okfoz

I just learned about an hor ago that in 1982 the Aluminum Hood Scoop was an OPTION on the Trans Am. I have attached the Back page of the 1982 Firebird Brochure for all of you to see...

I assume that this is an early printing as it does not contain the EPA fuel milage estimates for the LU5 CFI engine.

I have an all series Pontiac Booklet that does not show the option, however it does not show most of the options on this page, its also a later printing that shows the LU5 EPA results.

If you have any later 82 Firebird ONLY booklets that do not show this option post them.

John

twobirds

Was there a RPO code for the aluminum hood scoop??

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

WOW thats a cool find. guess I'll have to find a book like that now.. LOL

okfoz

I do not belive so as there was no RPO sheet as in your 87. The sheets started in around 1984...

John

Xophertony

so was it an early option as in before production began, so it was never actualy available. or as in some cars actualy got it?

Mr. TurboTA

Okfoz,
What do you mean, no RPO sheet, like his 1987?
Sticker in the console? Or, build sheet?
All cars had build sheets for them, although they may have never made it in a car.
I have quite a few from the second gens, up to the third gens.
Never found a car with the alum hood though, to see a RPO code. I would think there should be, at least on a build sheet.

George

1982TA

iTrader: (1)

According to my '82-'83 Pontiac F-Body Parts and Illustration Catalog it shows 4 RPO codes for hoods:

T45 Aluminum Hood
T46 Steel Hood
T47 Turbo Hood
T48 Ram Air - Shaker Hood

Mind you the list of RPO codes are GM wide, not just Pontiac so alot of the RPO's listed in my catalog have nothing to do with thirdgens, and could be for any GM car at the time, or previous years.

Also 3 part numbers for hoods:

PANEL, Hood (Aluminum) 10017983
PANEL, Hood (Steel) 10014647
PANEL, Hood (Sport) 10025193

Hope this helps

okfoz

George, Your correct the RPO would be on the build sheet. But before 1984 unless you happended to get the sheet from under the carpet etc. there was no good way to tell what options came on the car.

I guess what I wrote is wrong insofar as there was indeed an RPO. Everything has an RPO, however what I should have written is the RPO probably was not placed on the cowel tag, therefore there would be no traceable way to find the RPO on the car.

Since the hood was an Option and RPO = "Regular Production Option". then there indeed was an RPO. THe RPO would have been placed on the Build sheet, probably no where else.

Then on the build sheet the car should have gotten the "T45" Aluminum Hood...

John

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

The aluminum hood has a different "pop up spring" and hood struts also
I have those part #s at home.

LimaBravoNiner

Anybody find one of these needles in a haystack recently?

1982TA

iTrader: (1)

According to my book the aluminum hood, and "Turbo" Hood struts from '83 both have the same part numbers. However they are different compared to the standard hood. So, does this mean if you get aftermarket ones they wont fit? Also were all "Turbo" hoods from '82 aluminum? How can I tell if my hood is aluminum, I have the "turbo" hood from'82.

okfoz

I know on SOME of the Aluminum hoods there was a large "A" that was on the bottom of the hood. Some of the hoods did not have this stamped in them, the reason is unclear. It may be that when Pontiac went to different part numbers they removed the "A" from the underside as it was no longer needed. The part numbers you listed may be correct after GM got things straightened out, however I believe the Steel hood from my 83 and the aluminum hood I owned had the same part # --- go fig.

THere is more info here: https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/hist...num-hoods.html

If the hood is rusting then NO you do not have an aluminum hood. If you remove the hood support struts OR remove the hood from the car completely and you can man handle it resonably easy, its Aluminum...

I forget the actual numbers but I think the Steel hood was about 60# and the Alunimum hood was about 30#

JOhn

1982TA

iTrader: (1)

I'll have to check it out on mine...my hood feels very light though so it is probably aluminum. I'll have to check for the "A" underneath the hood. No rust on mine...but there really isn't any rust on my car anyway.

