked some of the new designs out= seem to be an exact copy of some of the General Tire designs. General's Altimax line is an EXCELLENT tire! Never had a complaint with them. Kumho used to be really bad= too soft of a compound is fine for modern "stock" passenger cars but don't do the best on slammed vws. On stock or mild drop, they are fine. Kumho can't be any better or much worse than the current Continental Smart line. Probably cost a bit less as well.

Nope, just looked them up= Kumho is not much different than Conti price!
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