[Bull]

Looking at a Solar Gold '78 TA. Car is described as a "W72 4-speed, WS6, 3.42 rear, Muncie M21". Ok, cool...what is a W72? These 2nd gen TAs seem to have a lot of codes that matter to people...Y84 and Y88 and all that, but what are they, and what is W72? Is it somehow desireable? How much value does the 4 speed add to the car?

[1Bad78zam]

W72 was the option code for the 6.6 pontiac motor. It was the highest rated hp motor for that year. 220 if memory serves me corrctly.

[2manyT/A'S]

The ULTIMATE 78 T/A will have LOTS of those "codes"
W72 in 78 was worth 40 HP ove base 400 Pontiac & most importantly,it gave you a 3:42 rear gear with M21 4 speed (3:23 with auto trans)

WS6 is NEXT most IMPORTANT.
Wider wheels (15 x 8" Snowflakes) specific shocks,steering & rear sway bar & urethane end link bushings in the front sway bar.

Pick ONE of the following;
Y82 BLACK S/E with Hurst Hatches
Y84 BLACK S/E with Fisher T-tops
Y88 GOLD S/E with Gold tint Fisher tops

Add M21 (Borg Warner Super T-10 )4 speed & you are GOOD TO GO!

[Bull]

The car I am looking at is not a Y88, but is a Solar Gold hardtop. It does have the Ws6 option in addition to the 400 and 6 speed.

Body is described as having a B quality paint job, straight, with no visible rust anywhere. Runs and drives, shifts well, but sometimes pops out of 1st or 2nd. Interior is shot.

Hood bird and other graphics are not present.

Price is in the $5k range, and I am trying to figure out if that is a good or average deal for one of these?

[2manyT/A'S]

It doesn't sound like a "real deal" pricewise,but has the three most important options.
To do a complete NICE interior could end up costing a couple thou or better before you're done.
A 4 speed overhaul will @ least 500.00,unless you know someone that works for FREE!

[greyno3]

Originally Posted by 1Bad78zam

W72 was the option code for the 6.6 pontiac motor. It was the highest rated hp motor for that year. 220 if memory serves me corrctly.

The W72 said "T/A 6.6" on the hood scoop. The 403 Olds said "6.6 Litre" on the hood scoop. You can get burnt real easy on this. You have to be aware of this!


So... "2manyT/A's", can I ask what my 4-spped is for the 77 I have? Is it a T-10? I bought itt he with the front disassembled and stuck it in the garge 2 years ago. I swear I haven't even looked at it yet. The T-10 was rebuilt and the numbers match. That much I do know. Is it a good tranny. The guy wasn't gonna sell it with the car. I had to cough up 400 extra bucks for it. I'm not up to par on the later Gen. F-bodies. The block is WA and here's the PHS below that I ordered. The speedo says 69K. I've learned more from this site and you guys are really good!!!

[68ragtop]

If its a 78 with an original 4 speed, it should be a S-T10 transmission, & all 78 T/A's with that transmission had the W72. I don't beleive the M21 was an option in the pontiacs.

you mentioned it was a 6 speed? I am guessing that was just a typo?

Take a few minutes to Read John W's article on the W72, should be everything you need to know, & then some.

http://www.78ta.com/HTMLobj-16215/W72TECH06.pdf

John is the walking bible of the otption, & may chime in on the post.

68RT

[Bull]

Oops, yes I meant 4 speed...late night typo

[2manyT/A'S]

The RPO codes that pontiac used in 77 (M20) & 78 (M21) were carry over codes from when Muncies 4 speeds were used.
Pontiac (& GM) switched from Muncie to Borg Warner 4- speeds in about mid-year 74 & still used the M20 & M21 designations on the order guides/ buildsheets up till 79.

[68ragtop]

Originally Posted by 2manyT/A'S

The RPO codes that pontiac used in 77 (M20) & 78 (M21) were carry over codes from when Muncies 4 speeds were used.
Pontiac (& GM) switched from Muncie to Borg Warner 4- speeds in about mid-year 74 & still used the M20 & M21 designations on the order guides/ buildsheets up till 79.

Seriously? I have yet to see one in a T/A. Not that I have seen more than a dozen up close enought to check the tranny. I have seen them in Camaro's of the same years though.

[77 SE TA]

Originally Posted by greyno3

The W72 said "T/A 6.6" on the hood scoop. The 403 Olds said "6.6 Litre" on the hood scoop. You can get burnt real easy on this. You have to be aware of this!

The L78 Pontiac 400 also said "6.6 LITRE" on the scoop, in 77 and 78 I believe the 403 was only in California cars

[Mr W72]

As 2manyta's said, Pontiac used UPC code M21 to identify the close-ratio Borg Warner Super T10 used with the 1977-79 W72 Performance Package. The M20 was a light-duty wide ratio 4-speed manual transmission used behind the 301 in 1977.

As 68rt said, please take some time and read my research as it should answer just about any question you may have about the W72 option package. And if not let me know I will do my best to help you out.

[2manyT/A'S]

Originally Posted by 77 SE TA

The L78 Pontiac 400 also said "6.6 LITRE" on the scoop, in 77 and 78 I believe the 403 was only in California cars

1978 L78 (base 400) had NO engine designation on the shaker.

1979 L37 (301 4v) also had a naked shaker.

I believe ALL 77-79 (L80 403 Olds) carried the 6.6 Litre designation &

77-79 (W72 400) was T/A 6.6

Can someone clue us in one the 77 L78?

[68ragtop]

Pretty sure the 77's also had 6.6 litre on the shaker for the std L78

Weird thing was the 78 L78 Y88 S/E cars had no decal at all, just the W72's
had the 6.6T/A decal on those cars. I've always wondered why that was....

[Mr W72]

1977 base L78 used "6.6 LITRE" decal.

Also, 1978 L80, like base L78 no decal

[2manyT/A'S]

OK,so how about 77 (L80) 403 Naked, numbered or lettered?

While we're disscussing shaker callouts,there were 2 (non-turbo) 301's that wore a shaker in 1980.

L37 (301) which was a delete credit in the trans am & had a naked shaker.
W72 (301) which was standard in the Trans am & read T/A 4.9 on shaker.

LG4 (305) California ONLY (shaker should have read 5.0 Litre,like 81?)

In 1981,L37 & LG4 remained & W72 was GONE!

MrW72,can you give us the "skinny" on the 1980 W72?
(as I recall,it was an exhaust upgrade with better gearing?)

[milly]

The W-72 was the 301 4bbl non-turbo in '81 and got the T/A 4.9 on the shaker.

Bull, if you want to get educated in the ways of the 2nd gen., check out my favorite T/A site: www.transamcountry.com. We eat, sleep, and drink 2nd gen. Firebirds. Please feel free to stop in and check us out.

[hilljacknm]

Sounds like it could be a good car, if you can get the price you want. My car is almost the same, without the WS6. Good luck.

[77 SE TA]

Originally Posted by 2manyT/A'S

1978 L78 (base 400) had NO engine designation on the shaker.

1979 L37 (301 4v) also had a naked shaker.

I believe ALL 77-79 (L80 403 Olds) carried the 6.6 Litre designation &

77-79 (W72 400) was T/A 6.6

Can someone clue us in one the 77 L78?

77 L78 said "6.6 LITRE" on the shaker

[SctH]

[QUOTE=2manyT/A'S]
While we're disscussing shaker callouts,there were 2 (non-turbo) 301's that wore a shaker in 1980.

I believe I would leave those two naked.