[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 ..

[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...

[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.

[Judge273]

I was with PB at the covention looking at some sweet original owner 72 455 HO cars, and base my thoughts on those cars and other survivor cars...

[The Boss]

Folded one on my convertible.

[4birds]

Looking for information on 1972 Firebird 455HO Norwood produced cars only.

Did all the 1972 455HO engines for ALL bodies come off the same production line/same plant?

F-bodies Norwood only. GTO/LeMans-different plants.

Thoughts?

[njsteve]

Trick question. Since only Norwood was building F bodies in 1972 :-)

Where were the 455 HO engines manufactured?

[johnta1]

Not sure what you are wanting?

All Pontiac engines came from the engine plant, which were then shipped to the individual car plants.

In 72 I don't think the engine codes were specific to a model.
(Like for Firebird only or GTO only, but were for either Firebird or GTO)

In 1973 there were specific engine codes for just the Firebird line, plus other years were like that.

[PB]

Of all the original A body 72 455-HO cars I've ever come across have all been the folded type. (Cars you could believe were originals and not changed.) Now, that number is VERY small as most HO engines have been messed with OR restored over the years. My old 72 GTO(now Jody's) had the boxed and was an August build...my HO lemans is a Jan 72 build and has the boxed too. GTO was Pontiac, Lemans was Fremont build.

I tried talking with Barry at Sonic Motors about this, but have never been able to hash out any pattern or rhyme or reason. My guess is the smooth ones are more prevalent in the Firebird HO's.

I will look at my original boxed one and see if I have a reproduction and compare the two. We need to distinguish b/n the two.

Great question, one I've often wondered about. Maybe OPH has some insight? Roger, you out there?

[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?

[Bentwheelbob]

Originally Posted by The Boss

Folded one on my convertible.

You've still got that relic? When are you going to cut it loose so that someone can show it some love and attention?

[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.

[The Boss]

Originally Posted by Bentwheelbob

You've still got that relic? When are you going to cut it loose so that someone can show it some love and attention?

You've got room for another convertible now Bob....

[Judge273]

Originally Posted by 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.

This would be a good way to see if it's a plant thing or not. Thinking it's has some documentation if it's a mid year change?

72 Assembly manual anyone? Rocky?

[Lloyd-TX]

Here's an enlightening discussion concerning the '72 HO and '73-'74 SD outer heat riser shroud from years back. Great information within . . .

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...t+riser+shroud