Hello! Log in or Register   |  Help  |  Donate  |  Buy Shirts See all banner ads | Advertise on TheSamba.com  
TheSamba.com
 
Bus rims
Page: 1, 2  Next
Forum Index -> Thing/Type 181 Share: Facebook Twitter
Reply to topic
Print View
Quick sort: Show newest posts on top | Show oldest posts on top View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
J Flare
Samba Member


Joined: September 27, 2004
Posts: 309
Location: San Diego
J Flare is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 6:04 pm    Post subject: Bus rims Reply with quote

I see on the Thing Shop site that you can not use 15" bus rims on a Thing.
Can anyone tell me why not?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Ron Domeck
Samba Member


Joined: August 05, 2007
Posts: 1466
Location: louisville Ky
Ron Domeck is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 6:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The offset is to the inside and will rub on the front at the pan when you turn.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
J Flare
Samba Member


Joined: September 27, 2004
Posts: 309
Location: San Diego
J Flare is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 7:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ooohhh I see

Thank you
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
howiesfamily
Samba Member


Joined: March 31, 2004
Posts: 858
Location: Panther City, Texas
howiesfamily is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 8:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

How about 5 lug Ghia rims on the rear? I was wanting to get a set of off road tires just for the rear and figure that rubbing shouldn't be a problem there.
_________________
member of: Fort Worth Aircoolers Gang
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
wardvwracer
Samba Member


Joined: July 19, 2002
Posts: 489
Location: De Pere, WI
wardvwracer is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 12:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Will 14" wide-5 bus rims work?

My thing has only one of its original 14" rims and I was wondering about running 14" bus rims with the slots.

Is the offset problem the same?
_________________
David Ward
ACME Berrien Buggy Street/Strip racer build
1963 Single Cab
1969 Beetle Convertible
63 11-Window Kombi Bus
Cornpanzers
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Ron Domeck
Samba Member


Joined: August 05, 2007
Posts: 1466
Location: louisville Ky
Ron Domeck is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 2:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bus 14 in. will work on the rear, 15 in. Beetle, not sure.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
56zwitter
Samba Member


Joined: March 07, 2004
Posts: 97
Location: AZ
56zwitter is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Jan 04, 2009 12:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Can you also use the bus 14" rims on the front too?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Ron Domeck
Samba Member


Joined: August 05, 2007
Posts: 1466
Location: louisville Ky
Ron Domeck is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Jan 04, 2009 9:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

That is were they cannot be used, they will rub on the pan when turning.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Pierre G
Samba Member


Joined: April 28, 2007
Posts: 1771
Location: New Caledonia
Pierre G is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Jan 04, 2009 11:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

While I agree with the fact that it can rub on the pan when turning, saying that they can't be used is a bit much. I use them "temporarly" on my 181/Thing since a year. It rubs a bit when full turning on the right side. For some reason, it doesn't rub at all on the left. I wouldn't recommend everyone to use bus rims, but I'm using my bus 15" rims with very minor rub. I'm finishing the tires and will then go for some aftermarket 15X6 wheels with new tires. It can be used for a while, waiting for a better wheel choice, if you have them laying around. But if you have to buy them,you'd better look for something that fits perfectly.
_________________
1976 181/Thing, 1967 fastback, 1973 squareback, 1964 microbus, 1967 Double Cab, 1969 westfalia (currently under resto), 1972 LM1C dune buggy, 1974 jean's bug, 1974 1303 (super beetle, currently under reassembly after new paint).
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
[email protected] Premium Member
Samba Member


Joined: February 21, 2003
Posts: 868
Location: Clifton Park NY Saratoga County
mpb181@aol.com is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Jan 04, 2009 7:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

they sometimes rub on the spindle, not the pan, sometimes not by about a half inch
_________________
Michael Basso
http://www.thingparts.com
New and Used VW Thing Parts Free advice
CALL 518 630 0173
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website Facebook Gallery Classifieds Feedback
uberautowerks
Samba Member


