[Father&Son73T/A]

Originally Posted by SD73

Currently mine has the metal valence. The parking light assembly has the chrome w/amber lens with a silver argent plastic bezel that the parking light mounts in (this is all off the top of my head.) I recall reading around here that the plastic bezel portion was painted in some applications. I'm not sure if I need to paint the bezel portion or just not use it with the correct style valence.

AHA!
So it is a PLASTIC silver bezel surrounding the the argent light housing with the chrome cross bezels!
Ours is of that style,but I am missing the "plastic" silver bezels surrounding them.
I am on the hunt
I have heard this was the early style front valance,while the plastic body colored parking light bezels were the later.
I could be wrong and usually am

[Brewster]

I believe both metal and plastic valances use a amber lens and housing assembly which are glued together and the only difference is the metal valance uses a plastic bezel which is painted to match the given color of the car/valance. They also both use the same cross hair retainer for assembly.
Hope this helps with the confusion,
Brewster

[Super Duty D]

Outer and inner view of my car, but may be wrong...... PP valance, ie worked to fit.

[Brewster]

The inner that you make reference to is the light bulb housing and amber lens assembly that is glued together that Steve notes above.
Thanks for the pictures SDD

[SD73]

Thanks for the Pic's S-D-D!

So Brew, if I do understand you correctly, there is no difference between the metal and plastic valence versions once I discard the bezel? Or are you saying they both have basically the same parts but different versions? I think I still may be on the hunt.

[Judge273]

125K was what it took for a new home for the Brewster 4 speed. Unrestored original, matching 4-speed car with a great engine getting that kind of dough is a good thing.

[Super Duty D]

Originally Posted by SD73

Thanks for the Pic's S-D-D!

So Brew, if I do understand you correctly, there is no difference between the metal and plastic valence versions once I discard the bezel? Or are you saying they both have basically the same parts but different versions? I think I still may be on the hunt.

Now I'm confused. SD73, can you post a picture of this "inner bezel" issue.If what Brewster is saying, as I understand it, is that, there should be nothing different about the attachment of this item regardless of what type of valance you are using (steel vs. plastic repop) So, why discard this bezel you speak of?

[SD73]

I think we still need some clarification SDD. My car is in the shop so I can't post anything regarding this yet. What I think I'm getting is that the "inner bezel" is painted to match the color of steel valence cars and not used at all on plastic valence cars. The steel valence cars need the plastic bezel because the metal doesn't cover the same area the plastic does in the bezel area. What I'm not 100 percent sure of yet is if that lamp housing assemblies are the same and attach the same for both the steel and plastic valence options.

Is everyone more confused yet? I'm trying my best!

[Jim Rotella]

SD73,

The parking lamp assemblies are both the same for the plastic and metal valances on all 1973 Firebird models. The only difference is as you stated, the metal valance needs the plastic parking lamp fillers. Those fillers were sometimes painted body-color but often painted argent silver.

[bird72]

Originally Posted by Jim Rotella

SD73,

The parking lamp assemblies are both the same for the plastic and metal valances on all 1973 Firebird models. The only difference is as you stated, the metal valance needs the plastic parking lamp fillers. Those fillers were sometimes painted body-color but often painted argent silver.

Jim,
Does the argent also apply to 72's also?

[SD73]

THANK YOU, Jim!!! And everyone else too - mucho thankinado!

[1971WARBIRD]

along these lines.looking at some pictures tonight at work and saw a closeup of the green trans am from the movie Mc Q.from the front you could see the plastic valance.love the movie almost as much as Smoky and the Bandit,just hated to see that car get killed.was any details of that car ever found out?engine,gears?

[Wareagle]

Originally Posted by 1971WARBIRD

along these lines.looking at some pictures tonight at work and saw a closeup of the green trans am from the movie Mc Q.from the front you could see the plastic valance.love the movie almost as much as Smoky and the Bandit,just hated to see that car get killed.was any details of that car ever found out?engine,gears?

That would be neat to know-maybe they snuck a BASE Firebird in there for the crunch scene.

[Jim Rotella]

bird72, it was the same way in '72. You can find them painted both body-color and argent. A lot of the '72 and '73 cars had their broken plastic valances replaced by the metal version. The plastic fillers for the metal relpacement valances were painted argent from the factory and often left that color when the conversion was done. I suppose it was up to the the service department as to whether or not they would paint the fillers body-color when they painted the replacement valance.

[Father&Son73T/A]

Brewster,do you still have that 73 Formy for sale?
I know someone very interested and has seen the car if you do.

[Brewster]

Nope, I gave it away at cost to a guy in Florida who hacked it up and made it a ram air car. He sold it to someone in Michigan and now I think its in Indiana?
Never should have sold it cause it was a nice original car that hadnt been screwed with until some guy named Bill got it.
Never again!

Yes, the lights are the same for both type of valances less bezels for plastic. They also mount with the same and with the same hardware.
Is everyone clear on this now?

[Father&Son73T/A]

Originally Posted by Brewster

Nope, I gave it away at cost to a guy in Florida who hacked it up and made it a ram air car. He sold it to someone in Michigan and now I think its in Indiana?
Never should have sold it cause it was a nice original car that hadnt been screwed with until some guy named Bill got it.
Never again!

Yes, the lights are the same for both type of valances less bezels for plastic. They also mount with the same and with the same hardware.
Is everyone clear on this now?

DAMIT DAMIT DAMIT,my buddy was ready to buy that car because of how original it was!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He saw it at Jefferson and so did I,I loved it,so did he
He was ready to buy now.

[SD73]

Back in the day.

These pic's were taken by the original owner of my car in '73. He sold the car to the second owner in '74, who owned it up until I bought it in 2001 when I got the virus.

The car is in the paint shop and should be out next week (I'm praying!)

Anyway, these pics are what I used for verification of the plastic front valence and a few other items. Enjoy 'em if you're so inclined, and thank you all for the help with my questions!

[Tellyshavilli]

Originally Posted by SD73

Back in the day.

These pic's were taken by the original owner of my car in '73. He sold the car to the second owner in '74, who owned it up until I bought it in 2001 when I got the virus.

The car is in the paint shop and should be out next week (I'm praying!)

Anyway, these pics are what I used for verification of the plastic front valence and a few other items. Enjoy 'em if you're so inclined, and thank you all for the help with my questions!

Who's the dork with that shirt ? Thats a good reason for leaving those pictures in albums in the bottom of a closet.

[SD73]

Originally Posted by Tellyshavilli

Who's the dork with that shirt ? Thats a good reason for leaving those pictures in albums in the bottom of a closet.

That's Mikal, the original owner. He was crazy about the car and was quite the SD aficionado. We've communicated regarding the car and Super Duties in general. He's really in the know.