I have a 68 convertible 400. The numbers on engine and VIN both confirm that it should be a 400 but it doesn't have hood scoops. Everything that I have read about the 400's states that a 400 should have hood scoops. Does anyone have an idea if some didn't or has mine had the hood changed.

I'm going to take a guess and say it has been changed. In all my readings, I've never seen one without the scoops. Someone probably used a 350 hood; more available.

It would have had the hood scoops from the factory.

If you have confirmed through Pontiac Historic Services that you indeed have a 400 car, then yes, you should have the 400 hood.

Tom

As Tom says, you can only determine whether it was originally a 400 car is through PHS. The VIN cannot tell you that it was a 400 car.

If however the engine has a partial VIN that matches the car VIN (last six digits) then the original hood was probably damaged at some point. Look at the underside of the hood and see if the paint matches the body color in the hidden areas of the hood.

Wait, I did not think the block serial number needed to match the VIN to be correct, only the engine code did? (In this case it should be a YT block.) The actual serial number block that should be in the car can be obtained from PHS documentation, correct?

it would be unusual that someone put a 350 hood on a 400 car (only way it would be there..., could have been damaged, could be somebody did not want to "advertise" whats under the hood?)
if its a 400 car , it CAME w 400 hood....only later would it be swapped...of course , dealers did lots of things ,possibly COULD a buyer have ordered it that way? I`ve heard people say they like the 350 hood better...

Most '68s, as all later years, have a partial VIN stamped on the block down along the timing cover on the passenger side on the flat pad on the block face. This will not be a number-for-number match of the VIN, but has the division code, plant, year, then last six digits of VIN. See this link for more info: http://www.firstgenfirebird.org/firebird/FAQ/codes/enginecomp.html

There is also an engine production code, shown here, which should match the PHS engine unit number http://www.abilitypc.com/photos/firebird/uploads/engineid.jpg

In addition, 400 cars had the Pontiac emblem on the front bumper and the 400 emblem on the deck lid.

Do the chrome bars in the frt. grills end at the nose or do they 90 and head toward the frt. point of the bumper ?
Does that make any sense ?

How about the "3F" stamped on the cowl tag? (or was that 67 only?) Or the filler panels between the radiator support and front bumper. (only A/C cars and all 400s)


Rob

cowl tag has a W66 on a '69 Firebird 400. I don't know what the code would be for '68.

Yes, filler panels and the air deflector should be there too, but if there was a wreck bad enough to take out the hood, they may not have survived either.

Dash grab handle is another indicator; 400s had them, but I think HO did too.

Dash grab handle was an option as far as I know..

These are the toys my car was built with:
invoice code body tag code item
345 W66 Firebird 400
351 M40 Turb/Hydr
361 G80 Safe-T-Track
381 U75 Power Ant
388 U58 Radio-Stereo
412 B93 Grds-Dr-Edge
414 U05 Horns-Dual
424 D33 Mirror-Remote
431 W51 Belts-Deluxe
454 N98 Whls-Rally 2
461 M30 Strg Whl-Dlx
472 D55 Console
474 U35 Clock-Elec
501 N41 Pwr Strg-Var
504 N33 Stg Whl-Tilt
511 JL2 Disc Brks-F
514 JL1 Trim-Brk-Pdl
531 A01 Glass-S/R-AL
544 C06 Power Top
551 A31 Pwr Windows
571 H/Restraints
582 C60 Air Cond
631 B32 Mats-Fl-Frt
652 U25 Lamp-Luggage
SPR W2 Paint Specl
TMR PY4 F70x14 White Wide Oval FG
It also has front seat shoulder belts; I don't know if they were part of the deluxe belt package or not. There is no separate option for dash grab; it was also part of a package. Any ideas? I know there was a thread on this a while ago.

Wasn't the grab handle part of the "Custom Trim Package" which was also known as the "Deluxe Interior"? (molded door panels, deluxe steering wheel, and decorative exterior moldings) That is what my 67 Brochure says. I think the custom belts were part of the package also. (brushed buckle with retractors in 67) My car was ordered with std. interior and custom belts. Go figure.....

think you`re right 'sprinter', thats what mine has/had

I can confirm through my just recieved PHS documentation that the grab bar for mine was included in the 'custom trim package' code 554

Yellowbird, thanks for the info. I was worried for a bit until I confirmed the block serial number does indeed match the build sheet.

my 400 h.o block pad numbers match my vin plate and the trans also. 400's have the 2 filler panels a pontiac crest on the bumper 2extended bars on the grills and lower baffel or chin spoiler. the baffel and spoiler were used on air cond cars also. the grab bar is a deluxe accesorie.