Andy FitzGibbon

How long ago was that? There don't seem to be any on there now. I'd like to get a set of the 14s.

I have these Nexen Rodian M/Ts on my 3/4 ton Dodge: I noticed that they list the 27x8.5-14 size in their downloadable spec sheet for the tire: However, it doesn't seem to be available in the US. Maybe a barrage of emails and calls to Nexen USA would get them to market it here.

Because I have been too busy to do it myself, I just had a bunch of work done on my '96 2.2 (5 speed) OBW: Timing belt and associated parts (seals, water pump, thermostat, ect.) New front 02 sensor New knock sensor New plugs and wires New PCV valve Before the work, the CEL was on and the computer had PO420 (catalyst) and PO325 (knock sensor) codes. Once the two sensors were replaced, the CEL turned itself off after the usual number of starts. But, ever since the work, the car has had a surging idle. It will almost die, then rev up to 1k RPM, then almost die again- in about 1 second cycles. Any ideas? Maybe MAF or IAC? Other than the wonky idle, it runs and drives just fine and gets the usual fuel mileage (about 26 with oversize snow tires). Thanks, Andy

Still better than "Kumho"...

? Lots of people here use studs or winter tires- or studded winter tires, for that matter. And yes, Super Swampers suck on the roads around here in the winter. I had a set of 32" TSL radials and slid all over for a whole winter before I replaced them with BFG Mud Terrains.

Think I got it figured... the PCV hose got disconnected when I had the airbox apart. Only started it briefly (since the filler tube is out) but it seemed to run fine. Duh... The filler tube has 6 or7 holes in it- guess I'm buying a new one. Looks too thin in a lot of places to be worth repairing. Thanks for the reply, Andy

My '96 OBW has been off the road since spring, due to being "totaled" in an accident (it still runs and drives). I was going to start the bodywork this morning, but it wouldn't start. I got it to start on ether, but it would die once the ether ran out, so I figured a fuel issue. Added 5 gallons of gas to the tank. After that, it would start, but would only idle for 20 seconds or so before dying. I could keep it running by holding the pedal down, but it would run rough and spew unburnt gas out of the exhaust. I left it sit for a few hours (got called away) and when I got back there's a puddle of gas under the right rear tire. It looks like the filler neck, though I haven't pulled it apart to confirm. Would a leak like that cause the engine problems? Or should I be looking somewhere else for those? The CEL has been on for a long time (PO420 oxygen sensor) and I don't have a code reader to check if there are any other codes in there. Thanks, Andy

Tercels had them as an option, but a lot (maybe all) that I've seen in Tercels don't have the altimeter like the truck version does.

Well, your second post was basically useless then. When I bought my 70-15s, I mounted one 75-15 and test fit it front and rear. It fit, but they would have rubbed at ever suspension movement, and snow/ice/mud clearance would have been extremely limited. I didn't drive the car with four of them mounted, but there was really no point in trying. Andy

Well, that is a key piece of information you left out of your first post.

I have 215/70-15 snow tires on my '96 OBW. They rub when cornering hard or going fast over rough roads. The 75-15s would rub a lot more, since they are almost an inch bigger in diameter. Andy

Four #60 chains running at any kind of speed would generate a LOT of noise. Andy

Still true on the west coast, but not out east (where Doug and I are). Most yards here have crushed all of their EA82s at this point, since very few are still on the road and nobody is buying parts. The same thing happened a few years ago, when I was running Scouts- I was the only one buying anything off the ones in the local yards. Andy

There isn't any. Andy

To keep the on demand 4WD, you will have to keep the DL transmission, which means you will have to use a bellhousing adapter to fit the 2.2 engine to it. Andy

Short answer: no. Not without a lot of custom fab work. Andy

There is now a company that is making a bolt-on portal kit for certain truck axles (Dana, ect.). I don't remember the name of the outfit, saw it in 4 Wheel & Off Road. They do not reverse rotation. Of course, still a ton of $ and time, as Scott says. Andy

Yeah, the TSL (bias ply), TSL Radial, and Swamper SSR are all still available in 14". The Radials are 225/85R14 (28.7"), the TSLs are 28x8.50-14 (27.4") and the SSRs are 27x9.50-14 (27.5"). Andy

Thanks for the tip on the Bighorns. I see that Maxxis also makes the Buckshot mudders in 27-8.50X14. They look slightly more aggressive than the Bighorns. I was disappointed to see that BFG dropped the 14" size from both the AT and MT line. So far the Generals are cheapest at $86 each from Tire Rack. Anybody know of others? Thanks, Andy

Other than Swampers and General Grabber AT's, what else is out there for 14" tires? I mean in terms of actual off road, light truck tires, not snow tires. Thanks, Andy

About 6.20:1, so quite a bit lower than 4.11. Andy

I think the EA82s got the adjustable struts in '85 and '86 only, though I'm not positive. Andy

I have 215-70-15 on my '96 Outback. Pretty sure anything bigger would rub. Andy

So we should all only build things things that challenge us, rather than build things we actually want to and/or would have fun building? That's silly. Why do some members always want to turn what is supposed to be a fun, inclusive hobby into a contest? Andy

Herculiner definitely doesn't go on as thick as the professionally sprayed ones (Rhino and others). You'd have to do many, many coats to get it that thick. Andy