[2manyT/A'S]

Originally Posted by Dens71TA

That is the courtesy lamp group. Available from '70-81. Its actually a plug and play separate harness that can be easily added to a car originally without the option.

Actually,from MY observations,ALL 1970 firebirds had the underdash courtesy lights integrated right into the harness. (it was NOT a plug in thing)

If they were spec'd/ordered,they put bulbs in & installed them in the dash corners.
If they were NOT ordered,they were just left taped up in the harness with green masking tape.

Also don't forget that 1970 vertical windshield trim had screw holes down at the bottom to secure the moldings to the one year only water deflector.

I'm SURE this HASN'T been mentioned before,but 1970 Formula 400's & Firebirds WERE NOT available with a rear spoiler.

[keith k]

Originally Posted by 2manyT/A'S

ONLY year for code 10 Polar White (69 + 71 - 81 are code 11 Cameo White)

OK... if we're going to throw colors into the mix, you have to also mention the eye-popping psychedelic bright blue interior option. Just like the white paint going from polar to cameo in '71, the blue interior was toned WAY down. If you see a nicely restored white/blue '70 sitting next to an equally correct white/blue '71, the '71 has this sort of "hey... who turned off the christmas lights" look! The red '70 interior was much brighter than in '71, too.

Overall, the list looks pretty full. Not much else I can think of other than:
1) '70 woodgrain instrument cluster bezel had a lighter woodgrain tone than '71+
2) Through about the middle of the '70 model year, the trunk floor had 4 ecoat drain holes (later cars all have only 2).
3) Not sure I saw the chrome gauge ring bezels for T/As mentioned. I know some early '71s got them as well, and many '70s seem to have not got them, but this is still mostly a "70 thing".
4) '70 rear quarter side trim pieces had no ash trays.... did '71s have ash trays?
5) And for some reason I was thinking the rear seat back frame was a bit different on a '70, too?

[1stgenbird]

What about the covers for the front seat bolts? Were they only on 70 or did 72 have ones also?

[Norwood]

Originally Posted by 2manyT/A'S

Actually,from MY observations,ALL 1970 firebirds had the underdash courtesy lights integrated right into the harness. (it was NOT a plug in thing)

If they were spec'd/ordered,they put bulbs in & installed them in the dash corners.
If they were NOT ordered,they were just left taped up in the harness with green masking tape.

Also don't forget that 1970 vertical windshield trim had screw holes down at the bottom to secure the moldings to the one year only water deflector.

I'm SURE this HASN'T been mentioned before,but 1970 Formula 400's & Firebirds WERE NOT available with a rear spoiler.

My courtesy lights are under the dash somewhere....

It is sacrilegious to put a rear spoiler on a 70 Firebird

[oldbirds]

Originally Posted by nicksL98

mr. ray, why did you put the nose bird on? techniclly, it is incorrect.

Maybe I'm confused, but I believe the missing nose bird on my original car was supposed to be corrected by having the dealer put one on - there was a dealer bulletin regarding missing nose birds for a specific production run on the 70 TA. I've always thought all 70 TAs came with a nose bird (or at least were supposed to). Truth is I never noticed that it was missing back in 1970 - didn't come up until looking at the old picture during the 1996 restoration.

[wwilder9]

Well, This is what I got so far correct me if something is wrong.

01 stainless roof drip edge moldings
02 stainless door edge guards screw in type
03 Washer bottle cap
04 brackets that hold seat belts in.
05 covers for front seat bolts
06 black plastic deflectors at the base of the windshield corners
07 Alternator/power steering/air conditioning brackets
08 core support
09 evap cannister and bracket if it had EES (California car)
10 Hood hinges
11 Low back buckets with headrests
12 Quarter panel dimples (in door jamb)
13 Trunk extensions (with two drain plugs)
14 package / speaker shelf (blower defroster cutout different)
15 Exhaust extensions
16 EES system (I think every component is 70 only!)
17 12 bolt rear
18 Formula hoods don't have metal bracing on sides.
19 Formula Ram Air cleaners are one year only (Pins and dimples for holley)
20 Very early 70 cars have pot metal rear filler panels
21 Early 70 cars have 4 trunk pan drain plugs
22 chrome dash gauge bezels (TA)
23 Water pump pulleys
24 power steering pump (only sec gen)
25 Power brake proportioning valve, bracket lines ect.
26 Carpet hold down clips
27 Window blow out clips
28 JW Wheels
29 Thin lip Shaker single snorkel (TA)
30 Headlight Bezels
31 Front seat belt retractors
32 Last year High Compression
33 Blue Trunk release button
34 different firebird fender script
35 A pillar molding extra screw hole
36 Stainless side window weatherstrip channel
37 trunk floor in back different non EES
38 Plastic wire standoffs
39 sunvisor center tabs
40 Outboard front seat belts
41 code 10 polar white
42 Chrome package on engines
43 Manual trans shift knob
44 Angle cut on chrome exhaust tips
45 Three piece rear view mirror
46 Glove box door 4 rivets (not six)
47 Thermostat housing
48 Round vac can in firewall (non RA)
49 dash wiring
50 Plastic filler on core support (VN A/C cars)
51 door glass weatherstips (shorter in door jam)
52 Lighter woodgrain tone on dash
53 rear quarter trim no ashtray
54 rear seat back frame

[wwilder9]

And what about seat back locks with power locks? Is that one year only?

