Topic: Don't have a cowl, man!

[78trans1]

Sorry guys i'm not being lazy here, but it turns out i need help decoding my cowl tag. I

thought i had decoded it about a year ago, but a recent and closer inspection raised questions.

I have looked at Hitman's decode section and it looks like i'm missing codes. I don't have a ws4 and what is u3? What color is my interior? Blue? Heres my cowl:

ST 78  2FS87 L  193001

TR 24B  A51W24LW24U

04C U3 --  178961


Thanks.

[Hitman]

ST = Style
78 = 1978
2FS87 = Pontiac Firebird 2-Door Coupe
L = Built in Van Nuys California
193001 = Fisher Unit Number
TR = Trim
24B = Blue cloth interior
A51 = Bucket Seats
24L and 24U = Martinique Blue Upper and Lower Body Paint
W = Water based paint
04C = Built the third week of April
U3 = (Will have to look this one up)
178961 = Fisher Time/Date code

[78trans1]

Thanks Hitman! That u3 code is a little strange and how come the ws4 code is missing?

[78trans1]

Also, before i stripped the interior, it had Black door panels, black vinyl seats, and black carpet.

no indication of blue.

[logikfive]

WS4 is more than likely missing because it's Van Nuys built. My Van Nuys built T/A also does not have WS4.

[Hitman]

Yes, the different plants tsamped the cowl differently.  Another great co-ordination from Pontiac.

[78trans1]

So, How can i go about finding out what u3 means?

[78trans1]

Yes it does, Thanks Hammer! I had read that site about the time i aquired the car, Back then i

knew nothing of the car. Of course, now i need an answer and i didn't think to look there,

Thanks again.

[kyledyr]

my Van Nuys has a WS4 stamp.

are you sure it's a Trans Am and not just a Firebird?

[ta78w72]

It was a GM accessory code area on the Cowl Tags.  They used that specific area to put Z28 on the Cowl Tag for the 78 Camaro.  In 79 the Camaro had only a Z notation in that area to represent a Z28.

However, in Pontiac motors from Van Nuy's, CA it was called a "back Code".
Here is what I read about the U3 identifier back code and a link to the source where I found it;
"The other two engines in the line up were essentially carryover for 1978.
The automatic only 185 horsepower (RPO L80) 403 cubic inch Oldsmobile engine was back (coded U2, U3, VA, VB ) and still the only engine California and residents living in Government deemed high altitudes could order. The L78 Pontiac 400 was the base engine (coded YA or YU ), but now it's 180 hp could be combined with either an automatic or manual."
The site is:
http://www.iwaynet.net/~gl&lisk/1978ta.html is where I found this codes meaning.  You can look at it when you get a chance.

I am sure the Hitman would have gotten back to you in a few minutes on this one with the same answer if he were'nt so busy. Hope this helps answer your question. 

Hammer

Actually, the 403 wasn't the only engine you could get in California.  Also available was the chevy 350, engine code "L".  I'm not sure if a smaller V8 or a six was available too, they might have been.  And, I'm not sure if you could order a 350 in a Trans Am but you could on other models.  But there were no manual transmissions available in California. 

[ta78w72]

my Van Nuys has a WS4 stamp.

are you sure it's a Trans Am and not just a Firebird?

I think the body cowl is vanilla.  That is, all Firebirds got the same body by fisher.  So, there wouldn't be a "trans am", "formula", "esprit" or "firebird" designation on the body cowl.  That distinction is contained in the VIN.