[68ragtop]

Originally Posted by Alvin

Norwood Build - "1978 Y88 Gold Special Edition Trans Am (Brian's Y88)"
http://www.firebirdtransamparts.com/...ns_am_page.htm

I recall seeing the picture of the T/A backed up to the fence before. Im guessing this picture & story has been out there fro at least 10 years? great story behind it.

It so true how in those stories (especially the first one) where the owner thought nothing of changing the engine. That doesn't surprise me at all. I would have done the same thing. I am not sure if i knew vin numbers were stamped on engine blocks, & surely didn't care if it stayed original back then.

[Alvin]

I've been digging into my archives searching for the build sheet of a '78 W72 Auto non-WS6 TA I parted out in the '80s. Although not a y88 (Martinique Blue) it WAS an Auto W72 400 Pontiac TA.
As I recall, it did NOT have the blacked out rear taillight bezels like my then daily driver Martini '78 400 Auto (non-W72) which was a late yr build...so the X7 Auto was an early build.
IIRC - taillight black paint was begun sometime around June of '78 as a prelude to the '79 smoke blackout taillight treatment. Yes?

Couple of yrs ago I drove to N. TX and bought a complete carb to oil pan X7 W72 Auto 400 Pontiac TA engine...which is still in the inventory. Fun researching what makes them special and often overlooked Pontiac Performance engines.

Check this W72 related blog out http://phscollectorcarworld.blogspot...codes-and.html

[David Holmberg]

Here is my contribution to the Y88 party.
WS6, W72, Auto with every option except CB.
I bought it 6 months old, went 15.10 bone stock, 14.80's with 74 headpipes into the stock resonators. Later I installed a 455 that went low 13's on street tires from 1980.

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by David Holmberg

Here is my contribution to the Y88 party.
WS6, W72, Auto with every option except CB.
I bought it 6 months old, went 15.10 bone stock, 14.80's with 74 headpipes into the stock resonators. Later I installed a 455 that went low 13's on street tires from 1980.

GR8 stuff. Pretty good ET's IMO. FWIW: They match my '78 W72 4-spd ETs 15.12 & 14.89 totally stock except no cat and "old school" H-Pipe duals w splits...times in '97

Thxs for the pix too. Curious, Couple of Q's:

* In the 2nd posted pix, what does the from license "T/A plate" say in it's intirety?

* Your mention of Resonators, the W72 Auto I parted out had factory Y-pipe w cat replacement "test tube" out to dual factory resonator pipes and splitters. Resonators only - NO mufflers. -- Same on your new Y88 W72 Auto - resonators only, no Muffs?

Noted Shaker in Black or Brown Metalic?

[David Holmberg]

The plate read BAD TA.

Yes, factory twin resonators, no mufflers. I worked at a parts store after school and noticed in the books that the 70-74 head pipes looked like they would fit perfect, and they did.

I bought a factory black shaker, just liked the contrast. Plus it made the car stand out against the other gold TA's in town.

[62cat]

Heres ours I found it laying on a side street in central jersey. 42,000 miles had original paint and very little rust. Just had to repair lower right 1/4 where a rag was stuffed between and a small spot in t-roof channel. Im in the process of reassembling now. Going to have it on the Bandit run this year. I also have all the original paperwork dealer invoice trade in and down payment info.

[3tas4me]

Originally Posted by David Holmberg

Here is my contribution to the Y88 party.
WS6, W72, Auto with every option except CB.
I bought it 6 months old, went 15.10 bone stock, 14.80's with 74 headpipes into the stock resonators. Later I installed a 455 that went low 13's on street tires from 1980.

Considering the time period they were built, W72's really run great!

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by 62cat

Heres ours I found it laying on a side street in central jersey. 42,000 miles had original paint and very little rust. Just had to repair lower right 1/4 where a rag was stuffed between and a small spot in t-roof channel. Im in the process of reassembling now. Going to have it on the Bandit run this year. I also have all the original paperwork dealer invoice trade in and down payment info.

Looks great.
Interested in your cars build date since I'm assuming this photo (below) of the rear tail light surrounds have been repainted Black to match the originals instead of body color, yes?



Edit: is that a white 1962 Catalina in front of your Y88?

[62cat]

I will post all that info dont have it with me now. 62 sedan is mine also, been a slow going project that should of been done long ago.

[David Holmberg]

Originally Posted by 3tas4me

Considering the time period they were built, W72's really run great!

Anytime you can run with, or best the current top Corvette you know you're doing OK for the time. I raced many new L82 vettes and always won, some were very close, but I always won.

My Y88 ran right with, but always edged out a friends 70 RA III TA.

