1973 SD Trans Am with 1774 miles - Page 7

**SmallHurst** · #61 12-31-2010, 05:34 PM

Radials were already being used in Europe, but the heavier cars in America put strains on the tires that were not seen over the ocean. I will ask my friend again, but I believe that the tires were Michelins.

A friend of mine once worked for Firestone. He said that at one point, " if it had 2 holes and it was black, it shipped!!"

**napa68** · #62 12-31-2010, 06:21 PM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Charley Lillard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You will most likely be able to see it at MCACN next November. </div></div> <span style="color: #FF0000"> </span> YIPEEEEEE! <span style="color: #FF0000"> </span>

**Canuck** · #63 12-31-2010, 06:30 PM

Michelin were building radials in the 50's. Radial tires were their core business. Cars like Volvo, Peugeot and Renault were commonly shod with radials from the mid 60's.

Oldsmobile offered a radial as an option on the Toronado in 1966 but the weight of the car was too much for this tire. Ford offered Michelin Radials in 67 or 68 as optional tires as previously stated.

I purchased my first radials in 1971 for my 68 Camaro. They were a Firestone Radial V1.Firestone replaced the V1 with the 500 and the rest was history.

When I bought a new Duster 340 in the spring of 73 I had it shod with Goodyear Bluestreak radials, which were Goodyears police tire.

GM started using radials on its product line in 1974 in all but its least expensive cars. Not sure if they had the tires as an option in 1973.

Paul

**Charley Lillard** · #64 12-31-2010, 06:31 PM

Steve...Only 1 with the hex head. The rest are round. The hex looks the same as used on door weatherstrip.

RAIIIT/A · #65 12-31-2010, 07:05 PM

Nice... very nice. You just can't restore low mileage into a car. There is nothing like the touch feel and smell of a factory original.

al8apex · #66 12-31-2010, 07:14 PM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Canuck</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Michelin were building radials in the 50's. Radial tires were their core business. Cars like Volvo, Peugeot and Renault were commonly shod with radials from the mid 60's.

Oldsmobile offered a radial as an option on the Toronado in 1966 but the weight of the car was too much for this tire. Ford offered Michelin Radials in 67 or 68 as optional tires as previously stated.

<span style="font-weight: bold">GM started using radials on its product line in 1974 in all but its least expensive cars. Not sure if they had the tires as an option in 1973.</span>

Paul </div></div>

GM started using them in 1973, on the Trans Am and the Corvette:

and others (Grand Am). It was a big deal but the S/R 500 was the weak link as stated in earlier posts. Ever wonder where the RTS (Radial Tuned Suspension) emblem on the TA came from?

BFGoodrich came out in the very early 70's with the Radial T/A and even ran LeMans in 1972 on the John Greenwood Corvette race car on street tires.

http://www.greenwoodcorvettes.com/BFGCars.html

From a BFG press release:

The BFGoodrich Radial T/A tire was the first radial to win in SCCA competition when the Tire Birds (based on Chevrolet Camaros and Pontiac Firebirds) won at Watkins Glen in 1971.
The BFGoodrich Radial T/A tire was the first street-legal radial to race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans when John Greenwood raced his 1972 Corvette.

I got my 1st set in 72 and never looked back. MANY street "meetings" between my 62 Corvette Fuel Injected 68 Z28 302 powered 1956 Chevy DelRay and other, faster cars were decided because of those tires (and maybe the 4.56 gears too). (back in the early 70's ...)

**Keith Seymore** · #67 12-31-2010, 07:29 PM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Charley Lillard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Steve...Only 1 with the hex head. The rest are round. The hex looks the same as used on door weatherstrip.

</div></div>

Just an observation, but those look like the typical RPO B96 Wheel Opening molding screws, used across multiple car platforms as well as trucks to install the chrome molding.

In fact, in the truck plant, if the screw hit torque without being fully seated, the repair guys would simply smack them with a hammer rather than drive them in the rest of the way with a screwdriver. Hence, their more preferred name:

"B96 nails".

(lol)

K

**Keith Seymore** · #68 12-31-2010, 07:46 PM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Charley Lillard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">more

</div></div>

Any indication of the build sequence number?

I see what appears to be an upside down "79" on the frame rail.

Does the number "79" appear anywhere else? (Inside the spare wheel, on the rear axle, hood, rad supt, etc).

K

**njsteve** · #69 12-31-2010, 07:46 PM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Charley Lillard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Steve...Only 1 with the hex head. The rest are round. The hex looks the same as used on door weatherstrip. </div></div>

That's hysterical, they used three different styles of screws on your car's flares: round head, beveled head and hex head, and the one that caused the most damage was the hex head with the smallest surface area! As for the flasher unit hanging down, there is a small two-pronged bracket just above the emergency brake assembly that it sits in (upper left of photo) and commonly falls out of. Neat to see all the original color-coded fuses. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Brewster · #70 12-31-2010, 07:51 PM

Steve, notice the staples for the welting?

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