[Baba O'Riley]

All '71's with 400s had a 12-bolt as well, right?

[edvisme]

Dang it! Another part I have to find, have rebuilt and install. I'd like to meet the person that cannibalized this car and steal all of the proper parts back My guess is this person swapped out the 78 Trans Am stuff to make a super cool 78 trans am with 70 Formula parts. Evidence is the 10 bolt rear and the code YU engine in my 70

[Formulabruce]

Originally Posted by Baba O'Riley

All '71's with 400s had a 12-bolt as well, right?

never....nothing had 12 bolts in 71 ( F body GM 's)

[Baba O'Riley]

Interesting, I never knew there was that big a change from 1970 to 1971, I thought the cars were virtually identical those first two years of the second-generation.

[2manyT/A'S]

Originally Posted by Baba O'Riley

All '71's with 400s had a 12-bolt as well, right?

NOT!

It was ALL OVER for the 12 bolt after 1970......in Firebirds,anyways.

[tajunkman]

Originally Posted by LeighP

that sure looks like the correct factory RA screens, but there have been repro's around so maybe someone could confirm those screws are the correct way the screens are fastened (I thought they used a screw with a U nut on the edge of the hood cutout?).

The hood may be an original 71+ Ram Air. Boot rings have been removed but the hardware is still there. It's hard to tell about the screws but they look right to me.

Cool car!








.

[LeighP]

Originally Posted by Baba O'Riley

Interesting, I never knew there was that big a change from 1970 to 1971, I thought the cars were virtually identical those first two years of the second-generation.

Lots of changes between 70-71....the 71-72 cars were much closer.
There are a lot of 70 only things on the first model.

[FunctionalShaker]

There's a thread on here where we listed the 70 only parts.

[RAFormulas]

Originally Posted by FunctionalShaker

There's a thread on here where we listed the 70 only parts.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...5&highlight=70

[edvisme]

Good morning folks. Some news on the Firebird.
I have been driving it around a bit. I have noticed that at around 40 mph a vibration in the seat appears. Its like a humming "hum hum hum hum" noise/vibration. I figured it could be u joints. Once I removed the drive shaft the joints were in good shape. So, I went ahead and took the rear cover off of the 10 bolt rear. There was maybe a quart of oil in it! I removed the c-clips and slid the 28 spline axels out to inspect for any unusual wear on them. They looked decent. Then turned my attention to the center section. The end play/back lash on the pinion to carrier seemed to be "normal/minimal." From what I could tell, it looked as though the gears are wearing a little off, not right down the center of the gear pattern. I'm no pro builder/mechanic and rear ends are not one of my stronger points so possibly I am overlooking something here. I am thinking that this rear end is plainly worn out and needs to be rebuilt
Sooooo, the rear is a bastard part of the car and deserves to be on a pile of scrap steel at the local recycling center
The search is on for a 12 bolt! Just recently I found a couple of them locally that I need to go take a look at. The one person has one out of a 70 Camaro that is posi, complete from drum to drum. He's up there on the price, too. I did the numbers and if I bought this one, then had to pay to have it totally rebuilt, I'd be in it close to 3k. Looking online I have found some other companies that will build me a brand spanking new one from drum to drum, shipped to my local terminal for a bit less. For certain, the car will be getting the 12 bolt rear that it was equipped with when new.
I received the window sticker reprint from PHS. I was hoping it would have told me if the car was a true ram air car, no such luck. So far, all of the documents I have received, nothing on them can confirm if the car was or is a ram air car. The hood appears to be original ram air but...
While I was tinkering with the rear end I snapped some pictures of the patch in the floor where the shifter cable area, transmission tunnel is, very weird why this was done.
I can hardly wait until I get to tare into this beauty for body and paint work. When I do, I am going to take the car body completely apart, remove the engine/trans, and start over with it, fix all of the bad stuff properly, like this butchered patch in the floor.
You all have a safe holiday weekend! Regards from the Mormon state! Eric

[johnta1]

Yep, I'd find a 12 bolt rear and put it in.

