[unruhjonny]

here's today's update, I have some points with "?" which require collaboration from you all to help me explain this further;

Sheetmetal/panels:
A1) Quarter panels; the formed recess in the door jambs below the door striker changed after 1970
A2) Trunk extensions; with two drain plugs as opposed to one for 71-73
A3) Radiator core support; subtle differences in the openings & forming
A4) For cars with the California EES (Evaporative Emissions System), all components are one-year only, this includes the stack that protrudes through the floor behind the passenger seat.
A5) Hood hinges; have one-year welded support tab & paint stripe
A6) Rear tail (filler) panel; very early cars could have a pot metal part (instead of fiberglass)
A7) trunk floor pan; has 4 drain plugs; very early part only
A8) front inner wheel well - bottom forward metal filler panel; 1970 used 4 mounting bolts - 71+ used 2 bolts
A9) 1970-only rubber drain tube used on bottom of a/c box
A10) 1970-only trunk lock bracket
A11) 1970-only front bumper; 'squared' notches out of endura cover at bottom of bumper
A12) 1970-only side glass; 7 holes; extra rear stop added for 1971
A13) early 1970-only 'A-pillar bump out' for two, then one door switch
A14) early (pre-may) 1970-only rear license plate cover; retaining bolt head covered when cover in up position
A15) subframe; the most noteable difference is the welded reinforcement at the front “nose”; welding looks crude; there will be a date code stamped on to the drivers side rear vertical surface of the rail.

Exterior/trim:
B1) vertical windshield trim had screw holes at the bottom & one year corresponding black plastic water deflectors
B2) stainless roof drip edge moldings (difference?)
B3) stainless door edge guards; screw in type as opposed to press on type
B4) rear trunk lid "400" emblem (#9808505); very early part only; none documented as being installed on production cars
B5) Front fender "Firebird" script emblem(#481544)
B6) Front fender "Formula 400" script emblem; the 1970 part is wholly unique as the mounting stud locations changed for the same appearing emblem in 1971; part #480842
B7) headlight surround trim; single small recess for screws??
B8) stainless side window weatherstrip channel
B9) side window blow out clips; design slightly different from latter ones
B10) early "grey" dot/fade white stripes for blue cars; very early part, created unwanted 'greying effect' quickly superseded with conventional 71-72 stripes
B11) Front marker light surrounds, molded in body coloured; painted to match post-1970
B12) 1970-only Trans Am front/center spoiler used three center mount recessed holes
B13) 1970-only metal bracket & plastic cover for the inside door release mechanism
B14) 1970-only Formula w/RAIII “RAM AIR” hood decal; same style as used for 1969 model year GTO’s and Firebird 400’s, mounted on the hood scoop several inches rearward from the 1971-1974 location (the 1971-1974 decal used different style and sized script).

Interior:
C1) Front seats; low back buckets with separate headrests
C2) Front seat back power locks; optional
C3) front seat tracks; side release; black knob for std interior; chrome knob for deluxe
C4) metal carpet clips for covering front seat track bolts
C5) seat belts:
a) console mounted seat belt (female) holders
b) roof mounted shoulder belt (male) clips
c) retractable floor mounted (male) front lap belts
d) 1970-only shaped front seat belt washers
C6) rear defog (fan type); unique to 1970 long thin cutout on rear package tray along with unique plastic molded vent cover
C7) simulated wood shift knob for automatic; very early part only; this part is not interchangeable to shifters which were not assembled with it – the shifter arm is manufactured different.
C8) simulated leather shifter knob (#?) with red insert for four speed cars (with four speed shift pattern); very early part only; suspected as being installed only in cars with deluxe interior.
C9) simulated leather shifter knob (#?) with red insert for three speed cars (with no shift pattern); very early part only; suspected as being installed only in cars with deluxe interior.
C10) base/Esprit/Formula dash insert; has separate "wash" & "lights" word openings; to the untrained eye these dash inserts appear to be 1970-1972, but the wood grain pattern changed every year; Rocky Rotella has only documented the pattern used for 1972, but my observation is this:
1970 = light 'milk chocolate' brown
1971 = almost a bleached birchwood look
1972 = a much deeper shade of brown from the two prior years. (I will try to take/share pictures)
C11) Power trunk release button; blue
C12) Glove box door; uses 4 rivets instead of six & has different pattern stamped in the steel (two square recesses) with no long vertical recess to accommodate suggested maintenance schedule decal;
C13) dash wiring harness; front/floor convenience lamps always present – lamps were not wired in starting in 1971.
C14) sun visors with center retaining tabs
C15) rear armrests have no ashtrays; these were added after 1970
C16) Clock knob; black two piece design; 1971 & later used a chrome knob with a matching chrome centre lock screw.
C17) Drivers side rear harness guard at drivers floor pan; this is the part that goes along the inside of the rocker panel, and appears to be made of galvanized steel – it attaches to the floor/rocker, and is covered by the carpet and rocker trim; guard much longer; goes all the way to firewall
C18) ebrake cover for cable where it comes out of floor has corresponding one-year toe pad cover formed to accommodate ebrake cable cover.
C19) vacuum actuated heater switch (??)

