[bossbirdta]

something new for those looking for a project car.....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ponti...b7c047&vxp=mtr

[71GP76TA]

Originally Posted by dlcable

I just went to see this car and unfortunately it is NOT an HO.
I think it is a real Formula 455 but it’s definitely a D port.
I didn’t look at the numbers much after I saw that it wasn’t what I came for.
The car is VERY clean, complete and rust free. The rear quarters and drop-offs look
perfect. It’s lived here in Southern California its whole life and was built here at the Van
Nuys plant. It would be a great car for someone looking for a formula 455.
I told the guy not to expect 16K for a non HO car and he knows he has to come down a
lot if he wants to sell it. If anyone is interested and wants more information, feel free to
PM me.

Looks like its on ebay now.



http://www.ebay.com/itm/251999546112...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[72projectbird]

Originally Posted by 71GP76TA

Looks like its on ebay now.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251999546112...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Sharp looking car! I like the spoilers combined with the 71 fenders, its a unique look.

I see it also has the very rare big block option

[bird72]

Looks added spoiler which isn't end of world except if trunk lid falls shut that ruins it... some can't resist flares I guess, more common add than we think.... black tail and vents looks amateur... but looks like decent car at quick glance... in spite of the in spite of stuff, in the 20's for sure worth IMO...

[Formulabruce]

Originally Posted by bird72

Looks added spoiler which isn't end of world except if trunk lid falls shut that ruins it...

With a remote release, and a quality paint job, you really don't want the trunk popping up and slamming. So mine doesn't stay up, But it doesn't "slam up" when I hit my remote or my wife hits the button in the glove box.

Just my 2 cents ..

[2manyT/A'S]

Just needs.........EVERYTHING.....

[The Boss]

I'd drive it!

[Brewster]

What is the correct Heat Shroud for a 72 f-body?

1) ram air III style (punched pressed)
2) ram air IV style square sharped corner style (bent)

[Judge273]

For F-body too.

http://www.455-ho.com

[SD73]

Originally Posted by Judge273

For F-body too.

http://www.455-ho.com

Am I wrong? I thought that was pre-72. Where as 72-73 round ports shared the rounded edge style.

[4birds]

Hey Brian,

Your car should have the stamped shroud (rounded edges) as pictured below. Sonic Motors was making an excellent reproduction a while back for around $175 IIRC.

Personally, I have never seen one of the square folded shrouds from the factory on a 72 F-body.

[Judge273]

Originally Posted by 4birds

Hey Brian,

Your car should have the stamped shroud (rounded edges) as pictured below. Sonic Motors was making an excellent reproduction a while back for around $175 IIRC.

Personally, I have never seen one of the square folded shrouds from the factory on a 72 F-body.

I've never seen an original 455 HO in 72 without a folded one...many A body cars plus Bobs black one, Steve old white TA and mine?

im sure my sample is smaller than most. To me it's not much of a performance piece either way and maybe Pontiac saw it as interchangeable as to what's in the bin at assembly...

[4birds]

Originally Posted by Brewster

What is the correct Heat Shroud for a 72 f-body?

1) ram air III style (punched pressed)
2) ram air IV style square sharped corner style (bent)

We are Looking for the correct answer to Brewster's question..................

Brew, what was your cars' build date?

[Brewster]

Originally Posted by 4birds

We are Looking for the correct answer to Brewster's question..................

Brew, what was your cars' build date?

Its a March 9th ship date from the one and only Norwood plant.

[4birds]

My 73,000 mile '72 T/A I bought from the original owner in' 82 (which was incredibly original and untouched), had the stamped, rounded shroud on it. (Picture #1) I was the first person to remove it. My 38,000 mile '72 F455, which has a known history of being original, has its stamped, rounded shroud also. (picture #2) Both of these cars have a 03A build date. My 2nd '72 T/A has a build date of 09A, but was missing the outer shroud when I got it. So I bought a rounded reproduction unit a few years back from Sonic Motors for that car. (Picture #3)

So Brew, in MY OPINION, your car should have the rounded stamped version.

I Base this on all the 1972 455HO FIREBIRDS that I have been paying special attention to over the past 38 years. Ever since I saw, and fell in love with a 1972 455HO Formula in 1977 at the very green age of 15.

I am not as familiar with what the factories did with the A-bodies as compared to the F-bodies, even though I have owned numerous LeMans and GTOs'.

Anyone with more information or pictures from back in 71-72 would help answer some questions.

All input is welcome, information is good!!

[giles]

Some insight into the correct exhaust shroud could come from the assembly manual. I do not have a '72 assembly manual, only '70 and '71. If the shroud is in the manual this means the part was installed at final assembly (Norwood). If not, then it was a pontiac engine plant installed item. 455HOs were not A or F model specific so when they left the engine line they were the same other than auto or manual trans version differences. If there was a running change from folded to rounded style I would expect that there would be a clean break as they ran out of the folded style. If the shroud is car-plant-installed the changeover date could vary by plant.

[RamAir]

My 72 is folded and looks exactly like the one on Pat's site.

[4birds]

From what I can tell, and from what I have read from owners of 72 F-bodies, the early produced 72's may have come with the folded version. I'm pretty sure the late produced cars all received the stamped rounded version.

Does anyone have any Factory photos of a 71-72 HO folded heat shield? (from 1971-1972)

Just trying to find true accurate information on this. All input is welcome.
Thanks guys!

[1971WARBIRD]

this is from the 455HO web site, it is the blue car several pictures down in the site. I CAN NOT tell you this wasn't replaced during a rebuild, but here it is.

[4birds]

One reason why we have all seen so many cars with the folded shroud is because THAT was the only reproduction round port shroud available for about 25 years. The rounded version reproduction has only been out for a few years now and they are expensive. (compared to the folded version)
Pat Brown's website shows pictures of GTOs with both versions. Maybe Pat will chime in here and pass along his knowledge of these.