Could not find any archive posts referring to "Column 74" on a 1968 Firebird Billing History document. Mine shows a "2" in that column, but I see no reference to it on any other PHS documents. Does anyone know what Column 74 was used for and what the refernce "2" means?

Dave

On the build sheet? Block 74 is for rear axle. It should be a letter. Can you post a pic of it?

He's not asking about his build sheet. His Billing history sheet (which is provided with purchase of PHS documents)

I just looked at mine, and can I see exactly what you're talking about. But my columns 74 thru 80 (which I agree are not referenced at all on the zone copy provided by PHS) are blank. I do not have any numbers in these columns at all like yours does.

You have an interesting mystery. Will be interesting to know if someone has an answer. Have you tried contacting PHS directly to see if they can shed some light? I can think of no better source to try...

Here is a link to the Billing History Sheet from PHS for my car. I thought perhaps this would be an easy one, so did not consider asking PHS. Let's see if anyone else has any insight first.

http://www.pinballmadness.net/collections/main.php?g2_itemId=23381

Dave

A picture would help. I have a number 4 in column 75 and blank for the rest. As far as rear axle goes, I thought that those options were handled in Column 36(Safe-T-Track = 1, Economy = 4, Performance = 8) and Column 37 (Letters C - S for the various gear ratios).

I would interpret what you have as 3.36 open rear end.

What Column 74 is I don't know, 75 either for that matter.

OK, I see. There is no column 74. That is column 73-1 and 73-2.
First two digits in first box and third digit in second box.

Sorry for being a dunce, but I feel I am missing something with the 73-1 and 73-2 comment as hat would be floor mats, and I would think that would be listed in column 73 since that is blank? I see a "2" listed right above where it says "74" in the picture that was in the link. Are you saying that really is not column 74?

Dave

OK, my mistake. I was looking at the other sheet you had pictured. I don't see anything in my PHS stuff that explains the 74, but my car is a 69.
Do you have a "All Series Special Equipment Order" that came with your PHS packet? It has all the codes on it.

73-2 would be floor mats. 73-1 was the Air Cleaner, Dual Stage H.D. The -# was just to show which of the two possibilities it was.

So, if you saw a 3 in column 73 it would be both the floor mats and the air cleaner. Since yours is blank, your car had neither option.

Codes for Columns 74 and 75 are not shown anywhere in my PHS documentation.

My documentation is for 1968.

Looking at your codes, you have a very nicely optioned 400 car.

Sorry, I refer to that as the build sheet. In my time of dealing with various GM "build" sheets (broadcast, billing history,etc) they are all pretty similar.
On my PHS provided sheet for my '67, block 74 has a "K" that would designate a 3.55 gear ratio.

Sorry, I tried.

I did find the code 75.
According to the "Catalog of Firebird ID Numbers" a 75(4) in 68 is for "Belt, Front Seat Shoulder."

Thanks for the info, because my car did come with them!

I do have the "Special Equipment Sheet" as well for 1968, but there is no clumn "74" indicated on that document either. It remains a mystery!

And yes, this is a really nicely optioned car that is undergoing some additonal restoration work as we speak. Can't wait to get it back on the road!

Dave

Your welcome. Every once in a while I do manage to hit the nail on the head!

Dave,
I was hopeing it might have something there that my 69 version doesn't (but I think part of mine is cut off at the bottom.) Mine (order sheet) stops at 73 as well, but 69's didn't come with the billing history document (at least mine didn't.)
Does anyone have a Special Equipment Order where there is more on the bootom after where it has a heading for "SPECIAL PAINT-All Series?"

So I spoke to Jim Mattison. He mentioned that option 742 (showing a "2" in the 74 column on the car billng history document) meant that the car came with a "hidden" option of shoulder belts. Apparently, shoulder belts became mandatory in Jan 1968, but Pontiac had to put them on all 1968 birds anyway, so for accounting purposes, they used column 74 with a "2" to denote that.

So what I take from that info is that any car built and invoiced prior to Jan 1, 1968 should have a 742 option on the sheet. Any car built after that will not have anything in the 74 column.

Now I have never seen shoulder belts on a convertible, and they must have been a pain to mess with, so I am guessing most owners probably took them off as fast as they could. Does anyone have them on their convertible?

Dave

Convertibles were exempt from the Jan. 1, 1968 outboard seating position mandatory shoulder belt law. My 1/30/68 convert does not have them.

I told him I had a convertible. Mine must have been ordered with them.

Dave

All of the early shoulder belts were mounted to the roof of F-bodied GM cars so I doubt that any convertibles were equiped with them. I have never seen or heard of of any. If I'm wrong please show me.
I have explored installing shoulder belts in my '69 convert but I want retractors ( I had a '70 coupe and the roof mounted shoulder belts are very restrictive, couldn't reach the radio controls with the belt on). Has anyone done this?

I asked Jim that very question since I questioned it on how my convertible could possibly have them. He stated they were mounted in the rear fender well or somewhere like that. He did not have specifics.

Dave

Here's about seatbelts: http://www.camaros.org/seatbelt.shtml
Shoulder belts became standard in Camaro coupes in Jan 68. Shoulder belts were available in convertibles. Several pics of them in my article.

I only see a few cars with 742's on PHS docs and I find them both on converts and coupes, after Jan 68. And there's converts and coupes built the same time without the code.

Those pictures are great Kurt and that makes total sense. When I had the car all apart, I wish I would have taken more notice of that area to see if there were "marks" from where the belts would have been attached.

I will ask the original owner if she happens to recall anything like that...although I doubt she will remember.

Dave