Pontiac Firebird (1978) – Ultimate Guide
Introduction
- The appearance of the sporty Firebird was similar to 1977, with rectangular quad headlamps and a dark grille
- Wide three-row tail lamps had back-up lights at the inner ends, close to the license plate
- Tail lamp ribs filled most of the back panel
- Base engine was the 231-cid (3.8-liter) V-6 with three-speed shift
- Formula had a 305-cid (5.0-liter) V-8, while Trans Am carried a 400-cid four-barrel V-8
- Equipment included
- Endura bumpers
- hubcaps
- dual horns
- FR78x15 SBR tires
- bucket seats
- a heater/defroster
- Esprit added
- wheel covers
- sport mirrors
- bright hood and wheel opening moldings
- custom pedal trim
- The Trans Am included
- a front air dam
- black grille
- rear spoiler
- sport mirrors
- rear wheel air deflectors
- Rally II wheels
- “shaker” hood and air cleaner
- rally instrument panel with tachometer.
- Formula and Trans Am models had power brakes
- Automatic transmission was standard on the Formula and Trans Am, but Formula Firebird buyers could get a four-speed manual at no extra cost.
I.D. NUMBERS
| VIN Location | On top of dash at left, viewable through windshield | |
|---|---|---|
| Position | Character | Description |
| 1 | 2 | General Motors: Pontiac Division |
| 2 | S | Basic Firebird |
| T | Firebird Esprit | |
| U | Firebird Formula | |
| W | Trans Am | |
| 3 & 4 | 87 | hardtop coupe |
| 5 | Engine code |
|
| 6 | 8 | Year: 1978 |
| 7 | _ | Assembly plant |
| 8 to 13 | 100001 and up | production sequence |
IDENTIFICATION
| Model Number | Style Number | Body Type | Seating | Factory Price | Shipping Weight | Production Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2F | S87 | 2-door Hardtop Base Firebird – V6 | 4 | $4545 | 3285 | 32,672 both 6 & V8 |
| 2F | S87 | 2-door Hardtop Base Firebird – V8 | 4 | $4695 | 3377 | |
| 2F | T87 | 2-door Hardtop Esprit – V6 | 4 | $4842 | 3285 | 36,926 |
| 2F | T87 | 2-door Hardtop Esprit – V8 | 4 | $4992 | 3408 | |
| 2F | U87 | 2-door Hardtop Formula | 4 | $5448 | 3452 | 24,346 |
| 2F | W87 | 2-door Hardtop Trans Am | 4 | $5799 | 3511 | 93,341 |
ENGINE
| VIN Code | A (Buick) | Y | U | X | R (Olds) | L (LM1) (Chev) | Z | K (Calif) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cylinders | 90° V-6 | 90° V-8 | 90° V-8 | 90° V-8 | 90° V-8 | 90° V-8 | 90° V-8 | 90° V-8 |
| Valving | Overhead valve | Overhead valve | Overhead valve | Overhead valve | Overhead valve | Overhead valve | Overhead valve | Overhead valve |
| Block | Cast-iron | Cast-iron | Cast-iron | Cast-iron | Cast-iron | Cast-iron | Cast-iron | Cast-iron |
| Head | Cast-iron | Cast-iron | Cast-iron | Cast-iron | Cast-iron | Cast-iron | Cast-iron | Cast-iron |
| Bore & Stroke | 3.80 x 3.40 in. | 4.00 x 3.00 in. | 3.74 x 3.48 in. | 3.88 x 3.75 in. | 4.06 x 3.38 | 4.00 x 3.48 | 4.12 x 3.75 | 4.35 x 3.38 |
| Displacement | 231 cid (3.8 liters) | 301 cid (5.0 liters) | 305 cid (5.0 liters) | 350 cid (5.7 liters) | 350 cid (5.7 liters) | 350 cid (5.7 liters) | 400 cid (6.6 liters) | 403 cid (6.6 liters) |
