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Post by Carsten Klein on Jun 5, 2012 4:13:41 GMT -8
cool car ! congrats
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Post by John & Jill Jaranson on Feb 26, 2013 16:54:26 GMT -8
Been thinking about an upgrade to the wheels and tires on Jill's Ghia for this summer. It is currently running on stock wheels with beauty rings and stock 165R15 tires... This is what we are thinking. 15x5.5 Cosmic Wheels in a 5x130mm bolt pattern. These wheels will require the front rotors and rear hubs/drums to be re-drilled and studded, but they have a 45mm offset so will be perfect for the Type 3. Will also color match the inserts of the wheels to match the dark brown metallic of the roof. We will run 175/55R15 on the front and 195/55R15 on the rear. I will also probably lower the front one more click. Should look something like this... What do you all think?
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Post by Thom Fitzpatrick on Feb 26, 2013 20:05:38 GMT -8
There's nothing wrong with stock wheels and ride height.
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Post by John & Jill Jaranson on Feb 26, 2013 20:22:53 GMT -8
There's nothing wrong with stock wheels and ride height. We agree. The Ghia rides just fine on the stock wheels and tires. No issues with them at all. The "upgrade" isn't about performance. It is about personal preference and appearance. Beyond the redrilled drums and rotors, nothing we are doing to the car is permanent and non-reversible. Will likely modify one of the extra set of parts that I have so that the car is not off the road for any extended period of time.
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Post by Greg Skinner on Feb 26, 2013 20:36:36 GMT -8
John - I LOVE IT! Those wheels really work on the Type 34 and the proposed color scheme change on the wheels ties in with the roof color very well.
We have plenty of stockers out there. Glad you're considering something a bit different. Been considering a few variations from the standard, myself.
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Post by Lee Hedges on Feb 27, 2013 6:38:07 GMT -8
It's your T34 and you have the choice to do whatever you want to it. There will always be an arguement that customization will affect value, but that's just an arguement. You will find out if that's the case when you go to sell it. Your 1967 with its documented history was one of the rare ones that had originality. Enjoy the changes and drive the T34, for that's what they are made to do.
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Post by John & Jill Jaranson on Feb 27, 2013 21:01:44 GMT -8
It's your T34 and you have the choice to do whatever you want to it. There will always be an arguement that customization will affect value, but that's just an arguement. You will find out if that's the case when you go to sell it. Your 1967 with its documented history was one of the rare ones that had originality. Enjoy the changes and drive the T34, for that's what they are made to do. I tend to agree and probably wouldn't consider this except for the fact that it is completely reversible and while the car has a great history and wonderful documentation, it is already a bit removed from original during the re-do back in the early 90s. Front seats were redone, paint was changed to a non-VW metallic gold, GEX engine, etc. Just adding to the already storied history of the car.
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Post by John & Jill Jaranson on Mar 2, 2013 8:01:23 GMT -8
Pretty much decided on the Cosmics for Jill's Ghia. Of course I can't leave well enough alone so this is the plan for the wheels.... Change the shape of the openings in the wheels from round to wedge shaped, color match the recessed portions to match the roof paint, and make up some custom center caps. I will also look into clearancing the backside of the wheel and/or the caliper so that spacers are not necessary. Going to go through my stash of parts today and see if I have a good set of rotors and rear hubs/drums that I can re-drill and stud for the 5x130 bolt patter. I figure I have a month and a half or so to get it all done before we get the VWs out of storage for the season.
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Post by John & Jill Jaranson on May 19, 2013 19:38:50 GMT -8
OK....Over the last week or so, I have been spending time getting Jill's Ghia ready for the new wheels and tires. Started out by turn the back side of the rear hobs flat so the studs will sit flat when installed... then I re-drilled the rear hubs and drums in the new pattern and pressed in the studs. Test fitting the rear wheels....no issues. I took the easy way out and ordered new front disks with the 5x130mm bolt pattern from AirCooledNet. Nice pieces... Mounted the tires and bolted everything up. With the stock calipers I had clearance to the wheels. With the aftermarket replacement 2 bleeder calipers they rubbed. As she sits right now.... and a little PhotoShop to show the next step....dropping the nose a little bit. [/url]
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Post by John & Jill Jaranson on Oct 3, 2013 17:20:42 GMT -8
Got the new fog light bulbs installed in Jill's Ghia tonight. I found the bulbs at Candlepower Inc. for $12.25 each with free shipping. Last week while sorting out the headlights and getting her stereo installed, I had rewired the fog lights to be directly switched (with the factory switch under the dash) and coming off of the un-used electric sunroof fuse in the panel. I was already using a regular Type 3 flasher relay instead of the Type 34 only one that turns the fog lights off when you switch from low to high beam. Jill's was cooked when we got the car.
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Post by Lee Hedges on Oct 4, 2013 12:28:16 GMT -8
12V fog light bulbs are easier to find than 6V ones, but that price is a good one for the 12V bulbs. Seeing the fog lights burning is one of my favorite features of the T34 design. Well done, John!
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Post by John & Jill Jaranson on Apr 27, 2015 17:42:53 GMT -8
Spent some time this past weekend doing a few things to Jill's Type 34 Ghia to get it ready for the season. It has always needed to be lowered one more spline in the front so that was the first order of business.... Before: After: and a couple of more After shots.... I also pulled the rear quarter interior panels and reupholstered and painted them to match the door panels and seats. I also redid the package tray to match... Still a few more things to do like fix the speedometer, remove and color match the upper and lower dash pads, modify the road wheels as I have always planned. (I did buy a 5th Cosmic wheel for the spare and it will be the guinea pig for the mods). For now it is back on the road and looking much better with the nose down a bit more....
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