Car Model History

Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe · 305 cu in Chevrolet V8, 2-barrel

1978 Pontiac Firebird Hardtop Coupe — 305 cu in Chevrolet V8, 2-barrel, 3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic

The 1978 factory powertrain records document this Firebird model, engine, and transmission combination, including regional applications where noted.

1978 Pontiac Firebird — exact-model-year car
Exact 1978 Firebird reference photograph; exact configuration not verified ·

Photo: “2023 Downtown West Allis Classic Car Show 31 (1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am).jpg” by Michael Barera / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.

Factory configuration

What this model is

Trim
Firebird
Body style
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
Engine
305 cu in Chevrolet V8, 2-barrel
Transmission
3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic

Compare related 1978 configurations

Compare up to twelve documented pairings, prioritizing the same engine, body, trim and gearbox as this car. This related selection is not a complete factory lineup.

Browse all documented 1978 configurations →

Compare 12 related configurations — current car marked
1978 Pontiac Firebird: documented configuration differences
ConfigurationEngineTransmissionBody
Current carFirebird Hardtop Coupe — 305 cu in Chevrolet V8, 2-barrel, 3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic305 cu in Chevrolet V8, 2-barrel3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automaticTwo-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
Firebird Hardtop Coupe — 305 cu in Chevrolet V8, 2-barrel, 4-speed wide-ratio manual305 cu in Chevrolet V8, 2-barrel4-speed wide-ratio manualTwo-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
Esprit Hardtop Coupe — 305 cu in Chevrolet V8, 2-barrel, 3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic305 cu in Chevrolet V8, 2-barrel3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automaticTwo-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
Formula Hardtop Coupe — 305 cu in Chevrolet V8, 2-barrel, 3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic305 cu in Chevrolet V8, 2-barrel3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automaticTwo-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
Esprit Hardtop Coupe — 305 cu in Chevrolet V8, 2-barrel, 4-speed wide-ratio manual305 cu in Chevrolet V8, 2-barrel4-speed wide-ratio manualTwo-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
Formula Hardtop Coupe — 305 cu in Chevrolet V8, 2-barrel, 4-speed wide-ratio manual305 cu in Chevrolet V8, 2-barrel4-speed wide-ratio manualTwo-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
Firebird Hardtop Coupe — 231 cu in Buick V6, 2-barrel, 3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic231 cu in Buick V6, 2-barrel3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automaticTwo-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
Firebird Hardtop Coupe — 350 cu in Chevrolet V8, 4-barrel, 3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic350 cu in Chevrolet V8, 4-barrel3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automaticTwo-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
Firebird Hardtop Coupe — 231 cu in Buick V6, 2-barrel, 3-speed manual231 cu in Buick V6, 2-barrel3-speed manualTwo-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
Firebird Hardtop Coupe — 350 cu in Chevrolet V8, 4-barrel, 4-speed wide-ratio manual350 cu in Chevrolet V8, 4-barrel4-speed wide-ratio manualTwo-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
Esprit Hardtop Coupe — 231 cu in Buick V6, 2-barrel, 3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic231 cu in Buick V6, 2-barrel3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automaticTwo-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
Esprit Hardtop Coupe — 350 cu in Chevrolet V8, 4-barrel, 3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic350 cu in Chevrolet V8, 4-barrel3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automaticTwo-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe

Configuration-specific ownership

Maintenance for this exact configuration

These items are filtered to the engine, transmission, trim, and model-year applicability recorded for this configuration. Broad Amazon category searches are suppressed here; shopping links appear only beside catalog-backed part numbers.

Service desk

What this car needs & when

Use this as a service-planning checklist for 1978 Pontiac Firebird Hardtop Coupe — 305 cu in Chevrolet V8, 2-barrel, 3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic. Start with the interval, confirm which engine or configuration you have, then use an exact ordering reference when one is verified.

Service topics
3
Scheduled topics
2
Applicability stated
3
Exact references
1

Before ordering Identify your engine, options and build date. Part numbers and sizes can change within one model year. Shopping links appear only for catalog-backed references; still verify the listing against your vehicle before ordering.

  • Spark plugsView intervals, applicability and sources

    Spark plugs

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1978 · United States (49-state federal reference schedule) · The federal database transcribes separate 1978 General Motors Schedule I and II packages for Pontiac. Match the schedule designation to the underhood emissions label; this source does not establish the rest of the owner's maintenance table. The Schedule I 22,500-mile replacement excludes six-cylinder engines.

    Published interval: 22,500 mi · Schedule I; replace except on six-cylinder engines.

    Source: U.S. DOT/NHTSA — 1978 General Motors Pontiac scheduled-maintenance packages · Appendix D, page D-49 — Emissions III · checked

    Schedule II engine family

    Applies to: 1978 · United States (49-state federal reference schedule) · The federal database transcribes separate 1978 General Motors Schedule I and II packages for Pontiac. Match the schedule designation to the underhood emissions label; this source does not establish the rest of the owner's maintenance table.

    Published interval: 30,000 mi · Schedule II; replace.

    Source: U.S. DOT/NHTSA — 1978 General Motors Pontiac scheduled-maintenance packages · Appendix D, page D-52 — Emissions III · checked

  • Air-cleaner elementView intervals, applicability and sources

    Air-cleaner element

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1978 · United States (49-state federal reference schedule) · The federal database transcribes separate 1978 General Motors Schedule I and II packages for Pontiac. Match the schedule designation to the underhood emissions label; this source does not establish the rest of the owner's maintenance table. The Schedule I replacement excludes four-cylinder engines.

    Published interval: 30,000 mi · Schedule I; replace except on four-cylinder engines.

    Source: U.S. DOT/NHTSA — 1978 General Motors Pontiac scheduled-maintenance packages · Appendix D, page D-49 — Emissions IV · checked

    Schedule II engine family

    Applies to: 1978 · United States (49-state federal reference schedule) · The federal database transcribes separate 1978 General Motors Schedule I and II packages for Pontiac. Match the schedule designation to the underhood emissions label; this source does not establish the rest of the owner's maintenance table.

    Published interval: 30,000 mi · Schedule II; replace.

    Source: U.S. DOT/NHTSA — 1978 General Motors Pontiac scheduled-maintenance packages · Appendix D, page D-52 — Emissions III · checked

  • Engine oil filter — catalog fitmentView intervals, applicability and sources

    Engine oil filter — catalog fitment

    Exact reference available

    Manufacturer-catalog fitment scoped to the exact engine row in the Firebird application table.

    Baldwin B27 cataloged fitment

    This manufacturer application record establishes filter fitment only; it does not alter the separately sourced service schedule.

    Applies to: 1978 · 305 cu in Chevrolet V8, 2-barrel · United States · Baldwin's exact 1978 Firebird V8-305 (5.0L), code U row assigns B27; confirm the engine code and installed filter before ordering.

    Source: Parker/Baldwin Filters — 2025 Automotive Applications catalog · PDF page 937, Pontiac 1978 Firebird V8-305 (5.0L), code U row — Lube — B27 · checked

    Verified ordering references

Search results may cover different scales, trims and model years. Check each listing; this search does not establish an exact replica of the documented vehicle.

Sources

  1. 1978 Firebird factory engine and transmission records

Other 1978 configurations

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