| Compression ratio | 8.0 : 1 | 8.2 : 1 | 8.4 : 1 | 8.0 : 1 | 7.9 : 1 | 8.2 : 1 | 7.7 : 1 (opt: 8.1 : 1) | 8.0 : 1 |
| Brake H.P. | 105 @ 3200 rpm | 135 @ 3800 | 145 @ 3800 rpm | 170 @ 4000 rpm | 170 @ 3800 rpm | 170 @ 3800 rpm | 180 @ 3600 rpm (opt: 220 @ 4000 rpm) | 185 @ 3600 rpm |
| Torque (lb-ft) | 185 @ 2000 rpm | 235-245 @ 2000 rpm | 245 @ 2400 rpm | 280 @ 1800 rpm | 275 @ 2000 rpm | 270 @ 2400 rpm | 325 @ 1600 rpm (opt: 320 @ 2800 rpm) | 320 @ 2200 rpm |
| Main bearings | Four | Five | Five | Five | Five | Five | Five | Five |
| Valve lifters | Hydraulic | |||||||
| Carburetor | 2-barrel Rochester 2GC | 2-barrel Rochester | 2-barrel Rochester 2GC | 4-barrel Rochester M4MC | 4-barrel Rochester M4MC | 4-barrel Rochester M4MC | 4-barrel Rochester M4MC | 4-barrel Rochester M4MC |
TRANSMISSION
| Three-speed manual floor shift |
| Four-speed manual shift |
| Three-speed automatic |
CHASSIS
| FEATURE | Firebird | Esprit | Formula | Trans Am |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 108.1 in. | 108.1 in. | 108.1 in. | 108.1 in. |
| Overall length | 196.8 in. | 196.8 in. | 196.8 in. | 196.8 in. |
| Height | 49.3 in. | 49.3 | 49.5 | 49.5 |
| Width | 73.4 | 73.4 | 73.4 | 73.4 |
| Front tread | 60.9 | 60.9 | 61.3 | 61.2 |
| Rear tread | 60.0 | 60.0 | 60.4 | 60.3 |
| Tires | FR78x15 | FR78x15 | FR78x15 | GR70x15 |
| Steering | Recirculating ball | |||
| Front suspension | coil springs with lower trailing links and anti-sway bar | |||
| Rear suspension | semi-elliptic leaaf springs with anti-sway bar | |||
| Brakes | Front disc, rear drums | |||
| Ignition | Electronic | |||
| Body construction | Unit with separate partial frame | |||
| Fuel tank | 21 gal | |||
OPTIONS
| 305-cid four-barrel V-8 | $150 |
| 350-cid four-barrel V-8 (Firebird) | $265 |
| 350-cid four-barrel V-8 (Formula) | $115 |
| 400-cid four-barrel V-8 (Formula) | $280 |
| 403-cid four-barrel V-8 (Formula) | $205 |
| Four-speed manual floor shift transmission | $125 |
| Four-speed manual floor shift transmission | $182 credit |
| Turbo-Hydra-Matic transmission | $270 |
| Turbo-Hydra-Matic transmission | N/C |
| Safe-T-Track differential | $60 |
| Power brakes | $60 |
| Heavy-duty alternator | $31 |
| Engine block heater | $13 |
| Esprit “Skybird” appearance package | $426 – $461 |
| Trans Am special edition | $1259 |
| Firebird custom trim group | $35 – $154 |
| Formula appearance package | $137 |
| Trans Am special performance package | $249 – $324 |
| Air conditioning | $470 – $581 |
| Cruise control | $90 – $95 |
| Power windows | $118 – $190 |
| Hatch roof | $625 |
| Canopy top | $111 |
HISTORICAL NOTES
1978 Firebird Notes
- Introduced Oct. 6, 1977
- High sales of the Trans Am of 1977-79 was certainly due to the 1977 movie Smokey and the Bandit starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Fields, and Jackie Gleason. It was a cops-and-robbers chase spectacular. The “bandit” was the unstoppable black Trans Am.
