Well, that is another job done on Myrtle, having just got her steel smoothie wheels powder coated and new tyres fitted over at The Wheel Specialist in Durham, more on The Wheel Specialist in a moment.
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Myrtle with her Smoothies all coated
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Those following Myrtle's progress, here upon my blog, will know I bought a brand-new set of 17 inch SMA alloys for Myrtle and the chew on my dad and I had fitting them. I also wanted a set of steel smoothies and waited ages for Just Kampers to get the 8x15's for the rear. I would have preferred 8x7's but hey they were not available. I bought the new wider wheels, way back around the November of 2020.
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8x15 Smoothie
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The wider smoothies came in a silver colour. I wanted them gloss black, so always had this as a to-do job. I was unsure of what size tyres to pop on the new rims. When I was on Facebook and using the VW forums, a few people recommended 195's and some others 205's. My dad popped over to a local scrapyard and managed to pick up some second hand tyres, one of each in the sizes, and we experimented with how they looked on the rims. To be honest, I wasn't best pleased with either size, they just looked way too stretched.
Anyhoo over two years passed by with both my old front skinny wheels and my new wide wheels lying in our shed. I then decided to bite the bullet and ordered some Kumho Ecowings for the front and rear. Getting 145/65/15's for the front and 205/60/15's for the rear. Once the tyres arrived, I was again dragging my heels in getting the powder coating done, other financial things occurring, so I kept putting off getting the wheels done. Eventually, after having a good look around and getting various quotes to get the wheels coated, and the tyres fitted, I opted to take them to The Wheel Specialist. This was after a recommendation from Ash over at the General Garage at Anfield Plain.
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Little black & white shot of Myrtle
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Firstly I visited the Wheel Specialist's website and got a custom quote, and then the following day I got a courtesy call to inform me of my nearest dealership. As I spoke to the friendly lady on the phone, she transferred me over to the Durham branch and as I explained what my wheels were and what I would like done the helpful advisor informed me that the quote would change slightly as steel wheels require a lot more prep work. I was happy with the quote, which was £278, this was to powder coat the wheels gloss black and then fit the new tyres that I was going to be providing, along with new valves and finally balance the wheels.
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| VW Beetle 1965 steel smoothies |
My dad and I dropped the wheels off on the 8th of April and I awaited eagerly for their return. Unfortunately I had to wait a little longer than expected, however this was not the fault of The Wheel Specialist, as when I spoke to the advisor he informed me that he had been having a nightmare getting a hold of new valves for the old 65 rims. Apparently the holes in the rims for the valve are larger than newer type wheels. The new valves are also quite expensive, at £18 pounds each.
So a little longer waiting, and then I received a call to say my wheels were ready to pick up, my dad and I headed off to collect them. I was over the moon when I saw the wheels. They look like new, with a very shiny gloss black coating, not only that the tyres I opted for, for on the wider back rims, although stretched look far better than the trial ones my dad and I experimented with from the scrapyard.
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Wheels now coated in the back of Ern's mobile skip
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New hubcap clips to rivet in place
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Upon getting the wheels home, I had to order some new hubcap clips. When these arrived, my dad pop riveted them in place. This was instead of using the rivets that came with the clips. Just meant less trying to tap the rivets in place with a hammer and accidentally chipping any of the coating. Wow! Getting the hubcaps over the new clips was a right pain. Originally, we didn't think they were going to fit. You see, we have secured studs into the hubs of Myrtle, rather than using bolts. It just makes it that much easier to mount each wheel when changing them. What we were concerned about was that the wheel nuts would prevent the hubcaps from sitting in place, as the studs are that bit longer than an original wheel bolt. I am also running 1-inch spacers on Myrtle, and she has the short axles which came on the swing axle 65's.
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Much happier with the Kumho and how they look on rims
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Full set of wheels coated
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Myrtle can air up and air down, and there is no catching of the inner or outer wing lip, with the 1-inch spacers and the 8 x 15's fitted.
We had a few technical issues on today's drive to get some petrol from Cost Co and when parking up at Waldridge Fell to take some photo's, in that Myrtle appears to be a lot lower on her driver's side rear. I think it is because she has been standing so long, not getting used, the old girl is just a bit stiff. I will try and get out in her a lot more and work on getting used to this clutch adaption I have had fitted, so that I can drive her as an amputee.
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| Myrtle VW Beetle, 1965 |
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Myrtle aired out on the grass
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Myrtle 65
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Myrtle 65
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Myrtle 65
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Almost the end, a little feedback about The Wheel Specialist. They offer a first class service, the staff are very friendly and know their stuff. The quality of their work is first class and as mentioned their turn around is quick, it was just unfortunate that the valves for my wheels were hard to source. I was pleasantly surprised that the quote remained the same, and that I didn't get charged for any extras, as in the valves. Oh! And a very nice touch is the aftercare, you get a 12-month warranty and I also got 2 friendly reminders via email to check my wheel nuts, after driving my car, as the wheels need to bed in with the new coating applied.
If I require rims refurbished, coated etc I will most definitely be visiting these guys again.
Oh! And to finish off, to save me writing another blog.... Poor Tango, my Smart Car is unwell. After driving along the front of the RVI the other week when I had finished work. Approaching the roundabout near Exhibition Park, poor Tango broke something on her front suspension, following falling down a huge crater of a hole or bump in the road. I have spoken to lots of my colleagues at work, and they all say the same about this stretch of road, it's a nightmare, and know the exact place.
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Oh! The Wheel dear poor Tango
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New wishbone fitted
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Poor wee Tango
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Anyhoo Tango is laid up in our backyard...disassembled, as my dad and I attempt to reconstruct her. Tango has snapped her driver's side front spring, and it has gouged her tyre. So I had to get a new one, Grrrrrr! Still loads of tread on the old one. Upon closer inspection as she is getting on a bit, 11 years old now, we decided to fit new dampers/struts, a damper rebuild kit, new springs, drop links, ball joints and bottom wish bones, oh and brake dust backplates, so quite a tidy sum.
Going to have to use Myrtle for work tomorrow, so hope she behaves herself and not too cold in the morning as no heaters, LoL
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