[silverado]

Speaking of tyres, my car is due for changing all 4 of them. I am looking forward to fit MRF 155/80 R 14, but my car has been fitted with a smaller diameter steering wheel , so a little bit sceptic about how heavy it will be once i fit those chunky radials. Please advise

[1100D]

Originally Posted by silverado

Speaking of tyres, my car is due for changing all 4 of them. I am looking forward to fit MRF 155/80 R 14, but my car has been fitted with a smaller diameter steering wheel , so a little bit sceptic about how heavy it will be once i fit those chunky radials. Please advise

Just to the wheel and tyre section below!

Originally Posted by DHABHAR.BEHRAM

Thank you Mr.President (oh ree jee null). Your points are well taken but as I pointed out, there is a practical difficulty in putting fiat side pattis.

Dear Jaggu - I was meaning to reply to your query on cross plies v/s radials but got caught up in 100 other things. Here goes - this front suspension setup does not have ball joints. It has threaded spider assemblies. During jounce (tyre goes up) and rebound (tyre goes down) movement, the threads in the spider assemblies provide angular movement. Due to this, the friction in this suspension setup is very high (it is inevitable), which is not conducive to radial tyres due to their inherent construction of having relatively supple sidewalls. That's why this suspension runs relatively less caster @ 2 degrees with 330 kg payload. This suspension needs strong sidewalls which bias tyres offer. In any case speeds are not very high so it's OK from safety point of view also. Now which bias tyre ? I have tried all of them. I find that the Ceat Safety Drive is the only tyre which suits this suspension setup perfectly. It has good sidewall strength and a nice tread pattern having 7 grooves as compared to all other tyres which have 5 grooves, besides giving a good life. The shortcoming of MRF legend is it's outer diameter which is more and compound which is hard, the shortcoming of Goodyear Power Star is that the second and the fourth grooves wear out more than the other grooves, the shortcoming of MRF twin tread is that it's outer diameter is maximum so the tyre touches the wheelarch and it's tread pattern is not conducive to wet road driving and cornering, the shortcoming of Ceat C800 is that it's sidewall end breaks away. Also this car has 3.5J*14 wheelrims which are not meant to take 155/80R14 radials available in India for which actually 4.5J*14 wheel rims are required but the system can "tolerate" 4J*14 wheelrims but not 3.5J*14 wheelrims (this is as per the technical specifications manual). The wheelrim PCD is 98 mm (not 100 mm, but people fit and then suffer) and it's offset is +31 mm which is impossible to find in any aftermarket wheelrim (the 118NE is 37 mm). Besides I will never ever trust quality of aftermarket product in a critical item like the wheelrim. So deviating from OE specifications does not arise. Hope this clarifies.

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

[Cyrus43]

Hey Ashish, Where have you been buddy?? You have missed all the Fiat Club Meets. Come down to five gardens whenever you want. You have my number i presume.

[1100D]

Is the Vacuum Advance hose not connected? Or is the vacuum advance mechanism not calibrated for Mikuni.

[Jaggu]

Originally Posted by 1100D

Might also be because of improper alignment as well as the 3.5J rims as mentioned.

On our car there hasn't almost been anywear. Although, one might argue, that it doesn't see much road. Only tyres needed to be changed because of tyre age. On the 137D I wont comment because it had a different engine (with different weight) and not sure how the suspension design/calibration was updated to accomodate it. But still, most of the cases of premature tyre-wear that I have heard/seen was mostly inadequate care shown towards the car. However not suggesting that you did not take care. I dont know enough to be able to comment on the 137D.

However radials do take away the period look that many aspire for.

One can rule out alignment issue since the car was well maintained and even went to the hoffman equipment for alignment, and also the wear was even (read as flat). Yes the heavier engine and suspension setting might have contributed.

[Cyrus43]

We just installed 130 Watt Lights and The "piece de reistance"...the four point harness!!

[silverado]

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[DHABHAR.BEHRAM]

Hello Anirban - Your query on vacuum advance, I am trying the car without the vacuum advance, it is not giving good results (runs slightly rich, the tailpipe has started blackening). I will connect it back shortly. Then I will change the distributor which I have set for intermediate centrifugal advance characteristics. You will also observe that I have disconnected the delay valve in the primary circuit of the Mikuni carburettor as it was revving the engine unnecessarily at signals and not serving it's intended purpose. I have rerouted the fuel lines below the air cleaner in order to eliminate overhang. It is working fine. My main work is still pending. I have to fit the 4.3. It is running beautifully on 3.9.

Nasik has once again proved to be a treasure trove of Fiat parts. Last week I bought myself a brand new Ucal Facet electronic fuel pump, 2 brand new Autolec water pumps and 6 brand new front small light lenses in white colour. No sweat, just asked for them across the counter and purchased them.

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

[Cyrus43]

Some pics i would like to share with everyone. The Silver looks dull in the pictures. Sprayed it on. Took about 4-5 hours.

[1100D]

What? MRF Legend?!!!

[Cyrus43]

Originally Posted by 1100D

What? MRF Legend?!!!

Those are on BLB 1144. Those are old tyres. you got good eyes!!!

[DHABHAR.BEHRAM]

Hello Anirban - even BLL4919 had MRF legends. It came with 2 brand new MRF legends in the front and resoled tyres at the back. I could not throw out 2 so I bought 2 more when I restored it in 2005. As BLL4919 gets to be used only once a year, I transferred the tyres to the LHD (the LHD came with bad tyres) before restoration. My regular guy wanted them for his taxi so I gave them to him, got a decent price too, then changed over to Ceat Safety Drives on the LHD. Just for your information.

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

[Cyrus43]

Remember that we are supposed to get a set of Tires and Wheels put on 4919 before the next rally !!

[iraghava]

Originally Posted by Cyrus43

Some pics i would like to share with everyone. The Silver looks dull in the pictures. Sprayed it on. Took about 4-5 hours.

I love the first pic!! The full-on hardcore look that Cyrus is trying to give is totally spoilt by the oversized suspenders that he's wearing! Way to go Dikra!

[prabuddhadg]

Originally Posted by iraghava

I love the first pic!! The full-on hardcore look that Cyrus is trying to give is totally spoilt by the oversized suspenders that he's wearing! Way to go Dikra!

Hilarious! This requires five smilies! Too good Ishan.