1979 Pontiac Firebird

Pontiac Firebird (1979) – Ultimate Guide

Front ends of the new Firebirds were far different from predecessors.
Quad rectangular headlamps now stood in separate recessed housings, in a sharply sloped center panel that had a peak and an emblem — but no grille.
Instead, horizontally ribbed lower grilles went into twin slots below the bumper area, with clear park/signal lamps at outer ends
At the rear was a full-width horizontally ribbed panel
Base Firebird equipment included
- Buick’s 231-cid (3.8-liter) V-6
- three-speed manual shift
- power steering
- FR78 x 15 steel-belted radials.
Esprit added
- wheel covers
- sport mirrors (driver’s remote)
- extra body moldings
Formula had
- a 301-cid V-8
- automatic transmission
- power brakes
- black-accented grille
- non-functional twin hood scoop
- Rally II wheels with trim rings
- console
- P225/70R15 black sidewall SBR tires
Trans Am had
- a 403-cid four-barrel V-8
- four-speed manual transmission
- power brakes
- air dam
- rear spoiler
- “shaker” hood
- chrome side-splitter tailpipe extensions

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 Y = 301-cid two-barrel V-8 W = 301-cid four-barrel V-8 H = 305-cid four-barrel V-8 L = 350-cid four-barrel V-8 X = 350-cid four-barrel V-8 R = 350-cid four-barrel V-8 Z = 400-cid four-barrel V-8 K = 403-cid four-barrel V-8
6	9	Year: 1979
7	_	Assembly plant
8 to 13	100001 and up	production sequence

Model Number	Style Number	Body Type	Seating	Factory Price	Shipping Weight	Production Total
2F	S87	2-door Hardtop Base Firebird – V6	4	$4825	3257	38,642 both 6 & V8
2F	S87	2-door Hardtop Base Firebird – V8	4	$5020	3330	38,642 both 6 & V8
2F	T87	2-door Hardtop Esprit – V6	4	$5193	3287	30,853
2F	T87	2-door Hardtop Esprit – V8	4	$5388	3360	30,853
2F	V87	2-door Hardtop Formula	4	$6018	3452	24,346
2F	W87	2-door Hardtop Trans Am	4	$5799	3511	93,341

VIN Code	A (Buick)	Y	W	H	X (Buick)	R (Olds)	L (LM1) (Chev)	Z (Olds)	K (Olds)
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	90° V-8
Valving	Overhead valve	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	Cast-iron
Head	Cast-iron	Cast-iron	Cast-iron	Cast-iron	Cast-iron	Cast-iron	Cast-iron	Cast-iron	Cast-iron
Bore & Stroke	3.80 x 3.40 in.	4.06 x 3.04 in.	4.06 x 3.04 in.	3.74 x 3.48 in.	3.80 x 3.85 in.	4.06 x 3.38	4.00 x 3.48	4.35 x 3.38	4.35 x 3.38
Displacement	231 cid (3.8 liters)	301 cid (5.0 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)	403 cid (6.6 liters)	403 cid (6.6 liters)
Compression ratio	8.0 : 1	8.1 : 1	8.1 : 1	8.4 : 1	8.0 : 1	7.9 : 1	8.2 : 1	7.9 : 1 (opt: 8.1 : 1)	7.9 : 1
Brake H.P.	105 @ 3200 rpm	140 @ 3600	150 @ 3800 rpm	133 @ 4000 rpm	155 @ 3400 rpm	160 @ 3600 rpm	160 @ 3800 rpm	185 @ 3600 rpm	185 @ 3600 rpm
Torque (lb-ft)	185 @ 2000 rpm	235 @ 2000 rpm	240 @ 2400 rpm	244 @ 2000 rpm	280 @ 1800 rpm	270 @ 2000 rpm	260 @ 2400 rpm	320 @ 2000 rpm	320 @ 2200 rpm
Main bearings	Four	Five	Five	Five	Five	Five	Five	Five	Five
Valve lifters	Hydraulic
Carburetor	2-barrel Rochester M2ME	2-barrel Rochester M2MC	4-barrel Rochester M4MC	4-barrel Rochester M4MC	4-barrel Rochester M4MC	4-barrel Rochester M4MC	4-barrel Rochester M4MC	4-barrel Rochester M4MC	4-barrel Rochester M4MC

Three-speed manual floor shift

Four-speed manual shift

Three-speed automatic

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	P225/70R15 SBR	P225/70R15 SBR
Steering	Recirculating ball
Front suspension	coil springs with lower trailing links and anti-sway bar
Rear suspension	semi-elliptic leaf springs with anti-sway bar
Brakes	Front disc, rear drums		Front disc, rear disc
Ignition	Electronic
Body construction	Unit with separate partial frame
Fuel tank	21 gal

301-cid two-barrel V8	$195
301-cid four-barrel V8 (Firebird)	$280
301-cid four-barrel V8 (Formula)	$85
301-cid four-barrel V8 (Trans Am)	$165 credit
305-cid two-barrel V8 (Firebird)	$195
350-cid four-barrel V8 (Firebird)	$320
350-cid four-barrel V8 (Formula)	$125
400-cid four-barrel V8 (Formula)	$340
400-cid four-barrel V8 (Trans Am)	$90
403-cid four-barrel V8 (Firebird)	$250
403-cid four-barrel V8 (Formula)	$250
4-speed manual floor shift transmission (Firebird)	$135
Turbo-Hydra-Matic transmission (Firebird)	$335
Turbo-Hydra-Matic transmission (Trans Am)	N/C
Power brakes (Firebird)	$76
Power four-wheel disc brakes (Formula/Trans Am)	$150
Heavy-duty alternator	$23 – $55
Esprit Red Bird appearance package	$449 – $491
Trans Am special edition	$674
Trans Am special edition with hatch roof	$1329
Formula appearance package	$92
Trans Am special performance package	$250 – $434
Air conditioning	$496 – $605
Cruise control	$103 – $108
Hatch roof (Firebird)	$655
Canopy top	$116

1979 Firebird Notes

Introduced Sept. 28, 1978
Robert C. Stempel was named Pontiac’s general manager
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.

1979 Automotive Notes