The Formula is not a Ram Air Formula, but doesn't mean you can't put the seals on it.

Can't wait to see it done.

[se428bandit]

Cool Formula,here is a photo of Boomershine Pontiac that was in downtown Atlanta.

[2manyT/A'S]

So when did they fold?
That picture looks to be late 70's.....

The modern looking tower & 40's era Pontiac sign sure are a contrast....

[edvisme]

That pic is cool! Thank you for posting it. I can imagine my Formula, when it was new, being test drove down that road. The picture looks to have been taken in the late 70's, early 80's maybe?

[se428bandit]

Originally Posted by 2manyT/A'S

So when did they fold?
That picture looks to be late 70's.....

The modern looking tower & 40's era Pontiac sign sure are a contrast....

They closed up in downtown Atlanta and opened up a new building in Marietta,Ga in the early 80's.

[charles bledsoe]

Hi edvisme-

The picture of the screen and bolts on your hood looks to be an original Ram Air Hood. The code on a build sheet would be NU3. Disk brakes would be JL2 P/BRAKEDISC. Not sure how to tag on a link, but if you search here for "Pics of the 72 HO RAN AIR Formula" dated 01-01-2013, I have quite a few pictures of my car which also has pics of the hood and one of the build sheet. Didn't know it when I started the thread that I miss spelled RAM lol. You have a nice looking Formy, when I have mine painted I plan to get another trunk lid and put a spoiler on it, as I do like the looks of them. I will save the original lid for if I ever decide to put it back original, or pass it along, if I ever sell the car. I also plan to leave off the vinyl roof as I like the looks better without it. I will save the hardware as that is something else that can be put back on later. Do what you like with your car as you need to be happy with it. I would just make sure it could easily be put back original for resale purposes. Even paint can easily be changed. Good luck and have fun!! I look forward to following your post.

[2manyT/A'S]

Originally Posted by edvisme

Dang it! Another part I have to find, have rebuilt and install. I'd like to meet the person that cannibalized this car and steal all of the proper parts back My guess is this person swapped out the 78 Trans Am stuff to make a super cool 78 trans am with 70 Formula parts. Evidence is the 10 bolt rear and the code YU engine in my 70

You know it's funny.......a buddy of mine bought a 70 W66 (on ebay) about 10 years ago in SoCal.....Originally Coranado Gold on saddle or brown.........base engine/auto with A/C....

Same deal as yours....repainted in the wrong shade of gold.....interior half-assed changed to black and the only parts left from the original drive train were the TH400 & the #13 heads...

He drove it home...1500 miles & the good part...the body was MINT...like NO rust & NO previous (bad) bodywork or collision damage...

The heads are still under the hood on top of a later YS block & the TH400 was replaced with an M21........and a built 12 bolt now resides in the back....

Finding a correct 12 bolt & putting it together with a new posi-carrier & the right gears will set you back around $3500.00,I bet.

[bird72]

Originally Posted by 2manyT/A'S

NOT!

It was ALL OVER for the 12 bolt after 1970......in Firebirds,anyways.

I fixed that little oversight in my 72

[edvisme]

Thank you for that code info, Charles. I have yet to find the build sheet ( or a copy of it) in the car. The carpet appears to be original so I'm hoping that if I pull it out, there will be a copy of it in it.
2many, I have found a couple of 12 bolts here locally. I haven't went took at them yet, but plan to this week. Question. Are the Pontiac 12 bolts for 1970 their own creature as opposed to the Camaro 12 bolts? The Camaro code COZ ones are the es I am going to go look at.
Also, I found a company in Arizona that will build me a brand new 12 bolt. Drum to drum, any gear ratio, posi, powder coated, shipped for $2500.00.

[LeighP]

I'd buy a new 12 Bolt.....the ones Strange or Moser sell have stronger cases than the factory 12 Bolt, from memory. And they're cheaper.