Hey, David, several of us have had good luck with the Empi 3487. It’s not a performance exhaust; I wouldn’t put it on anything bigger than a 1776. But it doesn’t seem to hurt a 1500 or 1600. It’s also compact, easy to install, sounds good and, as a bonus, puts the exhaust tip exactly where it should be on an MG TD. I ran mine for several years…[Read more]

Hey, David, several of us have had good luck with the Empi 3487. It’s not a performance exhaust; I wouldn’t put it on anything bigger than a 1776. But it doesn’t seem to hurt a 1500 or 1600. It’s also compact, easy to install, sounds good and, as a bonus, puts the exhaust tip exactly where it should be on an MG TD. I ran mine for several years…[Read more]

Hey, David, several of us have had good luck with the Empi 3487. It’s not a performance exhaust; I wouldn’t put it on anything bigger than a 1776. But it doesn’t seem to hurt a 1500 or 1600. It’s also compact, easy to install, sounds good and, as a bonus, puts the exhaust tip exactly where it should be on an MG TD. I ran mine for several years…[Read more]

And I was wrong. Lots of early Bug rims were 4 inches. This thread has an apparent expert on Beetle/Ghia rim widths and offsets.

I still say 165 R 15s (about a .8 aspect ratio) are the right thing for us & will go on the skinny rims nicely.

165/80s will go on a 4 inch rim with no trouble. They will look right on the TD and handle fine. I am not sure your regular Mangels are actually 4 inches though. They might be 4.5 inches. I have thought all the stock 8-slot VW rims were either 4.5 or 5.5. Mine are 4.5. (The new wires are 4.5-inch as well)

185s I’d want the 5.5 inch rim.

Perfectly nice!

More progress on Bridget‘s body work.

I’ve not heard of anyone having a problem with the taillight wiring this way. A split loom taped with electrical tape should be fine. My car just has the tape. The tire is way ahead of it. The tail light has a rubber cup behind it, in the fender well, that the wire passes through. Keeps out the gunk the tire throws up–so far, anyway.

If 16 lbs in front doesn’t do it, make triple sure you have a little toe-in. 1/8 inch is about right. 3/16 is OK too. 1/4 is a lil too much. If you have less than an eighth you might wander a bit on the highway. I like a half degree of negative camber as well in the front. Stock spec is 0, straight up and down, but a little camber does it no harm…[Read more]

Long-time no-post, fellas. Been busy at work & stuff. Today it was mid-50s so I got back after my fenders.

They’re starting to shape-up OK, I think.

Make Posada the second night then!

That should do it.

When you check the cable, check the path from speedometer to hub. Look for kinks or sharp bends. Mine had one and I’m pretty sure that’s why it failed. I re-routed the new one more carefully and it’s been good since.

That ain’t even bad though. We gotta do it.

It’s 540 miles to La Posada Hotel in Winslow, AZ. If you’re in a hurry, that’s your first overnight stop. It’s worth the stop.

Thanks for the clarification, Paul.

I gotta say…regarding that ford…I did not see any sports cars in the video.

Thanks for the clarification, Paul.

I gotta say…regarding that ford…I did not see any sports cars in the video.

The TDr bows are simpler than that: lightweight aluminum tube and clamps and hinges from a boat supply place. Basically it’s the same stuff they use on bimini tops. You can mount them so they fold down inside the tub.