[John V.]

I have looked at the MPC ('75 IIRC) and searched this forum.

Getting some conflicting info about the correct washer bottle for my January built '73.

From an old thread:

Originally Posted by Dens71TA

My old '81 T/A with interment wipers and non fluid-on-demand washer had the square bottle. My '73 T/A has the square bottle. I've seen them in junkyards on other Firebirds that didn't have fluid-on-demand.

I need to make another junkyard run and see if I can refresh my memory on what GM car I saw the notched bottle installed next to the inner fender. Maybe it was an Omega???

Nobody claimed the "square" bottle couldn't have been original on a '73 or '81.

But from that same thread, a regurgitation of what the MPC shows was posted BEFORE Dens71TA posted the above claiming the "square" bottle was only correct for '70 & '71.

Originally Posted by 70RAlll

I am sorry but you are incorrect about the washer bottle.The angled one,,is part number 3990892.Look below at the applications:

3990892 10.154 All F & X JAR 1 1970 1974 10-1
3990892 10.154 All A, G/V/8 JAR 1 1971 1972 10-1

The NON angled washer bottle is part number 3961557 look at the applications below:


3961557 10.154 AllF.................... JAR 1 1970 1971 10-2
3961557 10.154 AllA&G............... JAR 1 1971 1971 10-2


I have included pictures of these. This bottle design was changed because the square design interfered with the one of the power steering hoses comming out of the steering box.It is quite difficult to install one of these correctly. The non angled is clearly only used in 70 and 71. You never see these, they are hard to come by in usable condition.

The "square" bottle is p/n 3961557.

The "angled" bottle is p/n 3990892.

I understand how Service Part listings work and don't necessarily match OE parts. I believe the 3990892 part did not even exist until the '72 or '73 Model year, yet the MPC includes '70 and up as a proper application for it. But also shows the 3961557 for '70 & '71.

I have found plenty of both for sale. Not looking for a reproduction, I find my parts on the cheap. Car is a driver that I am slowly (very slowly) piecing together. I try for correct parts where possible just because I suffer from OCD when it comes to my Pontiacs, driver or not.

I have no idea what an "on demand" washer system is. 70RAIII subsequently added a post that the reason may have been for inner fender clearance rather than PS hose clearance.

Were both bottles used in '73?

Also would like to see what the '73 cap and tube looks like, any wording on the top, etc. Pix of a cap and tube would be great.

[johnta1]

From 1973 Assembly Manual:





(PY degrades the pics)


The Jar is # 3961557

[Held for Ransom]

The information John shows for '73 is similar for '74 too. A lot of the misinformation comes from the Canadian MPC (maybe even the '83 version too). Hopefully this collage from my '74 will help.

[johnta1]

Also this from MPC:





So, still clear as mud?

[Aus78Formula]

Suits....and Factory Correct is different things to different customers, in the end they only want to make a sale.

[John V.]

Thanks everybody for the replies.

John, yes for sure.

Found some more info from the Chevy side. In a Chevy factory parts supersedure list, it shows 3961557 was superseded by 3990892 as of June, 1971.

In addition, the Chevelle Resto Guide states that 3961557 was used in '70 & '71 but was revised in '72 to the 3990892 (consistent with the supersedure timing) because of interference withe the charcoal canister that year.

Mike, just to be clear, you have a '74 that has the 3961557?

That is really what I have been hoping to discover, did Pontiac install the 3961557 in '73 and beyond?

My gut says they did but it would be nice if any original owners or those with survivor cars would add to this thread.

[Held for Ransom]

Yes, my '74s have the cast 3961557 jar (picture is of one of the cars piece).
I don't know if the 3990892 jar came with a cap and/or some other pieces that made it another number (like the metal grommets). '75 was a different design.

[John V.]

Mike, that helps. Just so you know, the. 3990892 washer bottle shows that p/n on it, same as the 3961557 bottle shows its p/n so it isn’t an assembly p/n. The physical difference was the 3961557 has square corners but the 3990892 got a single angled corner presumably needed for clearance in some application(s) like the Chevelle that I described. Looks like Firebird continued to use the 3961557 at least thru ‘74.

[pggto]

Here's the washer bottle on my 01B 73 Formula project car.

[John V.]

Hard to tell looking down from the top but sure looks like the lower left corner is square not angled, so that would make it the 3961557.

Thanks for posting the pic pggto, it you get a chance, would be great if you could confirm the embossed p/n, front of bottle just below the center.