[jkesner]

I recently bought a 72 GTO that someone had put a 70 front clip on. Trying to find out if there are any other differences between the 70 and 72 body besides the front clip.

[jkesner]

I recently bought a 72 GTO that someone had put a 70 front clip on. Trying to find out if there are any other differences between the 70 and 72 body besides the front clip.

[428GTO70]

As far as body panels go, the front clip is the only thing different. And every piece of it is different from a 70 and a 72, hood, bumper, core support, fenders all different. A 72 has a different exhaust setup, exiting behind rear wheels instead of thru cutouts in the rear valance like a 70-71.


GR-RRR!

[jkesner]

Everything from the front fenders forward has been replaced, with the exception of the inner wheelwells, (I think they tried to use the 72 ones because only 1 bolt will line up), and the entire front valance and parking lights are missing. So if I put a 70 rear valance on, and re-ran the exhaust to exit out the back, it would look like a 70?? Don't plan on showing it, and I just like the looks of the 70 alot better.

['ol Pinion head]

Differences...
-'71 & '72 LeMans & GTO had slightly different mirror placement on the doors than the '70's.

-'70 California Emission (EEC) & all '71 & '72's had the standpipe behind the rear seat, this required a few different stampings & the ratnest of lines. Many "restorers" rebodying 49 state '70 GTO's will totally miss the EEC difference in later body shells.

-'70 A-body rear bumpers were indeed different than the '71-72's. At one time, thought there were two different bumper date coding methods, but after examining hundreds of original '70-72 rear bumpers, came to the conclusion, the '70 rear bumpers def did not have the slight notches for the bumper guards, while '71's & '72's had these small recessed notchs.

[428GTO70]

What notch do you mean oph? I have a nos rear bumper, and have never known there was a difference. Not that i am putting together a numbers matching car and I wont go looking for a different one, Just would like to know just to know something more .

And jkesner, yes the exhaust should make your car pretty convincing of being a 70 with the change. Also inner door panels and seats have a different patern for every year pretty much, and a 72 dash has a pontiac emblem in the padded area above the glove box where a 70 does not. Also 72 has 120 speedo with seatbelt warning where 70 has 140 mph and no warning. Just a few interior differences that you may not even care about. Have fun and make it like you want it


GR-RRR!

[Held for Ransom]

Bob, 1970 Pontiac A-body bumper.

[This message was edited by Held for Ransom on April 21, 2003 at 03:16 PM.]

[Held for Ransom]

1971 and later Pontiac A-body bumpers, including NOS.

[This message was edited by Held for Ransom on April 21, 2003 at 03:18 PM.]

[428GTO70]

ohh, I see, its just an indentation for the rubber push bumpers that can be added. Mine is buried in the parts room so i will have to check later. Thanks for the info.


GR-RRR!

[MarkJ]

That’s a real subtle detail. Didn’t the 71-72 Luxury Lemans get those bumper guards? I can't recall seeing them on any GTOs.

[the70OOJudge]

Originally Posted by 'ol Pinion head

Differences...
-'71 & '72 LeMans & GTO had slightly different mirror placement on the doors than the '70's.

-'70 California Emission (EEC) & all '71 & '72's had the standpipe behind the rear seat, this required a few different stampings & the ratnest of lines. Many "restorers" rebodying 49 state '70 GTO's will totally miss the EEC difference in later body shells.

-'70 A-body rear bumpers were indeed different than the '71-72's. At one time, thought there were two different bumper date coding methods, but after examining hundreds of original '70-72 rear bumpers, came to the conclusion, the '70 rear bumpers def did not have the slight notches for the bumper guards, while '71's & '72's had these small recessed notchs.

On the mirrors :>) I have finally decieded to throw on the bullet style mirrors on my Judge as I painted them up when I did the resto but I was wondering if anyone has the measurments for the 70 mirror on the passenger side door? I was thinking I could just use the measurments from the driver side.. But unsure if that is right..
I have seen some cars with 70 doors on a 71 etc and the mirrors are staggered (not the same ) on each door.
Pete

[PaulatFast]

The 70 shells across the board did not get the vent pipe set up that all 71-72's had. We reseached this on a rebodied Judge a couple years ago. The Cali emmision 70's still had the standard 70 trunk pan. Besides the late 69/70 hump, the 70 trunk will have "P027" stamped about 3/4" tall near the tail panel behind the right rear tail light. The rear of the 70 quarters, inside the trunk jamb, next to the weatherstrip channel, is flat where the 71-72's have an indentation the size of a quarter, about an eighth inch deep, on both sides.

The rear bumpers, starting in 71, had the notches AND mounting holes for the bumper gaurds. Unless your NOS bumper is dated prior to 8/70 it will be 71 up.

[android 211]

The resale value of the car with the wrong front cap on it will be lower but build what you want or pleases you. Finding decent '72 front fenders will be difficult, they are a one year only fender - cool looking though. Personally I'd put it back together with a '71-'72 hood, valence etc. if I could. What was it, 5,000 '72's sold?