Topic: what makes the car a W72?

[1onehotTA]

      My car has not the original engine, however the engine code comes up as W72, but my vin is 2W87Z8N168939 is there a way to tell from that if the car is a W72 or is it just the engine that makes it a W72.

[Joker (§ir£Ğragon)]

Right, the W72 was a better equipped 400 engine. The only place that you will find that info documented would be the build sheet I believe. But if your engine had the matching VIN down low on the front, pass of the block and has the W72 engine code then I'd say that would tell you.

[ta78w72]

It's a Pontiac 400 with the W72 Performance Package...which basically is a specially built 400 that produced 200 HP (1977) or 220 HP (78 and 79) versus 180 HP for the standard 400 engine.

Here's the link that will lead you to a paper written by John Witzke.  He's probably the most knowledgeable about this engine.
http://www.78ta.com/w72.htm

The easiest way to tell the difference is the W72 had chrome valve covers and the standard engine had pontiac blue valve covers.  And, beginning in 1978, the W72 had the plastic piece that attached to the aircleaner which was about an inch by four inches connector for the air duct versus the round four inch air horn of the standard engine.

[Rick]

Here's the link that will lead you to a paper written by John Witzke. 

Oops!  Somehow the link got lost...

[ta78w72]

It's there now....

[Rick]

Thanks!

[RENOVATIONS]

PHS documents will also tell you if your car originally came with the W72 400...VIN on car will not indicate it though.

[S76GUY]

Hey By the way
Where has John been anyway.
Haven't seen or heard from him in a long time.
Tony T