[GonicGM]

Originally Posted by toomanybirds

I don't have a 72, but have found this thread interesting to read. Out of curiosity, I went to the MPC printed 9-72, here is what I found:

Harness:
8904358, 70-72 F, (park lamp bulb integral with park lamp)
8908931, 72-73 F, (park lamp bulb part of harness)

Lamp/Housing:
916814, 70-72 F, Lamp (park lamp bulb integral with park lamp & clear lens)
5963966, 72 F, Housing (w/lens) (bulb part of harness) (clear)
5965930, 72-73 F, Housing (w/lens) (amber)

So it would appear that the 72 cars came with all 3 types of parklamps, the 70-71 style metal housing with clear lens, the 72 only clear lens/housing with the twist in bulb socket on the harness, and the 72-73 amber lens/housing with the twist in socket.

Very interesting.

Great info, thanks for posting that.

[bird72]

I am hereby threatening, if somebody doesn't come up with a pair so my bulbs aren't flapping in the breeze, to go to a trailer supply store, buy the biggest round bolt on add on orange lenses (I'll get dual sided so I can see them blink from inside also) and bolt them to the top of my fenders in front. I'll tell everyone the pro's at PY told me to do it

[Lloyd-TX]

Here's the actual parking lamp page, printed and scanned from my 06/77 dated Firebird parts MPC.

It's a little difficult to read because I had to resize it to satisfy the forums size limits, I can e-mail to anyone who'd like a better copy.

From this info, I can tell you that my 11C assembled Formula has the "first jobs" parking lamps.

BTW, I bought repop clear lenses and gaskets from our host. The lenses are NICE, gaskets don't seal very well, but OK as far as repop parts go.

[JC455]

About four years ago, I bought a pair of very used amber 73's. I wanted to cut the outer lens off and install (silicone, glue??) the repop'd clear lenses to the housings.
Is this what some of you are contemplating too?

[Norwood]

Thanks Loyd

[Lloyd-TX]

Originally Posted by Norwood

Thanks Loyd

You're welcome, Craig.

A higher-res scan is on it's way to you.

[Jim Rotella]

Another note on the clear lense/ metal housing/ '70-'71 style harness. If the actual changeover date was 1-10-72 as noted in the assembly manual, does that mean that all clear lense Firebirds were assembled with the metal housings and all amber lense models were made with the plastic one piece housing? Where does the clear plastic housing and new harness fit in? That would mean that no cars were produced with the clear one piece assembly and the quick release harness. That would also mean that vast majority of '72 Firebirds were produced with the '70-'71 set-up because according to this information, the amber lenses were used on all cars after Jan 10th and until the strike ended all F-body production on April 7,1972. There are still quite a few questions regarding this parking lamp controvesy. We welcome anyone with more input to help us to try to figure this out.

[bird72]

Originally Posted by Jim Rotella

Another note on the clear lense/ metal housing/ '70-'71 style harness. If the actual changeover date was 1-10-72 as noted in the assembly manual, does that mean that all clear lense Firebirds were assembled with the metal housings and all amber lense models were made with the plastic one piece housing? Where does the clear plastic housing and new harness fit in? That would mean that no cars were produced with the clear one piece assembly and the quick release harness. That would also mean that vast majority of '72 Firebirds were produced with the '70-'71 set-up because according to this information, the amber lenses were used on all cars after Jan 10th and until the strike ended all F-body production on April 7,1972. There are still quite a few questions regarding this parking lamp controvesy. We welcome anyone with more input to help us to try to figure this out.

Jim, read my prior post. I had clear lense on 73 style plastic housing, same as 73 orange. Same harness as 73.

