wheel combo advice needed

[drgouk]

Hi,
   I am buliding a new street car with a little strip action, its a 1965 Australian assembled bug with a 1998 mexican floorpan with early pan halves. The engine is a 2.7l pauter, built along the lines of Don Pauters street motor.
It will have a bus box and I am converting the pan to IRS.
I am looking for a tyre wheel combo that will work with a stock width balljonit beam, with dropped spindles, stock 4 lug brakes. I would prefer not to narrow the front beam, but if I have to I guess I will.
At the rear I don'nt mind having to narrow the trailing arms to get a decent tyre under the guard.

I was thinking of the repo Gasburners, or the orginals if I can find them. Will the GEE BEES fit under my front guards with a 145x15 with the cb dropped spindles?

Are all the repo Gasburner offsets the same? MWS? Cip?

How about the 4 lug versions, Anyone running them with a simular combo?

Another option I had thought about was a set of the flat 4 Fuchs, detailed with black backing 4.5 at the front, 5.5 at the rear. Anyone running these?

or a set of flat 6 fuchs 15x6, These are alot cheaper than the deep 6's

Some input from you guys would be appreciated!

Thanks

David Gouk

[Rennsurfer]

I don't have much input, but as long as you're not going to use 14" wheels up front with the drop spindles (providing that your '98 pan features a ball joint type beam), you should be fine with clearance. Otherwise, the smaller wheel diameter will conflict with the ball joints.

Sounds like you have fun little car. After you get the wheel decision worked out, please post some pictures of it. Good luck with your venture.

[Lanny Hussey]

I've had dropped BJ spindles interfere with real Gasburners. Although heavier than the originals, the FF Fuchs sure are nice.

[roland]

I say avoid the repro GB.. they have a terrible offset and, imo, they look like sh*t... I'd go for FF fuchs or maybe something a little different like this for example: http://www.kinkymicks.com/product_info.php?products_id=23

[DKK Ted]

Hi Dave, here is a pic of my set-up. 69' with 2" drop spindles with repo GeeBee's, But does have a 2" narrow beam. Have no issues at all. 145 tires and disk brakes.

[Zach Gomulka]

Stock drums? Yikes.

[yvre]

Yeah, I was about to say that... 2,7L Pauter engine + stock brakes doesn't sound like my idea of fun.

[drgouk]

Stock drums? Yikes.

Stock discs. 

[drgouk]

Thanks Guys for the honnest advice. Im swayed toward the flat 4 or a set of genuine wheels.
I will post some pics as I get more into it.

Ted, your car looks good with those GB's

[DKK Ted]

Thank you Dave, appreciate the nice words.

[Chris W]

I run a stock width beam in my 66 with drop spindles and real Gas Burners on 145's w/disc. The ball joint clears, but not by a ton.

[Rennsurfer]

Chris, really dig your car. Looks great in every aspect.

[drgouk]

I run a stock width beam in my 66 with drop spindles and real Gas Burners on 145's w/disc. The ball joint clears, but not by a ton.

Thanks Chris, Thats exactly the look im after, Do you know of any forsale?

[Chris W]

None for sale that I know of, I got mine from a wanted add here...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/index.php

Thanks Fred!

[roland]

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=796486
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=759776

Or something a bit different, very cool and much cheaper:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=791696

[drgouk]

Thanks for the leads.

Chris, Which brand of drop spindles are you running? Do you have adjusters in the beam?

Is there anything to watchout for with gasburners, when buying S/H?

What is the corrision like on them?, is it hard to keep under control?

How much clearence do estimate between the wheel and balljonit?

thanks! 

[Chris W]

I got all my suspension stuff from Russel at Oldspeed. I would have to look up what spindles he sent me. My wheels were clean when  got them and still have the original primer/paint on them.

No adjusters in the beam, I would like to get in down a little more in the front. With a tank gas and interior I think it will be right where it needs to be.

The Ball joint has about 10mm of room right now.

[bluestar]

"Chris w" , I really like the soft look of your car , GB are very clean like original version .

[drgouk]

I say avoid the repro GB.. they have a terrible offset and, imo, they look like sh*t... I'd go for FF fuchs or maybe something a little different like this for example: http://www.kinkymicks.com/product_info.php?products_id=23

Roland, are there any difference in the gee bee's from Java or MWS or are they all the same? On the Java website they list them as having a ET40, Isnt that close to the orginal?

Thanks
David.

[Chris W]

Thanks for the comments guys. Real Gas Burners have a 42mm offset.

[Rennsurfer]

So... what's the final wheel decision, drgouk?

[drgouk]

So... what's the final wheel decision, drgouk?

Hi Fred, Seriously considering an orginal set of Gasburners. I will let you know once I have done a deal.

Thanks for your help Guys.

[drgouk]

I've had dropped BJ spindles interfere with real Gasburners. Although heavier than the originals, the FF Fuchs sure are nice.

Hi Lanny, Do you remember what brand of dropped spindle that you were using?

[roland]

I say avoid the repro GB.. they have a terrible offset and, imo, they look like sh*t... I'd go for FF fuchs or maybe something a little different like this for example: http://www.kinkymicks.com/product_info.php?products_id=23

Roland, are there any difference in the gee bee's from Java or MWS or are they all the same? On the Java website they list them as having a ET40, Isnt that close to the orginal?

Thanks
David.

ET40 is close yes, MWS have ET35. that's not very different from real ones but that with the dropped spindles and disc brakes, it's a lot..

I think real ones are the way to go  But Racecraf car looks very nice with those replicas!

[drgouk]

I got all my suspension stuff from Russel at Oldspeed. I would have to look up what spindles he sent me. My wheels were clean when  got them and still have the original primer/paint on them.

No adjusters in the beam, I would like to get in down a little more in the front. With a tank gas and interior I think it will be right where it needs to be.

The Ball joint has about 10mm of room right now.

Hi Chris,
          Just wondering if you could find out what brand spindles that you used? I got a nice set of orginal Gas Burners, but with Empi dropped spindles they rub on the balljoint. Are you running stock disc brakes on the 66? Thanks

David Gouk

[Chris W]

I will check and let you know on sat.