[2manyT/A'S]

T93 Black Tailamp trim was introduced prior to mid year....

My records show late Dec/early January 78.......it will be on your build sheet if your car came with them....

[62cat]

came with black trim. My son taped it off exactly as the factory did when we redid the car.

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by 2manyT/A'S

T93 Black Tailamp trim was introduced prior to mid year....

My records show late Dec/early January 78.......it will be on your build sheet if your car came with them....

Originally Posted by 62cat

came with black trim. My son taped it off exactly as the factory did when we redid the car.

Thxs for the reminder heads up. My '78 W72 4spd (non-Y88 ) Van Nuys cowl tag is stamped:

- 03C for Build Date of 03=March and C= 3rd Week...so Third Week of March 1978.

Looking @ build sheet only exterior color shown COLOR is 24 (Martinique Blue) for box 77 - 24N, Box 79 24 upper / lower, Since this is a 24X "Big 4 Blue" ordered car interior is all blue w each build sheet box listed as blue EXCEPT Box 60 "STRNG COL & COLOR" WL BLK (Steering Wheel and Column is black.)

I would assume all OEM Y88 builds would be "Camel Tan" like our Norwood '79 Y84, yes? IIRC the Y88 column and steering wheel are painted camel tan, instead of the way our standard '78 T/A's Black wheel and column.

Feel free to correct me where wrong relating to Y88s, etc. here.

The Takeaway: General direction I'm going with this is attempting to nail down a WAG as to availability of Y88 with W72 Auto and Black Out tail bezels. Was it too late to have both on a Y88 W72 Automatic?

[2manyT/A'S]

I don't believe that ANY Y88's were built without T93's..............

As I recall,Y88's were the FIRST Trans am offered with an interior colored column and wheel.....in 79,most if not ALL were color keyed to interior color....

[David Holmberg]

Alvin, I agree with 2many, all Y88's came with the blacked out taillights.
Also every single Y88 I've seen came with tan interior, but I've seen basic and deluxe seats.

I was working at a Pontiac dealer during that timeframe, after school and weekends.

[Alvin]

Thank You, and there it is indeed on the buildsheet "T93 BLK TAIL LAMP" for our '78.

For more conversation as to W72 / Auto availability and build dates in 1978 Trans Am Y88s here's a source for review:

http://nyghtwyngs.com/fileup/uploads...alsW72File.pdf

Although not conclusive as to actual W72 Y88 dates and build numbers, it is a source that adds to the topic and for discussion.

[3tas4me]

Originally Posted by David Holmberg

Alvin, I agree with 2many, all Y88's came with the blacked out taillights.
Also every single Y88 I've seen came with tan interior, but I've seen basic and deluxe seats.

I was working at a Pontiac dealer during that timeframe, after school and weekends.

X2!

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by 62cat

came with black trim. My son taped it off exactly as the factory did when we redid the car.

Originally Posted by 2manyT/A'S

I don't believe that ANY Y88's were built without T93's..............

As I recall,Y88's were the FIRST Trans am offered with an interior colored column and wheel.....in 79,most if not ALL were color keyed to interior color....

Originally Posted by David Holmberg

Alvin, I agree with 2many, all Y88's came with the blacked out taillights.
Also every single Y88 I've seen came with tan interior, but I've seen basic and deluxe seats.

I was working at a Pontiac dealer during that timeframe, after school and weekends.

Originally Posted by 3tas4me

X2!

Originally Posted by ramair

Mike, Everything you need to know about a Y88

http://www.78ta.com/goldspecial.php

"On the Y88 Gold Special Edition cars, the tail lamps were paint black. This was a change made in the 1978 production model year. Prior to this change, the tail lamps were painted the same color of the body, but this changed to black in 1978. (see Bulletin below)"





*Early Y88 build sheet - January 13, 1978
http://www.78ta.com/images/1978sebuild1.jpg

*Late Y88 build sheet - July 20, 1978
http://www.78ta.com/images/Y88latebuildsheet.jpg

* Edit Note: "T93" designated on both "Hitman www.78ta.com" provided Y88 build sheets.
Why does it matter? Many Gold 1978 TA's are listed as "Special Editions" BC they are Solar Gold...and NOT Y88s.

[68ragtop]

Another thing I was always curious about is my W72 Automatic car, doesn't have the "ratchet" style floor shifter. I had thought that came with the W72 package?

Not sure on that one, but thought it was interesting.....

[2manyT/A'S]

I think that was a "hit and miss" thing in the later years....a buddy of mine has a 78 WS6 base engine T/A that also never came with one...