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Find answers to Frequently Asked Questions for First Generation Firebirds that have been asked on First Generation Firebird-L mailing list. Special thanks needs to be given to all the Firebird-L owners that took the time to respond to other subscribers questions. These pages are continuously updated as new information is posted on the mailing list.
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| Q: | Door Interchangability |
| Are the doors/door skins from camaro are interchangeable with firebird??? | |
| A: | Door skins and doors are interchangeable between like years of Firebirds and Camaros. The only difference you may run into is "bird" etched glass. Also note that hinges are different. |
| Q: | Door Interchangeability |
| Need help on '67 door question, Is the door the same for convert. and coupes? I looked at classic's catalog and the have complete inner and outers for sale at some later date and no convert. listed for door. Does the vent window unbolt for shipment? | |
| A: | The doors were different each year, but the same as the same year of Camaro. Your 68 will need doors from another 68, Camaro or Firebird. |
| A: | That depends........ if you have an early or late 68 Firebird, they changed the design of mirror so door was also changed. Camaro stayed the same thru the year. |
| A: | ...Doors were common for '67-'69 Coupes and Convertibles however, each year was different (different part numbers) due to Vent Window only in '67, different Mirrors in '68, new panels in '69. Yes, the Vent Window Assy unbolts from the door and the glass assy is separate from the Weather Seal Assy. |
| A: |
I'd only add that 67 doors used a 3 bolt hinge and the 68 and 69 cars used 4 bolt hinges. This makes the 67 and 68 further incompatible.
The door shells offered by Classic industries are just that, shells. They won't come with the vent window frame work. You would be expected to transfer that, as well as all of the other internal parts in your door to the new shell. This isn't very complicated. See the Jan. 2000 issue of Chevy High Performance, "Just Wing It", for a description of removing this part (as well as weather stripping install), as well as your "1967 Fisher Body Guide". |
| A: |
67, 68, and 69 doors do not interchange. 67 hinges are a 3 bolt
type, and the 68/69 are a 4 bolt type. 68 and 69 don't interchange
because of the obvious difference in shape/character lines.
The aftermarket rear quarters will work with a fair amount of body work. I understand that convertibles represent more of a challange to get them to work. In somecases, rust free used quarters from the Southwest are a good alternative. |
| Q: | '68 Door Mirrors |
| Was there an optional passenger side side view mirror available and how do I find the correct one for my car. Were there two different kinds used in 68: 67 mirrors on some of the firebirds in 68 and some 68 mirrors on others. How do I find out which ones I need? To make matters worse I need the remote type for the drivers side. | |
| A: |
...In '68, all cars came standard with a LH (drivers) Side-View Mirror.
Remote Control Side View Mirror was optional.3909197 '67 F O/S Mirror (LH) exc. rem. 9787901 '68 F, '67-'68 T, P O/S Mirror (LH) exc. rem. (round) 1st type 3914753 '68 F O/S Mirror (LH) exc. rem. (square) 2nd type 3899857 '67 F O/S Mirror (LH) remote ctrl. 9792565 '68 F O/S Mirror (LH) remote ctrl. (round) 3934583 '68 F O/S Mirror (LH) remote ctrl. (square)*The rectangular (square) 2nd Type Std. Mirror came into Production after Jan.'68 (This may have been Gov't Reg. related) *There were (2) Different LH Door Outer Panels as a result of this styling change due to stamping differences. Mounting Bracket is also different. *There was an Accessory Pkg. for LH Remote Ctrl. Mirror in '67/'68... 984758 (ALL) 984752 (Pont.) 984974 (Temp.) *I'm sure many Dealers sold a matching RH (pass.) Mirror however, there was no separate part number for this; they simply used a LH Mirror (exc. remote) ...Repro's are available. Std. Mirror is same for all F,T,P. Remote Mirror is NOT the same as Tempest or Full-Size as many used parts dealers try to say. ...Actually, they used a ROUND and RECTANGULAR Style (*see above*) The '67 Std. (or Rem.) mirror was not used for '68 Firebird production. I've seen some very early '68's and they have '68 style mirrors. ...Based on your Build Date. I'd say if it's after Jan. '68, go with the rectangular style This is where a Survey of owner's would help confirm this 'running' change' ...I'm hearing that a repro is underway for other year/application remote mirrors besides the 'Chevy' style that is out there. There are NOS one's floating around; expect to pay Hemmings Prices ($200-$350). Remember, the Mirror Housing itself is the same for '68 Firebird, Tempest, Full-Size; however, the pedestal (base) is not. |
| A: | ...From preliminary research within the Registry Files, I've found that the 2nd Type (Rectangular) S.V. Mirror was being installed as early as the 2nd Week in Dec. '67. Infact, two particular Firebirds in the Registry are very close in Build Sequence; both built the 2nd week in Dec. and one having the Round Mirror, the other with the Rectangular Mirror. Both are documented, original unrestored cars. |
| A: | The '67 and '68 Firebird Remote Mirrors are different. The 'left-over' rule did not apply. I've never seen a documented '68 Firebird with a '67 Mirror. '67 had a larger, longer Base while '68 was rather stubby. The '68 Firebird Mirror is not the same as the '68 Camaro. Also, keep in mind that all other Pontiac Remote Mirrors in '68 appear to be the same but upon closer inspection, the base is definitely different (different casting numbers too). The Round Mirror Housing itself is the same. Cable Length varied depending on Model. |
