i was wondering if there is a website where they show all the firebird engines and all they came with?? like all the internals and the codes and heads and everything else only firebird though!! GTO ENGINE CODES ARE DIFFERENT FROM FRIEBIRD ONES RIGHT?? how can i identify firebird heads from the rest?? do they have a date code to identify a specific year (cause i know that they are #16 heads that came out various years) how do i know which ones are which how can i know what cc they are???? what is the difference between open chamber and closed chamber??
There were very few heads that were specific to a model of car. None were specific to the Firebird. (The block code is the most specific.) Dates do not separate one model from another, but they can elminate certain models. The date code indicates when the part was cast.
Since production of a particular model year started in July or August of the previous year (usually), you can kinda bracket which year the heads were for by the date code.
Carburetors were different part numbers, as well as alternators and distributors.
"Closed" versus "Open" is a long conversation, best over a couple beers with a set of heads on the bench. Aside from the physical difference, there is a difference in flame propagation and combustion efficiency that makes open chamber heads superior to closed chamber.
As for identifyiong heads, the date code will tell you for which year a set of heads was used. Production for any particular year was started during July and August (usually) the previous year.
The only heads that will cause you heartache are the #15 and #16 from 1968 and 1970. Both the #15 heads had press-in studs. The #16 heads from 1970 had press-in studs. The #16 heads from 1968 had screw-in studs, and they are the good ones.
Another possible problem comes from the #46 heads, which were around in 1969 (On 428's) and in 1973 (on 350's).