Joined: October 17, 2005
Posts: 1600
Location: Longmont Co
uberautowerks is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Jan 04, 2009 10:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

OK....
With regard to OE wheels...
14" bus wheels will rub on the front spindle, some more than others, some all the time, some only while cornering.
15" Bus rims... I could be wrong, but I think these are pretty hard to find, if they exist at all, I think only the real early busses used them, or were they 16", anyway...
15" Beetle and Ghia rims are identical, I believe type 3 rims too, and they will not rub the spindle. However they have too much negative offset and the fronts may rub the pan at full lock. The steering arm stops can be adjusted to compensate for this. That said, the extra negative off-set can be a good thing, providing more fender clearance for wide tires.
15" x 6" Aftermarket Chromies have about the same off-set as the factory Thing rims and work well, no rubbing, except with some tires at the front on the pan. Again the steering arm stops can be adjusted to prevent the pan rub.
-
These are NOT guesses (except the type 3 and 15" bus info), these are tried and true fitments on my Thing and customers Things over the years.
_________________
--- The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair.
- Douglas Adams -
---
'74 Thing (White)
'71 Single cab (White too)
'70 Weekender (White three)
'05 Evolution VIII (White also!!!)
'68 F-250 (White over black)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Pierre G
Samba Member


Joined: April 28, 2007
Posts: 1771
Location: New Caledonia
Pierre G is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 1:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

uberautowerks wrote:

15" Bus rims... I could be wrong, but I think these are pretty hard to find, if they exist at all, I think only the real early busses used them, or were they 16", anyway...

These are NOT guesses (except the type 3 and 15" bus info), these are tried and true fitments on my Thing and customers Things over the years.

Thanks for the info based on tried. I'll just ad about the 15" bus rims. They're not that rare (otherwise I wouldn't have some Wink ). They were on a lot of split bus, as the 14" rims were on 1964-later buses. Earlier buses had 15", except the really old ones (barndoor) that had 16".
_________________
1976 181/Thing, 1967 fastback, 1973 squareback, 1964 microbus, 1967 Double Cab, 1969 westfalia (currently under resto), 1972 LM1C dune buggy, 1974 jean's bug, 1974 1303 (super beetle, currently under reassembly after new paint).
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
sam_w
Samba Member


Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 1479
Location: Petaluma, CA
sam_w is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 8:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

well i am puzzled.

The thing parts microfiche shows a 211part number wheel.

Well I have 5 powdercoatedbus rimsn thing silver,i intend to use 185/65 tires, I willtry my 63 singlecab wheels and tires, they are 201/75 15's and do not fit under the hood.

Ist the tire or the wheel tnat rubs?
_________________
63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
crofty
Judas of the North


Joined: August 09, 2000
Posts: 19670
Location: Land of Whine and Phonies
crofty is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 8:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

uberautowerks wrote:
OK....
With regard to OE wheels...
14" bus wheels will rub on the front spindle, some more than others, some all the time, some only while cornering.
15" Bus rims... I could be wrong, but I think these are pretty hard to find, if they exist at all, I think only the real early busses used them, or were they 16", anyway...
15" Beetle and Ghia rims are identical, I believe type 3 rims too, and they will not rub the spindle. However they have too much negative offset and the fronts may rub the pan at full lock. The steering arm stops can be adjusted to compensate for this. That said, the extra negative off-set can be a good thing, providing more fender clearance for wide tires.
15" x 6" Aftermarket Chromies have about the same off-set as the factory Thing rims and work well, no rubbing, except with some tires at the front on the pan. Again the steering arm stops can be adjusted to prevent the pan rub.
-
These are NOT guesses (except the type 3 and 15" bus info), these are tried and true fitments on my Thing and customers Things over the years.


Buses from March of '55 to '64 used 15" rims.
_________________
Your Vanagon sucks, Stop waving at me.