[Jim Rotella]

Originally Posted by 2manyT/A'S

As I understand it,the red PMD's were what came on ALL 70-72 T/A's,but I'm sure that a few slipped out with the black ones.

Also,those caps are about as easy to change out as 4 speed shift knobs.

In MY opinion the black PMD's look BETTER on some colors: red,brown,green,gold,etc.

Haven't looked myself but is there any reference to them on the build sheet?

I'm with 2many on the red centers. Pontiac changed from black center caps to red ones sometime in the middle of the 1970 model year. The color change took place prior to the introduction of the 70 1/2 Firebirds so that's why all the '70 Firebirds with Rally II's came red centers. I've never seen an original 1970 Firebird with black centers, but stranger things have happen........

[Norwood]

Those seat belt washers I made are 70 only..





Full ratcheting hood latch



Carpet Clip






Rear Alt Brakt



Window blw out clip

[wwilder9]

Nice Pictures

[tajunkman]

Im glad this list getting done and glad a couple of mine made the list.

I admit my mention of the black PMD caps had no real basis or research. I just heard somewhere that very early 70 F body had black centers. I think that the GTO guys have narrowed the change from black to red on 70 cars with build dates around Dec 69 Jan 70.(dont quote me on that!)

On the blue trunk release button... Ive only seen two 70s with pwr trunk. The buttons were blue or a bluish green.Some might call it green....

Someone mentioned the smaller size sway bars on some 70 TAs , but it didnt make the list. There was an old thread about it, several 70 owners agreed that for whatever reason, a few 70 TAs actually got smaller sway bars.

The dot fade pattern on early white stripes (for blue cars) I didnt see it on the list although someone mentioned it. It is another good one that should make the list.

[Transamric]

On some '70 Trans Ams having smaller, Formula sway bars,....I recall Giles had done some research on this, & at the time, IIRC, he'd found that only some Van Nuys TA's got built with the smaller bars. The belief here, is that for whatever reason, the larger bars did not get sent to Van Nuys in time for some of the TA's production. So rather than hold up the orders, the smaller bars were installed. My 0L106374 has these Formula bars. Interesting to notice that the Build Sheets did not make a distinction whether the TA was built with large or smaller bars. All that I've seen so far just have the same F41 suspension code.

[tajunkman]

Hows it going transamric?

Mine is a norwood 4 speed. n120xxx It has formula bars and I think that they came on it from the factory.


Found old thread ... http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=440599

[2manyT/A'S]

Originally Posted by Transamric

On some '70 Trans Ams having smaller, Formula sway bars,....I recall Giles had done some research on this, & at the time, IIRC, he'd found that only some Van Nuys TA's got built with the smaller bars. The belief here, is that for whatever reason, the larger bars did not get sent to Van Nuys in time for some of the TA's production. So rather than hold up the orders, the smaller bars were installed. My 0L106374 has these Formula bars. Interesting to notice that the Build Sheets did not make a distinction whether the TA was built with large or smaller bars. All that I've seen so far just have the same F41 suspension code.

FYI: I've documented AT LEAST 3 Norwood built 70 T/A's with the W66 swaybars.

One of them belongs to another forum member & is quite an EARLY build,as I recall it was initially shipped to a Zone Office rather than a selling dealer.

The other 2 were about mid-term production if memory serves.

[Transamric]

So much for the old theory,...killed by an equally old post. Hmmmmmmmm. Need to get to the bottom of this one.

[2manyT/A'S]

I'm sure I posted these here SOMEWHERE a few years back,but they certainly belong HERE,as well.

I think this one qualifies as one of the MOST interesting 70 ONLY parts.

As I understand it,it was VERY early production ONLY?

The FIRST one I ever saw was on a Van Nuys 70 Esprit that was like the 200th car off the line.

[GRNMTGOAT]

Here's a pic of the underdash courtesy light holder [both sides] , what is the round two pin plug [orange/yellow] that is also unused on both sides?
As for 70 only, how long was the int regulated OPEN face alternator, and how long for the inner fender mounted AC muffler ? [there are greater minds than mine at work on this project !!] Bruce.

[GRNMTGOAT]

Another thing that comes to mind,but I am not sure how long it was used, is the two piece odometer trip reset knob ??? Bruce.

[CaptCrunch]

Originally Posted by Transamric

On some '70 Trans Ams having smaller, Formula sway bars,....I recall Giles had done some research on this, & at the time, IIRC, he'd found that only some Van Nuys TA's got built with the smaller bars. The belief here, is that for whatever reason, the larger bars did not get sent to Van Nuys in time for some of the TA's production. So rather than hold up the orders, the smaller bars were installed. My 0L106374 has these Formula bars. Interesting to notice that the Build Sheets did not make a distinction whether the TA was built with large or smaller bars. All that I've seen so far just have the same F41 suspension code.

My 70 Van Nuys Formula lists F-41 on the build sheet but got the big bars.........

[keith k]

Originally Posted by wwilder9

And what about seat back locks with power locks? Is that one year only?

Yep.