Author Topic: L78 with 4 speed ? (Read 5548 times)

sparwood · « **on:** June 15, 2006, 11:03:33 PM »

bought a 78T/A , in what i have read here and on other sites the car i bought has a manual transmission; made in second week of march 78 , want to know if it has a W72 because of this or were some L78 made with 4speeds before the factory only allowed four speeds with W72s. :?:

HughJass · « **Reply #1 on:** June 16, 2006, 06:45:12 AM »

It should say on your build sheet if it is the w72 or not

John Witzke · « **Reply #2 on:** June 16, 2006, 08:36:28 AM »

All 1978 4-speed manual transmission 400-cid's were W72's. No base L78 engines with 4-speed manual transmissions were factory produced.

Solar78 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 16, 2006, 08:39:50 AM »

Also you can tell by the engine code stamp...

W72 Pontiac 400: X7, WC

sparwood · « **Reply #4 on:** June 16, 2006, 10:28:07 AM »

thanks guys, don`t have build sheet and am having hard time finding #`s where they are supposed to be, hope to get to car today and look some more. having read your article John didn`t know if maybe some had slipped through or not , thanks again.

ta78w72 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 16, 2006, 01:43:45 PM »

Without looking at the engine codes (which you should do), you can get an idea of whether or not it's a W72 engine by the chrome valve covers, and the plastic air intake piece that fits on the air clener (the standard engine doesn't have that piece).

If you're just picking up the car, ask the guy if the car has the original carburetor. If not, ask him if he has it laying around somewhere....they're really hard to find.

sparwood · « **Reply #6 on:** June 16, 2006, 04:21:42 PM »

got to car today and I knew the trans was not stock as it was changed to a 3 spd some time ago , but now believe eng, is not stock as the numbers I found on block are what looks like a " C " to start or a poorly stamped "0" . C009531 and underneath it the letters YX . the carb #`s are 7043251 RB 351 also. The car has a factory looking set of pedals so maybe the BW T-10 and W72 are long gone . Also have access to second eng, with block #`s 0199323 YS , don`t know what thats out of originanly though . carb # 17080284 2499 CWZ . will start looking those #`s up now. thanks again.

Solar78 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 16, 2006, 04:28:15 PM »

Good luck with your new ride!!
Post some photos for us...

ta78w72 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 16, 2006, 07:50:22 PM »

That's not a W72 engine carb. Too bad you don't have the original engine and transmission. But look at it this way, if you had all original equipment you'd probably want to keep the car that way. Now that's it's not original you can do what you want and not worry about original. You'll have a great car.

Yeah, we need pictures!

Hitman · « **Reply #9 on:** June 16, 2006, 10:28:47 PM »

The YX code was either a 1970-71 Pontiac 400 automatic, or a 1973 Pontiac 400 automatic engine.

ta78w72 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 17, 2006, 07:56:16 AM »

Quote from: Hitman

The YX code was either a 1970-71 Pontiac 400 automatic, or a 1973 Pontiac 400 automatic engine.

The carburetor is for a 1970 model year.