Got the new rubber (Kumho TA11, 175/70R13) installed on the powder coated refinished rims today. Something to do for a holiday weekend over here...swapped out the GKNs (they're sitting in the garage; going to take to the rim refinishers...they say they have the right stud adapter to balance after they refinish the rims...) with the new old wheels, new lug nuts, torqued to 40 ft/lbs, snapped on the NOS caps...and went for a drive.
A little vibration around 85 or so (gear shift wiggling...). Was doing about 45 on the entrance ramp (a nice sweeper to the right)...want to scuff in the tread before I try and take them faster...) and as I merged onto the interstate/motorway, buried the loud pedal to see where the vibration went. Normal motorway speeds? 60-70 mph? Smooth. I do need to refresh the rear bushings and shockers...but the car is a lot more useable (the chance I'll cruise at 85 is slim). Acceleration fine (oooh...the noise of the exhaust...), into 5th, window down, vents open (it's 80F and sticky here on the south coast of MA today), tunes on the radio. Life is good, and the buggy did fine, temps in the middle, 45 lbs oil, ammeter in the center...what's not to like?
They're the nicest part of the car next to the reupholstered seats and new carpets...
On to the next project.