1978 Automotive Notes
- The “Big Four” produce nearly nine million cars
- Sub-compacts account for 10% of domestic sales while compacts are nearly 28%
- Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard becomes effective
- A gas-guzzler tax is enacted
- Firestone recalls 7.5 million 500-series steel-belted radial tires
- Automotive news magazine estimates that federal requirements have added $519.65 to the price of a car between 1968 and 1978
- GM news:
- Thomas A. Murphy was chairman of the board at GM
- Elliott M. Estes was president of GM
- Impala/Caprice is year’s best seller
- Chevette is best-selling US sub-compact
- Chevrolet outsells Ford by over 450,000, followed by Oldsmobile, Pontiac, and Buick
- GM’s mid-size cars are downsized, but the new “Aeroback” (fastback) models don’t sell well
- GM drops the Vega and Astre
- Cadillac introduces “Tripmaster,” a travel computer to register elapsed time, fuel mileage, etc.
- Buick introduces the LeSabre Sport Coupe with a 150/165-bhp turbocharged V-6
- Buick’s mid-size cars include a down-sized Century and Regal, but the Regal outsells the Century
- Corvette has a new fastback roofline with a huge rear window; 6200 Indy 500 Pace Car Replicas and 2500 Silver Anniversary editions are produced
- Last year for the 4-4-2 nameplate until 1980s revival
- Full-size Oldsmobile gets a diesel V-8 or Buick’s 231-cid (3.8) V-6 options
- Pontiac adds a fastback and wagon version of the Sunbird
- LeMans is downsized to a 108-inch wheelbase
- Pontiac Ventura is replaced by the Phoenix
- Ford news:
- New compact Fairmont and Zephyr are built on the “Fox” platform which will become the basis for many future Fords
- Ford drops the Maverick and Comet
- Henry Ford II fires Lee Iacocca from presidency
- 1971-76 Pintos are recalled because of propensity to catch fire in rear-end collisions
- Final year for the big LTD
- Mustang II “King Cobra” gets a 302-cid (5.0 litre) V-8 option
- On its 75th anniversary, Ford issues a Diamond Jubilee Thunderbird
- Chrysler news:
- In 7th and 8th place, Plymouth and Dodge drop behind Mercury in sales
- Chrysler introduces first domestic built front-drive subcompacts: Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon with 1.7-litre VW engines
- Dodge drops the Royal Monaco, Plymouth drops the Gran Fury
- Last year for the Dodge Monaco and Plymouth Fury
- Chrysler hires Lee Iacocca
- Last year for the 440-cid (7.2 litre) V-8, the 400 (6.6 litre) V-8 is standard except in LeBaron
- LeBaron engine choices are the Slant Six, 318-cid (5.2 litre) V-8, or 360-cid (5.9 litre) V-8
- Magnum XE joins Dodge’s Charger SE. 400-cid (6.6 litre) V-8 is top engine option
- AMC news:
- AMC drops the Hornet name, but facelifts the model calling it Concord
- Last year for the Gremlin
- Last year for the Matador
- Other makes news:
- Volkswagen of America produces front-drive Rabbit in Pennsylvania
- Top American Automobile Corporations for 1978
1. General Motors 5,444,492 2. Ford 2,728,326 3. Chrysler 1,322,878 4. AMC 137,860 5. Others 728
- Top model year production for 1978
Chevrolet 2,375,436 Ford 1,923,655 Oldsmobile 1,015,805 Pontiac 900,380 Buick 803,187 Skyhawk 24,589 Skylark 114,220 Century 87,746 Regal 236,652 LeSabre 171,932 Estate Wagon 25,964 Electra 225121,549 Riviera 20,535 Mercury 635,051 Plymouth 501,129 Dodge 467,720 Chrysler 354,029 Cadillac 349,684 Seville 56,985 DeVille 206,701 Eldorado 46,816 Fleetwood Brougham 36,800 Fleetwood Limousine 2,382 Lincoln 169,620 AMC 137,860 Gremlin 22,104 Concord 117,513 Pacer 21,231 AMX 2,540 Matador 10,576 Checker 300 Excalibur 263 Avanti II 165
1978 FIREBIRD Photo Gallery
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Keyword: 1978 Pontiac Firebird