DownBoy

posed this question in the wheel n tire section, but perhaps I may get a response or three here....I purchased some 76-77 cutlassn15 inch hubcaps and my mission is to eventually match them with some cooper cobra raised white lettering tires , as big as a tire I can get inside the wheel well of a 69 delta 88.


questions: what is the biggest tire I can fit on a 69 88 without rubbing and


what do you think of the tire/hubcap matchup ?


I apologize for the lack of pics, my computer won't let me download pics.

oldsmobiledave

I ran 275 60 15s out back on my 69 Delta Royale on an 8" wide rim.

DownBoy

the 275 is the width, yes ? the 60, the height ? or id it reversed ? how was the fit and what wheel / rim

TK-65

Kill the white letters. Turn them in and run the blackwall side.

DownBoy

I don't see many of the combo I suggest. why ? and its not because its not appealing because I have seen pics and had read history on 'caps and RWL tires in the mid to latter sixties that look presentable. I'm on a budget and want a look that wont break my wallet, yes I have found rallyes from buick and or olds that I can get but....

1969w3155

White letter tires on the full size cars in my opinion don't look good, they weren't an option, and when optioned on A bodies it was with sport wheels (SSI, SSII) or with the poverty caps.

DownBoy

I don't think their was an option back in 69 was there ? for RWL ? I get the fact the delta is a long car and I have hopes of putting the holiday coupe larger 1.5 inch trim on the exterior panels to give it a "shorter" look that I feel may accent the tires and 'caps. damn I wish my computer would work so I can show these 76-77 cutlass 'caps off so you can get a better idea of my vision. if anyone is running raised white letter tires with hubs can you post ?

1969w3155

There was for the A bodies.

slantflat

Put them on the way you want. If you don't like the look you can always reverse the white letters. I think it would look okay, myself.

66400

In 1972 we had a neighbor that owned a red 67 Buick Wildcat 4drhdtp with white letter tires on chrome Buick road wheels and the tires turn that car into the coolest big Buick of the day.

Henry

brown7373

As far as white lettered on a big car, I think that is your personal choice. Me, I wouldn't do it, but it's your car and you should do what you want. I think the all black wheels on new cars and trucks looks terrible (and just plain dirty), but judging from how many are on the road, many people don't agree with me. Just do what you want.


As far as size, be careful when you approach the limits in size. And remember, the tires have to clear when you are making a sharp turn and hit a bump, like pulling in a driveway. Don't just measure how they fit sitting there. I almost ripped a fender off a 65 Pontiac when I was a teenager back in 1968 when pulling into my parents driveway.

droptopron

275 is a big tire for a 7" wide rim but a 255 may look short on that car.
As far as the combo I don't have anything against it. Its your car so do as you wish.
Cooper still lists a 235/70.
Also, if you decide to go blackwall there are cheaper alternatives available.
If your car is a big bolt pattern (5x5") you can hit the junk yards looking for an 8" steel wheel off a 2WD Blazer/Jimmy that will still accept the hub cap.

oldsmobiledave

275 60 15s out back on 8" wide rims with 235 70 15s up front. Those are GMC p/u rims which share the 5 x 5 bolt pattern. Rocket emblems added to the center caps.


Miss this car. It was a bucket seat console car with power disc brakes, power windows, power driver's seat, cruise control, rear seat speaker, 8 track & tilt column. It had a 455 4bbl / T400 and I added a rear sway bar, 2.93 posi & dual exhaust added from parts taken from a parted out 1970 W-33 Delta 88 I had.


I traded this car in 2005 for a 1979 HO & $5000 cash. The owner did the minor body work the car needed & painted it then freshened up the engine. It was the nicest B body car I have ever owned. This car lived for the highway and I remember driving it from Saskatoon back to Calgary one night & made the usual 6 hour trip in 4 hours & 20 minutes. That was stupid fun!



DriversFront-1.jpg


PassengerSide2.jpg


Interior.jpg

oldcutlass

I think what ever looks good to you is what matters. I've seen RWL tires on every type of wheel combo out there over the years.

ThePackRat

If you really have your heart set on staying with 15 inch wheels & tires ... I say enjoy RWL while you still can.

Choice's only get fewer & farther between as time goes on.

I've personally ran RWL's on (3) Toronado's in the past & would do it again.

I think it changed the look of all (3) for the better.

DownBoy

oldsmobiledave,
your brown 69 is just about exactly the look I am referring to, except the caps are very similar to packrats on his toronado. Packrat's smaller diameter center ring with the olds logo is about what the 76-77 cutlass came with, with the exception between the two being that mine have open slots between the center diameter and the outer diameter (DAMN I NEED TO LEARN PICS ) but these are two great examples of what I want to do. Trust me, I like the olds or buick rallys just like everyone else I just see this larger unit getting the look of : (1) being a sporty larger car, and (2) being a larger car keep the caps on it as it because its a luxury car, abeit, a sporty one !
I know back in 69 the delta wasn't the luxury model, but compared to todays lil box cars its full size luxury for this 6 foot 250 lb man !
These two examples are saved in my file (a small one unfortunately) of 69's with this particular cap/rwl combo.

DownBoy

oldsmobiledave,
did you put that exterior trim strip on yourself, that's not factory, is it ? I love it. Can you give me more info on them ?

1969w3155

What problem are you having uploading pics to this site?

DownBoy

its my computer, something is not letting me load pics. I have loaded many pics on computer but a month or so ago I allowed some program to start up and it hasn't let me go further. I used to be able to stick in my usb , and it would auto start. now, nothing. Gimme an idea, I will get it looked at but just been too busy as of late.

