[AJD1964]

Hello!
We now have a new project!
My son just bought a ’71 LeMans Sport Convertible for a driver project. I want to clean up and temporarily use my 15X7 Rally II wheels from my Firebird Formula (Future Project – Long time out yet), and put them on the LeMans.

After getting the old tires removed, I started looking at the wheel codes. They all appear to be the same for all 4 wheels. However, I’m not really sure if they are true for 1971. I read many of the posts here, but I’m still not clear. “Correctness” is not really critical now for the LeMans, but if and when I put them back on the ‘71 Firebird it will be important.

Attached below are photos of the wheel-stem codes and also the codes from “under-the-tire”.
Any confirmation relating to their originality and dates would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[Bermuda Blue]

looks like the the wheels are dated 29-DEC-1970 therefore 1971 model year.

['ol Pinion head]

A TON of 12/29/70.and 12/30/70 KR's were made. Their original use included Spring assembled '71 models all the way up into mid production '72 models. On your '71 HO Formula, was it built in March-early July of '71?

[AJD1964]

Originally Posted by Bermuda Blue

looks like the the wheels are dated 29-DEC-1970 therefore 1971 model year.

I see 12 (Dec) & 29, but how do we conclude 1970?

[AJD1964]

Originally Posted by 'ol Pinion head

A TON of 12/29/70.and 12/30/70 KR's were made. Their original use included Spring assembled '71 models all the way up into mid production '72 models. On your '71 HO Formula, was it built in March-early July of '71?

Yes - Within that time frame; June I believe, Norwood, OH. But I haven't looked at the data info for a while.

['ol Pinion head]

Left of the valve stem, the number under the M1 will be a zero. That zero signifys 1970.

Also, the KR wheels were only stamped on so many dates.
There were none stamped out a year later, the last few days of Dec '71.

[AJD1964]

I saw a thread or two here that stated "No A-Body convertibles were delivered from the factory in '71 with 15" Rally II wheels."

Why?? What was Pontiac's reasoning behind this?

['ol Pinion head]

Have posted that many times. Have also cut up quite a few '68-72 A body convert partscars. The rear wheel housings in the converts are stamped differently/have flats spots in the top in order for the top frame assembly to have propper room to fold down/store. Pontiac did not offer the G60-15 on the 15x7 wheels on mid '71-72 A body convertibles for tire clearance reason. Of course, many have run tall/wide tires by running taller ride height rear springs or (gasp) air shocks.

[AJD1964]

Originally Posted by 'ol Pinion head

Have posted that many times. Have also cut up quite a few '68-72 A body convert partscars. The rear wheel housings in the converts are stamped differently/have flats spots in the top in order for the top frame assembly to have propper room to fold down/store. Pontiac did not offer the G60-15 on the 15x7 wheels on mid '71-72 A body convertibles for tire clearance reason. Of course, many have run tall/wide tires by running taller ride height rear springs or (gasp) air shocks.

Thanks OPH. That makes total sense. The LeMans currently has 245-60-R15's on it now, both back and front, with cheesy aftermarket wheels, and the car seems to have a slightly higher than stock stance. I wanted to go 245-60-15 BFG T/A on the 15X7 Formula rims (the BFG dimensions are very similar to G60-15, if I checked correctly). Now I'm worried that they might hit the wheel wells, especially if I put the car back to stock ride height.