| Q: | 68 Outside Mirrors |
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Anybody know what was used for a side view mirror on the passenger side
of a 68 Firebird with a remote control mirror on the driver side? My mirror is rectangular with rounded corners and I have seen non-remote versions in parts catalogs. | |
| A: | According to the Firebird Red Book by Peter Sessler, the remote mirror was only offered as an option (LH remote control OSRV mirror - 424) on the left hand side. I would assume the passenger side had a matching rectangular shape if it was equiped with the optional passenger mirror. The '68 had both the circular and rectangular offered. My '68 has the LH circular mirror with no passenger mirror. |
| A: | Unfortunately, Pontiac did not offer a RH S.V. Mirror 'dummy' to match the LH Remote version (round or rectangular) as they did in previous years. I have a '64 GTO that has the Factory LH S.V. Remote Mirror (round) and I found a 'matching' RH mirror several years ago in a junk-yard. Basically, the same mirror, but w/o the cable, etc.... looks balanced. |
| Q: | '68 Mirror Types |
| I realized today that the doors off the coupe, now on the convertible, use "bullet" mirrors (bullet shaped casing with rectangular mirror inside). Was this offered in '68? | |
| A: | There were no 'Bullet Mirrors' used on any '68 Pontiac. You had a choice of Manual or Remote Adjustable Chrome Plated Mirrors. Early '68's used Round Style Mirrors. Sometime in December, the factory started using a Rectangular Shaped Chrome Mirror (for Manual and Remote). As for their being no Control Knob for the Mirror in Todd's car, that's the first clue that these are not factory mirrors. It was not uncommon for people to swap mirrors; add something with a little more style; more modern. The only 1st Gen. Firebird that used 'Bullet Style' Mirrors was the '69 Firebird and those were only very late in production models (since the '69 body style ran longer than normal, some of the '70 style features began to show up in production.) |
| Q: | '68 Do other Remote Mirrors Fit |
| One question. I have the opportunity to but a new '68 remote GTO mirror for about $100 US. Does anyone know if it fits the firebirds of that year and if so is it a reasonable price? | |
| A: |
....The '68 Firebird and GTO used slightly different SideView Remote Mirrors.
The difference is in the Mounting Base. However, It should bolt on
physically. I should have some pictures ready tonight or tomorrow that will
show the difference between the two mirrors. $100 is a very good price for
an NOS SideView Remote Mirror.
Here are some Casting Numbers that should help you. They are located on the
bottom of the mounting base....
68 Firebird 9792566 68 GTO 9787847 68 FullSize 9787846 |
| A: |
...The '68 Firebird O/S Remote Control Mirror WAS different from the "A" and
"B" bodies of that year. The difference is in the Base (or mounting
pedestal).
Mirror Mounting Base Casting Numbers: - '68 Firebird: 9792566 - '68 Tempest: 9787847 *These are visible on the bottom of the Base In a side-view of the assembly, the dimension between the bottom of the Mirror Housing and the top edge of the Mounting Base is different between all models. Also, the distance from the back of the Mirror Housing to the inside curve of the Base is different. Besides this, the cable length varies from model to model. Remote O/S Mirror Assembly Part Numbers:
So, be careful when you're considering purchasing a mirror for your '68 Firebird' many parts dealers will try and tell you that 'they're all the same' but it's not so. Will other mirrors work and fit ? Sure; all depends on how picky you are. Things to consider are the Vent Window, and the Cable lengths as well as the Control Knob/Trim. |
| Q: | '68 Round or Rectangular O/S Remote Mirror |
| My cars Billing History date is 12-14-67. Should my car have the round outside mirror, or rect? Right now it has the rect, but I'm sure it is a repro, installed when the car got painted in 1980. | |
| A: | I don't believe the rectangular O/S Remote Mirror came into production until sometime in March of '68. The Outer Door Skin is actually different for the (2) types of mirrors (due to mounting hole configuration). This would be a clue as to which mirror was originally installed. |
| A: | From preliminary research within the Registry Files, I've found that the 2nd Type (Rectangular) S.V. Mirror was being installed as early as the 2nd Week in Dec. '67. Infact, two particular Firebirds in the Registry are very close in Build Sequence; both built the 2nd week in Dec. and one having the Round Mirror, the other with the Rectangular Mirror. Both are documented, original unrestored cars. |
| A: | The '67 and '68 Firebird Remote Mirrors are different. The 'left-over' rule did not apply. I've never seen a documented '68 Firebird with a '67 Mirror. '67 had a larger, longer Base while '68 was rather stubby. The '68 Firebird Mirror is not the same as the '68 Camaro. Also, keep in mind that all other Pontiac Remote Mirrors in '68 appear to be the same but upon closer inspection, the base is definitely different (different casting numbers too). The Round Mirror Housing itself is the same. Cable Length varied depending on Model. |
| Q: | Remote Mirrors Removing Cable |
| Does anyone know the best way to remove the cable from the remote controlled mirror? I'm having mine replated and can't figure out how to disconect the darn thing without destroying it. | |
