Hello everyone,

I have a question about the tripometer **** and set screw for the 1982 Pontiac Firebird. Does anyone know why the **** and set screw is now chrome and not black? The part number is 14053344. However, according to the dealer, this part number changed in Feb 1982. I heard that it was painted black by GM. But that seems almost too cheap by GM.

Does anyone know anything about this?

Thanks,
Eric

 

By the way...I specifically need the black set screw inside the tripometer ****.
Does anyone know where I can find one of these?

Eric

 

The part number you posted is available new at http://gmpartsdirect.com
They even have a small picture, so you should be able to see if it's the right piece, although to me it looks wrong.

Edit: here's the direct link to it: http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/results...umber=14053344

 

Apparently it comes in chrome finish:
http://www.moderndaymuscle.com/inc/sdetail/911

 

Hey Kizz,

Thanks for the great link, but these ***** are chrome in color. And I need the ones that match the dash, which are black in color.
Eric

 

Hi JT,

Thanks for the link. I actually have the tripometer ****(black in color), but I need the set screw inside it. And the one with the chrome finish just makes it look funny because the set screw is in the middle of the black ****. I actually need the set screw in black to match the ****.
Eric

 

Some with a parts catalog may be able to find for sure, but they may not be available anymore as the ones listed on the above site suggest they need to be painted.

I would imagine you could easily paint the set screw. If not, you might be best off going to the junkyard.

 

Thanks JT!
I will probably check out the junk yard. It still boggles my mind why GM or anybody else would paint these. I would just think that it should be sold as a black **** and set screw instead of painting it black??????????? It seems so unprofessional and a cheap way of doing things.

 

Nobody is more of a perfectionist than I am when it comes to originality, so I know how you feel, but if you're going for new parts, looks like chrome is the only thing available for this. If it was me, I would buy the chrome one and have it sprayed black, and nobody will ever know. For all we know, maybe the originals from 1982 are also chrome painted black? It's possible. I've never really tried to scratch one to see if it's painted metal or black metal. Good luck.

 

One more thing - in my 1982 Parts & Illustration Catalog, printed in June 1982, they use the same 14053344 number. I'm just bringing this up because it sounds like a dealer told you otherwise.

 

I've seen a lot of black one that had the black wearing off and chrome under the black. My guess is they are all made in chrome then painted or power coated black.

 

that might make sense that the June 82 parts book had that specific part #14053344
Because that number changed from part#3794018 to #14053344 in Feb. 1982.
Plus Mr.Kizz...I am all about originality too. And if I spray it black, I feel like I am cheating myself. Even though nobody else knows it, I know it. Im weird like that

 

I thought about the idea that they are all made in chrome but being powder coated or painted black, but to me it does not make sense because it seems too cheezy for GM to do. It would take too much time for GM to do this. And I am not even sure that paint can adhere to chrome material in the first place.

Also...I spoke to the man over at moderndaymuscle.com and this is what he wrote me. It makes the most sense:

"Hi, from factory the ***** in 82-84 models were black. Gm decided to discontinue the black **** version from their parts departments in ’82 and supercede them with this “kit” which comes with two ***** and the mount screw. This kit covers a wider range of vehicles dating back to the early 70’s(GM did this in order to keep stocking costs lower by having one part number fitting many cars instead of several part numbers). If you were to go to a dealer and have this **** installed they would not paint it, they would install it chrome and simply tell you that is how they come now but they can be painted to match the originals in the cars."