Fuchs!

After more than 2 years of planning, today the Fuchs wheels were mounted!
The before picture:

... and the after picture:

In the rear I changed from 185/65/15 to 205/65/15 which means a more meaty tyre:

A slight bigger diameter and more width.

No tyre rubbing, no issues on full lock, the wheels seem to work perfect...

New shoes, once more...

Well, it is about time for another set of wheels. Today I had the first 2 wheels mounted and balanced, unfortunately my wheel dealer ran out out of black balance weights... Nothing a black rattle can can't cure...

The last chapter...

After the clutch and everything else was assembled, all noises were gone, I wanted to start a test drive. Believe it or not, yet another problem occured. I was unable to to find reverse...
Today I removed the shift rod coupler cover and found this:

The shift rod coupler fouled the chassis - This prevented the reverse to be engaged.
I tried some deforming of the metal, but I finally used the grinder:

This cut out is invisble, after the cover is re-installed. I have no idea why the gearbox sits like this, but this was the only way to solve it on short notice!

It ain't over 'til it's over!

Another week passed, another time engine out and in again... Yesterday I was positively sure that all is o.k. - just a little adjustment on the clutch and back onto the streets. Well, that didn't quiet worked out the way it should. Another squeeking noise - this time from the clutch / throw out bearing - only during clutch engagement, plus the fact that the clutch did not disengage, called for yet another engine pull. Today I did again what I can do now almost blindfolded. This time Oli was my mental and physical support. Actually we diagnosed and measured several things, but no "ah - look at this - no wonder it didn't work" moment. Anyway, after we were convinced that each and every bit looked o.k. and some burrs were removed, some surfaces were molykote lubed, we assembled everything for the gazillionth time. We started the engine and checked the clutch: for the first time all feels and sounds well!
Maybe tomorrow we will see a test drive... depending on the weather!