I'm trying to find the engine ID stamp on the "front of the right hand side of the block" but I'm having trouble locating it. The alternator is right where I think it's supposed to be. Anyone have any photos?
This is why I'm concerned - I bought the car thinking it was a 400. Now, all of the work I've been doing, and all of the photos I've seen of 400s look just like my engine, so I'm not that worried, but as I was looking at hood (where the old emblems were) I noticed that the paint gouges don't look like they had little 400 emblems there, but instead something starting with a 3...
Now, I know from the body tag that my car was originally Coronado Gold, and this might not be the original hood, and the guy I bought it from had started work on a bunch of things and quit when he got a Catalina or something, so every day there's something new to figure out.
Anyway, if there's any way to ID the engine other than the stamp that I can't seem to find, I could use the advice.
well, check and see which emblems fit? they dont have the same hole pattern...if its a 400 hood = scoops, 350 emblems dont fit the holes , unless they are re drilled...
if you have a "flat" hood , no scoops, thats a 326, 350 hood and someone might have added 400 emblems to it....your pic looks like you have a 350 ,326 hood...so if the car was originally a 400? then your hood is not correct...if it was originally a 326 car then the 400 emblems were added when they swapped engine...and If Im correct (could be wrong) only 326s and 400s were made in 67....
2012 Mustang Boss 302 #1918, Competition Orange. FGF replacement 2006 Mustang V6 Pony, Vista Blue. Factory ordered. 2019 BMW X3 (Titled to the wife, but I'm always driving it for her. So I'm claiming it) Old projects, gone but not forgotten: 1967 FB 400, original CA car. After 22 years of work, trashed by the guy who was supposed to paint it. I had to sell it. 1980 Turbo Trans Am 1970 Mustang fastback, 351C 4Bbl, auto 1988 Mustang GT, 5 speed 1983 F-150 4x4, built 302 1994 Chevy K2500 HD 4x4, 454 TBI
the block should have a stamp on the front, on the passenger side just under the head...a two letter code...like WC or WZ or YX or such, and IF engine has been swapped it may not even be a Firebird engine, could be from a big Pontiac...
Holy Crap! It took me forever to find the stamp! It's exactly where it was supposed to be, right where I was looking under paint and goo and crap. With a little help from photoshop, here's a pic, just so I'm sure.
Now, from what I've gathered, the 6 digit code is supposed to be the last 6 numbers of your VIN, which doesn't match mine, and I don't really care since I'm doing cool custom stuff anyway. The letters, however, are YB and if I'm looking at everything right, it seems that it's a 400. The hood then is probably the original, and the original engine was most likely the 326.
You still need the casting code and date code from the rear of the engine (near distributor) to be sure, heads are cast Nov 7 & 8 of '68 so if they are original to the motor and a YB code I would lean towards a B-body 400/265hp 2 barrel, but you still need to dig a little more...
The VIN is stamped in the same area as the block code but lower, I had to scrape below the radiator hose to find mine...but I am pretty sure it won't match anyways...
1 more thing... On the engine lists that you guys linked to (THANKS, by the way) it shows that the original carb was a 2bbl, but mine now has an Edelbrock 4bbl. The question is, are the 400 blocks pretty much the same, and that was just a designation for the plant? Or is there something different about 400 blocks that were originally built for 4bbl carbs?
I don't know all the specific internal differences but based on the chart if it is a '69 YB then its a 2 bolt main. Probably lower compression and a smaller cam, but that was 40 years ago, who knows what might have been changed along with intake...you just have to decide how much do you want to know
All I want to know is enough not to cry. I'd hate to have to drive to Michigan and beat up the guy who sold it to me. It's like going to a bris and having the rabbi say "Oops!"
I bought mine in November, I was able to verify it was an original 400 in the 5 minutes I had to make the decision to buy but also knew it wasn't running when I bought it. Was told it was parked because it was smoking. I finally got it fired and ran in long enough to know it's more than just smoking, either a rod knock or a wristpin issue. Either way in process of pulling and rebuilding, no harm no foul though since I knew going into it was probably a rebuild issue.
