I've been reading the various posts regarding Ralley IIs, trim rings and centers to try and get a handle on the best place to purchse NEW.
It seems like there are some things to look(out) for.
Wheel Vintiques looks like an option, but quote 10-14 weeks to ship. I know it's winter in Canada BUT even hear the snow will be gone by then.
Does anyone have experience with their product?

I'm switching my 14" Ralley IIs to 15's.

I'd appreciate any suggestions or first-hand experience you have regarding "where to buy" New.

Any particular reason for 'new'?

Why not restored originals? They can be nicer than new, and are more "green". (Bjorn, insert global warming comment here...)

I have been running two sets of restored with no issues.

I think Spidey wanted to go from 14's to 15's.....

they make 15 x 7 rally 2 wheels

I have a new set of 15" Rally II's but the dark gray looks black and they have wrong center caps, I also have a set off a 79 TA that were gold but I painted, I'm putting my 14" ones back on I think

Probably only because I'm lazy.

I'm in the midst of refurbishing my 14's that I'll try to sell with the tires when completed.

I don't know if I have the time, etc to refurbish another set (the 15's), but I guess this could be an option if the NEW route doesn't work out.

Thanks Jerry.
I would want them to be the correct color.
So if I needed to repaint the ones you have I'd probably look to get some used ones, but.... (see above re: lazy)

Not sure why these came this color, I'll probably use them as backups and the set off the 79 as roll around the garage wheels

Check out the retro alum slots back in 1988 14" not sure what I ever did with those

I also just this past Thanksgiving went from 14s to 15s. I found a nice set locally and incredibly the guy let me have them for nothing. However, I will say to properly restore them does take some time and effort. There were two of us working on them and we put in a total of two full days on them.

We sandblasted them down 100%, front & back. Then we filled a few of the pits on each one and sanded them all down by hand. Then primed them with a filler type primer and sanded them down once again. Then, we sprayed them completely with the darker color first. Spent several hours masking them the next day and shot the lighter color.

All in all it was quite a project, however, I must say they came out great and look awesome. I can not get myself to install the brand new set of trim rings I have for them as I like the look without them.

In addition, I did end up buying another compelte set of 15s at the Daytona Turkey Run Swap meet as there were several of them to be found. Beleive it or not I was getting them for $15-25 a piece and ended up with 6 15s. So they are out there for people willing to spend the time to restore them. It's more time than money although the proper color paints are getting tougher to find.

What did you use to fill in the pits?

The guy who helped me is a lifelong body man/painter, he recommended a product and that is what we used. I honestly do not know what it was, it looked much like bondo type thing but he said it would hold up and would NEVER come loose and or fall out etc.

They have now been on the car for three months and with daily driving etc. they are holding up excellent!

Other than the disk brake fit issue....(which I overcame on my 14x7's) what is the main reasoning to go up to 15's? I like the look of my 14's with the Cooper Cobras on them...

Dave, some 14s are getting very hard to find and some say soon to be gone all together.

In your case with 2:56 rear you should keep 14s.

Others with more rear ratio like the taller tires.

I agree, anything taller and I would have to push start it to get it going in first LOL

I had 2.56 gears and switched to 3.55s last fall, but found the rpms a little high on the highway. Speedo not corrected yet but I estimate about 3300 rpm at 60 mph (and who drives 60?)

My wife and I have started an annual "topless cruise" each June with my brother and his wife. So although most of my driving is in the city, we still enjoy taking it on some long runs.
So going to the 15s will help drop the rpms on the highway.

Also, I want to add disc brakes down the road and I'm told they're readily available with the 15".

I understand the ride might be a bit better as well, but that wouldn't be a reason (for me) to change to 15s.

I know.....I am going to 3.08's as it had from the factory, best of both worlds....

Do you have a 4spd spidey?....those 2.56's are hard on the clutch in traffic!

...maybe 13's would be a cheaper route

No 4 speed (wish I had one).
I've got the TH350.

Last fall I put in a Richmond 3.55 and an Eaton posi.

The 3.55 gives me lots of "get up & go", but revs a bit high on the highway.
3.08s are probably a happy medium.

What did it set u back, all done....?

what happened to the thought:"the bigger;the better"?

I'll dig out my receipts tonight and let you know.
I work for a powertrain company, so I got the ring & pinion, bearing kit, posi and labor at "cost", but it was still fairly $$$.
Trevor

... anyways, ...

It is true Terry, but ya still have to be able to get the rubber on the road

why?

I won't get in to it....it's a family site!

if you still have rubber,you are not doing enough burn outs

... aaaaaaaanyways, ....

Not the best pic but these are my new 15" Rally IIs with new rubber (BFG Radial T/A 225/70R-15). I had the kid mount one and tried it front and back to be sure they would clear. The only issue I have is a slight rub now and then on the right front when cutting the wheel all the way to the right and going over something at the same time (bump, incline etc.). Black walls out and I was never so happy to get rid of my old white letter tires. IMO they belong on cars 69 & up.

There is a guy from Ohio who is coming down here to Daytona for bike week at the end of Feb and he cuts the groove and puts the red line on your tires (on the car) and I am going to have them done. For $20/tire you can't beat it. He did the tires on my friends 68 GTO 4 years ago and they look great!

Can he do the skinny white lines? How about the dual white lines? You never see what most of the cars had on them in the 60's. Post the guys name and contact information if you can.

Those look great!
Where did you buy your new Rally IIs?

Those are the ones a guy here locally gave to me. He owns a black 71 LeMans and has chrome craigers on the car and had the 15" Rally IIs sitting behind his garage. Got to talking to him at our regular Friday night cruise so I asked him if he would sell me his 15s and he said stop by the house and you can have them!

I ended up giving him $40 for him and his wife for dinner, next thing I know he had put the $40 in my glove box and said he was happy to give them to me. We have met four Pontiac couples since moving here and we have become great friends. We have a row of Pontiacs at the cruise every Friday and we recently started taking turns making a dinner to bring for everyone, it's a riot. I truly beleive all of us Pontiac people are a different breed and a great group of people!