1969w3155

A couple of months ago Explorer would no longer let me upload pics, so, I started using Firefox and Google.

DownBoy

yes its annoying. I think I will bring it into work and let one of my 19 year old bussers fix it. These kids are amazing with these things...

nsnarsk65cutlass

x2

nsnarsk65cutlass

Looks like the universal stick on side trim.Nick

ThePackRat

I'm guessing you are going with "C" ?.

You can click on the image below to make it larger if need be.





The above brochures & many others can be found here :

oldcarbrochures.org

Also if you want to try & fix your PC issues ... try Googling "usb drive not automatically recognized".

Could be a couple of things ... see if you can fix what got mucked up.

oldsmobiledave

When purchased the Delta had factory Paint (Aztec Gold not brown) with original vinyl top & factory white pinstripe. Somewhere along the line the selling dealership installed a thin vinyl bump strip along the side of the car. When I purchased some of that strip was still attached & some was missing. I removed all of the dealer installed bump strip but the paint underneath was damaged. To cover it I had a friend who worked at Trim Line apply that aftermarket rub/bump strip.


After I sold the car it was painted. The new owner chose to leave off the factory painted pin stripe. The car looked naked without it.

Oldsguy

I think I had J7815's on my '69 Cutlass about a hundred years ago. They were TALL.

Koda

Raised letter tires were available, but the font I think was smaller. The wide oval's font was little compared to the BFG TAs or Cooper Cobras out there today. Personally, by today's standards, any car from back then has a giant engine, so they can be entitled to macho tires. I've got BFG T/As on my 442 with SS1s, which look appropriate, and I run the deluxe wheel cover option on my Chevy (which is a full wheel disc cover) with the same BFG T/As, and it looks good.

Now, how about wire wheel caps and raised letter tires?

Don R.

Its your car, run what you like. I have 235-70-15 BFG T/A's on 15 by 7 Chevy police wheels with 1960 Buick wheelcovers, done as a deliberate 70s-80s "back in the day" look.

DownBoy

packrat,
nailed it, that's the set. What do you think ?


don r- great look. I am going to redo the black striping inside the inner circle of the cap so it really snaps

MDchanic

1. I think raised white letters look dumb with hubcaps, and they look dumb on full sized cars. It's your car, do what you want, but, hey, you asked.

2. I think the entire question is moot, because your hubcaps will never fit on your car.

The wheels on a '77 Cutlass were 4.75" pattern.
The wheels on the '69 Delta are 5" pattern.
Regardless of rim diameter, the hubcaps won't interchange. Believe me, I spent several enjoyable days trying once.

- Eric

DownBoy

pics

MDchanic

Nice car. Don't ruin it with RWL tires.

Get whitewalls.

- Eric

DownBoy

eric
thx for your .02
ultimately it will have wheels. my original loved look was rallys just putting my money into whats more important right now, the engine. can't have a good looking car that doesn't run, right ?
on caps, I hope you are wrong. Can't clarify yet, they are in transit. but what you said doesn't make me feel any better.
the rubber I will purchase after the 455 is humming, caps were to be my budget restriction answer, looks will be later.
man, I hope you are wrong.
bright side I know how to post pics. too back I suck at taking them, will take updated ones tomorrow with 455 out of car and post either fri or sat.
RC

MDchanic

Right. I wish more new posters understood that.


The inside diameter, where the hubcap grips, of the 5" pattern 15" wheels and the 4.75" pattern 15" wheels is different.


Smart. You have time to change your mind a hundred times before you make a commitment. Just keep looking at other people's cars for ideas.


Have we really, surely, positively determined that you have an internal engine knock, and not some bad-sounding external problem?
Have you had an experienced friend / neighbor / general old guy listen to it?

- Eric

DownBoy

Yes, I have a mechanic I have been using for past 17 years, first job he ever did for me was rebuild my hi po 289 in my old 66 a code mustang. He's a trust worthy guy. He looked at fuel pump, rockers, water pump, torque converter, flex plate, all were ok. ran it without belts too. determined its coming from bottom end. He lifted out motor yesterday, I'm heading there tomorrow to see and observe.
I will take camera and take good pics. I'm glad I can contribute my pic's especially now with motor out.
my cashflow and order of repair/restore is as follows:
engine
all fluids besides engine
electrical
hood hinges
check brakes (has brand new master)
interior trim and carpet (oh jeez)
tires (current are 65%, no known age tho)
rims or caps


and we are talking months or a year here, I ain't rich. and I have to compensate the wifey, who is amazing that she lets me play in the garage so I intend to be a consistent post'r.

MDchanic

What's wrong with your hood hinges?

- Eric

DownBoy

dunno yet, they don't lift the hood all the way it seems and this particular hood has that lovely center logo hangdown piece that has been embedded in the top of my head several times now. Nothing bleeds better that your forehead.

brown7373

I had an engine a few months back that I was 99% sure had an internal knock too. But it turned out that one of my mufflers blew out a baffle. It was making a sound like a bad bearing and it was restricting my exhaust. Two new mufflers and knock was gone.

DownBoy

just got off phone with my mechanic


opening motor today to confirm knock
needs lower control arm bushings, tranny mount, trailing arm bushings


motor was recently rebuilt/replaced
has newer longblock
carb (2 bbl)

DownBoy

and newer exhaust too. hoping some of you are right about different options for the knock noise. Like I previously posted, checked out a bunch of possible culprits already
flexplate
converter
water pump and accessories
fuel pump noises
timing
rockers