[zeebo]

hi there..question for the gurus...the 73 lemans..i realize that the front nose, trunkild, taillights, both front and rear bumpers and rear quarters are unique to a 73 lemans, but the frame??? please elaborate..and why did pontiac change the frame for one year only? any other unique to 73 parts?? thanks zeebo

[Tone]

ya know i was thinking that same thing....but i never got around to asking. Good call....I'm also looking for answers on that.

[BR57]

I believe the fact that the 73 was a one year only was in many respects a mistake. The 73's were intended to be the 72's but a protracted auto workers strike forced GM to carry over the 71 A bodies as 72's since they could not get the tooling and plants up to speed to launch the new 72's, the cars we now know as 73's. If you look at the Lemans Line the 74/75 and 76/77 cars are virtually the same in styling etc... Original plans would have seen the 72/73 follow this pattern too. If things had worked out as planned the 73's would have been 72's and would have had a rightful spot in the generally accepted muscle car era. There may have been a Judge on the 73 body style for example. A member here has a concept drawing of one. The stripe on the 73 GTO was on that Judge concept. Original drawings also don't have the heavy large "park bench" bumpers since the crash rules for 73 were not in play for 72. I'd also say that the factory photos of what appear to be Grand Ams with GTO badging were probably intended to be the 72 GTO. The GTO was probably changed to an option on the regular 73 line when the marketers had an extra year to jump on the European theme, as this is how the Grand Am was originally positioned.

[77 Canamman]

Originally Posted by zeebo

hi there..question for the gurus...the 73 lemans..i realize that the front nose, trunkild, taillights, both front and rear bumpers and rear quarters are unique to a 73 lemans, but the frame??? please elaborate..and why did pontiac change the frame for one year only? any other unique to 73 parts?? thanks zeebo

The frame is indeed different, due the rear 5 mph bumper. Another item that is 1973 only is the seat belt system. In thoery, the hood is a 1973 only part, due to the vents at the base of it, but is very similar to the 1974-75 hoods.

[2 73's]

Also the neck on the gas tank is different,an upper control arm bushing's aren't the same size as the 74-77, if I remember correctly the front one on the 73 is just a whisker smaller.

[Grand73Am]

Also, because the seat belt system different, the upper headliner side trim is different. The 73 shoulder belts stowed away in the upper side trim, so it has a place for them there. 74 and later have retractable shoulder belts.

As was mentioned, the frame is different due to the different bumper mounting system. Particularly different is the rear of the frame, since the rear bumper was bolted on without energy absorbers, unlike 74 and up.

The headlight bezels are 73 only, as are the front park light/turn signal lamps. The nose emblem is a one year only too.

The 73 and 74 hood is the same though, since both have the vents. 75 is the same, but doesn't have the vents.

The chrome 73 tail pipe extensions, if you had any, would be 73 only.

[BR57]

Originally Posted by Grand73Am

The chrome 73 tail pipe extensions, if you had any, would be 73 only.

This is very true as 73 chrome extensions are very distinctive, but to be clear didn't the 74 Grand Am and GT have chrome tail pipe extensions specific to 74? After that from 75 to 77 no chrome tail pipe extensions as far as I recall, in fact no more duals.

[2 73's]

The grills are a one time deal also, an the front and back bumper fillers.

[77 Canamman]

Originally Posted by Grand73Am

The nose emblem is a one year only too.

The 73 and 74 hood is the same though, since both have the vents. 75 is the same, but doesn't have the vents.

The 1973 nose emblem was also used on the 1976 LeMans. The 1977 emblem will fit the 1973 and 1976 cars, but obviously will not be correct.

[77 Canamman]

Originally Posted by BR57

This is very true as 73 chrome extensions are very distinctive, but to be clear didn't the 74 Grand Am and GT have chrome tail pipe extensions specific to 74?

1968-1969 Corvette exhaust tips are nearly identical to the 1974 LeMans GT and Grand Am tips.

[sdx455]

One day I am going to swicth out those 5 mph shocks on the bumper which way a ton . I saw a post in the big car section a guy making brackets reduced each 1 from 30 pounds to 4 lbs

[Brian Baker]

Rear wheelwell moldings.

The "plastic" fillers between the nose and front bumper, as well as the rear and the rear bumper.

My 73 had a 74 nose on it after it was repaired in a wreck many years before I bought it. I got the correct nose when I wanted to repaint it, thinking that was all that was needed. 73 nose did not mate up with 74 plastic filler to bumper.

[Grand73Am]

Originally Posted by 77 Canamman

The 1973 nose emblem was also used on the 1976 LeMans. The 1977 emblem will fit the 1973 and 1976 cars, but obviously will not be correct.

That's good to know about the 76 nose emblem being the same as 73. I know where a 76 is that I'll have to check for it. Thanks!

Also, if anybody doesn't know, the 77 Lemans nose emblem is the same as the 77-81 firebird and TA (except esprit and SE TA) which is reproduced, which makes it easily available.