Ok, first I don’t want to claim my car is rare or anything but this is still bugging me. I asked a few weeks back about the GFX on my 82 Firebird. The answer I got was there not original. I UNDERSTAND THAT. I even looked at some other 82/83's in the scrap yards for the hand and eye comprehension. The strange part is my doors, thresh hold and front fenders are drilled and tapped for GFX and its factory type work that is exactly the same as newer thirdgens with GFX. The 82's and 83's I looked at were not drilled in any way shape or form. I could believe that someone swapped fenders and doors and replace the tags on the doors (shiz happens) but the thresh hold is kind of hard to swap out and there’s NO SIGN of welding a new piece in. From what I’ve picked up there are quite a few spots throughout our cars with vin numbers stamped on them to verify if the car is original where are these? I’ve checked the vin number on the cowl and it coincides with the tag on the dash (nothing special) and car fax shows a super clean title. I'm going to shoot the Pontiac restoration an email in a few days but I'm sure there just going to tell me what you guys already have. These things just bug me though.


SSC

 

Whoever installed your GFX probably used self tapping screws... GM did the same thing.

 

Drew,

This was not done with self tapping screws, you can tell when someone uses them or a drill. These are look like ---o---, theres acually no rough edges, it looks like a factory install job something done with a machine, not a drill. I'm going to have to track down a digital camera to show you, I think you will also get


SSC

 

SSC whats the story with your car? You have an 82 w/ the 84 Aeropackage? (sorry I havent been paying attention, lol)
Whats the story?

 

TAdan,

I dunno, This car is odd It has the center section found on what could be an 84 Fbody and it is actually drilled and tapped OEM style, none of the other early 3rdgens are tapped. I trying to get a hold of a digital camrea to show you guys what I'm talking about. From what Ive seen on this car and read on this site its leading me to beleive this car was peiced togather VERY WELL.

Where are those hidden vin numbers located??


SSC

 

you won't have hidden VIN numbers, because GM didn't start doing that till 86 or 87 when the Camaro became the number 1 most common car to be stolen in America. They started adding VIN tags to all the body panels, and they came up with VATS by 88 in the GTA's, then in all thirdgens for 89.

 

Just curious, what are VATS? Are those the stickers with the VIN numbers all over the place?

 

I think VATS stands for Vehicle Anti Theft System.

 

Got it - The chip in the key thing. Thx

 

actually the "chip" in the early years was only a resistor, and there was something like 18 different "resistors" that were used. The computer would read and verify the resistance alowing you to start your car.

John