Going retro: Dome hubcaps and restoring rideheight advice

[Zcat7]

I've been thinking for a while about bringing the ride height up a touch on my bus as I often carry a few people and lots of music kit in it and when i do the front wheels bottom out on big compressions and potholes. I didn't do the original lowering but the front beam has no adjusters and I'm not sure how easy it is to reverse the mod? I guess the back should just be a case of raising it by a spline? Any advice?

Also, my BRM replicas are looking a bit 2nd hand as the lacquer is coming off and they are getting pitted and nasty. The PO had had them refurbed already so I guess they are past their best. I've always liked the look of dome hubcaps and whitewalls/pinstripe znd so thought of sourcing some steelies but as I have a 72 crossover with small PCD wheels I wasn't sure if you could get dome caps for those; anyone confirm?

Neil

 

[Porkpie]

Hi Neil, I have a set of four, I think , they seem reasonably thick quality, chrome is good with the VW logo and not dented. There's no rust on the fronts if I remember correctly but there may be a little on the insides. I'll dig them out tomorrow and check if you want? Not sure where you are for postage etc, but I don't want too much for them.

Regards, Si

 

[Zcat7]

Hi Si. That sounds good. So these will fit the later steel wheels with the narrow stud pattern? If so I'll drop you a PM and we can talk cost and postage etc.

Thanks!

Neil

 

[Porkpie]

Hi Neil, Yes they are off my crossover. I will dig them out this evening and give you an idea of postage first cos they are fairly weighty! Where abouts in the country are you?

Regards, Si

 

[uber cool]

the early domed caps wont fit the 112pcd rims on the crossover bay, But you can get a more rounded aftermarket hub cap called baby moon caps, see link below

http://www.vwheritage.com/vw_spares...ntry_GB.htm?crumbStartPage=2&crumbStartRow=21

If you cant see any adjusters on the front beam its either lowered with dropped spindles or maybe the beam has had the 'cut n turn' treatment. Look towards where you would see the aduster in the middle and see if you can see 2 welds all the way around the beam tubes top and bottom.

If its cut n turn its a new beam required and dropped spindles will need standard spindles.

Either way there always someone looking for a lowered beams, so post a swap advert on the forum.

 

[Porkpie]

No, they are not those ones. They are off a crossover and have the VW logo stamped into the centre. Neil, you have PM.

Regards, Si

 

[Zcat7]

Thanks all. Uber cool, I'll check the beam but I don't believe it's cut. I hadn't however considered swapping the whole beam with someone; that's worth a thought (although I do still want some drop). Those baby moon hubcaps in your link definitely look like the ones I'm after though.

Neil

 

[lobie]

I've been thing for a while about bringing the ride height up a touch on my bus as I often carry a few people and lots of music kit in it and when i do the front wheels bottom out on big compressions and potholes. I didn't do the original lowering but the front beam has no adjusters and I'm not sure how easy it is to reverse the mod? I guess the back should just be a case of raising it by a spline? Any advice?

Also, my BRM replicas are looking a bit 2nd hand as the lacquer is coming off and they are getting pitted and nasty. The PO had had them refurbed already so I guess they are past their best. I've always liked the look of dome hubcaps and whitewalls/pinstripe znd so thought of sourcing some steelies but as I have a 72 crossover with small PCD wheels I wasn't sure if you could get dome caps for those; anyone confirm?

Neil

hi Neil ive got a crossover with domed hubcaps and white walls i bought mine off pieman on here, ive been told since i got them that they are from a T3 they fit a treat i ll get some pics up tommorow

 

[K@rlos]

They do fit, Oroo has them on his 71 ;-)

 

[Zcat7]

Thanks Lobie, I look forward to the pics! I guess with those you get the VW logo too, though I guess they will be quite rare being from a T3...?

 

[Porkpie]

Do you mean rare or expensive? :lol: :lol: :lol:

Regards, Si

 

[Zcat7]

Err yes... Rare and expensive! :roll:

 

[lobie]

as promised pics of stock wheel whitewalls and dome caps bus is also stock height

 

[Zcat7]

Thanks Lobie, they look great and that's just the look I'm after. Incidentally, what size are your tyres?

Now, off to find the "for sale" section of a T3 register...

 

[lobie]

tyres are 185 r14 c

 

[PIEMAN]

Hub caps lookin good fella pleased ya like em

 

[Porkpie]

Yeah, they look great! Same as mine :roll:

Regards, Si

 

[Zcat7]

That's exactly what I'm looking for Pieman! Looks spot on. Where did you get the whitewalls, are they painted on or tyre caps?

 

[lobie]

try this link http://www.ravus.de/Produkte_cat_66.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[PIEMAN]

They are whitewall inserts from Just Kampers.
Not great in my opinion as they can get ripped and start to disintergrate a bit.
Would go to Mr Whitewalls on here if i was gonna use stock wheels with whitewalls again.
Running on Cookie Cutters now