PHS Documents
 

I ordered the PHS docs on a new to me 1980 TA. What I got was a little disappointing. The car is a 1 family owner and is original. The PHS docs have no info on them, other than the color of the car and a few options like the WS6. No mention of axle ratio, engine size etc. I know the car came with a 301 due to the VIN having a W. Was there no codes listed on the build sheet for other options like power trunk release, Trans Codes and Rear Codes in 1980?
I have ordered for the GTO's I have and it was all spelled out on the build sheet. This also says it came with Black Hobnail interior but the seats are the Deluxe Vinyl.
Kinda a waste on this car for the money spent.

If it's a Norwood car look for the original build sheet behind the back seat. Those cars came with a 3.08 gear. What they sent you should have had the build date any option not standard on the car.

Unfortunately the build sheets are not there. It is a Norwood car and it does have a 3.08 posi rear coded PQ.

You didn't receive a build sheet. The only records Pontiac retained are dealer invoices used to bill the dealers and they only list cost/credit options beyond what was standard equipment on the vehicle. These are the records that PHS now has. Build sheets were used to assemble the vehicle at the factory and either left hidden in the car somewhere, or trashed at the end of the assembly line or during dealer PDI when the vehicle was delivered.

GM didn't start retaining detailed vehicle build information and RPO codes until the 1990 model year, which can still be accessed electronically on the GM Global Connect Dealer World mainframe system.

By the sound of it your 1980 Trans Am is a sparsely optioned car. My own 1971 Trans Am was only ordered with 4 options - deluxe interior, center console, AM front speaker radio and automatic transmission.

I realize it wasn't a build sheet, bad wording on my part. Actually the car is optioned pretty well, WS6 with rear disc, power windows, cruise, tilt, lamp group, rear defrost, A/C, door edge guards, side moldings, optional drip moldings, delay wipers, lamp group, soft ray tint, front and rear mats and deluxe interior. and custom trim group B18.

I guess I am used to the PHS docs for GTO's that have engine codes, trans codes, rear gear etc on them.

Does it include option codes?
And annoying highlighter everywhere?

No. that is what I didn't see. I got a General Spec sheet on all Firebirds but nothing highlighted on options on this one.

Perhaps the info was invomplete, or just not included. Others have occasionally had issues with their particular vehicle records. But you'd expect they told you if that were the case, get in touch with them.

Can you post a pic of the PHS?

Seems strange to not have the info there.

:confused:

My friend, Kevin McKinley, got the PHS stuff on his recently acquired '79 T/A this morning.

It verified what we suspected, that it is a WS7 car. But it also is lacking information about the rear gearing and such.

It also had some generic spec sheet that is not even accurate, showing that "Special Performance Trans Am" came with 255/70R15 tires! Like they would put a 29" tall tire on such a car...

Funny, because I saw the 255/70R15 tire size listed on the generic sheet and wondered as well and my order sheet shows WS6 special performance package.
The info I received from PHS wasn't much help as I could see all the visible options. Had to climb under it to get the axle code off the tube.

I'll check the sheet I got from PHS on my 81 about 15 years ago tonight and see what sheets it came with.

78 I found 2 build sheets one taped on the firewall when I took delivery and one under the front seat springs.

My 79 Camaro/IA had one on top of the gas tank

Mike, Regret to hear the info on the PHS was lacking, have you checked above the gas tank? Years ago, i pulled 3 build sheets out of my '80 Turbo SE, its an early Van Nuys car, but I've pulled more than one out of Norwood built T/A's & Formulas of this era.

On an '80 T/A, all will have a TH350. "Believe" lockup TH350's in 301 T/A's began on '81 models, know the '80 LU8 turbo cars didn't get a lockup up convertor, but it's been too long since I've worked on an '80 W72 301 T/A. Rear gear ratio wouldn't be noted on an invoice copy, the rearend code would be listed on an original build sheet.

