73 Tire Identification Number (TIN) Question

[Jimmy P.]

I just purchased my 73 in April of last year and since then I have been trying to go over it using the Judging manual to check for originality,correct parts and date codes. I have been concentrating my efforts on getting the engine bay back to it's original state. The other day while was checking out my spare tire, I found it to be an original Firestone 500 GR70-15 Radial Ply Blackwall. when I checked the date code on the tire it is as follows: VDU5 FP7103, which would be the 10th week of 73. There are only 10 characters, the manual says there should be 11; Is this a common issue?
Also, the rim is black on both sides of the spare and the date code is K14 3 (valve) 27AZ and the rims on my car are argent silver with rallys. The date code on the rims is K14 3 (valve) 26 AZ. Does this mean my car came with wheel covers PO2? I do have my original build sheet but can't see that part of it where this code may have appeared (torn out where the glue was ?)
All input would be greatly appreciated.Thanks.

[Edward J.]

Re: 73 Tire Identification Number (TIN) Question

Jim, The tire date seems okay. But the wheel date is Mar. 27, 74 , If I am reading it correct.

[Jimmy P.]

Re: 73 Tire Identification Number (TIN) Question

Then that means the rims aren't correct for my car, right?

[Edward J.]

Re: 73 Tire Identification Number (TIN) Question

Jim, the third digit is the year, and that means the wheel is dates to late and would not be correct dated for your car.

[Jimmy P.]

Re: 73 Tire Identification Number (TIN) Question

Thanks Ed,
thats what I thought. As I go over the car I'm finding that previous owners have made some changes and repairs and did not care about keeping everything correct. Although they took really good car of the car. They never intended to have it judged. I was thinking about having the car judged at my local chapter regional in May, but now after finding so many date conflicts with things I don't think I will. I've already spent a lot of money trying to get everything correct under the hood. I think Im just going to stop and just enjoy the car the way she is. I fell in love with the car the moment I saw it, and it has won an award at each of the local shows I entered it in this past summer. Learning as much as I can about the car has been very interesting." Someone told me to just do a little at a time, and pick up parts when you come across them at a reasonable price and put them away for later on down the road. You'll go crazy if you try to do this all at once."

[Joe L.]

Re: 73 Tire Identification Number (TIN) Question

I just purchased my 73 in April of last year and since then I have been trying to go over it using the Judging manual to check for originality,correct parts and date codes. I have been concentrating my efforts on getting the engine bay back to it's original state. The other day while was checking out my spare tire, I found it to be an original Firestone 500 GR70-15 Radial Ply Blackwall. when I checked the date code on the tire it is as follows: VDU5 FP7103, which would be the 10th week of 73. There are only 10 characters, the manual says there should be 11; Is this a common issue?
Also, the rim is black on both sides of the spare and the date code is K14 3 (valve) 27AZ and the rims on my car are argent silver with rallys. The date code on the rims is K14 3 (valve) 26 AZ. Does this mean my car came with wheel covers PO2? I do have my original build sheet but can't see that part of it where this code may have appeared (torn out where the glue was ?)
All input would be greatly appreciated.Thanks.

Jimmy------


Nothing about the wheels can really tell you if the car was originally equipped with the optional wheel covers. Most likely, it was not but if it was they could have been replaced with the standard rally wheel hub caps and trim rings somewhere along the way.

As far as the black painted spare wheel goes, I would say it is a SERVICE wheel. SERVICE wheels are painted black on both sides. If one wants to paint them the argent silver, it's up to them. I have never seen an original spare wheel that was not painted argent silver.

[Rich C.]

Re: 73 Tire Identification Number (TIN) Question

Jim,

That's how it's worked with my '73! Bought it in '90, then bought the assembly manual, which informed me of several missing/incorrect parts. I bought some of the rarest parts first (as my budget at the time would permit). Fortunately I didn't install them, wanted to have EVERYTHING before I did a full blown resto. Well here I am 20 years later and still just using as a driver. But I've assembled quite the '73 rebuild kit! Some of the tougher N.O.S. parts; the one year coolant expansion tank, the almost as hard to find cap for it, 454 EGR valve, smog pump diverter valve, charcoal canister, every single carb piece, every single distributor piece, every single electrical switch, capacitor and relay, door panels. even the steelgard tires. When I retire I'll finally assemble it! I'm sure it's a lot harder now, as a for instance, I bought new rocker panels at the chevy dealer for a whopping $54 each. I was lucky enough to get a lot of stuff before GM discontinued them.

