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
  • A = 231-cid two-barrel V-6
  • U = 305-cid four-barrel V-8
  • X = 350-cid four-barrel V-8
  • L = 350-cid four-barrel V-8 (LM1)
  • R = 350-cid four-barrel V-8
  • Z = 400-cid four-barrel V-8
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