[David]

Guys, here's the campain to which John is referring to. Pauls Y84 is included in this campain and even has the incorrect spare tire code on his buildsheet.

[W72-Bandit]

Thanks for posting David. Obiviously my VIN does fall with in the parameters of the recall. I double cked today and they forgot to switch out the inflater bottle! Mine still has the 14" bottle!

[2manyT/A'S]

That's GREAT info!

Kinda what I thought.
It APPEARS that ALL 79-80 WS6 birds came with or REQUIRED a 15" spacesaver for brake caliper clearance.

WAY BACK in 1980,I found out that my winter tires,mounted on 15" Honeycombs would NOT clear the rear caliper & had to purchase 1/2" axle flange spacers to run them.

[2manyT/A'S]

Originally Posted by Mr W72

Some additional info, It appears all 1977 Trans Am/Formula space saver spares were stamped with L7CU. All 1978 Norwood OH produced cars space saver spares should have L9CU stampewd on them while Van Nuys cars should have L9C4 stamped on them. For 1979, I show Norwood OH cars with VVCU stamped on the spare and on Van Nuys cars again VVCU.

A dealer information bulletin dated 4/77 references a change in the inflation canisters from the non-refill red DOT-39 to refillable blue DOT E 7413-1800.

According to MY information & research,your 77 & 78 stenciled codes on the tread are CORRECT,but L7 indicates F78 x 14 & L9 indicates G78 x 14.(making the G78 x 14 specific to 1978 & 1979 non-WS6 cars.

(MY 78 observations are based on Van Nuys built cars)

The 15" version was NOT available until LATE 1979 when the aformentioned Campaign/Recall went down,in Dec 78.

[Father&Son73T/A]

Ok,I just drove the 79 for the first time today since Sept last year....DAMN NORTHERN ILLINOIS WINTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anywho,the spare space saver was a G78 15" Goodyear,and my car is a W-72 WS6.
Hope this helps
Duane
ps...........I also got to drive the 73 today also.WOOHOO!........A TWOFER...LOL

[Mr W72]

Originally Posted by 2manyT/A'S

According to MY information & research,your 77 & 78 stenciled codes on the tread are CORRECT,but L7 indicates F78 x 14 & L9 indicates G78 x 14.(making the G78 x 14 specific to 1978 & 1979 non-WS6 cars.

(MY 78 observations are based on Van Nuys built cars)

The 15" version was NOT available until LATE 1979 when the aformentioned Campaign/Recall went down,in Dec 78.

The stenciled codes should be very accurate as they are verified with my collection of 1977-79 buildsheets. Very important for restorers to get the correct coded spares especially 1978, as the codes are plant specific.

As info on the 1979 change, Norwood SOP (start of production) until car 9N119299 which was produced on Nov 8 1978. Van Nuys car 9L122306 would have been same build time frame. I have found changes in production generally have already taken effect when the memos finally arrive at the dealers.

[ve3wireless]

For what it's worth, I've had to use my factory-original "retractable" spare tire ('78 T/A) on at least 2-3 occasions in the past 30 years...it's amazing how the doggone thing "grows" as it fills, and actually ends-up looking just like "the real thing" when it's fully inflated, save for the absence of white lettering...

It's rugged, too: one time I had to drive some 150 straight highway miles on it before I could get a replacement --- it was still like-new when deflated at the end of the trip.

One caveat re. the factory-supplied inflator: if you've never used yours, do NOT trust that it'll work anymore! These things must leak-out slowly over time, or something...when I last used mine years ago, I had the dealer re-fill it --- and all of the pressure was GONE after less than a year!

I ended-up tossing the thing, and bought an el-cheapo "...plug-it-into-the-cigarette-lighter-and-play" mini air compressor, and keep it in the trunk...

"DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT!!!"

Eddy

[Cammer-6]

still looking for correct red bottle labels for research

[2manyT/A'S]

Originally Posted by ve3wireless

For what it's worth, I've had to use my factory-original "retractable" spare tire ('78 T/A) on at least 2-3 occasions in the past 30 years...it's amazing how the doggone thing "grows" as it fills, and actually ends-up looking just like "the real thing" when it's fully inflated, save for the absence of white lettering...

It's rugged, too: one time I had to drive some 150 straight highway miles on it before I could get a replacement --- it was still like-new when deflated at the end of the trip.

One caveat re. the factory-supplied inflator: if you've never used yours, do NOT trust that it'll work anymore! These things must leak-out slowly over time, or something...when I last used mine years ago, I had the dealer re-fill it --- and all of the pressure was GONE after less than a year!

I ended-up tossing the thing, and bought an el-cheapo "...plug-it-into-the-cigarette-lighter-and-play" mini air compressor, and keep it in the trunk...

"DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT!!!"

Eddy

Here's My "caveat emptor" for you: What makes you think your "el cheapo" chinese 12 volt tire inflator is ACTUALLY going to WORK when you need it at the side of the road one nite?

My experience with ANYTHING "cheapo" electrical is that after a few years,they just QUIT WORKING,even if you haven't used them.(considering the ability of our trunks to collect & contain water,it makes for an "unhealthy enviroment" for cheap chinese electrical devices)

Wouldn't be a bad idea to give it an occasional test,just to make sure it's working.

