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Old 02-11-2025, 01:17 PM
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Default Late 1974 Builds with HEI Distributors

Did these cars that were equipped with HEI in late '74 include a revised emissions decal? Anyone here have an example of a revised decal on their car? Thanks!

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Old 02-11-2025, 10:15 PM
poncho-mike poncho-mike is offline
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My car was a late build with HEI. I bought it about 30 years ago from the original owner. I was confused when I looked at it had an HEI and the block code didn't match anything in the 1974 shop manual. I crawled underneath it and the VIN on the block matched the VIN. The owner told me that late 1974 builds had HEI distibutors, but I didn't quite believe that. I had two 1974 SDs that were built in late May and July 1974 and they both had point distributors. I bought it, later came across a shop manual supplement that covered the late 1974 builds.

I still have my car, and it has the original radiator support in it. I can take a picture of it if you like. I never paid any attention to whether or not it was different from earlier cars.

Mike

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Old 02-12-2025, 12:09 AM
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All SD's came with point Ignition as they had the wider distributor gear
that adressed issues with cam gear wear. Looking at the Wallace web site
distributor codes they list many Pontiac engines with unitized ignition. I
think unitized ignition was an option at first and then later became standard.

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Old 02-12-2025, 01:53 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by poncho-mike View Post
I still have my car, and it has the original radiator support in it. I can take a picture of it if you like. I never paid any attention to whether or not it was different from earlier cars.

Mike
Hi Mike... that would be great, thanks! My friend just bought a June built '74 Grand Am with a YL code engine and HEI, but the factory installed emission label is for a points car showing 30 dwell and .040 spark plug gap. Just curious if they ever had a revised decal for these late HEI equipped cars or perhaps installed the wrong one when built.

Grant
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Old 02-12-2025, 07:05 AM
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A Firebird Formula/Trans Am 400 with the YL engine would have used the PW 497679 emission decal. I have no picture.

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Old 02-12-2025, 01:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Held for Ransom View Post
A Firebird Formula/Trans Am 400 with the YL engine would have used the PW 497679 emission decal. I have no picture.
Thanks for this info!

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Old 02-12-2025, 08:07 PM
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I did find this example of a "PW" label, it too shows the dwell setting and .040 spark plug gap.
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Old 02-12-2025, 10:27 PM
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Default L75 455 Emissions Sticker

This is the emissions sticker for my HEI-equipped L75 455.
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Old 02-13-2025, 11:47 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rbrtmchl View Post
This is the emissions sticker for my HEI-equipped L75 455.
Thanks, Bob.

It's looking pretty clear to me that they kept using the same emission decals for points distributors, nothing revised for HEI.

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Old 02-13-2025, 01:06 PM
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Bob, what is the engine code in your car?

I looked at a few buildsheets I have, and the PK is on 1 of them with a HEI.
Most have a 455 and a points distributor


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Old 02-13-2025, 01:58 PM
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The engine code is Y9.

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Old 02-13-2025, 02:01 PM
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I just looked on my build sheet. In box 91, Emissions Labels, PK- is shown.

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Old 02-13-2025, 02:10 PM
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Yes, that is the engine code that has the HEI in my sheet.
It was also a later build. (actually have 2 sheets with the Y9 and PK)


Later June build I think.
(maybe when the HEI came out?)



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Old 02-13-2025, 02:11 PM
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Yes, that is the engine code that has the HEI in my sheet.
It was also a later build. (actually have 2 sheets with the Y9 and PK)

Later June build I think.
(maybe when the HEI came out?)

428ho4spd, do you have a 74 car with a HEI in it?


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Old 02-13-2025, 02:25 PM
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John, you are correct about the later June build date. The build date shown on the car's data plate was code 06D. The customer order date was April 30, 1974. The production date was June 24, 1974. It was shipped on June 27, 1974 and delivered on July 2, 1974.

If you would like a copy of my car's build sheet, send me a PM with your email address and I'll send it to you.

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Old 02-13-2025, 05:43 PM
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I dont have the build sheet for my Formula, but its a 08D build with a WR 400 4 speed with HEI.
Emissions label was gone when I go the car

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Old 02-13-2025, 05:53 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by johnta1 View Post
428ho4spd, do you have a 74 car with a HEI in it?

My friend just bought a '74 Grand Am 06B build with a factory installed HEI, 400 Auto YL code equipped engine. According to the chart I posted above replying to poncho-mike, this engine code was specific for HEI. Just wondering why these cars don't have an updated emissions label for HEI?

Grant

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Old 02-13-2025, 06:19 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by johnta1 View Post
Bob, what is the engine code in your car?

I looked at a few buildsheets I have, and the PK is on 1 of them with a HEI.
Most have a 455 and a points distributor


Both the Y9 and A4 would have the PK 495715 emission decal.


Quote:
Originally Posted by sp4spd
I don't have the build sheet for my Formula, but its a 08D build with a WR 400 4 speed with HEI.
Emissions label was gone when I got the car

Your car would have come with the PJ 495716 emission decal.

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Old 04-08-2025, 09:57 AM
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I bought my 1974 Grand Prix in November and got it home and in storage 30 minutes before the snow started falling. This last weekend was nice enough to get it out, take it for a drive and looks things over. I discovered that I have one of the late 1974 production GP's with HEI (to my surprise). I know the vehicle had an HEI but I assumed it was converted because of the PW emission sticker. I had read over the winter that cars produced after May 1 were produced with HEI instead of points, but I was not aware of the production date. Took a good look at it outside in the sunshine and can confirm that it looks like factory wiring to the HEI and the sticker on the drivers door show May 1974 as the production month. I did find in paperwork an April 8 order date on the vehicle from a dealer in Ohio.

This site has been full of great information and I do spend a lot of time looking, appreciate the knowledge!

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