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Find answers to Frequently Asked Questions for First Generation Firebirds that have been asked on First Generation Firebird-L mailing list. Special thanks needs to be given to all the Firebird-L owners that took the time to respond to other subscribers questions. These pages are continuously updated as new information is posted on the mailing list.
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| Q: | '68 Ram Air Info Sheets (WOW!!) |
| I found a document in the glove compartment of the '68 RA II 'Bird I recently purchased. One shows upper pan installation and second the lower pan. The detective work done by Generation-1 Registry about mods to hood ARE RIGHT ON AND DOCUMENTED HERE!....amazing piece of pontiac hi-performance history thats for sure... this is fantastic!! ive NEVER seen anything like it, have you ?? | |
| A: |
Thanks for the information and what a find!! Lots of gems out there
waiting to be found. Everyone can find the document at:
'68 Ram Air Information Sheet One - Huge file but worth (443 K) http://firstgenfirebird.org/firebird/FAQ/docs/68RA_InfoSheet1.jpg '68 Ram Air Information Sheet Two - Huge file but worth (451 K) http://firstgenfirebird.org/firebird/FAQ/docs/68RA_InfoSheet2.jpg |
| Q: | Ram Air Kit for 1967-68 |
| Where can I found a Ram Air kit to put in my 1968 Firebird 400. | |
| A: |
There is no kit that I'm aware of for the 67-68 Firebird Ram Air System. A kit would consist of the Upper Hood Baffle, Lower Carb Shroud, Hood Seal, Shroud Seal, Air Cleaner Lid and open scoops.
A few years ago, Barry Martin (Sonic Motors) had the Hood Baffle reproduced. He only had around 5075 pieces stamped out (kirksite die) and vendors were selling these for $350-$425 ea. Not sure if any are still out there. The Carb Shroud is the same as 68 GTO. Used ones go for $500 or so. I understand that someone has or is doing a Carb shroud. Figure this to be in the area of $300 or more. The foam seals are available thru most repro companies. The Carb lid is also available repro. Scoops would have to be cut out; repro's are available. If you bought all the pieces used or repro, figure around $1500 for such a 'kit'. |
| Q: | Identifying a Ram Air |
| Hello Everyone! I am new to the list. I am trying to restore a 68 Firebird just for run, and I was wondering how do I know if it is Ram Air I, II or neither? What exactly is Ram Air? | |
| A: |
The engine block would have codes:
WI - Firebird 400 Ram Air I (Manual) XN - Firebird 400 Ram Air I (Auto) WU - Firebird 400 Ram Air II (Manual) XT - Firebird 400 Ram Air II (Auto) More information at: http://firstgenfirebird.org/firebird/1968/id_numbers.html Also look for the Ram System: Upper Hood Baffle, Lower Carb Shroud, Hood Seal, Shroud Seal, Air Cleaner Lid and open scoops. More information at: http://firstgenfirebird.org/firebird/FAQ/engine/ramair.html |
| A: |
Ram Air is an additional performance option on Sport Option 400 Firebirds. It has an induction system that has open scoops on a 400 hood, a big pan bolted to the underside of the hood, and an air cleaner that has a raised rubber ring to seal the housing to the pan. The engine has some internal differences, and RA I is different than RA II in such areas as heads, exhaust manifolds, cam, etc.
