Does anyone know when GM started putting those on the Firebirds? And if it was 86 can someone tell me why i dnt have one on my car? Just wondering

 

It was 86 when they started, and if I remember, it was the big one on the outside top of the windshield those years. I can't say why yours doesn't have one, unless yours was built near the beginning of the year before they put them on?

 

Federal (D.O.T.) vehicles had the CHMSL in 1986, and that was the only year for the large, Corvette-style lamp on the ThirdGens. Your '86 doesn't have one because it is a Canuck model. It also doesn't have the same emissions equipment.

 

What do you mean mine was a Canuck model? If you mean it was built in Canada your dead wrong because the VIN shows it being built in the states. And Enkil when you say built near the begining of 86 it cant be, because when we checked my rearend the Identification showed it being an 87 rearend so we figured it was a late model 86, so thats why couldn't figure out why i didnt have that third brake light.

 

Third brake light may not have been required for exports or maybe the hatch was replaced with a 82-85.

 

86,

While it was assembled in either California or Ohio (probably California) it was likely specified as an export to the Great White North, which means it would have to meet Canadian Vehicle Safety Standard regulations instead of U.S. D.O.T./FMVSS regulations. That means no third brake lamp, and a different emissions package. It's remotely possible that you have a better cam grind as well. The VECI label affixed to the underside of the hood should indicate if it was a U.S. or Canadian model. If the factory could save fifteen bucks on the lamp housing, you'd bet they would.

Export models often differ from U.S. and North American models, even today. Many exports still have glass headlight lenses instead of the more common plastics used here, because the destination country requires it. Many cars are assembled with both left- and right-hand driver positions on the same assembly line.

 

That makes more sense, so my 2.8L motor you think would have a better cam grind?

 

No, I wouldn't count on it. I was thinking about the 305s. I don't know anything about the V-6 cam grinds.

 

oh ok