[1971455HO]

I have just about purchased everything known to man for my car to restore it, I have a few questions about stuff I don't know please.

1. Did the 1970 & early 1971 TA's have the bird emblem on the dash engine turned bezel?

2. Is there any difference between the basic '70-'73 Firebird, Espirit, Formula & TA battery trays?

2a. If no, does one fit all? The one I bought says: all, exc. TA.

3. Did '70-'73 TA's come with a Core Support Filler Panel. If it did, mine was missing when I got it years ago.

4. The GM reproduction fan shroud I bought is identical except for a cutout / relief at the bottom of fan area of the shroud and also it has a square hole punched out for a small carriage bolt on the upper passenger side of the shroud. it matches except for the cutout on bottom and the hole. Mine has a little hunk missing from the left side bracing molding and also where I was crazy and cut out the bottom bolt holes for easy removal 30 years ago. I may just use mine and send theirs back

4a. Did They sell me one for a non-AC car? I don't think my old shroud was ever swapped.

5. Did the lid that holds the air filter in place in the lower breather assembly, on '71TA shakers, come with a 455HO decal? I know the Formulas' do. What about the TA's?

Thanks Eddie

[keith k]

Originally Posted by 1971455HO

I have just about purchased everything known to man for my car to restore it, I have a few questions about stuff I don't know please.

1. Did the 1970 & early 1971 TA's have the bird emblem on the dash engine turned bezel?

Yes.

Originally Posted by 1971455HO

2. Is there any difference between the basic '70-'73 Firebird, Espirit, Formula & TA battery trays?

I believe the trays are the same. The hold down bolt/bracket changed post-'70, though.

Originally Posted by 1971455HO

3. Did '70-'73 TA's come with a Core Support Filler Panel. If it did, mine was missing when I got it years ago.

4a. Did They sell me one for a non-AC car? I don't think my old shroud was ever swapped.

I know there's been some discussion about this - I don't think any of them came that way from the factory. More likely released as a service part for cars that ran hot -- mostly A/C equipped cars, I suspect. There'd be no difference between an A/C and non-A/C version of that part, though.

Originally Posted by 1971455HO

5. Did the lid that holds the air filter in place in the lower breather assembly, on '71TA shakers, come with a 455HO decal? I know the Formulas' do. What about the TA's?

No Decal on a T/A.

[Transamric]

Good answers Keith.
On #3, I've found only Van Nuys built & A/C optioned cars got the filler panel. And only part of production at that.

[keith k]

Originally Posted by 1971455HO

4. The GM reproduction fan shroud I bought is identical except for a cutout / relief at the bottom of fan area of the shroud and also it has a square hole punched out for a small carriage bolt on the upper passenger side of the shroud. it matches except for the cutout on bottom and the hole. Mine has a little hunk missing from the left side bracing molding and also where I was crazy and cut out the bottom bolt holes for easy removal 30 years ago. I may just use mine and send theirs back

4a. Did They sell me one for a non-AC car? I don't think my old shroud was ever swapped.

Sorry... I missed this question when I quoted to respond before...

The differences you're seeing are just the differences between a later service replacement and an original '71 assembly line part. Not related to A/C vs. Non-A/C. You can fill the hole at the top to make it look correct at a glance. The chop-out at the bottom is not so easy...

[keith k]

Originally Posted by Transamric

Good answers Keith.
On #3, I've found only Van Nuys built & A/C optioned cars got the filler panel. And only part of production at that.

Ric,
Yep... that seems consistent with what I've seen/heard.

[1971455HO]

Thanks very much guys for all the information.This helps a lot.

I'm not sure where the bird emblem goes on the dash. I don't remember a hole for the emblem, but I'm sure there is one. Is it between the tach and the speedo? I hate to sound so stupid...but my car has been gone for 3 damn years. it's now only 70 miles from me. I'll be checking though. Thanks again.

Eddie

[Norwood]

Be careful where you put that bird on the dash Pontiac changed its location in mid run on the 70's.

RIGHT BOB?

[68bird400HO]

On #1, all firebirds and TAs had the little bird emblem on the dash bezel UNLESS your car had A/C. The bird emblem goes in the open area on the right side of the bezel. If you car has A/C, then that area is occupied by the A/C vents instead. The exact location of the bird did change sometime around June 1970.

[superdutybob]

Originally Posted by Norwood

Be careful where you put that bird on the dash Pontiac changed its location in mid run on the 70's.

RIGHT BOB?

Yep! Don't use Norwoods car as your example! LOL

[1971455HO]

Thanks 68bird400HO,
My car is an AC car. Does this mean it didn't come with the bird on the dash?

[68bird400HO]

Originally Posted by 1971455HO

Thanks 68bird400HO,
My car is an AC car. Does this mean it didn't come with the bird on the dash?

Correct

[1971455HO]

Thank you,
That would account for why I thought, thirty years ago, when I saw early TA's with that emblem on the dash I thought they had put later model (75,76,77) dash bezels in their cars. Turns out I didn't realize I was only seeing non-air cars with them. It's nice to learn something. Thanks very much. I really appreciate all the help guys.

[giles]

Originally Posted by 68bird400HO

On #1, all firebirds and TAs had the little bird emblem on the dash bezel UNLESS your car had A/C. The bird emblem goes in the open area on the right side of the bezel. If you car has A/C, then that area is occupied by the A/C vents instead. The exact location of the bird did change sometime around June 1970.

The open area at the right hand side, where the air vents would be on an A/C car is where you want to be. The early '70 cars placed the bird approx where the right hand of the two vents would be. Late '70 and all later years had the bird in the left hand location. I can post pictures if you need them. Just not accessible from here.

[Transamric]

Eddie, FWIW, here's a pic of where the dash Bird was located on my unrestored 05D Van Nuys TA.

[1971455HO]

Thanks for the pic. Very instructive, you can't beat a picture. I'm sure a lot of other guys are happy to see this. I am still of understanding this is how it should look (without air). Thanks for the education gentlemen, and thanks for going to the trouble of posting the picture. By the way, your car was in very good shape when you got it.

[1971455HO]

I have another question please!
Have any of you purchased a detail tag kit from inline tube or any other vendor who sells them and been satisfied. I ordered one from Ames, however, I'm afraid to open it for fear that it doesn't have the proper YE code engine block decal on the second sheet in the kit. The one I've ordered shows a WC code through the plastic cover. I figure if I open it, I can't return it. I didn't get a chance to call Ames today to ask them if they knew for sure if it included it or not. They may not know.

Is their another source I can be sure to get the right detail tags from?

[giles]

Originally Posted by 1971455HO

Thanks for the pic. Very instructive, you can't beat a picture.

Eddie, just to be clear Ric's picture is for a 70. Your car is a 71 and the bird goes to the left side of the open area. I'll post a picture tomorrow...

[keith k]

Originally Posted by giles

Eddie, just to be clear Ric's picture is for a 70. Your car is a 71 and the bird goes to the left side of the open area. I'll post a picture tomorrow...

I think Eddie said his car had AC... so he doesn't have to worry about where to put the bird (other than perhaps intellectual curiousity).

[giles]

Originally Posted by giles

Eddie, just to be clear Ric's picture is for a 70. Your car is a 71 and the bird goes to the left side of the open area. I'll post a picture tomorrow...

For a non-A/C TA built after June '70 the bird should be located as in this picture...

[Transamric]

Yes, I could have been more clear. That's 05D of '70, not '71. FWIW, here is a pic of a 07E non A/C '70 TA that shows the bird biased to the left side, just like Giles '71.