HamburgerBrad wrote:

I slept on crofty's tent once. I passed out drunk from two bottles of Everett's brother's wine.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
uberautowerks
Samba Member


Joined: October 17, 2005
Posts: 1600
Location: Longmont Co
uberautowerks is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 8:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

crofty wrote:
Buses from March of '55 to '64 used 15" rims.

Thank you!
-
Sam, the rim itself rubs. At the very outer lip, if you have an inner balance weight it will be ripped off. With some rims it's just a slight rub when cornering others rub all the time.
-
In theory you could clearance the spindle where the rim rubs but you would have to remove over a quarter inch to get a weight in there too and that's a bit much for a spindle.
_________________
--- The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair.
- Douglas Adams -
---
'74 Thing (White)
'71 Single cab (White too)
'70 Weekender (White three)
'05 Evolution VIII (White also!!!)
'68 F-250 (White over black)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
sam_w
Samba Member


Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 1479
Location: Petaluma, CA
sam_w is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 11:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here is the pic I posted previously, and the fiche shows a 211 part number wheel.

I will try my bus wheels to check on the front later in the week.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
crofty
Judas of the North


Joined: August 09, 2000
Posts: 19670
Location: Land of Whine and Phonies
crofty is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 11:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Those might be different from the rdx box Things and the IRS ones?
_________________
Your Vanagon sucks, Stop waving at me.

HamburgerBrad wrote:

I slept on crofty's tent once. I passed out drunk from two bottles of Everett's brother's wine.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
yellow73kubel
Samba Member


Joined: August 17, 2008
Posts: 789
Location: Columbia, SC
yellow73kubel is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 1:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

crofty wrote:
Those might be different from the rdx box Things and the IRS ones?


I'm curious about this, decided to see what google turned up. Found one military 181 with the slotted Bus wheels, but the other 181's look like standard no-slot Thing wheels. Doc 181 (or Kubelmann), you seem to have a good resource for military 181 info, care to chime in and solve this?

[edit] oh wait.. From that chart posted by sam. 181's up to chassis F181 2617 370 got the 211 part number 4.5x15in Bus wheels, 181's after that chassis got 181 part number 5JK14 wheels (no slots). So now, anyone have any info on those particular chassis numbers?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
uberautowerks
Samba Member


Joined: October 17, 2005
Posts: 1600
Location: Longmont Co
uberautowerks is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 2:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just read a bit more...
The early Things did get 211 numbered wheels AND those were 15" in diameter. The extra inch will prevent the rim rubbing on the spindle.
_________________
--- The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair.
- Douglas Adams -
---
'74 Thing (White)
'71 Single cab (White too)
'70 Weekender (White three)
'05 Evolution VIII (White also!!!)
'68 F-250 (White over black)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
sjhotz
Samba Member


Joined: May 12, 2007
Posts: 468

sjhotz is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 9:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

My 74 has front end 4lug to 5 lug wheel adapters up front from a super beetle front brake conversion my mechanic did (he swears by the larger super beetle pads stopping power, i'm indifferent). My issue is i'm running 14" General Grabbers AT2's all around and have occasional rubbing up front. I have a set of good stock 14" tires on 5 lug Bus rims. If I understand the issue the rubbing is on the inside of the rim correct? So with my adapters moving the wheel out 1/3 of an inch I should be able to use my Bus rims correct? Or is this just wishful thinking?
_________________
BAY PRIDE!

74 Thing
72 Bay Window Westy TinTop
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Forum Index -> Thing/Type 181 All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page: 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

About | Help! | Advertise | Donate | Premium Membership | Privacy/Terms of Use | Contact Us | Site Map
Copyright © 1996-2023, Everett Barnes. All Rights Reserved.
Not affiliated with or sponsored by Volkswagen of America | Forum powered by phpBB
Links to eBay or other vendor sites may be affiliate links where the site receives compensation.