Wide Five Conversion Questions

Why so skinny in the front (4.5")?  There's tons of room in front for 5.5" rims.  I have 5.5" with 3/8" spacers and still lots of room.  With same size rims you can rotate front to back which is a good thing.  You have wider rubber where 75% of the braking is done - in the front also good.  

I'd ship the car to Great Leach at Vintage Motorcars and tell him what you want and he'll get it done right, the first time.

I'd enjoy working on it myself.   it'll be fun.

Greg has those super light 190 rims i'm interested in.

You think a wider tire on the front will help with the front tires barking under hard braking?   everyone else has that right?

Lincoln, I listed the AC kit parts I used and a few other notes earlier this spring in the attached link.  I would recommend you call SoCal imports and ask for Andy Shouse, the owner ( of SoCal and AC industries) he will run you through your options, current pricing and possibly give you a special bundle price. He knows all the builders and sources parts to most.

https://www.speedsterowners.com...5#560742421238122275

if you are going to do the work your self, back in 2014 I also listed my "lesssons learned" and install tricks provided by the tech experts a SoCal.... if you can't find it, fire me a note and I will re- post.  I have the info filed away in my tech database in my home server,... I just need to dig it out.

also, to your Q on wheels... i currently run the Bintage Speed 190 5.5's ( front and rear) , with drum skins and   3/8" spacers to push the wheels out a bit further. 

Fire me a note if you need any info... I'm happy to help.

If you want to get the most out of what you have, put wider rims and tires (5 1/2's, 175's or 185's) on the front as well, and change the front camber to -1/2 degree. The wider tires and rims will improve braking immensely, and the camber change will give the front end way better bite. For safer highway speeds (and higher) add a pair of caster shims under the bottom beam.

I know you said you weren't interested in custom widened rims, but with short early axles and tubes and discs (which will add 1/2-3/4" each side to the track) you have enough room for 6 1/2's or 7's with 205's or 215's, which as well as contributing greatly to handling (notice the tire sizes Porsche has been putting on the rear of their cars for the past number of years- they just keep on getting wider and wider!) they'll look bitchin'!

You could get the rear together with the 5 1/2's and 205's for now and widen the rear wheels at a later time. 

Hope this helps. Al

Found the install and bleeding tricks  from 2015 with the SoCal istructions I posted.

https://www.speedsterowners.com...2#462360977739715082

Will dontunue looking... just need to go back to my 2014 files ;-)

hope this helps,

cheers

Lfepardo posted:

Lincoln, I listed the AC kit parts I used and a few other notes earlier this spring in the attached link.  I would recommend you call SoCal imports and ask for Andy Shouse, the owner ( of SoCal and AC industries) he will run you through your options, current pricing and possibly give you a special bundle price. He knows all the builders and sources parts to most.

https://www.speedsterowners.com...5#560742421238122275

if you are going to do the work your self, back in 2014 I also listed my "lesssons learned" and install tricks provided by the tech experts a SoCal.... if you can't find it, fire me a note and I will re- post.  I have the info filed away in my tech database in my home server,... I just need to dig it out.

also, to your Q on wheels... i currently run the Bintage Speed 190 5.5's ( front and rear) , with drum skins and   3/8" spacers to push the wheels out a bit further. 

Fire me a note if you need any info... I'm happy to help.

Ok I did not see this in all my searching.  How did i not see this in my week of researching?  This is what i need.  Thank you. 

I was born here in San Diego but grew up on Friday Harbor.  Love the NW.

I wondered where it had gone.  I was acrually ran a search on it a few month back trying to figure out where it had landed,    something about the color combo and the stance that reallly made it stand out. I even Have a few pictures of it on my iPad ;-)

if you need any additional info, give me a shout.  Happy to help.  I should be stateside all summer.

cheers

Lincoln Crise,

call the shop @(714)894-1550 we can get you in the right direction for the wide 5 conversion.

Greg

VSpyder posted:

Lincoln Crise,

call the shop @(714)894-1550 we can get you in the right direction for the wide 5 conversion.

 

 

Greg

I have to agree. Don't use AC parts!

Some day with the funds I would love to do the wide five conversion.

Lincoln asked: "You think a wider tire on the front will help with the front tires barking under hard braking?   everyone else has that right?"

A lot of us do.  I'm running 6" rims with 205's on them on the front disks, with the later (wider) VW drums on the rear.  I also have a 10 or 11 pound residual valve in the line running to both rear drums to hold the shoes closer to the drums at neutral.  Still, I sometimes get a squeeky/chirp from the front tires, especially if they are slowing while turning into a side street and pass over painted strips.  A little chirp and that's it.  Let's people know that I'm coming.   "Outa my WAY, Man!"

I often wish Gregs shop was closer to Seattle...  my experience  with Alex ( who has since moved on) and Gregs team in 2015-2016 was excellent.  Sometimes i wish I could just drop the car off, have someone finish the projects, recommend and do other things that I may have not thought off to improve the performance/reliability of the car, and then pick up the car...   Lately I have been so busy with kids and Tavel that my "Speedster upgrade list" just keeps getting longer and longer, and parts are acumulating in the "to-do" project shelf".

When its engine swap time, and assuming the stars align, the car WILL definitely make a pilgrimage trip to CA for a new CB engine and some time with Greg. 

Off to the garage now... my blinker relay pooped out this morning on the way to the office... so time to swap it out.  I have to admit these cars do well as almost-daily-drivers- weather permitting.  ( my comute is less than 12 miles,~ 20-25 minutes of lake side cruising each way ;-)

cheers,

Thanks to everyone for their insight and opinions on this project.  I took it all in.

I talked to Greg at Vintage Motorcars today and he's full of useful info.  He's setting me up with everything i'll need to get the job done.   I'm very excited.   The website doesn't say they sell brakes but they do.  I will keep you all posted. 

Next item on the my list is an exhaust system for the new engine getting dialed in at Fat Performance.

Lincoln Crise posted:

Thanks to everyone for their insight and opinions on this project.  I took it all in.

I talked to Greg at Vintage Motorcars today and he's full of useful info.  He's setting me up with everything i'll need to get the job done.   I'm very excited.   The website doesn't say they sell brakes but they do.  I will keep you all posted. 

Next item on the my list is an exhaust system for the new engine getting dialed in at Fat Performance.

I knew Greg would be the one for you to call.