You need to check the numbers: 2 letter engine code (on block under right head), 9 digit partial VIN (right side of block next to timing cover, just above oil pan) and heads (large numbers on center exhaust port boss), plus date codes of block, heads, manifolds, firewall data plate. You may also want to look for codes on the transmission and rear axle. You can find a couple books that have these codes, and most are pretty accurate, but not perfect. Isn't that info somewhere here on Geoff's site? Report back to the list, we'll help you decode. Date codes are cast onto the part, are a letter followed by 3 digits. Firewall data plate code is different, it's 2 digits followed by a number. You may also want to get the Pontiac Historical Services package on your car to see how the factory built and equipped it http://www.phs-online.com I believe the cost is $35.00. Chances are very good that your car is not exactly the same as it was 32 years ago, so this will tell you what your car was when new. Information is the key to knowledge! Many Firebirds have 400 hoods and engines added, this does not make it a Firebird 400, it becomes a modified 6 cylinder or 350 car to most judges and prospective purchasers. The fact that we can document our cars is part of the fun of owning Pontiacs over all other brands of American 60's and 70's special interest automobiles. |
| Q: | Ram Air Differneces between the Years |
| I was thinking about reproducing the Ram Air equipment. What are the differences for the different years. | |
| A: | ....The Ram Air Hood Baffle will physically fit all '67-'69 Firebird 400 Hoods. The Ram Air Carburetor Shroud will physically work on all '67-'69 Firebird 400s and '68-'70 GTOs. There were apparently (2) types of Shrouds; (1) with the provision for the Heat Riser and (1) without. Those with are not very common. As for the Hood Baffle, some say that '67 Firebirds had a 'tab' on the bottom of it (to hold the Seal ?) Though, I've never seen this on any original '68 Ram Air Firebirds. I'd say with such a large range of applications, both the Hood Baffle and Carb. Shroud would be excellent candidates for reproducing provided the retail price wasn't too high. Many would 'add' Ram Air to a "400" Hood if they could get the Hood Baffle and Carb. Shroud for a reasonable amount. Of course, being able to sell them cheap depends on quantity. If you have connections into the Die-Making World, you could have tooling made for not too much. If you're a full time, major restoration parts business, you're likely going to mark these up quite a bit to make a nice profit. |
| A: | As for the "tab" on the upper hood pan, the orginal 68 I had that I sent you a pic of had one. Also the setup that was sold on e bay was a 68 and had the same. I made an impression of the tab before I sold mine a few months ago. |
| Q: | Ram Air Shroud from '68 fit a '67 |
| Will a Ram Air Shroud (air cleaner) from a '68 Firebird would fit a '67? | |
| A: | All '67-'68 Firebird and '68 GTOs that came with Ram Air used the same Carb. Shroud (Air Cleaner Housing) and Lid. There were no Carter carbs. used on any '67 400 Firebirds. The RA Hood Baffle was also the same '67/'68 Firebird but different on the '68 GTO (though, they initially look the same). |
| Q: | Rain and the Ram Air Scoops |
| All this talk about ram air hoods got me thinking and since i've never had the pleasure of viewing a real ram air in the flesh I ask. What do you do when it rains? How do you keep the water out. I can't imagine people in the sixties buying cars you drive in the rain. | |
| A: |
To answer this we must rewind to 1965 and look at the GTO.
It had an over the counter option of a Ram Air pan that bolted
on to the 3x2s (triPower). It had a seal that moulded itself to the contour
of the underside of the hood. It didnt have a seperate hood pan as in the
later years. In 66 Pontiac continued this over the counter option and later
that year had a factory option of RA GTO. This was the first time you could
get a purpose built factory Ram Air Pontiac. There were previous cars built
in the early 60s but werent avaliable to the general public. There were around
200 of the 66 GTO RA cars made. Rare indeed.
The tradition of RA carried into the 67 GTO but tripower was replace by single 4 bbl(Q-Jet). When Firebird was intoduced the 400 option had a newly designed scooped hood that also offered the RA setup except it had a seperate under hood pan to help seal and direct the incoming "rammed" air. These were true Factory Hot Rods avaliable to the general public. Tradition carried on to the 68 GTO and Bird with basicly the same setup. This was the first year GTO used a seperate hood pan. Complaints of this fair weather only system promted enginners to design a 69 driver controlled system that closed the RA inlets off to under hood inlets. This allowed the driver to choose if weather was not favorable. 70 Trans Ams improved the design and had a flapper that faced backwards on the shaker scoop. This was carried on thru the 72 model. After that it was basicly a design feature. It was big hoopla that GM introduced the Trans AM with factory RA in the last 3 yrs. History does repeat itself. |
| Q: | Ram Air V |
| I have heard Pontiac made some Ram Air V in '69 but were available in a crate only. If they were crate motors could you not have put it into a Firebird? | |
| A: | Kent sure you can but you must remove the crate first.... what I meant was that the factory didnt put these race motors in any production cars. A little over 200 were sold in the crate and some more were pieced togeather. There was 2 versions. the low deck 303 cu in version made just for Trans Am racing ( 5 litre restriction),and the 400 version . The factory tried a few experimental versions,366 and 455 but the RAV program was aimed at the drags and T/A series. They also experimented with various carb(s) and manifolds. the closest production motor to this was the 73-4 455 SD. |
