[stevesbirds]

2 owner, Museum car?

https://www.mecum.com/lots/1077518/1...h-anniversary/

Someone's 2nd chance here.

[necdb3]

I think this sold in the last few years.

[Lightfoot]

As hyped as the TA/TA was when it came out, you would think PMD would have had the courtesy to put chrome valve covers on the 403 version.
Which has me asking, did they even have chrome valve covers on the 400?

GM bean counters....

[Scarebird]

Was the radio bezel color coded gray for TATA's?

[w72]

Only the 400ci W72 4-speed cars would have gotten chrome valve covers in 1979.

[TAKerry]

Originally Posted by Lightfoot

As hyped as the TA/TA was when it came out, you would think PMD would have had the courtesy to put chrome valve covers on the 403 version.
Which has me asking, did they even have chrome valve covers on the 400?

GM bean counters....

Yes.

This may have been the car that sold for something like 200k previously. The price of T/A's have been rising as of late but not sure the value of this one has gone up any. Curious to see what it will go for. Beautiful car. I too was wondering about the radio bezel? I have looked at a lot of these over the years and never noticed that until seeing this car. The car looks legit, but the odometer looks kinda wonky? I would not expect all of the numbers to be off centre as much as they are. After seeing the opinion on the 'black ghost' I dont believe anything thats at auction now (and I only believed about half of what I saw before).

[burd]

I know a guy who has 2 low mile investment 10th’s. Always hated the Tata thing.

[napster]

I remember seeing a 10th go off on BAT in '22 with approx. 1,300 miles on it with the 403 auto combo go for 84K. This one should get at least 150K.

I have seen many '79's with the odometer misaligned. Both with and without cruise control.

[Lightfoot]

Originally Posted by TAKerry;

but the odometer looks kinda wonky?

Is it ever.
Five black digits are paused at halfway between 99900 and 00011
Yet the tenths digit is between 3 and 4. That just ain't right.
Seems the only way it could get there is to go backwards, or have 100011 actual miles.

[unruhjonny]

Originally Posted by Lightfoot

As hyped as the TA/TA was when it came out, you would think PMD would have had the courtesy to put chrome valve covers on the 403 version.
Which has me asking, did they even have chrome valve covers on the 400?

GM bean counters....

to accurately answer your question, you would need to ask another question;

Q: Why did the W72 engine get chrome valve covers?

(Keep in mind that the 1979 W72 engines were all 1978 engines put aside for the 1979 model year.)

For 1977 through 1978 the W72 400 engines were the only ones to get chrome valve covers, and it was done (as i have understood it) as the sole visual cue that you were looking at the "400-HO" of those years.

So the only reason why 1979 400's have chrome valve covers, is because those being 1978 engines, that was done to differentiate from the "standard" 400 of the same year.

If you look at the 403, there was nothing (as far as I'm aware) which differentiated it from a 403 destined for a (oh let's say) Delta 88.

[Trevor78]

Originally Posted by Scarebird

Was the radio bezel color coded gray for TATA's?

#10009339 grey for TATA

1979 TATA grey radio bezel 10009339 (2) by Ben, on Flickr

[unruhjonny]

/\ that's grey?

[Trevor78]

Originally Posted by unruhjonny

to accurately answer your question, you would need to ask another question;
If you look at the 403, there was nothing (as far as I'm aware) which differentiated it from a 403 destined for a (oh let's say) Delta 88.

I missed the point of this subject but yes, the main 403 (and 350 Olds) were setup in such a way with accessory studs to cater for most line-ups and their specific brackets or fittings. So a 403 in a 79 TA has head bolt studs and water pump studs with nothing to mount on them due to different brackets for the F-bodies. Individual fittings and arrangement also changed due to model or requirements. On F-body, for example, they used a heater hose restrictor fitting in the intake when every other Olds vehicle used heater tap valve. Due to the bracket arrangement the oil sender for gauge on every other Olds used a brass adaptor block in the front for oil sender to screw director into, F-body used the tube to mount it across near the other head for clearance of different brackets.

Likewise, by the time of these corporate engines they no longer had different length water pumps for AirCon or HD options, they all used the long one and had different pulleys instead, which not only catered for options but the introduction of smog pumps requiring yet another belt or arrangement. These weren't Firebird specific, rather changed in such a way that the basic engine as supplied could suit everything it was offered in with simple bolt-ons.

[Trevor78]

Originally Posted by unruhjonny

/\ that's grey?

It sure ain't black! Hard to tell unless next to one perhaps. Both part numbers of Black and Grey are cast into the backs of the 78-81 radio bezels, at least, once the TATA part was known about. Clearly the front is painted Grey to match and not moulded in the correct shade as per back.

Judging by the black map pocket insert, shifter boot and various other trim, I think the regular black radio bezel would look fine. The TATA didn't have enough contrast with all the grey in the cabin.

Pics are playing up, showing full size when often minimised to suit page, and smaller pics stretched to match.

1979 TATA grey radio bezel 10009339 (3) by Ben, on Flickr

1979 TATA grey radio bezel 10009339 (1) by Ben, on Flickr

Radio 8track stereo 79 TA by Ben, on Flickr

[muscle_collector]

not trying to be a jerk or anything, but the valve covers from 77-79 were nickel plated not chrome

[unruhjonny]

i believe that they were in fact chrome, but a different type of chrome which created a pebbling effect;
nickle looks a fair share darker than chrome.

but the actual finish wasn’t what was the root of discussion, it was the assertion the GM was being cheap for offering the more common engine on the TATA without chromed valve covers.