67 Tire Brand and Design

[Robert M.]

Re: 67 Tire Brand and Design

Robert, if you can get four original non dot blackwall tires for a 1000 a piece, I would grab them if they were spares with full tread and of course no cracks on the sidewalls.
To answer one of your other questions, Firestone Deluxe champion tires had a ribbed sidewall that was changed to a smooth sidewall sometime during late 66 or early 67.

Steve, I have to draw the line somewhere! The owner of these tires just threw that number out when I asked, but I don't think he wants to sell. In any event there is no way I would pay $4000 for a set of old smelly tires. What I will buy though is a set of four nice center caps for the beautiful bolt on wheels you turned me on to:-) Find me four HC stamped caps.

[Michael J.]

Re: 67 Tire Brand and Design

It would be interesting to test one of those Cobra FIA engines with both a good aftermarket high rise manifold of the era (both single and dual plane) with a 700-750 CFM carb and the Weber setup, all other things equal. I think like the Cosworth Vega situation Webers might make a bit more peak torque, but no more and maybe even a little less power than the best carburetor/manifold setup, but no doubt the Weber setup was ultra cool looking.

Back in '67 I was at a National SCCA race at Riverside and ran across a one-off C-modifed car that I had read about called "Hussein". It was powered by a Chrysler 426 Hemi with a quartet of 48 IDAs. (I have no idea who cast the manifold.) I remarked to the owner: "Isn't it a bit undercarbureted... wouldn't 58s work better?" He looked at me and with a bit of cynicism replied: "Do you know where I can find any?"

IIRC it was very fast in a straight line, but it never did handle very well with that lump of a Hemi behind the driver. The Hemi probably weighed about 750 pounds compared to about 550 for the all aluminum Chevy big blocks that showed up in Can-Am cars that year, and the intake stack diameter of the Lucas injection systems of those first 427 Chevy Can-Am engines was about 2.25". I think they got bigger in later years as displacement increased (primarily from increased stroke) to 465, then 495, and finally 510 CID with the linerless aluminum blocks cast by Reynolds.

Duke

I bet the Hemi would not do well, a big Hilborn system would be needed, like many ran at the drag strips I remember. When they were setting up the 289 for my FIA Cobra, I looked at dyno runs of the engine with a 700 CFM Holley and the 48 IDAs. The Holley was very close and actually made a bit more HP above 5000 rpm, but the Webers made a tad more torque in the low-mid-range, attached is the dyno sheet from my engine. Interesting thing is that it was setup at the Shelby Engine facility in Windsor, Ca., and final tune in 'Vegas and adjustments for my altitude (7000'), required the venturis to be downsized to 41s get the proper throttle response and low-mid-range power back.

[Steve B.]

Re: 67 Tire Brand and Design

Steve, I have to draw the line somewhere! The owner of these tires just threw that number out when I asked, but I don't think he wants to sell. In any event there is no way I would pay $4000 for a set of old smelly tires. What I will buy though is a set of four nice center caps for the beautiful bolt on wheels you turned me on to:-) Find me four HC stamped caps.

Robert, what brand were the blackwalls? I will keep my eyes peeled for some HC caps. Happy Holidays!