looks wrong, works right. Looks right, works wrong... which one?

[javabug]

Is there a thread somewhere on major miles in a hi-po VW?  There should be.  Its the main requirement of my car, including with the upcoming adrenaline shot.

[Jim Ratto]

To me the look is very important. If doesn't look right then it is just wrong. I like to drive my cars and when I was younger I put up with a lot things that just didn't work right because of stupidity, lack of money and/or knowledge. Now that I am older, but still not to smart, I like things to work right. So I have been working hard to get my car working smoothly and still looking right. With Jim's help I have the 48's working nice and he is sending me a fix for that darn noisy fuel pump. Now I want to drive it more. Last weekend I took it out to a Kelly Park pre-show at Mark M's shop (100 mile trip) and showing off threw the fan belt. Boy that car is fun! I have 165s on the front, yeah they don't look perfect but they stop good. I have a feeling that car will get quite a few miles on it this year. 

hey Larry, good you reminded me to send buffers. Sorry I forgot

[Dave Rosique]

Great topic Jim...

My project Oval will probably be a failure in some ways... it'll be too low, too loud, geared much too short for daily street driving, etc.

It's more or less a vision I've had for thirty years or so... an Oval that looks like it's pissed off and has the HP to back it up.
I'll sacrifice in some ways to get the look I envision... I even know better as I could not begin to count the number of cars I've built over the years for family, friends & customers that were built to balance out form / function.

I look at this project as 100% toy... something to make this 'ol guy feel good. 

~DR.

[TexasTom]

Here's a photo from last weekend with the new 175/65/15 Pirellis on front ...

[lawrence]

That looks great,Tom. Where did you find the pirellis? I was seaching for that size tire a while back and the only brand I could find was Continental.

[speedwell]

That looks great,Tom. Where did you find the pirellis? I was seaching for that size tire a while back and the only brand I could find was Continental.

http://www.longstonetires.fr/productPage.php?productID=2073&categoryFilename=Pirelli-Cinturato.php

cinturato cn 36 175/70/15

[TexasTom]

That looks great,Tom. Where did you find the pirellis? I was seaching for that size tire a while back and the only brand I could find was Continental.

I found them through Discount Tire. Though Pirelli is discontinuing the P3000, they still had a few at a local store.
I think I may get one more pair ... just in case!

[javabug]

Those look just fine, far as I can tell.

[TexasTom]

Here's another ...

[lawrence]

I would run those over 145s in a heartbeat!

[TexasTom]

Lawrence,
They really fit the rims very well.
I love my old Mich 145s, but these are just far superior.
Tom

[Jim Ratto]

good looking blue car Tx Tom

[rick m]

Larry...good for you on taking that 67 on a road trip.  For me, that is what it is all about. You can have the look and drive them. Don Bulitta and I, along with a few others, set out to prove that in 97 on our 5200 mile round trip in our big motor cars. 

I will do none the less with my 66 chop when back together. I have always wanted the car to be more fun per mile and that means being able to drive it anywhere, anytime.  The key to my 2276 motor project is driveability...with 48s.  Mine are smooth as glass and I can drive it like a stocker off idle.

Good to hear you are taking that thing on the road. Hopefully in the future we can all meet up somewhere.

Rick Mortensen

[Fastbrit]

Rick, Larry's post was made three years ago – and the car is now in Scotland. Does that constitute a long road trip?

[plasticblack]

I'm always interested in History and how styles evolve.

I really love the simplicity and ingenuity that the very first Cal Look VW's show us.

Because of the lack of 'off the shelf' parts way back then, very often a Home-Grown solution was found and I just love that whole ideal.

Make do and mend... 

I'm not a Big Motor/IDA kind of person and that's mostly because I've never had the money available to go that route. Also I'm no lover of the Extreme Narrowed Beam Brigade simply because I don't like the look very much.

My tastes are simple, but I genuinly applaud those that are beavering away coming up with ever new styles & ideas. You don't have to like everything, but some respect and often admiration is deserved.

What I think looks right isn't always going to be what others think and that's 100% fine. I love the VW scene because for most part almost everybody can get along, no matter what your taste is?

Looks Wrong? Works Rght? Looks Right, Works Wrong?  Which One.. All of them of course......

[rick m]

Keith...I guess my response to Larry's post means I have been on a very long trip.   :-)  Funny!

Rick M

[DKK Ted]

Tom, your car is looking good! That color looks very familar, looks good!

Ted

[stoneloco808]

IMO and what my dad used to preach, the only opinion that matters is the one that pays the bills.  I am sure we all criticize other cars.  But that is the beauty of the hobby, IMO to follow a strict guidelines for a certain looks get boring after a while.  After a while it looks like all the cars are just cookie cutter stamps of each other with just different sprinkles or toppings.  I say build it the way you envisioned it to be, if they want it to look a certain way tell them to pony up the cash and/or parts.  Consider it as a sponsor.

[TexasTom]

Thanks guys ...

Interestingly appropriate for this thread, I changed wheels once again a while back .... always wanted to try alloys.
6s and 7s with 185/60s front and 215/60 rear: I thought both would actually be be too large, but the wheels fit the wells so well I thought it worked pretty well!
The handling is superb. Nice to actually be able to USE four piston calipers up front AND go around corners with speed without the fear of understeer. Also, the nice light weight of the alloys versus the Flat4s increased the Zippidity!

I'll try and get a couple pics up later ...
TxT

[normac67]

Keith...I guess my response to Larry's post means I have been on a very long trip.   :-)  Funny!

Rick M

  Rick that is really funny to me. It really got me tickled!!

[Jim Ratto]

Thanks guys ...

Interestingly appropriate for this thread, I changed wheels once again a while back .... always wanted to try alloys.
6s and 7s with 185/60s front and 215/60 rear: I thought both would actually be be too large, but the wheels fit the wells so well I thought it worked pretty well!
The handling is superb. Nice to actually be able to USE four piston calipers up front AND go around corners with speed without the fear of understeer. Also, the nice light weight of the alloys versus the Flat4s increased the Zippidity!

I'll try and get a couple pics up later ...
TxT

looking forward to seeing some shots of that dude... 

[Dick Mitchell]

I agree with all that you said Jim, even as I realize that my car is guilty of all you mentioned.   

[TexasTom]

OK, here are the 6 & 7" alloys, 185/60s in front and 215/60s at the rear.
A different look for the car, but like I said, it handles very nicely with this combination!
Wish we still had autocrosses around here ... probably STILL wouldn't fair very well, but would be better on the course than my old '67 with the 145/185 combo! ... Did thrill the crowd (and me) boiling the tires out of the corners though! LOL
TxT

[AntLockyer]

Looks great like that, been considering the same sizes myself.

[speedwell]

very nice Tom ;great looking car

[Jim Ratto]

Love it, especially rear tires/wheels.

[wolfswest]

what about 155 tires?  Vredestein has a pretty cheap classic 155/80/15 model.  Does anybody run 155's?  pictures maybe?  I'm interested in those for a loooong time.

these tires are 0.80 cm / 0.3 inch   higher then 145's, so not THAT much of a difference...  or are we just crossing the borderline with these? 

[stretch]

I run 155 R15 tyres on my car.

Sorry for the poor quality picture, this was the only one I could find.

[wolfswest]

Hi Stretch,

nice!  What brand are the tires?  your rims are 5.5" I suppose?

[stretch]

I can't remember the brand, i'll look this evening.

Yes, the rims are 5.5"