If your car sold to you as an original 400 then its either crying time or well I can't advocate the trip back up to Michigan although I want to .
With all of the "original" cars I see now on Ebay it's a "Buyer Beware" market. BTW - the PHS documentation is worth its weight in gold if need to know what was original from the factory.
a YB could also be a 1975 350 2bbl...155 hp...or 76 160 hp
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letters, however, are YB and if I'm looking at everything right, it seems that it's a 400. The hood then is probably the original, and the original engine was most likely the 326.
most likely a 326 original...with 'flat' hood.. when I bought my car it was advertised as a 400...never saw the hood on the picture the divorcee had put out, but as I saw the car I knew it wasnt an original 400...but it DID have a 400 in it, a 72 with 7J2 heads...I later replaced the heads..
then I bought a 400 hood , re badged the car to "clone " it to a 400....
Yep, still need the block casting code and date code to narrow the block code down, I was just assuming from the head dates. But I should know what to assume does...
Later model blue engine paint could be a hint, but mine was painted that color and is still original (except carb), probably a rebuild at some point. I have seen pics of others painting engines "Pontiac Blue" not the earlier color.
I bought it for a fair price ($8000) and I knew it wasn't all original. It was running well and came with a crapload of extra parts that the guy was going to do, but didn't (new front suspension, new brakes, center console, deck lid w/ spoiler, new front bumper assembly w/ inserts and lamps). In the end, it's fast as hell, sounds like the 4 horsemen, and has no rust at all.
I'm going to try to locate the other codes, as soon as I find a dentist's mirror and a ladder.
I used a digital camera on macro setting to get the block codes by the distributor.Worked like a charm.
David
http://FirstGenFirebird.org/show/closeup.mv?CarID=571 If i don't get this car back on the road soon i'm gonna go postal! On a quest for FGF knowledge 1968 Pontiac Firebird Convertible 1969 Oldsmobile Cutlass "S" Convertible *Sold*
If the car is a reasonable facimlie of the picture you show, you have no complaints for the price, at least around here, not in some of the ghetto economies that many of the you-paid-too-much members live.
The vin stamp is next to the timing cover on the passenger side when facing the car, and will have the same last 6 numbers of your vin, if it's original.
Ben, Sorry it took so long to come up with this, it's been a little hectic! That 6 digit number by the code wasn't suppose to match the VIN, the other number does.....the one that says Serial#. LOOK;
Jim, one thing I see that is not correct on your post is that the VIN numbers were not stamped on Pontiac blocks until '68.
Ben, look at the heads on the engine, between the center two exhaust ports there will be cast into head numbers and/or letters that can tell us what heads are on it. Examples are 16, 96,7K3, 670, 6X, etc. Between the casting date of the heads & the casting code it will help determine what engine you have.
1st Group (digit not shown) L .... Folding Rear Seat (Firebird) 2nd Group G .... Console W .... 2-spd Automatic Transmission 3rd Group M .... 326 HO Option (Firebird) 4th Group F .... Outside Remote Control Mirror 5th Group Y .... Deluxe Front Seat Belts
i have a coronado gold on gold car and can say its a nice color if you take it back to it. make it a smokey and the bandit theme so to speak. if you want you can pm me and we could meet up on the car. already told you im close by if needed!!!
Andy
due to budget cutbacks, the light at the end of the tunnel has been disconnected for non payment.
Not to start a whole new topic about the same subject: I've been trying to figure out my codes as well.. Sorry for the probably stupid questions, but can't really figure it out yet, so thanx for any help!
My body tag (see attached pic) says it was the 5,641 made at the Lordstown, Ohio plant. This car has the Fisher Body Unit Number 31 built in the 5th week of January.
QUESTION #1: what does Fisher Body Unit Number 31 mean? Since januari is the first month of production, isn't 5.641 quite a lot of cars...?
The carb number is 7027062, which is checks out with a 1967 2b 326 A FB WITH A.I.R.
QUESTION #2: what does "FB WITH A.I.R." mean?
