[72 H.O.]

Sorry it took so long to reply! I couldn't sign on with my computer @ home since I joined with this work computer. Cookies?
Anyway, here's a picture;
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/72GTO.jpg
It trophied Saturday night at a car show. 20 out of 90 cars.
My car has a 1 1/4" front sway bar and a rear sway bay. There's a 'Y' in my VIN.
Mine has non-power drum brakes. I didn't realize you could get a GTO like that. Chevelle SS 's were mandatory Power disc brake cars.
I'll be 'seeing' you all around.

[Lloyd-TX]

Jimmy:

I sure hate to be the bearer of bad news, but . . .

I'm unsure, of course, what powertrain your car has in it now, but the "Y" in the V.I.N. indicates that your car was originally equipped with a 250 net horsepower 455 "d-port" engine and not the 300 net horsepower 455HO engine which featured cylinder heads with round exhuast ports.

On the brakes - yes, all sedan and hardtop 1972 LeMans including GTO's came standard with manual drum brakes. J50 power drums and JL2 power front discs were optional. The exception is that all LeMans station wagons had power front discs as standard equipment.

The pic is nice, and congrats on the award at the show. Good looking GTO!

Feel free to post more pics and info when you have time.

Later,
Lloyd

'72 Formula 455 - TH400, 3.08 posi, A/C, Y99 suspension, tach & gauges, AM-FM stereo, 8-track, Formula steering wheel, etc.; Lucerne Blue with Medium Blue deluxe Interior; 12.96 @ 104 MPH @ the '03 PSN's

Soon I'll starting a body-off restoration on a 72 GTO 455HO, TH400, A/C, etc.; Sundance Orange with Ivory buckets

[This message was edited by Lloyd-TX on July 28, 2003 at 12:36 PM.]

[Scarebird]

OK you 72 guys- got a few questions...

Did your car come with a 140 or 120 mph speedo?
Did it come with a seat belt light? Gauges?
What build date? Where?

Just fleshing out a theory that early 72's got 140 mph speedos wit no seat light, then GM switched to the 120 mph units with seat lights...

[Lloyd-TX]

Scarebird:

That's the info I have on the 120 vs. 140 speedos and seat belt warning lamps. January 1, 1972 is supposed to be the production date break.

Lloyd

'72 Formula 455 - TH400, 3.08 posi, A/C, Y99 suspension, tach & gauges, AM-FM stereo, 8-track, Formula steering wheel, etc.; Lucerne Blue with Medium Blue deluxe Interior; 12.96 @ 104 MPH @ the '03 PSN's

Soon I'll starting a body-off restoration on a 72 GTO 455HO, TH400, A/C, etc.; Sundance Orange with Ivory buckets

[Paul Burke]

I love the 72 GTO/Lemans as well. I have a Cardinal Red 72 Lemans Sport Convertible with endura front end, 400/400, and loaded with options. My car has the 14 inch rally II wheels. I didn't realize that you couldn't get 15 inch wheels from the factory on an A body convertible.

[MarkJ]

Just was at Maple Grove this past weekend and saw several 71-72 Endura bumpers for sale. Prices ranged from $200 to $225 for just the bumper (no grills or bumper to frame brackets). I thought that was a little high, but I could be wrong.

Here is a picture of the 72 Lemans I had in the 90’s. A basket case, but super reliable! In the winter time, while my neighbor would struggle to start his new Honda, the Lemans started with just the turn of the key!

['ol Pinion head]

Lloyd has the 140-120mph speedo & seatbelt warning time frame dead on.

Have methodically parted quite a few '72 GrandPrix SJ's, more than a few '72 LeMans, GP's (mostly SJ's), & even a few Luxury LeMans, & yes, '72 GTO's that all had rally guages & the 140 speedo. All had the 140 mph speedo & the single hole brake warning light up through DEC of '71 production. Later cars received the "two hole" 120 mph speedo.

Another distinction to '72, is the regular nose '72 LeMans had the clear parking light lens in early production & amber parking light asms in later production. '72 T41 (rubber nose) cars had a '72 dated clear parking light asm, all year long, with an amber bulb.

[Lloyd-TX]

Well, Roger . . . do you want to make a guess where I heard the 140/120 MPH speedo and seat belt warning lamp date break info???

I heard it from the '71-'72 A-body master himself - none other than oPh, LOL!!!

Say, give me a shout when you have a moment, need to ask some advice on the Formula. I also need some more parts that I suspect you may have around.

Talk later,
Lloyd

'72 Formula 455 - TH400, 3.08 posi, A/C, Y99 suspension, tach & gauges, AM-FM stereo, 8-track, Formula steering wheel, etc.; Lucerne Blue with Medium Blue deluxe Interior; 12.96 @ 104 MPH @ the '03 PSN's

Soon I'll starting a body-off restoration on a 72 GTO 455HO, TH400, A/C, etc.; Sundance Orange with Ivory buckets

[Scarebird]

Good. One more mystery out of the way.

[Lloyd-TX]

Sort of off-topic here, but I just wanted to add that my '72 Formula - with a November '71 build date - has no seat belt warning lamp either.

Lloyd

'72 Formula 455 - TH400, 3.08 posi, A/C, Y99 suspension, tach & gauges, AM-FM stereo, 8-track, Formula steering wheel, etc.; Lucerne Blue with Medium Blue deluxe Interior; 12.96 @ 104 MPH @ the '03 PSN's

Soon I'll starting a body-off restoration on a 72 GTO 455HO, TH400, A/C, etc.; Sundance Orange with Ivory buckets

[TrevorPD]

Welcome,

I have a car just like yours, same color, options etc. also a "Y" code. True not a 455HO but still a rare car, enjoy. Love the 72's great to have another owner on board.