FYI: The refillable tire inflators are actually filled by weight,NOT pressure,so you could tell how much is in YOUR inflator by keepng track of it's weight.

[165th]

Great information here. As requested, here's a spare from a 3,800 mile anniversary car. I didn't remove it and turn it over to get the tire specifications because it would have let too much new car smell out of the trunk! Actually, it's because I didn't take the time.

My car is a Norwood car.

This tire tread pattern and paint stenciling looks like a few other of the '79's posted here.

[784spdta]

Speaking of inflator cannisters, does anyone have a spare one for a 78, still have the unused and original spare tire for my car but have lost the cannister many years ago.

[2manyT/A'S]

Originally Posted by Cammer-6

still looking for correct red bottle labels for research

I have TWO label variations on the FAT RED can (77 & earlier?)

Part # 493790

Fills - E78 14 x 6" , F78 14 x 6" , & F78 14 x 5" rim.

Part # 496508

Fills - F78 x 14", G78 x 14" & G78 x 15" rim (obviously,this is the LATER one)

How many different ones do you have?

[2manyT/A'S]

Can anybody give us the stamped codes from their 79-80 15" WS6 Goodyear tire/wheel?

These are NEAR valve stem & in LUG area.



MR W72: Can you give us the stamped codes from your 77 14" Goodyear tire/ wheel?

THANKS!

[ve3wireless]

Originally Posted by 2manyT/A'S

Here's My "caveat emptor" for you: What makes you think your "el cheapo" chinese 12 volt tire inflator is ACTUALLY going to WORK when you need it at the side of the road one nite?

My experience with ANYTHING "cheapo" electrical is that after a few years,they just QUIT WORKING,even if you haven't used them.(considering the ability of our trunks to collect & contain water,it makes for an "unhealthy enviroment" for cheap chinese electrical devices)

Wouldn't be a bad idea to give it an occasional test,just to make sure it's working.

FYI: The refillable tire inflators are actually filled by weight,NOT pressure,so you could tell how much is in YOUR inflator by keepng track of it's weight.

...Ah yes, but I do, indeed, test my el-cheapo air compressor...AND on a regular basis, too!

It seems that ALL of the local gas bars here now charge a minimum $0.50 for the privilege of using their air compressors (the money all goes to "...charity", of course...yeah, right), so every time any one of the 'Bird's BF Goodrich Radial T/A's needs air, out comes "el cheapo" --- and in more ways than one(!).

As a matter of fact, I used it only just yesterday...worked like a proverbial charm, too...

Eddy

[784spdta]

Originally Posted by 2manyT/A'S

Can anybody give us the stamped codes from their 79-80 15" WS6 Goodyear tire/wheel?

These are NEAR valve stem & in LUG area.



MR W72: Can you give us the stamped codes from your 77 14" Goodyear tire/ wheel?

THANKS!

I know it's not the 79-80 you asked for but anyway heres my info
Here's the stamped codes from the wheel off my 78: K38 1 23 UA These are directly by the valve stem
Tire is a BFGoodrich G78-14 with the white lettering still very clear on the tread that says 1 P 15 L9CU and a date code of 078

[79TA455]

I know this post was about the stow away but I have a full size spare on a Rally II rim from a 1980 Firebird Esprit. The tire is original, has been used a few times. I can get a picture if you are interested.

[Father&Son73T/A]

Originally Posted by ve3wireless

...Ah yes, but I do, indeed, test my el-cheapo air compressor...AND on a regular basis, too!

It seems that ALL of the local gas bars here now charge a minimum $0.50 for the privilege of using their air compressors (the money all goes to "...charity", of course...yeah, right), so every time any one of the 'Bird's BF Goodrich Radial T/A's needs air, out comes "el cheapo" --- and in more ways than one(!).

As a matter of fact, I used it only just yesterday...worked like a proverbial charm, too...

Eddy

I've used an El cheapo too,Campbell Hausefield,whatever the spelling ,there not made in China are they,got it from Walmart so it must be
I use it quite often on the rims on the 99 TA,aluminum leaks

[2manyT/A'S]

Originally Posted by 2manyT/A'S

Can anybody give us the stamped codes from their 79-80 15" WS6 Goodyear tire/wheel?

These are NEAR valve stem & in LUG area.



MR W72: Can you give us the stamped codes from your 77 14" Goodyear tire/ wheel?

THANKS!

ANYBODY????

[W72-Bandit]

On one side of the valvestem has a Mark I cannot make out, possibly an M. Next to that is 11. On the other side of the stem is 28 followed by KR.

[Motleyfan]

I worked for B.F Goodrich back in 77 as a tire builder when I bought my TA new. It came with Goodyear corp. treads but a Goodrich space saver. The white stenciled code on the tire is used internally at the plant to identify the tire. When the tread is made the code is painted on the tread strip at that time. When the tire is cured the actualy tread pattern goes into the tire.

There should be a very small white 3 number sticker on the tire. That identifies the actualy guy who built the tire. I found it on mine back in 77 and looked up the guy who built it. Told him it had better work if I needed it. LOL So far it hasn't been touched.

Nick