Underhood/engine/drivetrain:
D1) full ratcheting hood latch
D2) Washer bottle cap (difference?)
D3) Chrome dress-up on Formula and Trans Am; chrome valve covers and oil filler cap; chrome air cleaner lid (Formula only) & metal spark plug wire retainers; this is a one year feature for the second gen Firebird, but it is shared with 1967-1969 Firebird 400’s
D4) brackets for alternator, power steering, & air conditioning
D5) Alternator; “open face” internally regulated design
D6) 12 bolt rear differential for Formula 400, Trans Am, & Esprit with optional L65-400 engine.
D7) Formula air cleaner for L78 (base engine) is unique to 1970/Norwood cars; has no hole for fuel bowl vent tube; Some very late 1970 model year Norwood cars used an air cleaner base (shared with Van Nuys cars, and 71-72 cars) with a hole for the fuel bowl vent tube (those were plugged like L74 aircleaners); used one-year aircleaner decal #648898 “RM” (not reproduced)
D8) 'Ram Air' Formula air cleaners are one year only (spot welded locating studs and dimples to accommodate a holley 4bbl carburetor); single functional heat stove.
D9) Trans Am air cleaner base; many received single snorkel air cleaner bottom for 1970 Trans Am's; 1971 & 1972, as well as some 1970’s received dual snorkel air cleaner bases; 71-72 used a dual heat riser setup – while 1970 was only a single functional heat riser.
D10) round vacuum canister on Formula’s w/L78 (base engine); bolts to firewall with two threaded bolts; all these cars also used a dual vacuum feed choke pull off on the Quadrajet.
D11) Front rad support to bumper plastic filler panel; very early part only; suspected as originally intended for automatic/AC cars only
D12) power steering pump & hoses; older style pump; the pump style change for 1971; both high & low pressure power steering hoses w/red stripe are unique parts matched to this power steering pump
D13) 1970-only oversize (long) yolk on driveshaft
D14) Gas caps are one year only (both regular and EEC)
D15) Front inner fender 'dust' flaps, rear quarter panel inner 'mud' flaps, and front rad support seals
D16) 1970-only Trans Am 'extra' ground strap inside of scoop
D17) 1970-only stamped script on 3/4" heater hose; branded 1971+
D18) 1970-only Quadrajet throttle arm bracket (similar to 1971 unit; but differs from in that it uses a stud/clip instead of a ball/clip design)
D29) A/C 'soft' line from condenser to dryer; 1970-only part was soft/hard - latter was all hard line
D20) one year water pump (casting number 9799124)
D21) Pullies; water pump & power steering pump
D22) RAIII exhaust manifolds; one year casting numbers (see below)

1970 & 1971-only parts:
E1) Exhaust extensions; 22 degree cut instead of the 71-73 & 74-75 (?)45 degree cut
E2) Formula hoods don't have metal bracing on sides
E3) Oversized 'black ball' shifter knob with shift pattern; for both three speed (#?) and four speed cars (#?); used for 1970 and early 1971 cars.
E4) Front bumper; 1970 & 1971 Esprit & Formula have holes to mount the emblem
E5) Front bumper emblem (#?); standard on Esprit & Formula; 1970-1971 part; reproduction now available, but the "island" infront of the birds beak has been eliminated
E6) Trans Am dash insert; has separate "wash" & "lights" word openings; the insert was 1970-1972, but only 1970 and some 1971 cars received chrome gauge surround rings
E7) 'Heavy duty' Muncie 330 sourced three speed manual transmission; for 1970 std Formula & optional on Esprit w/L30; For 1971 ‘base’ transmission for Formula 400 & 455HO models, optional on Esprit & Formula L30 cars; offered for 1970 & 1971 only then dropped; transmission, shifter and all parts are specific; RPO code M13 for 1970 & 1971 Firebirds – will not show up on window sticker for 1970 Formula or 1971 Formula 400 or 1971 Formula 455HO.
E8) Manual transmission (3 & 4 speed) shifter arm w/o console; #7945; used only for 1970 & 1971 (all others 1970-1978 used #7244)
E9) Door panels; full height cardboard backed panel with vinyl wrapped arm rest; some early cars with power windows did not have the window crank opening cut (or the emblem installed)
E10) Glove box tire pressure label; the ‘KN’ tire pressure label used for F78-14/F70-14, & F60-15 cars was unique to 1970, and some early 1971 model year cars; the decal was changed in 1971; the most noteable difference was the removal of “Firebird” at the top/centre, which was replaced with “482399 REV. 1”



