[necdb3]

Glenn, you told me you had a 76 T/A Did you also have a 72?

[transam1972]

I currently own the 1972 that you saw..my first TRANS AM was a 1976 white, no bird..deluxe, no air,455 stick that I got with 23k for $4500 in Jan.1979..I put it on the road in March as soon as I turned 17..that summer I converted/perverted it to the bastardized 1972 wannabe with all new GM parts that were available..including 455 H.O. intake manifold and functional (in my own way ) shaker...so in the summer of 79, a lot of these early FIREBIRD and TRANS AM parts were available over the counter...I am certain that I contributed to the blue stripes becoming not available as I ordered 3 complete sets!!

[necdb3]

The 72 in the pics is the same car converted? Only cow, you even switched the quarter panels? You should have just bought an earlier T/A. Would have been much cheaper.

[transam1972]

actually, I bought the car (with my parents loan) I believe December 28th, 1978..the one thing I remember was my evil older brother was involved as he needed to inspect the car for me...it had 23k and was immaculate, so he did take it for a test drive..the original owner,him and me in the back seat..I still remember a perfect white deuxe interior the engine turned dash and a stick coming out of the console..we told him I would have to get the ok from mom & dad..so after the ok hes like..I will handle the negotiating...originally the owner wanted $4800..my brother offers $4000..he says I will go to $4500 for you, that's as low as I can go (he lost $800 ?)my brother says $4300...guy wont go lower..my brother says I wont go higher..I am like $4500 is fine..my brother goes, if you change your mind call me..and hangs up!!!...I flip the F out!!!...for $200 you blow MY CAR deal!!!...I start crying to my mom...she calls the guy right back and says $4500 is fine..we will be over with a deposit and after they take the $ out of the bank would he drive it over..I remember coming home on a FRIDAY night after work...the garage was dark...I reached out my hand and felt the rear spoiler end cap....YES!!!!....checked it all out...then went upstairs to watch the Dukes of Hazard

[transam1972]

I did not switch the quarter panels!!..I always tended to cut the photo off as to fool myself!!!...look carefully it has a 76 interior....I could not find a decent early TRANS AM in mint condition for the start of my senior year..I needed a low mileage, reliable car...there was no internet...I was 17 and I did what I did..in 1983 the car was destroyed..so I made certain my next car was a real 1972 T/A...I changed the bumper and valance added a stripe and some engine mods...the car was birdless..not a big deal..my car my money my life...the poloroid in the garage is my clone...the others are random real T/As!!!

[AkCamaro]

Originally Posted by transam1972

actually, I bought the car (with my parents loan) I believe December 28th, 1978..the one thing I remember was my evil older brother was involved as he needed to inspect the car for me...it had 23k and was immaculate, so he did take it for a test drive..the original owner,him and me in the back seat..I still remember a perfect white deuxe interior the engine turned dash and a stick coming out of the console..we told him I would have to get the ok from mom & dad..so after the ok hes like..I will handle the negotiating...originally the owner wanted $4800..my brother offers $4000..he says I will go to $4500 for you, that's as low as I can go (he lost $800 ?)my brother says $4300...guy wont go lower..my brother says I wont go higher..I am like $4500 is fine..my brother goes, if you change your mind call me..and hangs up!!!...I flip the F out!!!...for $200 you blow MY CAR deal!!!...I start crying to my mom...she calls the guy right back and says $4500 is fine..we will be over with a deposit and after they take the $ out of the bank would he drive it over..I remember coming home on a FRIDAY night after work...the garage was dark...I reached out my hand and felt the rear spoiler end cap....YES!!!!....checked it all out...then went upstairs to watch the Dukes of Hazard

awesome.

[transam1972]

1972 seat frame







compared to a later style frame

[transam1972]

if there are any engine experts out there please feel free to comment..as I now know I have a 1973 SR block, the heads remain a bit of a mystery to me...manufactured 5 months after the build date, yet 1 1/2 years old before the possible installation of the 1973 date coded SR block..were new heads shipped fully assembled?..these could have been off the shelf or possibly rebuilt?..are there any easy ways to tell?..are there any GM part#s to look for after removing the oil drip shield?...at 58k does anyone advise removing a head for visual inspection of the pistons?...the motor was running fine, preparing for the distributor change...obviously I want to







do whats best and right for this motor to keep it that way...thanks!!!

