[Formulabruce]

My '72 T/A automatic, Lucy blue, had painted front spoiler, welting was, or seemed to be a molded color though.
I saw some white parts come into the dealership in '79..( not molded, Painted) Keep in mind there was probably more white T/A's made in second gen than any other color ( sorry Burt) Stocking white parts was basically no risk. I never saw them listed in parts manual, but there was a place for color designation ( if available) on the parts order cards.

[transam1972]

I know that some guys like the wheel wells filled with tire, so do I...but I do prefer a more stock look and parts, meaning to achieve that I am guessing that springs and different rims and tires are required, something I would never mess with...I opted for GM 15 X 7 honeycomb rims (original were RallyII,which I have) and an idea suggested by NJSTEVE that I never would have thought of...but I gratefully used...BFG 245 in front and BFG 255 in the rear...the car has a definite attitude now!!..nothing disturbed me more than seeing T/As in the 70s with Cragers or Keystones with oversized tires with air shocks and whatever else they used to jack them up! or sidepipes or better yet...rear window louvers! (gotta protect that package tray)...I figured the owners of these clown mobiles new nothing of the whole idea of the TRANS AM being an engineered handling car and by doing what they did ruined the whole concept of the car...I guess you had to live through it, to remember it!

[Norwood]

mine has 245s in front and 255s out back...and I have an attitude

[transam1972]

in your photo your wells are filled nice...a different brand of tire perhaps?...I have the original springs in front...in 90 I changed the rears with new, exact same leaf springs because first off, its easy, and second I thought it a good idea?...I know some people might think the more modern Pro Tour look is in but there is too much involved I believe and deviating from stock..but in real life, if you were to see this car, and I will say it again, a tip from NJSTEVE and that one size difference front to rear gives this Firebirds beak down and tail up serious attitude and by using those sizes there is no trying to squeeze the wrong size in and having rubbing issues..I will follow your lead anytime!!

[transam1972]

it was a landmark day in the poor mans garage!!...fellow PY forum member necd3 stopped by and showed me that first off, I am looking in the wrong spot for the SR block numbers...but he did agree there were no numbers on the front of the block..where they should be..I did show him the cast numbers near the distributor that meant 1973 or something...by the way,he knew these numbers off the top of his head..I was telling him that as far as I can determine, it is a SR block and SR heads..but then he says to me that that's not necessarily so..that some one could have put a G.T.O. engine in it or maybe just the heads...as I was beginning to loose my cool, I thought briefly of asking him to get out of my garage and leave..after all I have owned the car since 1985...purchased from the original female owner...I have learned something on this forum regarding it being a SR block and heads...I just cant find the SR # bit...but your telling me that it could be that its a 455 H.O., just out of another car, like a GOAT...my brain at this point is doing the Robby the Robot from Forbidden Planet when Robbys circuits in his dome head start to go on overload,then self destruct...fortunately I thought things out and my fellow PYer got his flashlight, as a distraught self could not find mine...he got under the car and praise God Almighty said, "Oh, here it is"..and I am like, 'Wait, let me get a pen to take this all down,' as I run into the house..when I returned...nedcb3 allowed me the honor of climbing under the car with his torch to read off the elusive designation SR 81139...my Indiana Jones moment of the day..so there it is..so it is a great day after all and Dave I am happy you stopped by and I met you..Dave knows how to figure out these numbers in his head and he has a 72 T/A to...I hope you stop by this thread and tell everyone how I never lost my cool..even when you were alluding to a used, non matching # engine in my car..what a day..I need a valium..

[Formulabruce]

This "may" blow some folks mind when I say it.. Some cars ARRIVED at dealerships with a SR engine. "Gasp" there its been said.. When you do a sign off on delivery, VIN is checked among other things, BUT when you did a "set up" back then you VERIFIED the numbers for the "protetco plate" . Earlier cars used a sort of reverse "DYMO" numbering machine on the card so it could be placed in a credit card type roller to push the carbon paper on the R/O's for warranty work, or scheduled work. Later we still verified the numbers, but the protecto plates changed to a flat one. I saw a few come in with SR engines, Firebirds, Camaros.. COPO Police package cars too. This was most likely done in the "unfinished" car lot/garages, which at Norwood was a huge place. SO, there are protecto plates out there with SR engine numbers on them....Its NOT going to be common, but it did happen...I am NOT saying yours was, but just offering an observation from the 70's...

[necdb3]

Sorry Glenn, I didn't realize I wound you up so tight. There's only 1 way of finding out what it is and that's by looking at what's in there. Thank God it was an SR Huh! I wouldn't say that the heads are SR, they are just heads that were manufactured after the build date of your car, which would make sense with the engine being replaced in 1973 with heads on it.
It was great meeting you today and seeing your car. I really appreciate you giving me the part. If there's anything you need or need to see my car as a reference let me know. I will look to see if I can find the bracket for holding the evap line.

Now, Get that car back together!!