Invoice copy should note whether the W72 301 engine was optioned. With the 3.08 geared rear, I would bet the W72 301 option was checked off. Of the W VIN code 301 engined '80 T/A's I've parted, the base 301 W cars were easy to spot; original crossflow muffler cars, no ESC grommet on the firewall are the telltale. With factory AC, the base 301 engine cars were saddled with a high ratio #9 carrier & 2.41's. Lower gear ratios 2.73's & 3.08's were the norm under the W72 301 T/A's.

It's unfortunate there is not a lot of quality info on the web in respect to the '80 model T/A's with the W coded 301's. That info, as well as a production breakdown of the base (L37) engine cars & the W72 301 engined equipped cars.

The W72 301's exhaust was the same as a turbo car; had a Y pipe & twin exhaust pipes with a small muffler on each side before the axle, then back to splitter tail pipe extensions. Turbo cars & '80 W72 cars had Electronic Spark Control with a 7 wire harness going through the cowl to the small ESC box in the very far front of the console. Lower ratio gearing, a different calibrated TH350, as well a specific HEI & the '80 301 W72 Q-jet (17080270) was used on the 301 W72 optioned T/A.

As far as other options go, factory AC was very common. PW & door locks were also fairly common. Additional acoustic insulation was ordered on quite a few '80's & 81's. I ordered it on my '80, & a few years later ripped all of it out when preparing for weld in subframe connectors. Saved over 40 lbs ripping the junk out.

If an '80 or '81 T/A was optioned with AC & rear grid type defroster, & halogen headlights, the HD (15SI) alt was required. This 70 amp alt used its own set of Alt/PS brackets. Quite a few of us ordered the radio accommodation pkg in '79-81 Birds & installed our own higher quality stereo. A dash speaker in each corner was first avail on Firebirds for 1980, but one had to order a factory Delco stereo to be able to order the small speakers in the dash. Hope this helps.

Wow, I should have sent you my $80..... Great info. Thank you.

I’m not defending PHS by no means, Pretty High Services, I did mine years ago when it was 35$. It doesn’t call out things like a rear end. PHS is not a build sheet.
Many think it is or a build sheet comes with it. It’s a window sticker copy. Mine calls out 13 options. Way more on the Build Sheet At $85 it’s a joke. I got a pic of a 77 with my 78. Piss poor copy quality of most of the packet. At $85 an hour you should get more info and a better quality than a cheap kinko copy quality

Well now they email it to you and you have to print it off yourself. And you don't even get the crappy picture! My GTO's had all the options listed out and highlighted along with the engine codes, trans codes, rear ratio etc. I just thought they were still doing it the same way. It's not even a window sticker copy. Those at least have the rear end ratio on them. Guess I was thinking since it had been 20 years since I ordered the last 3 they would be a little better not worse. Rant Over!

there is no way jim can know the codes unless it is something that is mandated with a certain extra cost option which is what the phs sheet shows. if you think $85 is not worth it go ask the chevy and other guys what they would give to have absolute documentation on their cars. it just amazes me someone would gripe about it.

Well I was asking why the codes show up highlighted on all my GTO PHS docs but nothing on the TA. Funny how I send a VIN on 3 GTO's and they all come back with engine codes, trans codes, rear codes etc but I send one in on a 80 model car and get a generic sheet with nothing highlighted. Wasn't gripping.
If you don't like what I have to say-- pound sand and don't reply.

1st it seems you probably have all BHC's (billing history card) since your cars are older. They did give the actual engine code and rear end info plus other things.
The later PHS' like from 1968 to about 1977? maybe were the ones I'm familiar with and most here are probably familiar with.
They did not give the actual engine codes or rear end gear info. It is 'implied'.
Certain codes were used for models, so if it was an upgrade, it would show the upgraded sales code which PHS would highlight on the extra sheets.
This would have certain codes which would determine what it came with.

The late PHS' were different than the previous ones.

Here is a copy of a 1980 Firebird. (not mine)


http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1615977507


That is why I asked for yours.
We could explain the info and probably answer everything you need.


:)

Thanks John. I added the dealer info to your site. I attached the billing info sheet. I did find out the dealer put the gold stripes on the car.
The one I have has power deck lid release but no shown on billing statement,car is pretty much original one family owner so I don't think it was added. I am not sure if the hood bird was added at the dealer or not as my sheet does not show it.