[transam1972]

this is a N.O.S.1972 points distributor ..2145 that I got off EBAY for $300 if my 1972 Unitized distributor does not work out...after a lot of $ investing in a rebuilt with N.O.S. parts and a correct engine harness I hope that is not the case...locating a original 1972 points distributor for a 1972 455 H.O. in good working order was impossible so the ...2145 seemed a good choice these earlier photos show an incorrectly painted throttle cable and Plasticote engine blue that have since been changed

[transam1972]

this is a rebuilt with new N.O.S. parts and a N.O.S. loom 1972 2133 Unitized distributor that I got from fellow PY member GREGGDOG for $850...the unit looks immaculate and I am certain that it will be just what the doctor ordered







for this 455 High Output!!!

[2manyT/A'S]

Originally Posted by transam1972

if there are any engine experts out there please feel free to comment..as I now know I have a 1973 SR block, the heads remain a bit of a mystery to me...manufactured 5 months after the build date, yet 1 1/2 years old before the possible installation of the 1973 date coded SR block..were new heads shipped fully assembled?..these could have been off the shelf or possibly rebuilt?..are there any easy ways to tell?..are there any GM part#s to look for after removing the oil drip shield?...at 58k does anyone advise removing a head for visual inspection of the pistons?...the motor was running fine, preparing for the distributor change...obviously I want to Attachment 352639

Attachment 352640

Attachment 352641

Attachment 352644

Attachment 352645do whats best and right for this motor to keep it that way...thanks!!!

If your motor was NOT leaking or burning oil,with even compression and no blow-by,I'd leave it intact.......the only thing to consider may be valve oil seals....which can be done without removing the heads.....

Opening it up will only create a 3-5000 dollar can of worms that may NOT need to be opened at this point in time....

[transam1972]

[Lloyd-TX]

Originally Posted by transam1972

were new heads shipped fully assembled?

Pontiac always sold their cylinder heads as bare castings only.

[transam1972]

thanks!!..important that I know that..so I know I do not have the original heads..I have no idea whats involved in building a head..if they were new castings and new parts, which I hope..can a tech. at the dealership do this..or is this something that would need to be sent out?..thanks!...before this car ever sees highway miles, it will be checked & tuned to the max!!

[Lloyd-TX]

Originally Posted by transam1972

thanks!!..important that I know that..so I know I do not have the original heads..I have no idea whats involved in building a head..if they were new castings and new parts, which I hope..can a tech. at the dealership do this..or is this something that would need to be sent out?..thanks!...before this car ever sees highway miles, it will be checked & tuned to the max!!

Back in the '70's, a dealership tech would have been trained and the shop equipped to do the entire job.

Nowadays - no way. Everyone is too specialized for that. The cylinder head castings, valves, springs, etc. would be sent out to a machine shop for inspection, cleaning and assembly.

[transam1972]

I have been told that PONTIAC T/A spoiler end caps, and I would assume the main rear spoiler also got taller...this original end cap measures 6 1/2" from tip to front 6' in rear a part #480160LA0S1 is raised cast inside...molded in white

[Lloyd-TX]

Originally Posted by transam1972

I have been told that PONTIAC T/A spoiler end caps, and I would assume the main rear spoiler also got taller...this original end cap measures 6 1/2" from tip to front 6' in rear a part #480160LA0S1 is raised cast inside...molded in white

PN 480160 is the LH spoiler extension for a '70-'73 'bird. The matching RH spoiler extension is PN 480159, and the matching center spoiler (mounted to the deck lid) is PN 480161. The center spoiler is the same from '70 thru '78, BTW.

The '74 thru '78 extensions were longer.

They weren't molded in colors, either. All came from PMD parts in gray primer, IIRC.

[transam1972]

I am locked out of the trunk..but good to have all the origina lpart #s for everyone..I did not mean the spoiler was molded for final body color,but on the inside I guess its grey/white..thanks!!...I need to look a t a 74 and later bird, guessing due to revised quarters

[428RA4]

Nice details with your project and great shots. Lots of hard work goes into these projects for sure.

[transam1972]

thanks!...if I had an unlimited funds..my dream build would be this car with a RAM AIR V!!..how cool of a TRANS AM would that be!..I look forward to reading your thread and your RAM AIR V build!!,,,awesome motor!!!