Is there a differance in the rally rims from a 68 bird to a 77- 78 pontiac phoenix. I know the codes are differant and the size. Do they look the same? I saw the phoenix in a field and the owner cant want to much for it. The rims look just like the rally II from a 68 bird to me. Thanks Joe
GMs are almost all 4 3/4" (5" on "big car" only) and the '75-'79 X-body (Nova, Phoenix, Ventura, Omega, Skylark) front end is the same as the '70 1/2 to '81 F-body. So yes they will fit. Dusters, Darts, et al were the ones that had the early 4", then later 4 1/2" bolt patterns. The rims on the Phoenix may be 14" or 15". I've used the 15x7 rims that came on the later cars on a few circle track cars (and the trailer they sat on - more race spares if needed). I don't know if there are any visible differences between the 68's and the later 70's rims in terms of the style of the rim.
TOHCan, you're probably right. It wasn't until well into the 80's or even the 90's that they started to reduce the bolt pattern. I was thinking of these later cars for some reason. I stand corrected.
didn't they change the phoenix to a FWD around '79, like the citation?
if the one in the field is a RWD, they will fit. if it is a FWD, i dont think they will, but seeing as it has rally IIs, it is likely a RWD. i saw some rally IIs on a mid-size bonneville (the little bonneville) from the 80's, and i had no doubt they would fit.
the f-bodies used the same bolt pattern all along, even the 4th gen, i think. my 87 RWD cutlass still had the same old 4 3/4 pattern too, as do the S10s to this day.
i think you are thinking of the FWD cars, Q. you can use rims from a vette, an s10, or any of the mid size RWD cars from the 80s & 90s. as long as they are GM. (i dont know about the C5). actually, i dont think they made any mid size RWD GM cars in the 90's besides the f-body and the 'vette, did they?
they did change the full size pickup bolt pattern sometime in the 90's though. but those never fit us anyway, i dont think.
i think the paint colors might be slightly different. i dunno for sure. the rim width and backspacing are probably similar. the centercaps and trim rings will be different, but can be swapped. a judge could probably tell the difference at a glance.
they are probably not exactly the same as the 68's, in that the 68 14" rims were made to clear the big ol' calipers, and these probably will not.
most of this is just a semi-educated guess though.
The FWD cars started in '80 with a smaller bolt circle. The 15" rims should clear most disc calipers and likely the 14" rims too as the cars they came on were all disc brake cars. I can't say for sure on the big caliper brakes 'cause I haven't seen them yet. Q, I prefer to sit when I get corrected, but that likely comes from more practice! :rolleyes:
