MSO 662P

[Dolomite1296]

Lovely car and total credit to you.

Re. tyres: wouldn't 185/50s give you a little more clearance? 185/55s tend to be rather square shouldered.

[Tony Burd]

Cleaned up the water pump cover
Before....

After.....

Then fitted the pump to the block

Impellor next

Finally the housing with appropriate thickness gaskets.

[Tony Burd]

Thanks for your comments.

I need a new set of tyres, not had a proper look yet but I don't think you can get 185/50/15s which I find hard to believe, but these days a 15" wheel is pretty small for modern cars so there is not much choice.

The width would still be the same just a lower profile which would give me more clearance if I kept the ride height the same.

[Dolomite1296]

You're quite right, 185/50s are not a common tyre, but remain available from Camskill and other tyre wholesalers.

[Tony Burd]

Just had a look on their website, couldn't see any listed, is it best to ring them?

[lazeruspete]

I am a fan of the white engine block!

any reason why? I think it will come in handy for spotting any oil/fluid leaks should they arise

[Tony Burd]

Just fancied something different, it's already looking a bit grubby just sitting in the garage but does clean up ok, yeah will be good to spot leaks.

[Dolomite1296]

I usually find it easier to speak to Camskill rather than using their website. Frustatingly I found a source of these about a month ago but can't recall who it was offhand. I'll have a crash around on Google and get back to you. It may have been from one of the Smart forums.

[Tony Burd]

Great thanks for that. Do you know your stuff about tyres? If so can you recommend a really good road tyre, the car will mainly be used in th dry and probably won't do a lot of miles, so I am not bothered about how long they last, would rather have something softish & sticky

Cheers

Tony

[SprintMWU773V]

Great thanks for that. Do you know your stuff about tyres? If so can you recommend a really good road tyre, the car will mainly be used in th dry and probably won't do a lot of miles, so I am not bothered about how long they last, would rather have something softish & sticky

Cheers

Tony

Any Yokohama will be sticky! Also look at some things like Vredestein. Not sure what sizes they come in but my Mazda has the Sportrac 3's in a 15" and they are a nice tyre. Never seen a 185 50 in a 15" but you can definately get a 185 55 though this may be too tall if you're going 15". I suspect choice will be limited to whatever is available. Personally having tested some cheap Chinese tyres under extreme wet and dry braking I would buy something of reasonable quality. In the test I ran I would have ploughed into the back of the traffic queue at 22mph instead of stopping in time and avoiding an accident.

[Tony Burd]

Definitely won't be going cheap on tyres, Yokos sound good, been looking this morning & can't find any lower profile than 55 on 185 wide, more options on 195s but they will definitely rub the arches so not an option.

[Carledo]

Definitely won't be going cheap on tyres, Yokos sound good, been looking this morning & can't find any lower profile than 55 on 185 wide, more options on 195s but they will definitely rub the arches so not an option.

I'm running the Carledo with similarly modded arches and a choice of MGF or minilite replica 15s (though I think both sets are only 6" wide)
The F rims have 195/50/15 Toyo R1s which cost me £50 each a couple of months ago through a trade mate. These are BEAUTIFULLY sticky! The minilites are wearing Yokos, also at 195/50, whilst these are also pretty sticky, I seem to have worn them out in a little over 3000 miles (they are now my racing slicks!)
With polybushing, Gaz adjustables and the modded arches, (almost exactly what you've done) Ive now got the ride height roughly level and the tyres don't rub.
When first built, I had flanged standard arches, knackered original bushing, newish stock shox and 205/50/15s on the F rims. Even with the (accidental) tail high stance the car had then, the tyres rubbed the arches a bit when cornering agressively, but not any more and the Gaz have let me drop the rear ride height by almost 2"
I'm pretty sure the minilites have a slightly bigger offset than the F rims but, like you I'm going to get 3-5mm milled off them to help with potential problems.

Steve

[Flyfisherman]

Thanks for your comments.

I need a new set of tyres, not had a proper look yet but I don't think you can get 185/50/15s which I find hard to believe, but these days a 15" wheel is pretty small for modern cars so there is not much choice.

The width would still be the same just a lower profile which would give me more clearance if I kept the ride height the same.

Tony

Have a look at the attached short cut - my be helpful to you

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre-Size/15-Inch-Tyres/

Regards
Paul

[Jod Clark]

...........195/50/15 Toyo R1s...........

Steve

[Tony Burd]

Thanks for the replies, I had the old tyres removed today as I am going to refurbish the rims, the guy at the tyre place said Yokos or Toyos, will see what is available once the wheels are finished.

Gave me a chance to measure them, they are 6.5" wide from the outer to inner rim:



I could also measure the distance from the inner rim to the inside of the wheel, it's about 105mm, Steve do you know what you have on your wheels?



I have to be careful how much the offset is increased, looks like a maximum of 4mm, otherwise I will have to shorted the wheel nuts.



So I think I will have to stick with 185/55/15s