1973 LS-4 454 coupe owned 24 years
1996 LT-4 CE coupe
Victory Hop Devil Ale-currently on tap!

[Leif A.]

Re: 73 Tire Identification Number (TIN) Question

Thanks Ed,
thats what I thought. As I go over the car I'm finding that previous owners have made some changes and repairs and did not care about keeping everything correct. Although they took really good car of the car. They never intended to have it judged. I was thinking about having the car judged at my local chapter regional in May, but now after finding so many date conflicts with things I don't think I will. I've already spent a lot of money trying to get everything correct under the hood. I think Im just going to stop and just enjoy the car the way she is. I fell in love with the car the moment I saw it, and it has won an award at each of the local shows I entered it in this past summer. Learning as much as I can about the car has been very interesting." Someone told me to just do a little at a time, and pick up parts when you come across them at a reasonable price and put them away for later on down the road. You'll go crazy if you try to do this all at once."

Jimmy,

Don't let the fact that you're finding out your car is not all original stop you from having your car judged. First and foremost, it's a wonderful experience to meet all the knowledgeable folks that do the judging but, secondly, and for me just as important is that you get an honest baseline of your car's originality or lack thereof. You will have a minimum of two judges doing the operational, two more for the interior, two for the exterior, two for the mechanical and two for the chassis. You will receive 20 pages of judging scores and copious notes on your car. This will give you a veritable plethora of information telling you what you can/should do to your car going forward. You can't buy this kind of expert information. Besides, it's just plain fun. Go get her judged

[Jimmy P.]

Re: 73 Tire Identification Number (TIN) Question

Leif,
I think I will end up having it judged. Your response has reinforced what others have told me about the judging experience. Its just that I get disappointed when I find another thing wrong or not factory correct with the car and I don't want to be embarrassed on the judging field. If I do have it judged in May, it will be my first meet as an NCRS member. I plan on signing up to be an Observer Judge (OJ), to get more involved in the process and start learning as much as possible.
thanks for your advice.

[Edward J.]

Re: 73 Tire Identification Number (TIN) Question

Jim, I agree with Leif, Just because there may be some replacement parts it does not take away from the love of the car as you have explained, lets not forget NOS parts were not around for ever. so the Corvette venders have made it easier to make a choice on which way to go when repairing our corvettes. Some will take the easy way for convenience and some are willing to wait from mail order. Or wage a bidding war on Ebay. I would not spend any money on repairs til you base line your at a chapter judging event.

one bit of advice if you do decide to go to a event, make sure the operations of everything works. it where you can lose your most points.

[Leif A.]

Re: 73 Tire Identification Number (TIN) Question

Leif,
I think I will end up having it judged. Your response has reinforced what others have told me about the judging experience. Its just that I get disappointed when I find another thing wrong or not factory correct with the car and I don't want to be embarrassed on the judging field. If I do have it judged in May, it will be my first meet as an NCRS member. I plan on signing up to be an Observer Judge (OJ), to get more involved in the process and start learning as much as possible.
thanks for your advice.

Jimmy,
I can assure you the judges (and all members) are there to help you with your quest to return your car to its' original state. You will not be embarrassed by anyone. If you haven't purchased your TIM&JG from NCRS for your model year car, do that now. It will give you all the information you need to get your car ready for judging. These events are not meant to be a stressful situation...quite the opposite. The only stress will be what you put on yourself...and don't do that. I promise you you will have a ton of fun and will come away with a new respect for the members of NCRS (and, wondering why you were ever concerned in the first place).

[Mike E.]

Re: 73 Tire Identification Number (TIN) Question

Bring it! The first time I had a 62 judged (1976) , it had a non-62 paint color, and shag carpet. No one snickered, and that's what encouraged me to continue to learn and be involved.

[Joe R.]

Re: 73 Tire Identification Number (TIN) Question

Bring it! The first time I had a 62 judged (1976) , it had a non-62 paint color, and shag carpet. No one snickered, and that's what encouraged me to continue to learn and be involved.

Mike,

Someone did laugh but we had Bubba take care of it! He won't be laughing at Corvettes again! And Bubba will be at Jimmy's first judging also!

JR

[Jimmy P.]

Re: 73 Tire Identification Number (TIN) Question

Leif,
I do have the TIM&JG for my car. I also ran off the judging sheets and went over them all pretty carefully. So I have a fairly good idea. Maybe embarrassed was the wrong word to use.
Jim