Found out something today. Paddocks eventually delivered the steel wheels and Colway remoulds I ordered. When we came to fit the tyre-pressure monitors (basically a valve with a sensor on the end) we found that it didn't fit. Turns out that the valve hole in a steel wheel is much bigger than on an alloy.
So, we needed alloys. Trouble is, we've built this chassis with Series 2 axles. And the first customer demo is on Wednesday. Much head scratching and I remembered the Firestyle alloy. Quick google turned up Difflock, who list it (but pass the business direct to Nene Valley Offroad).
So I called Mark at Nene (who I've bought quite a bit off previously). No, the Firestyles won't fit a Series 2 axle (not even one which is never going on road). So we were stuffed. We talked about all sorts of options, none of which worked. This guy really knows his stuff about wheels and tyres.
I was just about to hang up when he said "Hang on a minute. Horribly expensive, but if you fit wheel spacers it could work". At that point I'd have traded my first-born for a solution, so we now have (all from stock) wheel spacers, new Firestyle alloys and BFG 265 All-Terrains. All for a grand, which is much less than the sum of the parts. A local mate picked them up this afternoon, and we should be rolling tomorrow! He would have built them up in an hour as well (except we need to fit clever valves, so we asked him not to).
Top marks to Nene Valley!
Just need to work out how to keep the front wheels vertical in the absence of any steering gear now....
Anyone want a set of Mangels wheels and brand new Colway 205x16 AT remoulds? £58 per corner was the price to me - I'm open to offers (although I'm tempted to keep them myself if nobody wants to come closeish...).