Difference Between a 400 H.O. and Ram Air Firebird
Short answer: Functional (cold-air) Ram Air induction came on the 1969 RA III; 1968–69 400 H.O. cars did not have it. Apart from that, the RA III and 400 H.O. are 100% identical — same carb settings, cam, heads, and exhaust manifolds.
For the full “Ram Air Performance Package” (better-flowing heads, stiffer valve springs, radical cam, stronger valvetrain, 3.90/4.33 rear) you had to order the RA IV in 1969 — or the RA I / RA II in 1968. Think of it as: RA III ‘Birds and Trans Ams got Ram Air induction; RA I, RA II, and RA IV cars got the complete Ram Air performance package.
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Content last modified: June 13, 2026 at 10:06 am
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