[rolling money pits]

Originally Posted by pressthatpedal

Mustn't forget the early 1970 3 piece rear-view mirror that uses a round ball and two-piece screw-together arms that holds the mirror to the ball on the windshield. If that makes any sense.

I'm bummed. Checked my 70 T/A project and found the the LH hood hinge is correct, but the right hand is not, although it still is using the same small-diameter spring. One more piece to hunt down.

oh man, that thing drove me bonkers, wouldnt ever stay tight for more than a couple days. i guess if i had half a brain, i would have green loctited the screws.

[unruhjonny]

ok, a friend told me about this thread so I came to see the list... I read it all...

I feel compelled to add the following because most of the "1970" parts were either 70-71, or 70 & early 71 parts...

1) red crested 4 speed shifter handle (with shift pattern); presumably an early production run part which replaced the standard black round knob on cars with deluxe interiors.

2) red-crested 3 speed shifter handle (w/o shift pattern); presumably an early production run part which replaced the standard black round knob on cars with deluxe interiors.

3) Muncie 3 speed manual transmission; This was the standard transmission on the 70/71 Formula, and was optional as a "heavy duty" 3 speed in 70/71 V8 base & Esprit models; Pontiac RPO M13, NLA in Firebird after 1971.

and this one is my "Akhilles heel";

4) the factory hurst shifter specific to 70/71 Firebirds with the Muncie three speed.; This was matched to the 70/71 Firebird M13.



I have seen a couple examples of #1.

I have seen only two examples of #2 - one of which I own.

I have located (and have in my garage) #3.

I would seriously appreciate anyone who can help me find #4. I have found one person who has this shifter in their '70 Esprit. I have seen one of the other M13 Formulas in HPP. I was unable to get ahold of the purchaser of one of the other (286 total production) '70-W66-M13 cars after it sold on ePay (the seller reported to me that car was going to be parted by hte new owner).

Would a finders fee for #4 entice anyone??

[Zirconia]

Here is a 70 only part. 70 400 Formulas without Ram Air came with a dual snorkel air cleaner and a chrome air cleaner lid. I think 71 had black with decals. (A shameless plug for my chrome air cleaner for sale in the 71-81 Firebird parts for sale section.)

[unruhjonny]

Originally Posted by Zirconia

Here is a 70 only part. 70 400 Formulas without Ram Air came with a dual snorkel air cleaner and a chrome air cleaner lid.

correction;

all 1970 Formulas received chrome air cleaner lids (as well as valve covers). it was a part of the std engine dress up kit for all 1970 Formulas and GTOs... something that moved to the "dealer option" list the following year.

Since the parts were actually available for several years afterwards they dont necessarily qualify as true 70-only parts.

[eaglesan13]

Jonny,

Is this the shifter handle you refer to as #1 in your post? I bought a bunch a stuff from a guy recently which had been removed from his 70 Formula. I don't recall the build date but the dist I bought is dated A290 and the carb is dated 1350. It was a Van Nuys car and it had deluxe interior.

[unruhjonny]

no.

judging by the raised silver portion that is likely the late '71-through 1975 version of that shifter handle... the interesting thing about that handle is that the insert is clocked ninety degrees from the way that it normally is positioned (normally the "stitching" is on either side of the shift pattern, not above and below).

The 1970 specific part I am referring to has a red background - it is visually QUITE differnt from that one.
BTW the 1976(ish)-through to 1981 handles look almost identicle except they dont have the raised silver portion... hard to explain without pictures.

[2manyT/A'S]

I don't want to be accused of "playing with my knobs",but they were handy and thought a picture might be beneficial here.

Eaglesan13: I'd say that the medallion on your knob must have come off at one point & has been re-attached in the wrong position.

[x-bird2]

one item not mentioned that i just spotted/recalled in my assy. manual the other day is the rubber skirt attached to the inner fender center portion that seals the compartment down to the subframe. is that a 70 or 70-71 only piece, and how many of you 70-71 guys have them or think they were installed? they show as a 71 cancellation date iirc.

[unruhjonny]

2many;
that's a nice collection there!!
I don't have the red 4spd, or 71-75 4spd variants.
I stumbled upon an NOS 71-74(last year of 3spd floor shift) knob a couple years back, and if my memory serves me correctly my 70-red knob came from a '70 Formula that was parted out wayyy over a decade ago (the cars final owner found it stashed away in his garage!).

x-bird;
if you mean the dust skirt attached to the inner fender; my car came with them.

