[johnta1]

Thanks for info, Ric!

With the original body # crossed off and a huge number written in, I thought at 1st it may have been from a strike.
(the big strike was at end of year, late 71 had a strike but don't think it affected the early 72 Bird's)

[necdb3]

Originally Posted by Transamric

We know that there were a few notable changes to the '72 model year Firebirds that were to take place on and after January 1st. Most if not all were federally mandated safety improvements. It appears Pontiac wanted to (or needed to) come up with a way to identify the previous standards body shells from the bodys which incorporated the updated features. The way this was done was by switching from the old 6 digit Body Number (which was up to at least 177xxx by the end of Dec. '71) to a new 7 digit series which began with '21'.

I have found no 21xxxxx Body Numbers dated before 01A and only a handful of 01A bodys which did carry over the old 17xxxx numbers. Our example here appears to be a body that had been scheduled to be built the last week of December but for whatever reason, was held over in to January.

It'd be interesting to know some of the details on this TA to see whether it was assembled with all later changed parts or a mix of early and late. The seat belts/shoulder harnesses are one quick way to ID late from early.

Have we ever composed a list if all the changes which were scheduled to take place on or after January 1st?

The differences I know of for late 72 are:

Hard overhead belt holders
Belt retractors in the front w/ switch for belt minder
Seat occupancy sensors for belt minder
Speedo change for belt minder
Front Amber turn lenses

[Transamric]

Wasn't this also the change from a silver backed ( and silver post) inside rear view mirror to black?

[necdb3]

Originally Posted by Transamric

Wasn't this also the change from a silver backed ( and silver post) inside rear view mirror to black?

You may be correct on that, I just don't know for sure when that changed. FWIW, my 3/20/72 built T/A does have the black mirror and stem.

[OVERULD]

Anyone have a copy of Jim Hand's book they would be willing to sell to me for something less than a King's Ransom?

BJ

[1971455HO]

Point taken about the prices BJ. Wow, the scalpers are all over that. The Jim Hand edition (SA78) is out of print. However, the... How to Build Max Performance V8's by Rocky Rotella is available on eBay for between 15-30 dollars based on shipping or not and depending on who is selling it. Since you brought this to my attention, I just bought a copy of Rocky's two minutes ago based on the current greed over Jim's book. Rock contributed on Jim's book. I'm sure it is just as good and maybe he might even cover some points Jim didn't. I don't know.

I do know this, as little as there is out there in print for Pontiacs, I try to buy everything I can.

Just a suggestion!

[Held for Ransom]

Sorry, I'd have to charge a Ransom price, if I was willing to sell.

[Brewster]

Lol

[OVERULD]

MIke, you've probably already memorized it so you don't really need it anymore!

[1971455HO]

Originally Posted by OVERULD

MIke, you've probably already memorized it so you don't really need it anymore!

Hah...now that's funny

[The Boss]

BJ, I have a copy of Rocky's version, upper left in Mikes picture - you are welcome to it.

Text me your address & I'll try to get it out to you in the next couple of days.

[HO Kenny]

I just looked at the price of the jim hand book. What happened? ��

[johnta1]

It's out of print.

[HO Kenny]

But all the Pontiac guys I know are cheap.

[BobC]

My HO intake is dated 2/22/71. The timing cover bolt hole is 1/4"-20 instead of 5/16"-18. Just curious if this has to be an incorrect repair or a factory mistake.

[1971455HO]

Hi Bob,
You are correct about it should be 5/16" not 1/4". The proper bolt is 5/16-18 x 3 5/8 long.

If your intake has 1/4-20 thread it is one of the two things you mentioned.

02/22/71 was a Monday back in 1971.... Machinist may still have been suffering from the brown bottle flu Monday morning from the weekend. Hard to think it though. You sure it's not just a banged up starting thread on your intake? Or does a 1/4-20 work just fine. If so, I would get me a 6" long 5/16 bolt, cut it to 3 5/8 and have a machinist cut it down and put a 1/4-20 thread on the end of it. No body will ever detect it. Or install 5/16-18 helicoil in the intake. Guess which ones easier!

Good Luck

[Held for Ransom]

Congrats BJ.

[OVERULD]

Thanks Mike - appreciate the lead.

BJ

[BobC]

I removed the intake and was able to get a closer look at the 1/4"-20 tapped hole. Definitely signs of a helicoil...

I'm short one of the 4 studs that secure the intake to the heads. Cutting one of the currently available hex head studs to the same length as the OEM studs and then turning the threads down on a lathe should make a close duplicate.

[1971455HO]

That explains it. Somebody repaired it with a 1/4" helicoil instead of 5/16". I tried to send you a copy of all the stuff with the exact dimensions for the all the 455HO fasteners from Pontiac for this, but the format on the forum is different than mine and it all ran together, left it unintelligible. Good luck on sorting it out.