Wheel clearance favour ..... anyone who's done this?.....

[Cam]

everyone to his own, but I suspect you have never driven one.

Never wanted to! To me they just LOOK awful. But everyone to their own as you say!

I don't suppose you know that they won the World Cup Rally all those years ago. I know the history books will say Hannu Mikola in an Escort , but he had an illegal gearbox change which was not detected until after.

No, I did not know that but honestly will a gearbox make all THAT difference??

I don't like the sports cars at all but I REALLY don't like the saloons. I could have gone for a spitfire or at the outside a GT6, but not a TR at all. The TR6 is supposed to be a good car but I think they are just really ugly. The Vitesse and Herald make me want to shudder to be honest.

I have never driven them, but I have never driven an Austin 7, Morris 8, 2CV, Robin, Anglia or Morris Cowley but I still fancy owning one as they look fantastic (to me). Now I know the cars listed above will not be as powerful or handle as well as the Triumphs mentioned, but there is more to a car than technical spec........ for me Triumphs don't do a thing.

[Alec]

Hello Andrew,
I'm surprised that you like the Stag, (the engine does sound nice, I must admit) but not the 2,000 which is what Michelotti started with to make the prototype. The Herald range are not in the same league, strange offset driving position, chassis, etc. OK, I'm a little biased after 20 odd years of driving them but really they are streets ahead of them whichever way you view it, certainly not cheap to run or easy to restore, but a great classic to own.

Alec

[Alec]

Hello Cam,

the regulations of the rally forbade changing major components, Ford did just that so should not have won. The Triumph was second, in the record books, but the moral victory was theirs.

I respect that you do not like the looks of the 2000, but I am surprised with the alternatives that a lot of people (you are not alone, by a long way) would chose over them. It makes life interesting though, doesn't it?

Alec

[bigginger]

I guess it's just I've never been in a 2000, and one of my cheerful memories is, at the age of 17, being driven very, very fast down that little slope on the M4 just after Swindon in a Stag! Memory tells me it was 130 MPH, but my memory's not the most accurate.
I said I knew a little bit about Stags, clearly it is only a little bit. I can only presume I must have read about the 2000/Stag connection once upon a time, and my memory is proving the above...

[iambiggles]

.... starts on wheels/tyres, end up as a comparative essay on the relative values of Triumph over MG and the aethetic virtues of the Triumph saloons.....


Get yer own damn thread!!!

LOL

[Cam]

I am surprised with the alternatives that a lot of people (you are not alone, by a long way) would chose over them. It makes life interesting though, doesn't it?

It certainly does mate! As long as we all respect each other's opinions (which I think we do) then it's all fine.

Get yer own damn thread!!!

Erm...... yes this one has wandered off topic a bit (for a change!).

[rayofleamington]

yes this one has wandered off topic a bit

but at least the original question was answered before it went completely off topic..

[bigginger]

...and the wandering off topic makes the board *even* more interesting to read...

[iambiggles]

yes this one has wandered off topic a bit

but at least the original question was answered before it went completely off topic..

LOL - both refreshing and true

But those Spitfires eh - I mean really, has there ever been a hetrosexual man who owned one?? LMAO

Just playing Devils Advocado...... ;)

[rayofleamington]

But those Spitfires eh - I mean really, has there ever been a hetrosexual man who owned one?? LMAO

I think so - my friend's dad had a new one just after getting married. They sold it as he couldn't afford the level of repairs (I think replacing a crank on an 18 month old Triumph would have been even more expensive for him as he is in Karlsruhe, Germany). He got a Ford to replace it

As for 165 on wide rims :
I've just realised why my exhaust keeps coming loose at the manifold clamp - the tyre catches the exhaust on full lock
I think I'll try a different exhaust to see if it gives more clearance, but if that doean't work it'll be getting a cut and shut exhaust by Easter.

[iambiggles]

As for 165 on wide rims :
I've just realised why my exhaust keeps coming loose at the manifold clamp - the tyre catches the exhaust on full lock
I think I'll try a different exhaust to see if it gives more clearance, but if that doean't work it'll be getting a cut and shut exhaust by Easter.

Ahh - I'll check that before I commit to the 165's - I'm still giving serious consideration to 155/80's for the front though, but not too sure what they'll look like on a 5" rim - I'll see if the fitters can get me an old tyre to "try before I buy".

[rayofleamington]

I'm still giving serious consideration to 155/80's for the front though, but not too sure what they'll look like on a 5" rim - I'll see if the fitters can get me an old tyre to "try before I buy".

Well the 155 is a bit narrow for a 5J (5") rim - They are not so bad on the LP917 (wide van rim) but those are only 4.5"
I'm fairly sure the problem is a badly shaped exhaust but am interested to know if other people have come across it

[iambiggles]

Well the 155 is a bit narrow for a 5J (5") rim - They are not so bad on the LP917 (wide van rim) but those are only 4.5"
I'm fairly sure the problem is a badly shaped exhaust but am interested to know if other people have come across it

OK - I'll get them to try the 165 first and go lock-to-lock and see.

I'll let you know.