The next project....1970 Trans Am 400

[jasonL78]

Well the driverside floor pan and toe board are in.(Pictures to follow) As I get into the car I find more issues as I expected... but I'm sure the owner isn't expecting. So after I joined the Pontiac forum they tell me the car has a 73 nose on it a 1 year only part. I'm like the original owner didn't tell me that. So I asked his friend, did he wreck the car at sometime. He said he sold the car and that guy wrecked it. Then it sat in a garage for 10 years before that guy put it back together. Then the original owner bought it back. I'm not even sure the original owner knows it was wrecked and has the wrong nose on it. I still have to break the news to him. I am going to replace the passenger side front floor pan it's a little thin and has a couple of holes. After I dropped the gas tank because it was leaking I found the trunk floor already has been patched. It needs a new truck pan thanks to the rubber trunk mat. At one time a skin was put onto the drivers side and poorly installed without replacing the outer wheel well or trunk drop off. This will all need to be replaced to do it correctly. He has the funds so I don't think it will be a problem. I just hate to give bad news.

[njsteve]

The extended beak portion of the urethane nose on the 73 is little different than the 70-72 nose. And the grill inserts are different as well, they don't fit flush to the opening and sit a couple inches back. The hood latch is also under the bumper on a 73 versus in the driver's side grill insert on a 70-72. All this had to do with the new for 1973 5-mph bumper laws. There is also about 50 pounds of extra steel bracing behind the nose piece on a 73. A 70-72 nose cone won't be that hard to find. Easier than finding a 73.

Post some underhood shots and I can tell you if they replaced the fenders as well.

Here's a 72, notice how the grills extend to the opening? Also, every year had a different grill insert with a different grate texture - 72 had the honeycomb grills.

[njsteve]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jasonL78</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Well the driverside floor pan and toe board are in.(Pictures to follow) As I get into the car I find more issues as I expected... but I'm sure the owner isn't expecting. So after I joined the Pontiac forum they tell me the car has a 73 nose on it a 1 year only part. I'm like the original owner didn't tell me that. So I asked his friend, did he wreck the car at sometime. He said he sold the car and that guy wrecked it. Then it sat in a garage for 10 years before that guy put it back together. Then the original owner bought it back. I'm not even sure the original owner knows it was wrecked and has the wrong nose on it. I still have to break the news to him. I am going to replace the passenger side front floor pan it's a little thin and has a couple of holes. After I dropped the gas tank because it was leaking I found the trunk floor already has been patched. It needs a new truck pan thanks to the rubber trunk mat. At one time a skin was put onto the drivers side and poorly installed without replacing the outer wheel well or trunk drop off. This will all need to be replaced to do it correctly. He has the funds so I don't think it will be a problem. I just hate to give bad news. </div></div>

Be very careful when buying the trunk floor and drop offs. A lot of suppliers incorrectly list the Camaro parts as correct when they are obviously not. Also, they try to sell the 1974 and up Firebird dropoffs as good for 70-73 when there are also not even close. If you want me to help you with parts selection I'd be happy to look at your shopping list. I can also guarantee you that it will need a tail panel (a one piece panel which includes the rear valance). They are always damaged and rusty. They only just started reproducing that part a year or so ago.

[jasonL78]

Thanks Steve I just ordered the trunk pan from a local rep so I hope it is correct. That is good to know about the trunk drop offs. From what I can see that rear tail panel looks good. But I do see some filler from a previous repaint.

[jasonL78]

I was already told it had a complete front nose because the fenders have ridges I guess but here you go steve.

Jason

[njsteve]

That is the entire front clip from a 73. Including radiator support, fenders, nose, grills. Probably the hood as well. Each year had its own hood, differentiated by the way the underside stampings were cut out. The 73 fenders differ from the 70-72 in that they have the two bolt mounting boss for those flat, steel reinforcement bars. They did use the 70-72 hood latch and jury-rigged it through the grill. The 73 used a cable setup because all of the 5-mph bracing got in the way.

The 70-72 radiator supports are impossible to find. They had a flat top without the two recesses for the 73-only, slab steel, fender reinforcement bars, that were also part of the 5 mph crash rules. Here is what it should look like:

[jasonL78]

Thanks Steve,

I haven't talked to the owner yet to see if he knows about the nose change. All good info to pass along to him.

[70TA]

I have a 70 radaitor support that needs some repair under the battery. PM me if you need it.