Hello all! I am so happy i found this site it seams REALLY helpful! I have yet to see the car, its seams from the photos and from what the seller is saying to be in great condition with some work needed of course... The car is a convertible, v-8 350 and he thinks it has a "12-bolt rear end" whatever that means... The car is Red with black interior.

My first thing i know i have to do is get tires, the current set is 20 years old... I want to keep the car as original as possible, currently i think it has the firebird hub caps on the wheels... I really want to get a nice set of wheels, like the Rally's and off set the front and rears... Any suggestions on wheels?

My wife and i are expecting our second child in a few days, and i am also building our house... Think i have good timing and enough projects? Lets just say when she woke up this past sunday AM and found out i bought a car w/o her knowing and that we are due next week with a kid, and that our house i am still working on, things are really good here. ;-).

I can't wait for the car to arrive and take on yet another project....

thanks for the help!!!

Congrats! Post some pics when you get it! Where in NY are you?

I am located on the south shore of long island... Once I get pics I will post.

Thanks!

no need to hit 'moderate this post'...or notify...just post , hit 'submit' only

Sorry about that...
I am located on the south shore of Long island. I will post pics as soon as i get the car...

Any ideas about the wheels/tires?

Congrats and welcome aboard. If you want to keep it stock or stock looking, then I might suggest a set of Rally IIs for the car and put the original rims/hubcaps aside. I put Rally IIs on my 67 and I get complements all the time.

I would really like the rally II's... And if i can get a later set in the rear would be great... I went on Crokertire.com they have a set with wheels for for about 2,000.00. I am going to look for a used set of wheels and get the tires with the red rim.
But i am just not clear on what size... the car came with f70x14 wide ovals, i would love 15"s...

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated

Thanks again!!

14's or 15's will work, particularly if you do a disc brake conversion on your fronts. Not sure I've met anyone that has had success with 14" steel wheels. Don't be afraid of used sets if they are straight. It isn't real difficult to have them blasted and to repaint them to original.

anyone have experience with the 17" rally IIs from year one?

Congrats on your purchase. Mine has a 10 bolt rear end, original to car. If yours has 12 bolt it may not be the original. I have heard that Nova's (early 70's), have 12 bolt and chassis is the same as Firebird. If you want to change to a 12 it will fit exactly. I have not tried it myself and am only going on what I have heard.
Concerning wheels, I changed front brakes to disc and with conversion kit I had to go to 15" wheels. Bought all 4, pkg deal, from Classic Industries and kept the Rally II's, just like the original 14 Rally II's.

Tire size is 225/60R15 BF Goodrich Radial T/A

They look great. Now if I could figure out how to post a picture then I could show you.

is there a way of checking what "bolt" it has, whether it be 10 or 12?

Look at the pumpkin, the round thing under the car where the rear axels go into. Count the number of bolts going around the edge of the cover. That will tell you whether you have a 10 bolt or 12 bolt.

will do thanks!

Welcome.

15” wheels will not fit on these cars, and the variable is the definition of “fit.” If you cannot have the wheels turned full lock and bottom out the suspension without the tires rubbing, THE WHEELS DO NOT FIT. But if you’re the type of person who doesn’t mind having a half-assed car, set up with parts that don’t fit, 15”s are fine.

As a quick glance, the 12 bolt has two bolts on the bottom and the 10 bolt has one bolt on the bottom.

From a ’71 Nova, a posi with a 3:38 screw inside. I have owned this rear since 1981. Minus replacement axles/bearings, it has over 500k miles on it, and I have beaten the dogcrap out of it.

You just insulted a whole lot of people. Why don't you keep your negative half-assed judgements to yourself?

WTH?
Have 2 different sets of 15" factory rally wheels w/o any issues on both my 67 and 68.

Maybe he drives his Firebird like the General Lee and discovered the bottoming out issue.....
Last I checked tires rubbing is caused by tires, not wheels. You can still have a safe diameter and width tire on 15s.

I use 15" Rally II's and have no issues whatsoever...

No issues here!

Then you must be one of these undesirables!

Wow, lots of those types who have half-assed cars on this forum, including me! What will we do?

Rag in the gas tank, then light.

I have a quarter-assed car since I have 17's on mine. I see non factory parts on the bottom of his car.

I have 15" Ralley IIs on my '69 with no problem. (Had to use 15s because the half assed disc brakes I used didn't fit inside the 14s) The tire diameter is exactly the same as the 14s were.

Kyle:

Dude! At first, it thought it was a case of before coffee post, but there I go thinking again. My bad! The ongoing clearly shows that it’s a bad time of the month. Let me know which type you perfer, and I’ll send you a case.

Amervo, instead of responding with further insults, please explain how 15s with the same width and diameter rubber as 14s are a problem?

Oh wait... there is no explanation, so why don't you man up, admit you are wrong, and apologize for insulting all those "types" who like having half-assed cars ?

I think that donkey is going to tip over. Must be a photo chop. LOL

hey sorry for starting a pissing match.. I am just a newbie looking for advice... Thank you everyone for you input, while we all always don't agree, we are all certainly entitled to our own opinion....
I went with the 15" Rally II's and now i am looking at a disk break conversion... Which will lead me to my next thread.. :-)

I know that some 14" Rally IIs can work with some of the disc brack conversion kits. You do have to shave a bit off the caliper. I've seen it done with no issues. Perhaps if the brakes were employed more it might come up.

After reading a previous post here is the question....
Can i put the 15" rally II's on with out doing the break conversation? Currently it has Drums...

Yes mine is all drum and has 15 rally II wheels.

Same here. Rally II's with front and rear drum brakes, no issues.

Must admit, I got a chuckle out of the exchange.