| A: | Based on my past experience with second gen mirrors, the easiest way is to take the mirror apart and pull the remote end through the mirror base and housing. Hope this helps. |
| Q: | '68 Mirror Placement |
| I need to install a driver's side mirror. Does anyone have a template for this procedure? | |
| A: |
Try the following templates. They are going to be very large files but will work as a good template. Make sure to use the correct template:
'68 Early Production Mirror: Round Mirror - Remote and Standard (144K): http://FirstGenFirebird.org/firebird/FAQ/docs/68EarlyMirror.jpg '68 Late Production Mirror: Rectangular Mirror - Remote and Standard (157K): http://FirstGenFirebird.org/firebird/FAQ/docs/68LateMirror.jpg Refer to the '68 Door Mirror FAQ |
| Q: | '68 Mirror from other Series |
| I have a remote mirror from a 68 Bonnie. Will it fit and look original on my '68 Firebird? | |
| A: | The Base for a Firebird Mirror is unique. Slightly different than full size and the Tempest style. Physically, I believe it would work though, I've never tried it. |
| Q: | Door Hinge Interchangeability |
| Just looking for some information on door hinges. I have a 69 coupe which has hinges that are in pretty bad shape on the drivers door. Such as not giving the door enough support to open or close properly. I have heard of some hinges being rebuilt some way or another. Also curious about interchangeable hinges such as from a camaro. Any information would be appreciated. | |
| A: |
All hinges from 67-69 are NOT interchangeable. The only hinges that will work are 69 Camaro and Firebird. National Parts Depot has rebuild kits for upper and lower hinges and a replacement detent roller. Their number is 1-800-874-7595.
Before purchasing, be aware that if the hinges are worn to the point where you've "oval-ed" the holes, it's best to buy new or original used. |
| Q: | Door Hinges |
| Are the door hinges interchangeable between the years? | |
| A: | '67 hinges are a 3 bolt design, the '68 and later being a 4 bolt design. No chance of interchange. Some hinges use a larger bushing than others, though I've not seen any documentation that indicates that it is related to a specific year or model. There are some kits that provide both sized bushings so that the retailer need only stock one part number that covers just about all GM cars. |
| Q: | Door Hinges |
| Are the door hinges interchangeable between the years? | |
| A: | '67 hinges are a 3 bolt design, the '68 and later being a 4 bolt design. No chance of interchange. Some hinges use a larger bushing than others, though I've not seen any documentation that indicates that it is related to a specific year or model. There are some kits that provide both sized bushings so that the retailer need only stock one part number that covers just about all GM cars. |
| Q: | Door Edge Guards |
| I ordered a set of 67-68 Door Edge Guards (Repro). They advertise that these are exact replicas offered at a less expensive price than original replacements. They do not look correct so how do I know if they are correct. | |
| A: | ...I've noticed many places selling 'correct' or 'original' Door Edge Guards for the 67-69 Firebird however, most all are the press-on style (replacement, also used on Camaro). The original GM style for the Firebird was a screw-on type. I have a set of NOS ones and they fit perfectly. |
| Q: | Door Interchangability between Years |
| Does anyone know if you can put 68 firebird doors on a 67 firebird and make them work?also what about partial rear 1/4s vs full gm 1/4s(camaro)?I haven't heard very good things about partial 1/4s-alignment,bird louvers behind doors. | |
| A: |
67, 68, and 69 doors do not interchange. 67 hinges are a 3 bolt
type, and the 68/69 are a 4 bolt type. 68 and 69 don't interchange
because of the obvious difference in shape/character lines.
The aftermarket rear quarters will work with a fair amount of body work. I understand that convertibles represent more of a challange to get them to work. In somecases, rust free used quarters from the Southwest are a good alternative. |
| Q: | Door Lock Assy |
| Is there a difference for the door latch assy betweent the years and no difference between standard and custom interior? | |
| A: |
The Door Latch Assy was different for all (3) years on the
1st Generation Firebird. This was actually referred to as
the "Door Lock Assy". You are correct; there was no
difference between the Lock Assy for Custom or Std. Trim.
There was however, a difference between the inside Handle
Remote Control (Latch Release Mechanism) as well as
the Link Rod for this for the Cust. & Std. Trim Option.
From what you describe, it sounds as if you may have a defective Lock (Latch) Assy or, they are from another type of vehicle. Be sure you have the correct Lock Assy and O/S Handle & Button Assy for your specific car. |
| Q: | Flow Through Vents |
| Is there a vent (black louver looking) in your quarter panels in the door jamb. This was supposed to be on all 68 and later models for flow through ventilation after Pontiac got rid of the wing windows. | |
| A: | The 68 coupe has the vents in the door jamb, the convertibles DO NOT! In 69 both body styles got the vents. |
| A: | The convertible quarters did not have these vents. The hardtops do. This is a flow through vent system that took the place of the wing windows in 67. This is the reason the convertibles did not have the vents (enough air leaks). Hope this helps. |
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