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#281
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Transamric, You are right that tires with exposure to the elements degrade faster than 'inside' tires. I have a set of really old fiberglas belted radial Goodyear Eagle ST's (225/70R15 w/ small white letters) that I move around from car to car that I bought way back in 1982(?) that are still nice, not dry rotted, weather checked, cracked, or running funny down the road...so far, and are on the '70 Formula currently. They are noticeably lighter than the later (1992?) steel belted versions (225/70R14's w/ larger white letters) that I run on my '70 4-dr Tempest. I don't drive these much over 65 mph and they seem to OK, so far as well, but are being replaced next spring since I don't trust older steel belted radial tires once over 10-12 years old.
If I was a betting man, I would put money on the steel belted Eagle ST's getting belt shift and delamination before the glass belted tires. I have Michelin 235/75R15's steel belted radials (circa 1985?) on my '71 Bonneville that I am going to replace next spring, but the older Michelin's are known for better quality. These are all 'indoor' tires that only see the sun once and a while, but I do think they are degrading, just more slowly that 'outdoor' regularly run tires. Dennis Last edited by SD455DJ; 10-02-2021 at 09:58 AM. Reason: added text |
#282
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Like just about everything, the tire companies have cut corners to maximize profits. The rubber used today is much worse in terms of long term use than tires of yore. I've seen it several times personally. It's a shame, but true.
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1976 LeMans B09 Freeway Enforcer, 455/M40 Smokey 1977 Trans Am, 400/M21 Black/Gold Bandit. 44K actual miles 2017 Sierra SLT 1500 Z71 4X4 2019 Canyon SLT Crew 4X4 |
#283
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I'll stick to my 5x7 rule, replace tires every 5-7 years regardless of condition. You have one come apart and whip a body panel, you will be singing the blues.
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. 1970 GTO Judge Tribute Pro-Tour Project 535 IA2 http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=760624 1971 Trans Am 463, 315cfm E-head Sniper XFlow EFI, TKO600 extreme, 9", GW suspension, Baer brakes, pro tour car https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...ght=procharger Theme Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zKAS...ature=youtu.be |
#284
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77Canamman, I couldn't agree more! I hear/read there is more synthetic material than natural rubber in the tire mix that off-gases/degrades much more quickly...but I'm no expert. But then the '70's era Firestone 721 just exploding is worrisome, so you have to wonder about that...probably more from construction technique than the rubber.
HWYSTR455, That is a good rule to follow...too many cars, too many tires to replace! I blink and the new tires I swear I just bought last summer are 7 years old already with no miles! Dennis |
The Following User Says Thank You to SD455DJ For This Useful Post: | ||
#285
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Quote:
Modern Tractor tires suffer incredibly .
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"The Future Belongs to those who are STILL Willing to get their Hands Dirty" .. my Grandfather |
The Following User Says Thank You to Formulabruce For This Useful Post: | ||
#286
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I'm thinking about swapping out the aftermarket Auto Gage tach & gauge trio I just installed for a set of factory tach & gauges I just acquired (along with a nice gauge dash insert). I have an ad in the Bird - Parts Wanted section for an original '70/'71 dash harness for gauges. I think I still need a separate tach harness ($18 at Ames)?
Another challenge is the tach is a later 2-wire type that I understand just needs a new separate ground wire/connection. Is my thinking correct? Another, less expensive option, is to rearrange some contact pins in the main connector to the gauge cluster housing that I need to understand better if this is an easier route. Thanks, Dennis |
#287
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Got a factory dash harness for the in-dash tach & gauges from Unruhjonny (thanks!) and, before installing, were going to test to see if the tach & gauges work with jumper wires to see if they work, and if not, then off they go to Bob's Speedometer for a rebuild. The Autogage tach & trio cluster will go to my '71 Bonneville or Dan's '66 Cutlass.
Dennis |
#288
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Has anyone see or have these chalk/grease pencil marks on the underside of your Formula hood? Mine is on the upper left brace (passenger side) when the hood is open and looks like it reads "882 422" or "482 422". Any inkling what this may indicate?
Dennis |
#289
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From here that looks to be 482 422.
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1970 Formula 400 Carousel Red paint on Black standard interior A no-engine, no-transmission, no-wheel option car. Quite likely one of few '70 Muncie three speed Formula 400's left. 1991 Grand Am: 14.4 @ 93.7mph (DA corrected) (retired DD, stock appearing) 2009 Cobalt SS: 13.9 @ 103mph (current DD; makes something north of 300hp & 350ft/lbs) |
#290
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Yes, I've had a couple Formula hoods with paint pen or crayon marks before. But these were always easily discernable as date codes. Don't see that possibility on yours.
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#291
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Mine has grease pencil markings on the upper left brace. Mine is just a date.
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#292
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Dennis |
#293
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Dennis |
#294
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Interesting to see that your '71 hood was written first as 12-7 and then changed to 2-12. The things we'll never know the reasons why!
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#295
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Dennis |
#296
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I'm seeing a very faint 7 written under the 12. Like it was written first and then mostly rubbed out. It's biased a bit more under the 2 than the 1.
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#297
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Dennis |
#298
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Mine has a written date of 5-9-70 and it's a 5D build on the trim tag. So it dated fairly close to the car, within a couple weeks. It's also a Van Nuys build. |
#299
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Is the hood a real RA hood?
(functional)
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John Wallace - johnta1 Pontiac Power RULES !!! www.wallaceracing.com Winner of Top Class at Pontiac Nationals, 2004 Cordova Winner of Quick 16 At Ames 2004 Pontiac Tripower Nats KRE's MR-1 - 1st 5 second Pontiac block ever! "Every man has a right to his own opinion, but no man has a right to be wrong in his facts." "People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid." – Socrates |
#300
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The '70 Formula is a factory RAIII , so has it's original factory functional hood. The '71 455HO Formula wasn't ordered with Ram Air, so came with the dual snorkel/dual heat riser air cleaner. I added the Ram Air to that one as it already had the openings cut out and the correct repop screens installed. Mike Sparks sold me a correct original '71 F-body RA air cleaner with the studs on the flapper housings.
Dennis |
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