Flash Posted July 17, 2020 Share Posted July 17, 2020 Good choice Conrad ! Those wheels really suit the tranny. Were your old wheels 14 inch diameter ? I'm thinking of going from 14 inch diameter to 15 inch diameter on the Thames. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browndog Posted July 17, 2020 Author Share Posted July 17, 2020 yep they were 14x7 Gordon. What style of wheel you thinking of? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash Posted July 17, 2020 Share Posted July 17, 2020 I do love the look of the Jellybeans. I had 8J Cheviots on the Bedford, but I'm thinking of something different this time around. Still going to stick with something old school looking. The current wheels are classic old 2 piece 14 x 6J Dragways, but the chrome on the steel hoops is flogged. I figured it would be pretty costly to have them re-chromed and then you possibly face the same thing happening again further down the line. Full alloys are the way to go I reckon. I've got my sights set on some American Racing Torque Thrust 2s. Sadly I don't have enough space inside the arches to go as wide as yours. I would have to go 6J under the front arches and 7J at the rear. Your tyres look pretty good to. What brand and sizes did you end up going for ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browndog Posted July 19, 2020 Author Share Posted July 19, 2020 Hi Gordon, yep chrome wheels are a pain in the ass, actually chrome anything, as it has to be maintained well or else it rusts! And really costly to get rechromed properly. It was $1000 to get teh front bumper done on the Transit! I didn't want to go too tall in the tyres, so went 265/50x15 on the rear and 215/60x15 on the front. Rears are really tight, and I need to do a little bit of clearancing on the inner arch! They are chinese Vitour tyres, so white lettering facing inwards Unfortunately BF Goodrich no longer make these sizes, or I would have bought them instead. But the Vitours seem to be okay grip wise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cletus Posted July 19, 2020 Share Posted July 19, 2020 China tyres are probably better than BFG's anyway haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browndog Posted July 19, 2020 Author Share Posted July 19, 2020 Just now, cletus said: China tyres are probably better than BFG's anyway haha I think you are right! I have BFG's on one of my Transits, I bought them new a few years ago. Absolute shite in the rain, and average in the dry. Tyre technology has come a long way since these were introduced! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash Posted July 19, 2020 Share Posted July 19, 2020 Thanks for the tyre detail Conrad. The 60 profiles look really good. Talking about the raised white lettering tyres, back in the day another alternative was the Roger Ward Indy Champs. They really looked the part with a nice square edge to the wall and the raised white lettering but they were absolutely treacherous in the wet and not much better in the dry. They were really good for skids though. Even managed to get a 1000 cc Anglia sideways on a set and with "normal rubber" it couldn't have pulled the skin off a rice pudding. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoeddynz Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 Where did you score the steering wheel from? Looks sweet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwisurf Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 I have the same steering wheel but not the Springalex badge. Did it come with it? If not where did you get it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browndog Posted July 27, 2020 Author Share Posted July 27, 2020 On 20/07/2020 at 22:02, yoeddynz said: Where did you score the steering wheel from? Looks sweet. On 22/07/2020 at 08:28, kiwisurf said: I have the same steering wheel but not the Springalex badge. Did it come with it? If not where did you get it? Yes the badge came with it. You can buy the caps separately though. I bought the steering wheel from this crowd in the UK. Shipping cost more than the bloody wheel! https://www.retro-uk.com/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengertiger Posted August 22, 2020 Share Posted August 22, 2020 looks awsome i much prefer the panel van look to windows in the side.nice bit off fab work too.she will be a smart looking van with some jam on 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browndog Posted August 22, 2020 Author Share Posted August 22, 2020 yep same, it was quite a mission, and a bit of expense, but glad I got that done. Got it booked in for paint in a couple of weeks. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 Good decision to media blast the body Conrad. At least now there are no hidden surprises waiting for you further down the track. That bit that looks like swiss cheese now is a common rust spot on vans. My Bedford looked exactly the same. I was told it is caused by condensation dripping down from the roof at night which pools on the load space floor behind the ribs. The moisture then has no where to go so it works its way through the panel. Takes years and years to get that bad. Good you found it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otodat Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 Looks slick, well done! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 Brilliant colour choice Conrad ! I can't wait to see it all assembled again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browndog Posted December 29, 2020 Author Share Posted December 29, 2020 thanks guys. A lot of new shiny parts to go on, so this is really where the fun begins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nominal Posted April 19, 2021 Share Posted April 19, 2021 Looks awesome. Did you get a lot of attention at the show? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browndog Posted April 19, 2021 Author Share Posted April 19, 2021 3 hours ago, Nominal said: Looks awesome. Did you get a lot of attention at the show? yes it did. I put a little poster on each of the side windows telling its life story, and I think a lot of people enjoy that. I was walking past at one point and overheard one guy say to his friend "it's the Westside van!" World famous in Noo Zulland! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusty360 Posted April 20, 2021 Share Posted April 20, 2021 Saw it at the show looked awesome mate! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash Posted April 20, 2021 Share Posted April 20, 2021 Amazing job Conrad ! Wish I could see it in the flesh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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