Dave

Originally Posted by transam1972

it was a landmark day in the poor mans garage!!...fellow PY forum member necd3 stopped by and showed me that first off, I am looking in the wrong spot for the SR block numbers...but he did agree there were no numbers on the front of the block..where they should be..I did show him the cast numbers near the distributor that meant 1973 or something...by the way,he knew these numbers off the top of his head..I was telling him that as far as I can determine, it is a SR block and SR heads..but then he says to me that that's not necessarily so..that some one could have put a G.T.O. engine in it or maybe just the heads...as I was beginning to loose my cool, I thought briefly of asking him to get out of my garage and leave..after all I have owned the car since 1985...purchased from the original female owner...I have learned something on this forum regarding it being a SR block and heads...I just cant find the SR # bit...but your telling me that it could be that its a 455 H.O., just out of another car, like a GOAT...my brain at this point is doing the Robby the Robot from Forbidden Planet when Robbys circuits in his dome head start to go on overload,then self destruct...fortunately I thought things out and my fellow PYer got his flashlight, as a distraught self could not find mine...he got under the car and praise God Almighty said, "Oh, here it is"..and I am like, 'Wait, let me get a pen to take this all down,' as I run into the house..when I returned...nedcb3 allowed me the honor of climbing under the car with his torch to read off the elusive designation SR 81139...my Indiana Jones moment of the day..so there it is..so it is a great day after all and Dave I am happy you stopped by and I met you..Dave knows how to figure out these numbers in his head and he has a 72 T/A to...I hope you stop by this thread and tell everyone how I never lost my cool..even when you were alluding to a used, non matching # engine in my car..what a day..I need a valium..

[transam1972]

no problem DAVE!..its all good...my post accident meds are working just fine now...I think I handled it well on the outside..and look, I have managed some pics in case any PYers think I am making this stuff





up!!

[transam1972]

this is the original, unrestored engine turned dash...originally I wanted a 70 to 73 Z-28...until I saw the TRANS AM...the 1970 ad when it looks as though you are sitting in the drivers seat..the engine turned instrument panel, the Formula wheel, the shaker hood, fender vents ,air dams, front & rear spoiler and that big blue stripe...not only on the hood & deck lid..but the roof!!..all the add on's and put on's had me sold..and the only car maker my parents would loan me the money for...General Motors...the ad shows chrome bezels and it is that chrome on chrome look that I prefer the most..1970 & 71 Trans Ams (not every one) received the chrome..1972 & later were black...I had an extra set from my destroyed 1976 T/A so I sent my originals out in 1987 to Mr Gs chroming...thanks to PY member BLUE71T/A I found out the inside of the bezel is black..most likely masked off prior to chroming..since mine were fully chromed, I am masking them off and sraying them with a flat black for an original appearance...was this chrome look discontinued for safety (glare) or cost?

[transam1972]

by 1981 I had already changed my 1976 considerably to a 1972 using new GM parts..I thought it a good idea to order 2 more sets of the blue stripe for whatever my hoarding reasons..actually I was afraid that I would never be able to get it again..and for many years this was true...anyway I do have 2 sets of everything except the roof..as I recall only 1 was available...did I buy the last one???

[transam1972]

if 1973 bumper upgrades had not happened would the upper inner fender die have not changed?...a revision was also made to the hood hinge mounting as cage nuts were replaced by u-nuts..I recall noticing those differences in 1990 when comparing the new vs the old fender...I felt the u -nuts would give me more adjustment in the flushness of the hood to fender..it would never have occurred to me to disassemble a fender for asthetics and possibly down grading the part..I have yet to see this done to an N.O.S. fender...but this practice leads to later made fenders being passed off as original..only a certain amount of 70 to 72 fenders were made..the die changed, and then the later style till the







end of the production run

[2manyT/A'S]

Without the 73 bumper revision,I really doubt the fenders would have been changed...

Don't forget,the F-cars were a "dying platform" at that point.

The 73 rad support to fender brace was actually there to support the new heavier 73 bumper rebar....the next year...for 74 .......the flat bar was actually shortened and did NOT tie into the bumper mount.

The weld nuts for hood hinge mounts were not incorporated into production until the the late 70's......and it was strictly a "cost saving" change....a self attaching j-clip was cheaper AND faster than a weld nut that needed to be welded....

[Norwood]

I have converted clip fenders to weld nut fenders

[transam1972]

does anyone feel that the u nut (so funny to say that) offers more adjustment than the fixed clip?..thats how I thought...after this I will never mention it again...been digging thru the archives..stay tuned for this next post...back in the day!!

[transam1972]

[Norwood]

No, they just put unsitly holes in the fender

[Norwood]

Nice pics Glenn

[transam1972]

[SD73]

Lovin' the old pics, Glenn!

[transam1972]

thanks!!..hard to imagine that its over 30 years and I did prefer a world without cell phones and I am on the fence on this internet thing...and I am just as goodlooking and retained my girlish figure