TAC Tech => Tires, Brakes & Suspension => Topic started by: TA301 on June 27, 2024, 08:17:48 PM
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I am interested to see your rankings [niceness] of the OE wheels for the years indicated.
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A niceness rating for original wheels hmmm. I think there's good and bad for most and they suit certain years better, originality or otherwise.
Rally wheels are a no fuss option, suit all years, I don't need no fancy alloy rims but I'll consider the chrome dress rims..
Honeycombs look perfect and retro for mid-years, but were a horrible and heavy wheel by design. They came prior to alloy rims being mainstream and trying different techniques. An alloy repro would be perfect in stock sizes, other than originality. They look good on most years and a recognised classic Firebird rim, even if later years didn't get them. They still a rare option in Aus until around 79, although in 14".
The basic 7" snowflake is another classic that suits most years even when not original issue. I preferred the multi-angled face to the 8" version, a fancier rim. They just weren't wide enough.
I always thought the 78 WS6 rim without machining was gloomy,looked good, but of course the next version looked better. Strictly for original 78's. Many still opt for the common type.
I never liked the use of hex centre cap on the later snowflakes, and didn't match the poly design of lugnuts or spokes. Simply cost cutting by GM.
The turbo rims were a lite plain but were also looking for a modern look, in a world of turbo and digital things. They would be interesting if done in a larger diameter with matching larger brake openings or have too much surface area, can start looking like a plain hubcap rather than Sporty like a jet engine.
Ok coffee over, gotta go.
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Niceness is kind of subjective but I’ll play.
Based on looks alone
Rally IIs and 15x8” flakes tie for first for me.
Followed by the 77-81 15x7” flakes
Then honeycomb
Then the 79(?)-81 alternate 7” flakes
Then Turbo rims
Then of course the steelies and hubcaps for the base birds.
That said, I prefer to see a period correct wheel where it belongs such as I’d rather see a 73 with a honeycomb than see someone put a 8” snowflake and rather see a turbo wheel on a 10th than anything else
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My list goes like this
1 Honeycombs, hard to find straight, wish they were aluminum and 8” wide
2 15x8 snowflakes, have on my 74 because I couldn’t find honeycombs straight, gave up after spending $800 on bad rims
3 Rally II
4 Turbos
5 15x7 snowflakes
Tom H
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Best: 15X8 machined rim snowflakes - wish I had some
Next best: 15X8 VSE by Appliance Wheel, Have and need to have refinished
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I agree with Brian (b_hill_86) ... mostly... so I'll just copy his post and make some modifications
Rally IIs and honeycomb tie for first for me.
77-81 15x7” flakes
15x8” flakes
Then the 79(?)-81 alternate 7” flakes
Then Turbo rims
Then of course the steelies and hubcaps for the base birds.
That said, I prefer to see a period correct wheel where it belongs such as I’d rather see a 73 with a honeycomb than see someone put a 8” snowflake and rather see a turbo wheel on a 10th than anything else
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15 x 8 Snowflakes OEM on Y88.
Nothing else matters.
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Best: 15X8 machined rim snowflakes - wish I had some
Next best: 15X8 VSE by Appliance Wheel, Have and need to have refinished
I have to agree the 15X8 machined rim snowflake are my favorite. My 1980 came with Rally II’s painted body color white. The wheel paint job from the factory was lousy with the silver not lining up with the actual spoke lines. I repainted them using the factory Rally II gray color. Now I am thinking of painting them white again because I am a sucker for the original look. I am also toying with the idea of buying 15X8 machined rim snowflakes and another set of BFG radial TA tires. Having two sets of wheels and tires would allow me to switch between the two. This way no downtime while I paint my original Rally II’s. The only downside is a lot of $$$. I know the BFG’s are not the greatest tires, but once again I like the look and it has T/A on the white letters.
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If upgrading but wanting to keep the original and retro look you could consider a set of the 17x9 Rally rims painted white with the flashes, or whatever.
Random trivia, there was a GM bulletin issued for Firebirds with Rally wheels on how to paint the rear drum brakes. I can't recall if it was black or dark grey, but must have been better than bare cast iron rusting.
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If upgrading but wanting to keep the original and retro look you could consider a set of the 17x9 Rally rims painted white with the flashes, or whatever.
Random trivia, there was a GM bulletin issued for Firebirds with Rally wheels on how to paint the rear drum brakes. I can't recall if it was black or dark grey, but must have been better than bare cast iron rusting.
Ben, in reality I am just talking at this point. When I had my car apart I never did anything with the differential or drive shaft. Two rusty chunks under my car that nobody cares about except for me. I need to remove the differential and driveshaft. Blast and paint them both. I got some health issues slowing me down a little, but probably not enough to keep me from doing it if it was really important enough.
Interesting tid-bit about painting the rear brake drums. I would think the snowflake wheels would show off a rusty brake drum more than Rally II’s, but who knows. When I do paint the differential, I think I will blast and paint the brake drums as well. They have a very light coating of rust and would be easy to clean up and paint.
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For sure, it's all talk and ideas until something gets done, or the idea changes, or decide other things matter more.
The drum paint bulletin was from 1974.
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Like most, I prefer the wheel the car was born with. That said I hate seeing the plastic hex center caps on 79 snowflakes. The stainless steel round look so much better to me. Maybe because that is how my car has always been. As for an option, I love my 17x9 snowflakes with the stainless center caps buy it does make it look a bit more modern and I think that is acceptable with my car having the LS and and lowered. My car looks stock to almost everyone, except the most keen car guy.
If I had a 77/78 then honeycomb. Just love that look on that car.
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Interesting takes. I personally like the snowflake wheels with the machined lip, best. My 1981 SE came with the 15x8 Turbine wheels in gold which I am hesitant to keep or replace with the snows.
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Im a bit of a purist, and prefer the correct style wheel for the car. That being said, even though the second gen is basically the same car across the board (not figuring the minor year to year changes front end, back window etc) I think the wrong wheel looks completely off. A snowflake wheel looks completely out of place on a '71, and likewise a honeycomb looks bad on an '81. The rally II looks great across the board. Much the same as a T top roof on a pre 76 car looks goofy!