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Silence262
Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2010
Posts: 87
Location: Rome, NY
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 Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 5:17 pm Post subject: My new GoWesty wheels are on! |
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I ordered a set of 16" wheels from GoWesty and got them installed today. I bought a used set of Conti 4x4 Contact tires, 215/60/16 (load rating 102v!)
Before:
After:
[/img]
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Silence
"Knowledge, sir, should be free to all." - Harry Mudd
1987 GL Automatic, 16" GoWesty wheels, Full stainless exhaust. |
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randywebb
Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2005
Posts: 3815
Location: Greater Metropolitan Nimrod, Orygun
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| Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 5:22 pm Post subject: |
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how many years ago were the tires manufactured?
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1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans. |
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danfromsyr
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15144
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 5:27 pm Post subject: |
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looking nice, amazing how a modern wheel updates the van.
FYI, maybe get a chance to see them when the VW club's next Ice cream gtg in Sylvan beach Mon May 6th
dan from syracuse
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| Abscate wrote: |
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indytriple
Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2009
Posts: 710
Location: Brownsburg, Indiana
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| Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 7:47 pm Post subject: |
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Love the look with the new wheels. I also really like that retro paint job. Very nice.
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"See The Glass As Already Broken."
87 Vanagon Westy Auto Bostig
www.bluegrassbicyclecompany.com |
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mirthpeople
Samba Member
Joined: March 15, 2011
Posts: 75
Location: New Hartford, NY
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| Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 8:10 pm Post subject: |
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Looking good there! See you around town.
-Eric
_________________
1985 VW Vanagon Campmobile
1986 Syncro GL- Der Klienbus!
1987 Vanagon GL- Subie 2.2 installed 95% complete
2000 Cabrio- Needs lots of work
2002 Golf TDI- Future Vanagon transplant? |
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Hodakaguy
Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2012
Posts: 661
Location: Eastern WA
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tam_shops
Samba Member
Joined: November 15, 2012
Posts: 1530
Location: Vancouver BC
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Silence262
Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2010
Posts: 87
Location: Rome, NY
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| Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 11:15 am Post subject: |
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The old wheels are now for sale. I do have a classified on this site as well as Craigslist. And yes, the van does feel higher than before!
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Silence
"Knowledge, sir, should be free to all." - Harry Mudd
1987 GL Automatic, 16" GoWesty wheels, Full stainless exhaust. |
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Bntbrl
Samba Member
Joined: September 04, 2012
Posts: 436
Location: Seattle, Wa
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| Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 11:29 am Post subject: |
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It makes a good difference driving too doesn't it? Mine did. Looks much better IMHO.
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1984 Vanagon Westfalia 1.9 wbx
www.DIYSeattle.com |
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Chuey
Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2010
Posts: 855
Location: Oceanside, California
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| Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 8:00 pm Post subject: |
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You are to be congratulated for your excellent judgement regarding what looks good and works a long time.
I must warn you that I have the same set-up and the tires have lasted way too long. I can't remember the actual mileage but I think it's over a hundred thousand miles. It's like the sidewalls give out before the tread does. Of course, that says quite a lot for the suspension on Vanagons, doesn't it?
Chuey |
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Jake de Villiers
Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2007
Posts: 5911
Location: Tsawwassen, BC
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| Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 7:58 am Post subject: |
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| Chuey wrote: |
You are to be congratulated for your excellent judgement regarding what looks good and works a long time.
I must warn you that I have the same set-up and the tires have lasted way too long. I can't remember the actual mileage but I think it's over a hundred thousand miles. It's like the sidewalls give out before the tread does. Of course, that says quite a lot for the suspension on Vanagons, doesn't it?
Chuey |
Somehow I don't think the OP is going to get 100,000 miles out of his used tires! 
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'84 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX
'86 Westy Weekender Poptop/2.5 Subaru/5 Speed Posi/Audi Front Brakes/16 x 7 Mercedes Wheels - answers to 'Dixie'
@jakedevilliersmusic1
http://sites.google.com/site/subyjake/mydixiedarlin%27
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
www.thebassspa.com |
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Silence262
Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2010
Posts: 87
Location: Rome, NY
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| Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 9:03 am Post subject: |
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I won't get 100,000, but I'll sure get more than the 26,000 miles I did with the Hankooks.
The van is in a constant state of improvement. I just replaced the passenger-side mirror, the rubber step treads, and the hatch struts. Since this is a daily driver, it needs to be in top shape.
