Secret experimental 1964 GX 455

[elagache]

Dear Bill and mid-60s Buick owners who are fussy about "wheel well treatments," . . .

Looks like I hafta play the race card. Drag race that is!  LOL... May switch over to Chevy rally wheels. A complete set of 5 wheels with caps and rings for 200.00 in better than driver quality.
. . .
These are 15 X 7 and an FW code. Just a slight upgrade from a black wheel with out getting too ostentatious.

Sounds great!  15" X 7" will give you a lot more rubber to put on the road!  Alas in your pictures they are a bit dark.  Could you try taking a close-up so we can get a better idea of how they might look like?

These can get the treatment and cure before mounting tires. I already have two 15" BFG / TA's from the 72 to burn up. ws

Sounds good!  My wagon also has B.F Goodrich Radial TAs  Definitely a classic car tire of choice!

Cheers, Edouard 

[yachtsmanbill]

Ive had nothing but good luck with BFG's. If these wheels happen, do i go with a 230R65 X 15 on the front and a 255R65 X 15 on the back? theres plenty of wheel well clearance back there.  Heck, theres even a complete unit for a spare. Now onto what color for the rims?   ws

[WkillGS]

.... 230R65 X 15 on the front and a 255R65 X 15 on the back? .....

EDIT..... I use the 60 series on my 66's. 235 front, 255 rear.

Cooper Cobras are a quality tire which don't cost as much as the BFG's.
Keep an eye on DiscountTireDirect, both on their webpage and their eBay store. They often have some great promo deals or rebates.

Buick used a chev-rally type wheel on the 67's, with a Buick center hat. The hats are usually pricey if'n you can find them.

[ppat324]

I haven't been on here for a few days. Bill and I were talking last night about the wheels and all.  I can see now that I will have to "adjust" the budget for his needs. I fully support his projects. Keeps him home and happy. Plus I get to ride in cool cars next to him. And this year I get to show the '72. Provided the Special is ready. Which I am sure it will be....ppat yachtsmanbill's other half.

[yachtsmanbill]

Thats my GIRL!

Good morning Edouard and fellow Buick owners who dislike pushing Buicks uphill with a flat tire... Im sorry about the pic quality on the wheels; thats a C&P from the CL ad. Some people havent realized that this is the 90's! Photography has never been easier! If you double click on the pic, youll get a giant print that you can scroll around on. One was pasted in the ad as a thumbnail; well, maybe a pinky shot. Theres 5 complete wheels and 2 spare trim rings included. Sooo... argent silver or a really fine gloss jet black from a boat job I did? I mean like MIRROR black chrome. Skulls or dice for valve stem caps LOL???

So will the 255's look OK on the skinny wheels? Ive seen some 10" wide wire wheels at shows with a skinny 78 series tire on them and the sidewall look like theyd rub the ground (or roll of the rim!) on a hard turn.
Ive also noticed the $$$ on the Buick Center caps. These may bet the Willy treatment with a set of either aluminum or SS cover up rings over the CMD on the caps... have lathe will travel...   

My 72 with Cragars and T/A's. The rears are I believe 8 inches wide on the rimmage. ws

[WkillGS]

The Cooper Cobras from Discount Tire Direct are currently $405 on eBay for a set of four..... 2 x 235/60-15 and 2x 255/60-15.
In the past they've had a sales promo for $100 off a purchase of $400 or more (= $306).  Or wait for a 15% off eBay promotion (= $345).
Or just keep your eyes open for something used.

The 255/60-15's fit well on a 15 x 7 rim.

[yachtsmanbill]

Thanks Walt! Up here I use FleetFarm for tires and batteries. Usually in the spring theres a tire promo with 20% off with a free install and balance. I picked up 2 BFGs 255's a few years ago and kept the take offs. They were on the front and one was slightly cupped but very serviceable.

On another note; On V8 today, Hector was selling some F41 frame stiffeners. Are they worth modifying or should I make my own? These run from the rear crossmember to the the lower control arms' mount.    ws

[gs spoken here]

The 68/72 ones are easy to shorten to work on 64/67. I did this for my 66. You can also purchase aftermarket ones, from Ames for the early cars.

[WkillGS]

Frame stiffeners are different between 64-67 and 68-72.
Repos start at around $70. HD aftermarket ones are $130.
You could likely fab something up.
Here's the repo and the HD ones:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/64-67-rear-control-reinforcement-frame-stiffeners-Chevy-Pontiac-GTO-Chevelle-442/263099172369?hash=item3d41eec611:g:hLUAAOSwnHZYg96L:rk:1:pf:1&frcectupt=true

https://www.ebay.com/itm/UMI-Performance-64-67-GM-A-Body-Chevelle-Lemans-GTO-Rear-Control-Arms-Braces/200346336092?epid=1526274965&hash=item2ea5927b5c:g:xuUAAOSw8d9UwUdr:rk:1:pf:1&frcectupt=true

[yachtsmanbill]

So off the top of your head(s), are the 64's rear crossmember indented to fit these bars, or will it be a flat mount? I havent even been back that far yet; Thats the forbidden zone LOL, so Ill hafta see whats up when I get back there...   ws

[GS66]

Hard to beat Cragars on a vintage car. Usually used ones out there too to save money.

[Rollaround]

Frame stiffeners are different between 64-67 and 68-72.
Repos start at around $70. HD aftermarket ones are $130.
You could likely fab something up.
Here's the repo and the HD ones:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/64-67-rear-control-reinforcement-frame-stiffeners-Chevy-Pontiac-GTO-Chevelle-442/263099172369?hash=item3d41eec611:g:hLUAAOSwnHZYg96L:rk:1:pf:1&frcectupt=true

https://www.ebay.com/itm/UMI-Performance-64-67-GM-A-Body-Chevelle-Lemans-GTO-Rear-Control-Arms-Braces/200346336092?epid=1526274965&hash=item2ea5927b5c:g:xuUAAOSw8d9UwUdr:rk:1:pf:1&frcectupt=true

That suddenly seems to be a must have add on for the yellow car. I just ordered a set.

[cwmcobra]

Here's how the stiffeners from the '68 and up cars was shortened and redrilled, as suggested by Bill S.  And by Brian back in this 2016 thread:  http://65gs.com/board/index.php/topic,2687.msg17077.html#msg17077

A picture is attached of the ones that I modified and installed on my car.

 

Chuck

[WkillGS]

And the repos on my 66. Note how they are formed to give some muffler clearance.

[cwmcobra]

Yep, more muffler clearance with the repops.  Attached picture shows clearance with the modified originals.  They clear, but with less room to spare.

Chuck