[Formulabruce]

Originally Posted by Norwood

Has anybody bought the repop lenses?

yes have a pair, picked them up from Steve himself a couple years ago, nice items

[Formulabruce]

Originally Posted by Jim Rotella

Another note on the clear lense/ metal housing/ '70-'71 style harness. If the actual changeover date was 1-10-72 as noted in the assembly manual, does that mean that all clear lense Firebirds were assembled with the metal housings and all amber lense models were made with the plastic one piece housing? Where does the clear plastic housing and new harness fit in? That would mean that no cars were produced with the clear one piece assembly and the quick release harness. That would also mean that vast majority of '72 Firebirds were produced with the '70-'71 set-up because according to this information, the amber lenses were used on all cars after Jan 10th and until the strike ended all F-body production on April 7,1972. There are still quite a few questions regarding this parking lamp controvesy. We welcome anyone with more input to help us to try to figure this out.

I dont have the 72 assy manual ( like to buy one though, know where?)
I propose that the change in Jan. was to the clear plastic/plastic housing/plastic valence
and later to Amber, before the strike.
2 72's that I know of are built in 71 , one I have as parts, has the correct harness for the metal housing, which it still has ,and metal valence.
The common sense factor says the the plastic housings weigh much less, and the plastic valence is NOT attatched to the front fender on the sides. That said it would "appear" the change was made at same time.
Open to more common sense

[Jim Rotella]

Bruce,

I agree, the plastic valance with the heavier metal lamp housings would be impractical. Although several '72 owners claim that their cars were delivered with metal valances, most people say that all '72 and '73 Firebirds were delivered from the factory with plastic valances and the ones with metal valances were replaced at some point after they were damaged. I've never seen any factory documents that can confirm either theory. I'd like to know when the changeover from metal parking lamp housings to plastic ones took place. I would think that it would have been earlier in the model year than January '72, otherwise we would see a whole lot more '72 cars with these metal housings.

[WarbirdTA]

Without knowing my build date on my old (long gone) 1972 base Firebird, I don't know if this is any help.
My Firebird had the Amber lens/plastic housing, and the plastic valance.
Since it was my first car, and I grew up in the Hot Rod crase of Southern California, cruising Van Nuys Blvd. and Whittier Blvd. and others, I took my parking lens off, cut off the amber lens, and glued on blue plastic, and put them back on the car.
lasted only one day, before I found out they were illegal.
Went to the junk yard, and had to get replacements.
Oh, to be young again (and stupid).

George

[bird72]

Well, I am halfway there, don't know which half yet. Got ONE lense on ebay just now. I believe these are L or R parts (going on memory here) and he didn't list which it was so I'll find out when I get it.

Here is link and it has good pics of the clear 72 style housing / lense.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1972-...spagenameZWDVW

[Held for Ransom]

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=521400

I still have these amber ones.

I may still have a set of clear ones, hazy lenses, broken filler and no screws. It may be a couple days before I can find them (not feeling too well today and have a prior commitment on Saturday).

[toomanybirds]

Bird72

There is no difference between R and L. They are the same lens/housing.

You are half way there.

[Formulabruce]

I suspected this, in the valence thread, the metal valence used in 71 built 72 cars doesnt conflict with anyone's car on here ( I dont believe)The metal got the metal housing and separate lense. In Jan the clear started, with plastic valence. Cant say if it switched over or if both were put in at same time, but its very interesting 3 different light set ups were used in a half year production.

[Jim Rotella]

I understand what you're saying Bruce and that seems logical, but where then do the amber lenses fit in?

[Formulabruce]

I think they fit in in march and april, then again in the 73 run, because you will never see a 73 with clear ones

[Formulabruce]

Originally Posted by toomanybirds

Bird72

There is no difference between R and L. They are the same lens/housing.

You are half way there.

I could be wrong, but I think they are the same as a 69 firebird as well.

[Jim Rotella]

Originally Posted by Formulabruce

I think they fit in in march and april, then again in the 73 run, because you will never see a 73 with clear ones

Could be possible, but from my observations there seems to be more 72's with amber lenses than clear. In fact, I've never noticed any 72's with the metal housing type before, but obviously there were cars were produced that way. Of all of the '72 models that I actually looked closely at the parking lamps, they were either clear plastic or amber plastic. I may have just glossed over some 72's that might have had the metal housings. I saw Lloyd's '72 Formula in Texas and didn't even noticed that it had the '70-'71 type set-up.