Future projects are front carpet replacement, maybe some exhaust work (muffler works, but looks awful) and upgraded shocks.
Maybe a few years down the road will come a seam treatment and another respray. But I think it looks very god as it is...thanks to all who complimented the van on the looks!
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Silence
"Knowledge, sir, should be free to all." - Harry Mudd
1987 GL Automatic, 16" GoWesty wheels, Full stainless exhaust. |
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Silence262
Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2010
Posts: 87
Location: Rome, NY
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| Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 9:17 am Post subject: |
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Tam, those are the wheels, but not the tires. I sourced the tires locally; got them for $150 for the whole set of 4. I bought the wheels for $549 for the set (plus shipping, of course.)
Everything I bought this time around for it, including labor, ans under $1000.
Tires, wheels, mounting and balancing, lugnuts/bnolts included. New stiff mirror, new step treads, new belts (mine were pretty worn) a replacement gas cap (thanks, Eric, for the loaner!) and 2 new hatch struts.
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Silence
"Knowledge, sir, should be free to all." - Harry Mudd
1987 GL Automatic, 16" GoWesty wheels, Full stainless exhaust. |
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Jon_slider
Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2007
Posts: 5091
Location: Santa Cruz, Crowdifornia
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| Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 9:36 am Post subject: |
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Congratulations on your new wheels. Thanks for posting photos.
I think you ended up with about 1/4" more ground clearance. So no significant loss of motor power, a very good thing.
And the bigger rims give you room to upgrade to Big Brakes in front.
I encourage you to make new Shocks a priority. Possibly the best bang for the buck upgrade you can get. I recommend Bilsteins from Van-Cafe.com
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My Soapboxes: Inflation; Handling; Gearing; Decoupling; Swepco |
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Silence262
Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2010
Posts: 87
Location: Rome, NY
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| Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2013 7:45 am Post subject: |
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After driving for a couple of weeks now, I can report that the new wheels are a success. Not that the old ones were bad...they were actually quite good...but the new ones feel better, and raise the van about an inch (which you can notice getting in and out.)
Great confidence in moderately winding country roads. I can take the 35MPH curves at 55 without drama. Vanagons are already nice handlers, and the big rubber enhances it further.
Acceleration is only minimally affected, and I don't even notice the difference anymore. It has always been a pretty brisk driver for a Vanagon (always have to add that disclaimer!) I have dropped about 200 RPM at highway speeds.
Dan, where's the GTG going to be on Monday? I want to gather the wife and head out there, but she works until 6.
_________________
Silence
"Knowledge, sir, should be free to all." - Harry Mudd
1987 GL Automatic, 16" GoWesty wheels, Full stainless exhaust. |
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danfromsyr
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15144
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2013 8:54 am Post subject: |
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it'll be at Cinderella's Ice cream stand in Sylvan beach from 6-8pm Mon May 6th
Dan
| Quote: |
After driving for a couple of weeks now, I can report that the new wheels are a success. Not that the old ones were bad...they were actually quite good...but the new ones feel better, and raise the van about an inch (which you can notice getting in and out.)
Great confidence in moderately winding country roads. I can take the 35MPH curves at 55 without drama. Vanagons are already nice handlers, and the big rubber enhances it further.
Acceleration is only minimally affected, and I don't even notice the difference anymore. It has always been a pretty brisk driver for a Vanagon (always have to add that disclaimer!) I have dropped about 200 RPM at highway speeds.
Dan, where's the GTG going to be on Monday? I want to gather the wife and head out there, but she works until 6.
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_________________
| Abscate wrote: |
| These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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tam_shops
Samba Member
Joined: November 15, 2012
Posts: 1530
Location: Vancouver BC
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| Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2013 11:11 am Post subject: |
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Thanks! Great to know, especially the price. I was told I needed new wheels next year, might ask for them for Christmas or my birthday, though will see if anything else I *need* first comes up...
tam
| Silence262 wrote: |
Tam, those are the wheels, but not the tires. I sourced the tires locally; got them for $150 for the whole set of 4. I bought the wheels for $549 for the set (plus shipping, of course.)
Everything I bought this time around for it, including labor, ans under $1000.
Tires, wheels, mounting and balancing, lugnuts/bnolts included. New stiff mirror, new step treads, new belts (mine were pretty worn) a replacement gas cap (thanks, Eric, for the loaner!) and 2 new hatch struts. |
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1987 Vanagon Westfalia GL Automatic
Making it special:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=545885 |
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