MikeJR1991

Does anyone have one of these 82-84 trans Am/Formula Aluminum hoods for sale?

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

If you happen to have 3k burning a hole in your pocket, there happens to be a 82 only aluminum hood in the classifieds or was a few weeks ago..

vorteciroc

If I recall correctly...
The Aluminum Hoods were a disaster.
Problems with Paint adhesion... and just difficult to Body-Work the Hoods in general.
I believe that the manufacturing process was a nightmare as well.

So GM decided that Fiber-Glass was a better option...
and a good solution to use with the Amazing* and Incredible* Cross-Fire Electronic Fuel-Injection LU5 Engine
(as used in Camaros with functional Hood-Scoops/ Openings).


*= Any and all words with this mark attached, actually mean: Horrid disastrous failure from Hell!

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

I can say the factory primer was a pain to remove, paint was a bit easier but not much.
The hoods do flex and move around at "elevated" speeds a lot more than the steel hoods. Probably why all the race cars have hood pins on those hoods.
Was told by a few that the hoods were made in the same stamping equipment as their steel counter parts. That may be some of the problems? Mine had a few spot welds that were blow throughs on the side pinchweld areas. Panel adhesive made mine stick back together perfectly and can't even tell.
Wouldn't want one on a car I would be driving around a lot.

Picked up my 1st aluminum hood almost 20yrs ago (in 03) for $500.00.

okfoz

Technically The Camaro got the fiberglass hood, and the Trans Am briefly got the Aluminum. Just like the ground effects on a Camaro are Fiberglass, and the Firebird used Urethane.

Interestingly the 2nd Gen Formula got a Fiberglass hood IIRC.

Stamping Aluminum is slightly different than stamping steel. You can use a steel press for Aluminum, but the springback of Steel is different than Aluminum so there has to be some changes.

Painting aluminum has been done for a long time, just look at the aviation industry. Unfortunately it does take a slightly different process to paint aluminum, and even today there are issues with aluminum parts such as corrosion and such. I have owned several vehicles with Aluminum hoods
95 Riviera
98 Venture Van I believe was aluminum
96 Buick Rendezvous
05 Mustang
16 Mustang (even has Aluminum front Fenders)
02 LeSabre
I think my 2020 Explorer had one as well as our 2018 Ford Edge.

If you want an Aluminum Hood for a 3rd gen, expect to pay a lot. I sold mine for $1000 about 20 years ago, and now they are going for around $3000...

88 350 tpi formula

iTrader: (9)

I figured I should update the post with some info people searching could find in one place.

Out of this very limited run most seem to have a large "A" and the numbers 10014649 with a date of 82 stamped under the nose area of the hood structure. Some have popped up with no raised "A"

The sales dept study guide mentions it was to be used on models with a high level of optional equipment. also there is no aluminum hood option to check on the 1982 dealer order form. Over the years I have looked at several of these 82 Trans ams that were very well equipped with every option but still had a steel hood.

MY take on the hoods that did not have the large "A" on them is likely due to preproduction units that were made before the final production was finalized. I would think this is more likely the reason. I know its not as glamorous as the other version floating around but I think this just makes more sense.

SLP offered the same hood on the competition option Firehawks in 1992 "light weight hood"

Turbo aluminum hood part number 10018982 Discontinued 6/1982 and was $265.80
Panel aluminum hood 10018983 Discontinued 11/1982 and was $279.00

Aluminum hood..
ROD, HOOD OPEN ASST (gas strut) #10020794
SPRING POP-UP #556632

88 350 tpi formula

iTrader: (9)

okfoz

Thanks for sharing

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

One of mine is without the "A".
we'll probably never know the real reason for the hoods with and w/out the "A".
There is also a flat aluminum hood in 82. Ive seen at least one of those, it had the "A".
iirc, the hood popup spring is also different for the aluminum hoods

88 350 tpi formula

iTrader: (9)

yep! I had included the part numbers of the hoods and the spring part number as well as the lift rods

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

Have a set of nos struts