Calmini vs alteredego

[Olecranon]

I agree with the 235s. I actually did a little research on size and how it with change the speedo and gear and came to the conclusion it would be the least invasive and cost effective. I think i just need to pick a good tire tread and all will be well. Even as my truck is, it is amazing what it will do. Don't want to screw that up. Just want a liitle more clearance so i can trail with a confidence and i would like a little more articulation and drop so that i can keep as many tires in contact as possible on the really uneven stuff.

[Olecranon]

how do we feel about trail master shocks?

[ubermeister]

Mine articulates really well on the back, and that's with Calmini trailing arms, Astra shocks and Ironman +2" springs with spacers. The springs are 100,000 miles old and even with the spacers probably only give 2.5" of lift. They're getting changed really soon. This is my old truck, but the suspension set up was the same(and that's without a heim spacer fitted, so the droop is a bit limited by that)...

[Olecranon]

so you don't have diff drops in the front nor the triangular doo-hicky for the rear? (as seen in the 3" kits)

[ubermeister]

Diff drop brackets yes(although actually I didn't in the first picture, and I smashed a driveshaft because of it), but it's still not got a heim spacer of any kind fitted. The Calmini heim arm was damaged when I bought it, and I still haven't got around to sorting it.

[Olecranon]

thank you for your advice. Seems we are on the same page an I am getting a plan formulated!

on a different note: does anyone know where to get a replacement carpet kit? It appears to not be a very important option as I can't seem to find one this side of the pond. (US kits will charge me more than 200 euros in shipping! for crying out loud i'd make one for that much)

[Olecranon]

Back to Ubermeister.:

I looked up the rims 15x7j and see that they have a positive offset...

Did you do this bc the steel vits won't work (ie they rub w 235s) ? Or bc you like them sticking out a bit/like the way they look?

Thanks again

[Olecranon]

The carpet story:


Your Items Price Total Price
[x] Custom-Tailored Complete Floor Carpet Kit, Nylon Cut-Pile, Dark Gray
242.86 EUR 242.86 EUR
Shipping Method
Country*

International Economy - 176.19 EUR
Estimated Delivery Date: 2015-01-13

International Express - 224.66 EUR
Estimated Delivery Date: 2015-01-08

THAT'S 418 EUROS TO YOU AND ME! I think you could go to a custom shop for that...

I remember the last time I did a carpet in my 66 Chevelle it cost me about 150 bucks. Just can't get my head around it. Perhaps I'll paint the inside with undercoating, run all my wires in shrink wrap and throw a few good rubber mats. What have you guys seen or done with these trucks that have 20 year old carpet?

[Twiss]

Have you got the original carpet?
Use it as a template

[Olecranon]

True....but lots of lumps n bumps...yet doable. Nice to have the reinforced edge and heel bit, though.

[Twiss]

€400 worth of nice?

[Olecranon]

...and if i could get one from the UK, my passenger would have the heel rest! LOL!!

[ubermeister]

[Olecranon]

A ver..positive offset is when there is less backspace..right? That is to say from the outside you have a deeper dish appearance, placing the middle of the rim closer to the car.
Do you know if the stock Vit rims are zero offset as well?

[Olecranon]

ok. I see i had it backwards. Yes, positive offset would movethe tire into the hub.

But i still don't know how the stocks ones are. (without getting a little dirty )

[ubermeister]

I have a set of standard Vit wheels here so I just measured them. They're a 5.5 or six inch rim, I think, and they measure 4.25" from the mating surface to the very back edge of the rim. Randomly I also have a spare set of zero offset 7j's here as well, and the same measurment on them is 3.75", but bare in mind the rim is wider so the outer edge is a lot further out.

[Olecranon]

so the stocks are positive and may need to consider different rims or spacers..

unless of course you're setup has more than a inch and half clearance as it is now...then perhaps my rims with 235s will still work..

and while I'm with you on having a wider stance, i don't necessarily want to rush out right now and drop money on flares (which IMO are ridiculously priced for a few pieces of plastic) so that i'll be legal.

[Xpajun]

It's better to work with back spacing than offset as offset has not been standardised with some organisations quoting negative offset as inwards while others quoting positive offset as inwards

[Olecranon]

At Xpajun: that explains my earlier confusion.

Yet i have the feeling i would like to know how the 235s on stocks will work before i get there so that im not waiting a wk or 2 for spacers.. Any more insight?

[rhinoman]

[Olecranon]

At Ubermeister:

I'm sure you are sending a clear signal...but in plain English, what you are saying is that the stock Vit has more space behind the wheel than the side that faces out (probably to protect the brakes as well) and therefore a the 235, which is 3.54 " greater in diameter and 2.36" wider, will be 1.77" taller from its center and 1.18" wider from the edge of the rim (in this case, importantly, towards the wheel well). Sooooo.....will it rub with a 3" lift? Who knows. But I'll be sure to let you know what happens.

[Munkee]

yes, a 235 will rub, even with a good lift, and you'll have to massage the back of the front arch.

[Olecranon]

Ok...I'm baaack! Excuse me guys. Been working on the inside of the Vitara 4 door. Had leaks, old holey carpets and a window that didn't move. Took the opportunity to replace the heater core (UFFF!), fix wiring, run new wires for stereo, paint the floor with undercoating (sans carpet--pop plugs and wash!), and place spiral hosing on all the wires/harness. My friends say it is like a Mercedes on the inside! (Not quite boys)

Now back to the lift and body mods... Wow, expensive! Still on about the 3" suspension lift (no body lift). Found a set (of 5!) second hand Vitara alloy 15" rims with a slightly better offset (10) and 6 inch (vs 5.5 steels). WONDERIN' if I can get by with 31"s..? Not only am I asking if I should put a 31x9.5 on a 15x6 (even tough I have read several saying you can), I would like to hear opinions on the limit of stock gearing (that is: what is the biggest diameter you can go before having gearing issues) ?

I hope this post finds all happy and healthy in 2015.

[Munkee]

31x9.5?

31x10.5 is far more common, and they are too wide for a 6" rim. a 9.5" tyre should be fine.

31s will affect your gearing more than 235/75/15, but it really depends on what speeds you intend to travel at.

[Olecranon]

Yes. I meant 31x10.5

And the lesser option would be 30x 9.5 (31x 9.5 are weird ;P)

[Olecranon]

As far as use: I mostly have trails. Not too much rock crawling options real close to here. That said I'd love to try. And there in lies the problem with gearing. I understand that the bigger tires will give me "shorter gears" and therefore make crawling more difficult. (I hope I got that right..) Also street use is very limited so not worried about top speed. Stock it howls on the freeway (being used to sport cars).

[Olecranon]

Ok! So I am feeling silly! How do you put a picture here??!![/img]

[mike328]

[img] paste link for image in between two clicks on the img button [/img]

[mike328]