Honorable mention:
F1) 1971 Front fender "Formula 400" script emblem; nearly identical to one-year 1970 part except that the 1971 part has the mounting stud locations changed from the 1970 badge (#483625)
F2) 1971 Front fender "Formula 350" script emblem; one year part cast as 1970-style “Formula 400” badge.
F3) 1971 Front fender "Formula 455" script emblem; one year part cast as 1970-style “Formula 400” badge.
F4) Front plastic valence; This was used on pre-production, and some very early model year cars; Listed in 1970 Firebird supplement, and master parts catalog; became regular production item for 1972 & 1973 model year Firebirds (but the service replacement was the steel setup).
F5) The rear spoiler was NOT an option for 1970; standard on Trans Am, not available on others.
F6) Some 1970 & 1971 base model Firebirds received the incorrect hard plastic Camaro arm rest rather than the soft vinyl covered Firebird part.
F7) rear seat back frame and seat bottoms are 1970-1973; metal spring construction with cotton and burlap construction for 70-73 - went to foam padded design for 1974
F8) Early second gen cars used yellow throttle return springs
F9) early cars use larger (read: longer) exterior door handles
F10) heater control lens on non-AC cars; 1970 reads “DE-ICE”, changed in 1972 to read “DEFROST”
F11) speedometers and gauge clusters are unique for 1970 through to early 1972 model year cars;
They have a single small horizontal blue bright lamp indicator at the top, and a single red horizontal parking brake indicator at the bottom; the brake indicator has white stenciled “BRAKE” lettering so it can be seen when not illuminated; the bright indicator is near invisible when not illuminated.
F12) Combination oil pressure & water temperature gauge for ‘Rally Gauge’ opted cars; center water temperature reading is 210 degrees for 1970 through to 1973, while latter (and service replacement) gauges read 220 degrees.
F13) Wiper switch; chrome edged button with “WASH” script in white on black background used for 1970 through to 1972; changed to “PUSH” for 1973.
F14) swaybars; it appears as though most 1970 model year Trans Am’s left the factory with the Formula specified sway bars installed; this may have been a supplier issue as the Trans Am was initially slated to have the same suspension as the Formula, but was changed just before the long lead press review; the supply problem seems to have been resolved before the end of the 1970 model year as late cars had the right parts, and there are no documented 1971 model year Trans Am’s with the “wrong” bars.
F15) Base/Esprit/Formula dash insert; other than what was mentioned in point #C10, these dahs inserts are actually made from a different press-formed piece with different indentations, and they all use unique gauge surrounds (rings) than 1973+ dash inserts.

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1970 only paint/interior colours
exterior #10 'Polar white' ('69 & '71-'81 are #11 'Cameo white')
exterior #25 'Bermuda blue'
exterior #28 'Attol blue'
exterior #45 'Palisade green'
exterior #47 'Verdoro green'
exterior #51 'Goldenrod yellow'
exterior #58 'Granada gold'
exterior #63 'Palomino copper'
exterior #65 'Carousel red'
interior #201/211 'bright (metallic) blue vs darker non-metallic blue used 1971+
interior #214 red vs toned down 'Sienna' used for 1971


Wheels
14x6" plain steel (std on base & Esprit) = ‘AM’ 1970-1972
14x6" Rally II (optional on base & Esprit) = ‘JO’
14x7" plain steel (std on Formula) = ‘CL’ 1970 - 1972
14x7" Rally II (optional on Formula) = ‘JS’ 1970; ‘KS’ 1971-1975
15x7" Rally II (optional on Formula; standard on Trans Am) = JW (1970 & early 1971)

400/4bbl info/codes
- Final year of high compression; essentially a carryover from late 1969 mechanicals, with only casting number revisions.
- All engines used 1969 style thermostat housings with 1970-only upper rad hoses.

Alternator:
#1100902 = w/o AC or rear window defogger
#1100903 = w/ AC or rear window defogger
#11100904 = w/ AC and rear window defogger

Starter:
#1108434 = 350
#1108435 = 400 w/o RA
#1108436 = 400 w/RA
http://www.wallaceracing.com/starter-numbers.htm

Exhaust manifolds:
L78 = 9796992(rh) / 9782810 or 480602 (lh)
L74 = 9799720 (rh) / 478140 (lh)
L67 = 9799721 (rh) / 478141 (lh)

Intake manifolds:
L78/L74 = 9799068
L67 = 9799084

Engine/transmission = block stamped code / cylinder head casting number / block casting number
L78/auto = YS / 13 / 9799914
L78/manual = WT / 12 / 9799914
L74/auto = YZ / 12 / 9799914**
L74/manaul = WS / 12 / 9799914**
L67/auto = XP / 614 / 9799915*
L67/manual = WW / 614 / 9799915*
* = these started out as '914 blocks, the end of the casting number was ground off, and re-stamped.
** = it is believed that although the '915 block was intended for RAIV engines, there are documented cases of RAIII engines being built with '915 blocks

Carburetors:
L78/auto = 7040264; c/w 2 port metal vacuum break
L78/manual = 7040263; c/w 2 port metal vacuum break
L74 & L67/auto = 7040270; c/w yellow/black plastic vacuum break
L74 & L67/manual = 7040273; c/w yellow/black plastic vacuum break
California L78/auto = 7040564; c/w 2 port metal vacuum break
California L78/manual = 7040563; c/w 2 port metal vacuum break
California L74 & L67/auto = 7040570; c/w yellow/black plastic vacuum break
California L74 & L67/manual = 7040573; c/w yellow/black plastic vacuum break

Distributors:
L78/auto = 111 1148
L78/manual = 111 1176
L74/auto = 111 2009
L74/manual = 111 2024
L67/auto & manual = 111 2013