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Davecymru's Build thread

24 Aug 2011, 11:23am
Won't the rain come in...

Does it touch by a lot? What about spacers. GJ must know what to do?:frusty:
24 Aug 2011, 1:42pm
davecymru wrote:
More photos coming soon, I'm just hammering on with the fab atm!

One interesting development is that even with the recessed bulkheads my tyres still make contact :(

I've currently got 165 SR 15's fitted to the wheels i bought and it shouldn't be an issue fitting smaller tyres, but does anyone know what profile SR is? 65? 75?

What tyres are other's with 15's running?


SR refers to the speed rating, not the size of the tyre. 165 SR 15's are 80 series aspect ratio: that means that the side wall height is 80% of the width of the tyre 165mm x 0.8 = 132mm. You need to multiply that by 2 and add it to the diameter of the wheel to calculate a total wheel and tyre height. Or you could just paste this link into your browser...

http://www.kouki.co.uk/utilities/visual-tyre-size-calculator

It's quite a useful tool for checking how different sized wheels and tyres compare to the standard Herald/Vitesse 155/80/13's.

175/65/15's are a common size and add only 5% to the diameter of the standard tyres so fitment shouldn't be a problem. The bonus is you get much more modern tyres (so you can actually stop!) at half the price of classics. Try this link -

http://www.tyre-shopper.co.uk/ts/search/SizeSearch.aspx

Good luck finding the right combination and let us know what you end up with.
:frusty:
24 Aug 2011, 1:49pm
PS, I really like the look of the Uniroyal RainExpert directional tyres. In 175/65/15 they're about £53 each fitted. I'm going for 175/80/14's which are a tad cheaper at under £200 for four.
24 Aug 2011, 3:15pm
hi all im running on 15" rims with 195*55 tyres on mgf/tf wheels fit straight on...happy days oh and 205*55 on the back, should help me stay on the road
24 Aug 2011, 3:18pm
Mister Towed wrote:
SR refers to the speed rating, not the size of the tyre. 165 SR 15's are 80 series aspect ratio: that means that the side wall height is 80% of the width of the tyre 165mm x 0.8 = 132mm. You need to multiply that by 2 and add it to the diameter of the wheel to calculate a total wheel and tyre height. Or you could just paste this link into your browser...

http://www.kouki.co.uk/utilities/visual-tyre-size-calculator

It's quite a useful tool for checking how different sized wheels and tyres compare to the standard Herald/Vitesse 155/80/13's.

175/65/15's are a common size and add only 5% to the diameter of the standard tyres so fitment shouldn't be a problem. The bonus is you get much more modern tyres (so you can actually stop!) at half the price of classics. Try this link -

http://www.tyre-shopper.co.uk/ts/search/SizeSearch.aspx

Good luck finding the right combination and let us know what you end up with.
:frusty:


SUPERB reply! Just what i was after, i owe you a pint for this!! :)
So the 2nd figure is simply the side wall height aspect ratio?

So that works out that atm i have 165/80/15's ?
Which gives a total diameter of: 64.50 cm

If i go to 175/65/15's
Then that gives a diameter of: 60.85
So effectively loosing 2cm of radius, which will sort the fouling problem. Nice!

You mention that you're going for: 175/80/14's which is a diameter of: 63.56, which is only 5mm radius from what i've got atm! You "should" get away with that.

This has cheered me up endlessly now! thanks once again :party:
24 Aug 2011, 3:19pm
Can we have some pictures for reference? the suns out in london now, come on get the cameras out. please.
24 Aug 2011, 3:25pm
It's raining like Monsoon season here is Bristol ATM!
If it cheers up tonight i'll get some better pics :)
24 Aug 2011, 3:34pm
Cheers

I promise when i actually start mine, i will take loads for asking advice/helping others.:wave: Was it touching on lock or just touching fullstop.:laser:
24 Aug 2011, 6:58pm
davecymru wrote:
SUPERB reply! Just what i was after, i owe you a pint for this!! :)
So the 2nd figure is simply the side wall height aspect ratio?

So that works out that atm i have 165/80/15's ?
Which gives a total diameter of: 64.50 cm

If i go to 175/65/15's
Then that gives a diameter of: 60.85
So effectively loosing 2cm of radius, which will sort the fouling problem. Nice!

You mention that you're going for: 175/80/14's which is a diameter of: 63.56, which is only 5mm radius from what i've got atm! You "should" get away with that.

This has cheered me up endlessly now! thanks once again :party:


No problem but I'll hold you to the offer of a pint.

I've been agonising for ages about tyre sizes as they're crucial to the overall look of the finished car. I'm hoping to get away with the 175/80/14's but I'm going to bolt up my wires with the worn out 165/14's on first and do a lot of measuring before making the final decision. As I haven't got any adaptors yet that'll have to wait for a while.

Anyone found a cheap supplier of splined adaptors?
24 Aug 2011, 7:36pm
mulberry wrote:
hi all im running on 15" rims with 195*55 tyres on mgf/tf wheels fit straight on...happy days oh and 205*55 on the back, should help me stay on the road


I looked at MG TF wheels as they're really cheap on ebay, they have the same bolt pattern as the herald/vitesse and the minilite style wouldn't look out of place on a sammio (imho).