The number on my engine block reads 344832 YJ. The YJ corresponds with a 326, but the number: where can I check what that number is about? In the FAQ it reads: A 6-Digit Number was stamped onto the front RH face of the Engine Block. This was a tracking number used for sequencing an Engine to a specific car. All V-8's started with a 2 while the 6-Cyl's began with a 6.
QUESTION #3: my number starts with a 3.. Do I need the number at the distributor to figure out whether it is numbers matching or not?
On the head it reads 18438572, on the side of the head 140. This 140 corresponds again woth a 326 V8, but what about this 18438572?
QUESTION #4: where can I check if the head is original?
I can't find the number at the distributor, but will look for that some more (just read about it). I also ordered the PHS documetns, maybe they can shine some light on the matter.
QUESTION #1: what does Fisher Body Unit Number 31 mean? Since januari is the first month of production, isn't 5.641 quite a lot of cars...?
Body numbers are issued by series, and in 1967 there were four series of numbers issued for Firebirds. Standard interior coupe, standard convertible, deluxe/custom coupe, deluxe/custom convertible. Yours as a 22467 has the standard interior, and was the 31st (looks like 81 to me in the photo) of its series scheduled for production.
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My body tag (see attached pic) says it was the 5,641 made at the Lordstown, Ohio plant. This car has the Fisher Body Unit Number 31 built in the 5th week of January.
I don't see anything that references 5,641.
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The carb number is 7027062, which is checks out with a 1967 2b 326 A FB WITH A.I.R.
QUESTION #2: what does "FB WITH A.I.R." mean?
A.I.R. was emissions control, air injection reaction. This consisted of an air pump and pipes with fittings threaded into tapped holes in the exhaust manifolds. This is a '67 California emissions equipped car.
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The number on my engine block reads 344832 YJ. The YJ corresponds with a 326, but the number: where can I check what that number is about? In the FAQ it reads: A 6-Digit Number was stamped onto the front RH face of the Engine Block. This was a tracking number used for sequencing an Engine to a specific car. All V-8's started with a 2 while the 6-Cyl's began with a 6.
QUESTION #3: my number starts with a 3.. Do I need the number at the distributor to figure out whether it is numbers matching or not?
The number on the front of the block is called the Engine Unit Number and is found on the Pontiac Billing History for most cars through 1968. Although the series did start with 2, the numbers had already reached over 100,000 more by the time your engine was built, so the first number was a 3. YJ is the code for a 1967 Firebird 326 2 bbl engine with automatic transmission. http://thefirstgensite.com/library/engines/enginecodes.htm
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On the head it reads 18438572, on the side of the head 140. This 140 corresponds again woth a 326 V8, but what about this 18438572?
QUESTION #4: where can I check if the head is original?
The 140 head casting is the correct casting number for your car. You will need to verify that the casting dates on all your components are before mid January 1967.
That "other" number is 18436572, it's cast on the intake manifold, and it's the engine's firing order.
Vikki 1969 Goldenrod Yellow / black 400 convertible numbers matching
the 31 , sure looks like a 81 to me too...plus the picture with head number says "firing order" on it...and the second 8 is most likely a 6.....those would be the cylinders.....I do not know the firing order ,but it sounds about right? head number should be on the center port....like a 16, 6X, 7K3 or 5C or such, a two or three digit number and/or letter combo
The number that references to 5,641 is the last part of the VIN number, not the bodytag, sorry. I used the VIN interpreter on this website.
True, the 31 looks more like 81. But does this mean that it is the 81st built? The VIN-number in the Analyser on this site told it was the 5,641st. Or is there a difference maybe because it is the 5,641st Firebird, but the 81st 326 vert or something?
Well, all looks pretty original, just gotto see if I can find that number at the distributor. All the other date codes might be only visible when I take the engine apart, and that's a bit too much.
It was the 5,641st 1967 V-8 Firebird, 31st/81st of its series (convertible with standard interior). That means the majority built before yours were either standard or custom trim coupes or custom trim convertibles.
Vikki 1969 Goldenrod Yellow / black 400 convertible numbers matching
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