Now that the body is on (Fiberfab California) I'm looking at the wheels. Read the various posts out here going back to 2004 -good stuff. Someone said once about using Thing drums for better stopping. It also looks like these would kick things out a bit. Anyone ever do this?
Read about the pros and cons of spacers. Looked at the guy on the Samba who will build the custom offset 5x205 rims (I like the old look). Looking at some 356 Outlaw rims (7"). Just looking at options.
Thanks in advance.
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I've used type 3 (4 bolt) rear drums for better braking on the backs of 2 cars; a Cal look bug (135/15's front with Ghia discs, 185/70-15's rear) and a Baja bug (again, a substantially larger tire) with great success. Yes, they did make the rear track (on both cars) about 5/8" wider on each side. I believe Thing rear drums and brakes are similar, but don't quote me on that. With the right offset I think it will work.
When you're mocking it up, note that the upper suspension stops can be trimmed, if necessary, and I've heard of people using button-head bolts for the springplates for clearance. If your car is a swingaxle, there are shorter and longer axles and tubes; the later ones ('68 and newer) are about 1 3/4" longer than '60 (or 61; sorry, can't remember which) to '66, and '67 is one year only and in the middle. 185/70's on custom 6" Sprint Stars (mounting surface moved out so the front spacing was the same as a 4 1/2" wheel), early axles and tubes with the type 3 rear drums on my '72 (Canadian edition, so it still had swing axles) bug and they sat in the fenders just like stock. If it's irs, the trailing arms can be narrowed up to about 1 1/4".
Hope this helps. Al
7" rims may fit, but you'd have to get the offset just right to clear both the fender and suspension parts. You're better off going with a 5 to 6 inch rim.
Look for a rim with lots of offset; in the 40 to 48mm range.
For example my repo Fuchs are 15x6 and have a 37mm offset. With 185/65 tires I had to dial in extra camber to clear the passenger side fender. A 15x6 wheel with an offset around 45mm would have worked much better and still given me lots of clearance on the inside.
Big help! I'll stay in the 5-6 range and focus on the offset. Probably have the guy on the Samba build them for me. Thanks you both for saving me time, money, and grief.
Boothy, we make a 15 x 5.5" 25mm offset wide five, specifically for the 356 replicas... in fact I redesigned it to have the proper Porsche shaped windows instead of the VW oval ones... Since we use primarily wide five discs, or wide five drums on 4 lug backing plates, we also got rid of the VW brake shoe adjuster hole in the face of the wheel...
We also have a small stock of the older Mangels wide five wheels, also 15x5.5 25mm offset with the adjuster holes, and both with and without clips. Just another option for you is all... especially if 25mm is what you will need.
