It is late 1972-Crush em if you got em.

[novadude]

So the '73 doors were the only thing that made the '72's "non-compliant"?

[njsteve]

The door beams were already in place from 1970. I thought it was the new for 1973, 5 mph bumper requirements as well as upgraded emissions systems? The 73 Firebirds have about 50 lbs more steel bracketry inside the nose. Also, the urethane nose itself is different though it appears very similar to the 70-72 noses to a casual observer. The grills are only half the depth of the 70 to 72 grills to allow for all that extra reinforcement. That is also why the hood release was relocated via a cable to the valance opening.

[70 copo]

Originally Posted by novadude

So the '73 doors were the only thing that made the '72's "non-compliant"?

The regulatory driver was (FMVSS 215), "Exterior Protection," which became effective on September 1, 1972 which required compliance with occupant protection to side impact to the doors which required the installation of large 22 pound beams (one in each door) and the needed internal reinforcement to the lock/striker area of the internal structure at the quarter panel.

The Government had previously provided exemptions to GM for extenuating circumstances...in the case of Norwood and the strike the Government was pressured to teach GM a lesson and when GM applied for the exemption it was denied. GM then tried to export the affected units to Canada which also failed.

in the end it was cheaper to crush them and clear the lines so 1973 production could get started.

[njsteve]

Interesting! So the door beams actually got bigger and heavier in 1973. No wonder Gramma gave us her 75 Firebird after a couple years. She said the doors were too darn heavy to pull closed for a little, old, 90 pound Lady.

[Tracker1]

Originally Posted by njsteve

Interesting! So the door beams actually got bigger and heavier in 1973. No wonder Gramma gave us her 75 Firebird after a couple years. She said the doors were too darn heavy to pull closed for a little, old, 90 pound Lady.

Yeah, 70s era F body doors gotta be the heaviest American door ever. Ugh, back-breaking.