Frequently Asked Questions

Short answer: Those cracks at the top of the windshield pillar are in the body solder, not the structural weld — the weld and its reinforcement (about an inch below the roofline) are very strong. The fix is to re-solder the thin spot, which is far better than filling it with Bondo or All-Metal.

The solder is purely cosmetic (the factory used it instead of slow-drying filler because the cars were dipped about an hour after welding). It thins out past the welds after grinding, so it tends to crack at those thin points from stress.

Any proposed updates, changes, pictures, and/or corrections, please use our comment section below (may need to click on permalink to access comments feature). Information is subject to change and offered as is without any warranties or guarantees. Please review our Term's Of Use for more information.

Short answer: 1968 convertible wiper arms are different lengths left vs. right and are stamped “RH CONV” / “LH CONV” on the back (just past the casing). Measured on an original 1968 convertible: RH 12″, LH 11.75″ (about 1/4″–1/2″ shorter on the left). Reproduction arms are both the same length, unlike originals.

Any proposed updates, changes, pictures, and/or corrections, please use our comment section below (may need to click on permalink to access comments feature). Information is subject to change and offered as is without any warranties or guarantees. Please review our Term's Of Use for more information.

Short answer: Starting in 1968, every Firebird had an emission/tune-up label on the front bumper’s upper structure (a clear decal with white lettering, applied over the black-painted bumper area). The 1969 label differs from the 1968 but has the same content.

At the time of this discussion, no accurate reproduction of the 1968 tune-up decal existed (the common repros aren’t quite right), and the spare-tire inflator-canister label was likewise only a close copy. Members were working from NOS originals to make proper reproductions.

Any proposed updates, changes, pictures, and/or corrections, please use our comment section below (may need to click on permalink to access comments feature). Information is subject to change and offered as is without any warranties or guarantees. Please review our Term's Of Use for more information.

Short answer: Vinyl bodyside moldings were not a listed factory option for the 1968 Firebird — they were a standard feature on the bigger Pontiacs (Catalina, Executive, Bonneville), not the Firebird. They were commonly dealer-installed (or aftermarket), and many period Firebird ads and articles show cars wearing them, so they’re not unusual to find.

Any proposed updates, changes, pictures, and/or corrections, please use our comment section below (may need to click on permalink to access comments feature). Information is subject to change and offered as is without any warranties or guarantees. Please review our Term's Of Use for more information.

Short answer: On a coupe you don’t need to remove the interior — just take out the flow-through vents at the quarter panel to reach the chevron fasteners. Use a 1/4″-drive ratchet and back the nuts off carefully so you don’t snap the studs.

Note: 1968 used two chevron styles (early and late) with different stud sizes, so check which you have before ordering parts.

Any proposed updates, changes, pictures, and/or corrections, please use our comment section below (may need to click on permalink to access comments feature). Information is subject to change and offered as is without any warranties or guarantees. Please review our Term's Of Use for more information.

Short answer: The luggage rack was dealer-installed, not a factory option, and on Firebirds it was trunk-mounted only (not the roof). It was the same rack as the Corvette’s except for a minor change to the feet.

Note: owners report the mounts can start leaking and are hard to clean around — one member removed his and fitted an undrilled deck lid.

Any proposed updates, changes, pictures, and/or corrections, please use our comment section below (may need to click on permalink to access comments feature). Information is subject to change and offered as is without any warranties or guarantees. Please review our Term's Of Use for more information.

Short answer: You should have two “one-inch” mounting strips per side (so a set marked “R” means you’re missing the left-side pair). One strip spans the front of the rocker panel and onto the back of the fender; the second mounts directly behind it on the rocker panel, lip side up.

Any proposed updates, changes, pictures, and/or corrections, please use our comment section below (may need to click on permalink to access comments feature). Information is subject to change and offered as is without any warranties or guarantees. Please review our Term's Of Use for more information.

Short answer: A washer pump that runs whenever the wipers are on (without pressing the button) is usually a mechanical problem in the pump, not electrical — typically a worn gear or the pump needing a slight positional adjustment. There isn’t much adjustment room, but it’s a mechanical fix; swapping the wiper/washer switch won’t cure it.

Any proposed updates, changes, pictures, and/or corrections, please use our comment section below (may need to click on permalink to access comments feature). Information is subject to change and offered as is without any warranties or guarantees. Please review our Term's Of Use for more information.