Hitman's Pontiac Trans Am Forum
Trans Am Information => Trans Am Information => Topic started by: 1973Formula on July 17, 2008, 03:14:20 PM
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How can you determine the original transmission? I have the VIN. I have the PHS order sheet. I do not see any reference to the transmission? Do you have to have the build sheet?
Thanks,
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You should see the VIN (or partial) on the LH side of transmission case.
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I guess I should clarify. Did it have and auto or manual? This car has a clutch pedal and an auto shifter......
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If you have the PHS, it's listed on there as either auto (turbo hyd) or 4spd.
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I have the fax back doc which is hard to read, but it is basically the same sheet as this:
(http://www.78ta.com/413b56580.jpg)
I don't see any reference to the transmission.
-Tom
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That's odd...is yours a Y88 also? If so, they were all auto's IIRC.
Here's a PHS from a '76 and a '77...both show trans.
(http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n236/79ws6resto/77.jpg)
(http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n236/79ws6resto/76-1.jpg)
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Me neither and I dug mine out to see...
(http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m91/briangcc/build-sheet.jpg)
This is for my Y88, fyi.
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Nary a mention of transmission on either my invoice or window sticker for my 75 TA. IIRC the automatic was the option, the 4 speed was the default (standard) transmission. :-\
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That's because after about mid model year 1978, you could only get a four speed with the W72 package. Your car has the M21 4sp transmission. At least that's my guess on why it's not spelled out.
Nice car to have.
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Nary a mention of transmission on either my invoice or window sticker for my 75 TA.
Anything on your build sheet? ;D :D :D
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This is for a car I am looking at. I do not have the build sheet. The ship date on my PHS Docs is 7-18-78. I am thinking it had the 4-speed originally. It is easier to install an auto shifter than the clutch pedal. However, this isn't a W72 car so I am a little confused. Based on one of the production numbers pages, it should be a W72 if it had a 4-speed. Was it possible to have a 4-speed and one of the other two engines?
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By the way. The car is a Y88.
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This is for a car I am looking at. I do not have the build sheet. The ship date on my PHS Docs is 7-18-78. I am thinking it had the 4-speed originally. It is easier to install an auto shifter than the clutch pedal. However, this isn't a W72 car so I am a little confused. Based on one of the production numbers pages, it should be a W72 if it had a 4-speed. Was it possible to have a 4-speed and one of the other two engines?
OK, then I'm misunderstood you. The PHS says W72. The 403 only came with an automatic. The base 400 only came with an automatic.
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Sorry guys. That PHS isn't mine. Mine is below-
(http://)
[attachment deleted by admin over 90 Days old]
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Anything on your build sheet? ;D :D :D
At this point I'm convinced there was never one in there. At least I know it didn't blow off the car with the other parts while it was going down the road on the trailer... :D :D :D
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You would have had an automatic.
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Just to correct my mistake from above...didn't realize there were manual Y88's. It appears there were...just fairly rare.
So according to the PHS and the VIN on the car, is it a 400 or a 403 car originally? Or am I overlooking that?
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Engine VIN code is "Z". The clutch/brake pedal assembly is definitely odd. I will look for the build sheet when I get to the car.
Thanks for all the help.
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Here is a pic of the pedals and shifter.
[attachment deleted by admin over 90 Days old]
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How about a good clear pic of the hump under the shifter? Some of the guys might be able to tell since the hump would be either different or altered for a tranny swap. (Make sense?) It's hard to see but it appears that it has an auto trans hump, (to be honest I'm not sure an auto shifter would fit on a 4 spd hump) but can you tell if there's been any metal work done to that area? It's possible they were just starting to convert over to a 4 spd and got as far as installing the pedal assmbly.
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That would be my guess Larry IF the automatic shifter is original to the car. Based on the rust on the shifter mechanism I'd wager the car was originally an automatic.
The wiring in the pic has me a little concerned - it'll take a bit of work to straighten out what's showing as it looks like its been tapped into several times. But then again, we're dealing with a 30yr car and god knows how many owners.
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Here is the best shot of the trans hump. There appears to be a large hole cut in the left side of the hump just in front of the auto shifter.
[attachment deleted by admin over 90 Days old]
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Looks like the hole was cut for the manual shifter hump BUT was never attached. My hunch would be that someone started the 4spd conversion but lost interest before it was completed.
Again, this is based off the rust on the automatic shifter which seems to match that of what's on the floor making me think that the auto shifter is original to the car.
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That makes the most sense. I will know soon.
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If that indeed is your PHS documentation then the car didn't have the W72 engine. That would make it an automatic when it left the factory.
However, just a month ago I saw a gold 79 T/A with a four speed. I looked at the hump and it was an original four speed hump...no cutting. The rear end of the car was blue...the front end gold. The VIN indicated a "K". There was no engine in the car as they pulled it already and stored it inside. I didn't look at it so I couldn't determine if it was the olds engine or the 400. The moral of the story is these cars are 30 years old and lots of modifications are possible.
The only way to tell is to find the build sheet and compare it to the vin on the car and to the engine and transmission. If they all match, you know. If they don't you know somethings been changed.
Brian's probably nailed it though.
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Question: Is it possible that my car is a Y88, but that this information didn't make it to the build sheet? My car was originally solar gold, with gold interior, etc. Is it possible that this informaion might make it to a PHS dealer sheet, but not make it to the build sheet? The reason why I ask is that the cowl tag on my car is a bit..........odd..........but I do have the build sheet for the car and there is no refrence to a Y88 option.
Gunner
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No, the Y88 code would be very prominent on the sheet. My car is also an original Solar Gold with tan car but not a Y88.