Bearing in mind the 195/55/15's are almost exactly the same diameter as the 165/80/13's often fitted to Vitesses I'm not surprised they fit without fouling the front tub, and I'm guessing the extra width isn't causing any fouling on the front or rear suspension either, but don't they look a little small in the Sammio arches with those tyres fitted?

Some pics would be good...
25 Aug 2011, 9:13am
im looking to reduce the wheel arches down so it hasnt got the 4*4 look, but thats a huge amount of work, or just mybe fit bigger tyres like 195/65/15....
25 Aug 2011, 9:24am
Hoop and hinge all bonded in. When this was taken the rad was removed while the brackets were being moved. Remember this is a 6-pot, hence the lack of space.


And the bonnet all in place! Main lights & indicators fitted (but removed while they are being wired up). Grill cut-out finished and just awaiting the delivery of the grill from Gary.


The back half of the interior is all panelled and finished and has now been under-coated in black, which really made me realise how close to finishing i am! :)


I've also fitted the bonnet straps and started filling and sanding the back end ready to fit those lights tonight as well as initially trial fitting the mirrors :)

SO close to paint and the end now.... The only major(ish) fabrication left is the gearbox tunnel :)
25 Aug 2011, 11:09am
mulberry wrote:
im looking to reduce the wheel arches down so it hasnt got the 4*4 look, but thats a huge amount of work, or just mybe fit bigger tyres like 195/65/15....


I'd go with the 195/65/15's: they'll fill out the existing arches nicely. As they'll be an almost identical radius to the 175/80/14's I'm hoping to use I'd be interested to know if you get any fouling on the front bulkhead if you go down that route.
25 Aug 2011, 4:37pm
Mister Towed wrote:
PS, I really like the look of the Uniroyal RainExpert directional tyres. In 175/65/15 they're about £53 each fitted. I'm going for 175/80/14's which are a tad cheaper at under £200 for four.


RAIN tyre, are you fitting a roof too?
25 Aug 2011, 5:37pm
Psycho pops wrote:
RAIN tyre, are you fitting a roof too?


No roof, no way. I just like the look of the directional tread pattern on the Uniroyals.

http://www.uniroyal-tyres.com/generator/www/de/en/uniroyal/automobile/themes/02_summertyre/02-rainexpert/rainexpert-en.html

I'm also fitting a heater and aiming to build some luggage space in between the fuel tank and cabin bulkhead with a view to touring across Europe, so there's a chance I'll need the rain tyres when I get back to Britain.

For anyone interested in a suitable heater option see the link below.

http://www.t7design.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=189
25 Aug 2011, 6:14pm
This message is just a test run to see if I can attach pictures...

If it's worked, that's my donor Vitesse.
25 Aug 2011, 6:16pm
Mister Towed wrote:
This message is just a test run to see if I can attach pictures...

If it's worked, that's my donor Vitesse.


OK, back to the drawing board...:smash:
25 Aug 2011, 6:22pm
I can't seem to get pictures on either apparantly my file size is to big when I found out how to do it or if some one knows tell us how please... Pat
25 Aug 2011, 6:32pm
Patton wrote:
I can't seem to get pictures on either apparantly my file size is to big when I found out how to do it or if some one knows tell us how please... Pat


I have same problem: file size too big. I'm currently trying, and failing to compress the image before sending. HELP!!!
25 Aug 2011, 6:48pm
use photobucket guys to upload your pictures to this site,it worked for me...

gary
25 Aug 2011, 7:12pm
mulberry wrote:
use photobucket guys to upload your pictures to this site,it worked for me...

gary


Hmm, managed to upload picture to photobucket, but, depending on which url address I select to link the attachment to the post it either tells me that the url is not recognised, is not supported or that the file is still too large.

I'd really like to be able to post pic's on this site, especially when I get to the interesting bits of my build like installing the home-made water/methanol injection system...

All help gratefully accepted.
25 Aug 2011, 7:35pm
Put a link to photo album here but anybody could add stuff to my profile so I've deleted it. Still trying to upload images.
25 Aug 2011, 11:09pm
Try googling 'resize image free software' and download a free tool to shrink your images to required size. I got a great one which will resize a whole batch of images in one go. Can't remember what it's called, will have a look when I get home (am currently sitting in the middle of a field somewhere in Cornwall)
26 Aug 2011, 8:04am
holy thread hijack batman :)

i simply upload images to photobucket then copy the IMG Code straight into my links to embed my build photos.

I'd greatly encourage all builders to start a "xyz's build thread" so that we can track and comment on your progress. Although beware of people kidnapping it to talk about other things <cough> <cough> :)

now back to the build....
26 Aug 2011, 8:19am
I moved my radiator last night and after talking to Gary i dropped it 65 mm, although i did raise it by a few mm with some spacing washers so i reckon that a 60mm drop would have probably been better for pipe clearances etc.

I also started fitting my new fibreglass centre console and as soon as that is done it's just electrics (lights and gauges) to fit before it's all systems go on the bodywork :)