Have any of you ever seen this Centurion in real life or know the owner?

Discussion in 'A boatload of fun' started by garybuick, Dec 12, 2014.

  1. nickwhite

    nickwhite Platinum Level Contributor

    I do not know if you can see my 72 LeSabre close enough, there are 255/60/15 on the front
    and 275/60/15 on the rear. On the freeway she is a freight train in overdrive. :bglasses:

    Craigslist 037.jpg
     
  2. Mark Demko

    Mark Demko Well-Known Member

    Nice looking LeSabre:TU:
     
  3. garybuick

    garybuick Time Traveler

    Ya that is a beauty. So those are the 15x7 variety of rallys? Did you have to use any spacers or make any modifications to make them fit? No rubbing or issues up front with 255?

    Thanks

    Gary
     
  4. nickwhite

    nickwhite Platinum Level Contributor

    I modified a set of 15X6 from a Riviera and made 15X8"s.
    Put 1/2 in. spacer on the front for clearance of the tie rods.
    And 3/4 in. spacer on the rear to center the 275 tire in the
    wheel well. Gives the car a nice muscle but original look. :bglasses:
     
  5. garybuick

    garybuick Time Traveler

    how did you modify the 15x6 to make a 15x8? I have 15x6 on my LeSabre. I would like to do that. It looks great!
     
  6. garybuick

    garybuick Time Traveler


    Here is what it would look like with blackwalls instead of white letters.
     

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  7. Chi-Town67

    Chi-Town67 Gold Level Contributor


    Looks WAY better like that IMHO. I like the big cars with whitewalls on them. Rivs, Cats, Dueces and Centurions, to me, look best with Road wheels and W/W tires. But you know what they say about opinions.
     
  8. garybuick

    garybuick Time Traveler

    I ike whitewalls too but cant find them anymore. I found some off brand chinese ones in 225/75/15 but I cant bring myself to put chinese tires on my old buick. As far as performance tires, I cant imagine to find ww in 70 or 60 series tires.

    So black walls are my next choice and I photoshopped the pic to see what it would look like.

    White letters are my least favorite because I dont like to advertise tire companies and feel it takes away from the car to billboard it like that.

    So what to do. USA performance blackwalls, chinese white walls in stock size, or USA performance white letters. I guess another option is to find some unmounted american white walls. Then the cost goes way up beyond reasonable. Then theres coker tires that split open and cost 5 million dollars each.
     
  9. nickwhite

    nickwhite Platinum Level Contributor

    Yeah, I had the thick white walls from Firestone back in the day 235/75/15 size.
    But I got tired of hearing my Grand folks had a car like that. Now she gets respect
    with the BFG's wide all around at places like Bobs in Toluca Lake.
    Bob, the 15X6 wheels are a one piece set up. I had a wheel guy cut and extend the shell
    to my measurements. Then make the wheel true and balance properly for a perfect ride.
    The only thing is rotating tires can not be done, but that does not bother me. :TU:
     
  10. gscalifornia

    gscalifornia Small blocks rule!!

    Check to see if any of your local tire stores carry Cooper Tires. Cooper is made in the US and still carries several varieties of whitewall tires!
     
  11. garybuick

    garybuick Time Traveler

    I thought the same thing so I called Cooper. I personally talked to cooper company today. They told me they do not have any WW in 225/75/15. They do have a the Trendsestter 235/75/15 but the tire shop guy said they would not fit height wise because they are taller. Also, the Cooper rep when I called Cooper directly said that those tires the Cooper Trendsetter is made in mexico.

    Maybe Ill just do like Nick and go wide. I wonder where I can get some stock 15x8 that will take the 10.5" dog dish, or where I can get my stock 15x6 steel rims widened?


    Thanks
    Gary
     
  12. Brad Conley

    Brad Conley RIP Staff Member

    Just as an FYI, the 235's will fit without issue. I have them on my 72 Centurion, my 72 Electra and my 72 Estate Wagon. No issues what so ever and all 3 sets are on 15x6 Buick Rally wheels.
     
  13. garybuick

    garybuick Time Traveler

    are those 235/75 or 235/70 ? how much is your speedo off?
     
  14. garybuick

    garybuick Time Traveler

    That is awesome Nick. Do you have any more pics, Id love to see more.

    Thanks
    Gary
     
  15. Brad Conley

    Brad Conley RIP Staff Member

    235/75x15. Cooper Trendsetter SE's and if you go to their site, you'll see you'll only be off 4.5 mph @ 60mph. 2028 rpm per mile for the 235's and 1874 rpm per mile for the 225's.
     
  16. garybuick

    garybuick Time Traveler

    Maybe I will reconsider then. I did call Cooper Tire today and they said the Trendsetters are made in mexico not usa. Do your tires say "Made in USA" on them? When did you buy them?

    Thanks
    Gary
     
  17. Brad Conley

    Brad Conley RIP Staff Member

    I've bought several sets over the years. I really don't know if they were made in USA or south of the boarder. They've treated me well so far.
     
  18. garybuick

    garybuick Time Traveler

    I was thinking about the backspacing on your setup.

    If the 15x6 rallys you started with were the original wheels on the car they would be code "JJ" generation 5 which has a 3 7/8" backspace.

    Then if you had them widened by 2 full inches they would be 15x8 with a 5 7/8" backspace.

    Subtract 3/4" for the rear spacer to get 5 1/8" backspace which puts the meaty 275's smack dab in the middle of the wheelwell.
    Subtract 1/2" for the front spacer to get 5 3/8" backspace which keeps them from rubbing on the tie rods.

    If they were not the original rally wheels then they would be a code "L" rim which has 1/2" less backspace.

    I thought about these 15x8 Vintique wheels 5 on 5 (model #939-62) $89.99 each free shipping at jegs, and put dogdish caps on them but they have 4 1/4" backspace which may be too much for those size tires. I would have to measure or if anyone here has done it with these vintique wheels and those sizes please let me know what you came up with.

    My question is, were they the original wheels 'JJ' (71-85) or an earler version 'L' (64-70) ? and
    Id be interested to know who you wheel guy is and if he is still doing this conversion?
     

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  19. nickwhite

    nickwhite Platinum Level Contributor

    Hello Gary, Looks like you have figured my calculation on how to make the Fat tires work on
    our Buick cruisers. I will post more pictures today for you. To answer your question they were 15X6
    factory wheels from the junk yard that were not bent. I did not look at the code on them, but the offsets
    where all the same. I called my wheel guy that performed this task he has retired and closed his shop here
    in California. At the time he thought I was crazy for doing this, but when he checked my measurement he started
    to see what the car would look like in the end. Just Cool. :bglasses:
     
  20. 69GS400s

    69GS400s ...my own amusement ride!

    you talking into your Mouse again ?!?!? its NOT a microphone

    :beers2:
     

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