Rear armrest opening cover plates ?

[Wallington]

I didn't know there was such a thing. But apparently early years had an inner access cover behind the rear armrests panel that covered the opening for access to rear wheel spoiler/flare hardware and inner rear wheelarch. Anyone know what years used this panel and if only TA's for a second seal from the elements or all models? I see the opening for the panel still exists on my 78, but no screw holes to install.

[b_hill_86]

Didn’t know that either. Been a while since ive had my inner panels off and of course mine is a 77 so that doesn’t help a lot but makes me wonder if I have the opening. I have a replacement set of inners I plan to install this year so I’ll be taking a look soon. Ish.

[Wallington]

The opening is just part of the regular body pressing, I'll add a pic if I find a clear one. It's just that certain models, or TA specifically, had a plate screwed over this opening. I don't know if it was also sealed or what. No diagrams or references yet, hard to google the plates or a stripped car showing that area. No manuals show it yet, still have a few more to dig through Ike the 67-75 parts and smaller editions of.

Does the answer even matter, not terribly or at all, but now and then things pop up that you've never heard of or noticed that others are well aware of and never mentioned. Maybe I'll google Mexican contraband hiding places...

I just picked up a set, not arrived yet, as part of a collection of used pieces. I had to ask the guy, who in turn asked his wife, what they were! I just thought random GM whatevers thrown in, not hard to cut or make if ever needed to. Not that you'd ever need them....until you realise you are missing them, then they are the only thing you need, just because!

[Wallington]

Any early TA owners, or anyone in general? Imagine it's a facebook post, it's your chance to all contribute something, the original question is irrelevant.

[wheels78ta]

Pics from inside the pocket behind the door jamb vents.  Is this where the inner access cover should be?

No FB  here.

[wheels78ta]

After panel is removed

[Wallington]

Second post pic, square plates with corner cut off over that opening each side. Will add pics.

[5th T/A]

This is all news to me. Realistically it is a lot easier to remove the plastic vent to access the spoilers, rather than remove the back seat and interior panel.

[Wallington]

Then they perhaps had another purpose, not for access but for adding a second seal or separation,who knows. Or for accessing fender barcode details!

These fellas :

1970-75 Trans Am inner panels for rear wheel spoilers by Ben, on Flickr

which go here (78 shown) :

Firebird rear interior primed no insulation by Ben, on Flickr

[FormTA]

That is pretty crazy.  Like stated above, seems like an extra hole for nothing and why make a cover plate when other holes are left open??.. cool pictures of rare items though.

[Wallington]

I'd need to find interior pics of an earlier model that used these to see if any different in pressings or simply drilled a hole to screw into. I just used an old pic of my 78.

[Wallington]

Turns out it's a feature of all early models and not a TA thing. But other forums aren't interested either so has gone no further on all of them.

[FormTA]

Perfect! Good to know.

[Wallington]

I was going to prop up some pics on my car just to show. But it now has that area covered in dynamat, right over the openings! I've never tried to peel any off to see how well it lets go or the mess it leaves behind! I was hoping for just one early bird owner to post a pic or a diagram or anything on the few forums I posted on, but nothing.

[Wallington]

Actually, just came across this pic I took many years ago when cameras still used film and cost too much to just go taking wildly.
It's the RH rear armrest area on my car after stripping interior out for some work. What is shown is the factory original extra-insulation and they also used these small adhesive bitumen patches and slapped them in various places, and not very well! Seems a cover of sorts may have been useful here, if only they made one...
These same patches were also put over seatbelt anchor and seat track bolt holes in the floor, with the bolts then put through them creating a gooey seal as they went.

firebird RH rear armrest access hole original insulation patch by Ben, on Flickr

[FormTA]

I do remember seeing those on both of my 79s now that I see this picture.

[roadking77]

My '79 has the square holes but no plates. My car was pretty much stripped out when I got it so cannot say if they were ever there.

[Wallington]

Seems to be only the first few years. Had like 2 replies on another forum and no real interest at all, no pics, no diagrams, no one giving a crap! I did ask, nothing. I thought it was interesting, even if the items themselves are not. I went through project forum post after post for early years, looking for stripped interior pics, knowing that the guys who have those pics are reading the post and doing nothing.

http://www.transamcountry.com/community/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=83767.0;attach=5438;image

[wheels78ta]

1975 TA during restoration.........Hard to tell if there are any screws holding the panel on.

[wheels78ta]

1970 TA during restoration......You can see the screws on this one.

[Wallington]

Thanks Willie. The rear pressings also differ ever so slightly between early and midyears. A few angles look like the covers plates may also differ but not clear enough to be sure. The vague photos I've seen seem to match roughly the change in interior plastic armrest panels change, so 70-72 and 72-up, with cover plates used until perhaps 1975.

The guy I got these plates off thought they were off a 75 or 76, but they are also the earlier red primer of 70-73 or so, not the brown shade so that guess is not one to base much on. I haven't seen recent pics of other years to see which still used them or had holes or not.

Anyway, some newer pics just because. Guys are bored with the topic so this is perhaps more to do with going off photos to match red primer.

This is the plates as removed, interior side showing. Black brush-on goo for sticking of wheelarch insulation next to it.

Firebird 70-75 rear interior armrest cover plates unwashed (2) by Ben, on Flickr

As removed, inside body faces, grey primer/blue paint overspray from door jamb opening areas. The staining is likely from the interior side seeping through, rather than these being sealed to body.

Firebird 70-75 rear interior armrest cover plates unwashed (1) by Ben, on Flickr

Cleaned-up and using garage lighting only, no flash.

Firebird 70-75 rear interior armrest cover plates washed (1) by Ben, on Flickr

Same again but using flash inside house. Much more of an orange look that is not accurate.

Firebird 70-75 rear interior cover plates washed flash lighting (1) by Ben, on Flickr

Scanned pic using printer scanner, and using the two best sides for recording the colour or red primer.

Firebird rear interior armrest panel covers 70-75 red primer scanner by Ben, on Flickr

I considered even sending one off to paint shop to get some primer matched for future use, but mine uses the later brown primer, nor is it worthy of even touching up in this way so won't bother now.

Of interest also is that the plates are completely covered both sides evenly. So being an early red primer, it is Norwood dip and the plates must have been only loosely attached by the screws a few threads for complete coverage and only marks from clamping over the paint, not bare areas where sealed onto body when screwed tightly. Van Nuys were still spraying grey primer and black overcoat during these years before swapping to the red-brown primer for roughly 74-78.