[2manyT/A'S]

Originally Posted by x-bird2

one item not mentioned that i just spotted/recalled in my assy. manual the other day is the rubber skirt attached to the inner fender center portion that seals the compartment down to the subframe. is that a 70 or 70-71 only piece, and how many of you 70-71 guys have them or think they were installed? they show as a 71 cancellation date iirc.

I'd say that ALL 1970 firebird models had them & early 71's as well.

This observation would be based on Norwood production for the most part.

[x-bird2]

the dust skirts are what i'm referring to. always been curious why they were cancelled. same thing with the core support seals that sealed off around the front of the subframe where it goes through the support. wonder if they got rid of them to relieve underhood pressure.

[rock]

can you post a photo of the hurst shifter for a 70 three speed, I may have one. I have a crate of hurst shifters from years gone by.

[unruhjonny]

Originally Posted by rock

can you post a photo of the hurst shifter for a 70 three speed, I may have one. I have a crate of hurst shifters from years gone by.

ummm... I don't have one.

seperate your three from four speed shifters, that I might be able to see what you have.

I have a factory hurst three speed shifter for the muncie 3 speed in an A-body (70-72 part), as well, a 1968/9 GTO 3 speed shifter assembly... so I have two examples as to what it DOESN'T look like(!)



edit: better yet, where are you? - maybe I can do the rummaging for you!?

[x-bird2]

johnny; that was you a couple years ago looking for that 3-spd setup, wasn't it? Still trying to crack that nut?? aren't these fun sometimes?

[danny 71]

looking at 70t\a need to know what case number is right \case housing \tail case\ side case \bell house\ what shifter? do shifter rod have number? z bar?

[unruhjonny]

Originally Posted by x-bird2

johnny; that was you a couple years ago looking for that 3-spd setup, wasn't it? Still trying to crack that nut?? aren't these fun sometimes?

yes that's me

it ceases to be truly fun when you cannot find any leads.

At this time, this is really looking to be an uphill battle because of the following facts;

1- there were only 301 '70 Fomulas that originally came with this shifter;
2- there is unknown number of '70 base/Esprit cars that came with this shifter;
3- there is unknown (complete) number of '71 Formulas that came with this shifter (the L30 cars did not recieve this transmission/shifter assembly unless the Heavy Duty 3 speed was optioned; this became the std transmission/shifter for all L78 & 455HO opted cars)
4- there is unknown number of '71 base/Esprit cars that came with this shifter;
5- No one lists this stuff on ebay;
6- No one brings this stuff to swap meets;
7- I only know of two Firebirds in existance that still have this shifter in place(!)

I have an vintage/NOS Hurst "mastershift" shifter that I probably paid too much for a couple years back... so if I should be able to get thnigs working... but it's still not the same as getting all the correct parts together(!) ~ I mean, it's not like most of these cars where if you wait long enough, the stuff shows up on eBay(!)

If I ever can find one, it will be truly worth it... but ATM, I really need to get the plans on repairing my car ironed out(!)

[roundportponchos]

the in pic(upper right corner) is for a 70. it's the same insert as a 69/70 wood knob..

Originally Posted by unruhjonny

2many;
that's a nice collection there!!
I don't have the red 4spd, or 71-75 4spd variants.
I stumbled upon an NOS 71-74(last year of 3spd floor shift) knob a couple years back, and if my memory serves me correctly my 70-red knob came from a '70 Formula that was parted out wayyy over a decade ago (the cars final owner found it stashed away in his garage!).

x-bird;
if you mean the dust skirt attached to the inner fender; my car came with them.

[roundportponchos]

I'm pretty sure the 70/1 four shifter handle w/o console carries a diff #... from later years, & console cars..

[Transamric]

URJ, this may be the dumbest post thant's been done in years, but here goes. Can not the 4 spd shifter be used on the Muncie 3 spd? The third shifter lever, which on a 4 spd would be for reverse, would just not be used. The rods & trans arms from the 3 spd should hook up just fine. I'm sure that's not what you're looking for, but might hold you over for a while.

[unruhjonny]

Originally Posted by Transamric

URJ, this may be the dumbest post thant's been done in years, but here goes. ...

I actually though of this...
If I were in a real pinch I could probably do this... but I'd kinda rather not...
I'd hate to goof a shift because I went for a gear that literally wasn't there!

correct.

I actually neglected to mention this(!)

70/71 w/console part number (used for all 72-78 Firebird 4 spd applications): #7244
70/71 w/o console part number #7945
70/71 w/o console part number (used in error on some Firebirds, as this was actually a Camaro shifter arm) #7433