Hello, I am lucky enough to be about to become the proud owner of a 1967 400 4 speed convertible. This has been my dream car for about 40 years, and I am finally in the position to get one. It is supposedly a numbers matching vehicle, which I will check for sure when I get it home - it really doesn't matter to me... My first question is where can I find a VIN decoder for this vehicle? I really do want to make sure it was originally a 400 4 speed, not a transplant. Thanks for your help!

Never mind - found it. It is correct for a convertible V-8.

Now get the PHS documents and verify if it's the original engine to the car and see what else it came with- keep us posted

Welcome and when you can, post pictures.

Hello, Welcome...

"It is supposedly a numbers matching vehicle, which I will check for sure when I get it home - it really doesn't matter to me..."

That is the best possible attitude!

Welcome. You'll get a great deal of advice from the forum members. Some of it will actually be useful. Bwahahahahaha!!!

A numbers matching 400 car demands a premium price. That's the main reason you should care. Otherwise, a bird with a 400 and 4 speed is a blast to drive, original or not.

Congrats! and welcome aboard.

bill v

So I got her home, but only have one good picture so far (weather has been poor), and only have put 20 miles on her. I named her Dream Bird, since she's been my dream for 40 years. Beautiful car, but I can't figure out yet how to post the picture. I also need some help figuring out what the engine is, as it's not original. YU engine code, number is 0532450. Build sheet shows the original engine ID as 543941. I know '67 had a YU engine code for a 400 automatic, but the heads are a casting code 17, so from a '68 350. Since I was told the heads have the hardened valve seats, I was thinking the heads were changed out from a '68 since the valves are the same diameters for the '68 350 and the '67 400. However the block has the transfer lug, so it can't be the 400, correct? '68 didn't have a YU engine code, so I am "assuming" its a 350, but I don't know what year yet. I have not been able to find the block casting code by the distributor with the distributor installed, and the engine installed. Any tricks for this? I used a borescope. Also confusing is the build sheet shows 5 in column 33, so a 400 4bbl, 3 speed manual, but column 77 shows X and column 78 shows a 1 for the hydra-matic. Which is correct for the original transmission? How would I verify? Another one is how do I know the rear end gear ratio - she is up at about 3500 RPM at 60 MPH. Higher than I am used to from my Crossfire. I have a tach but forget the actual RPM's. I'm taking her to work tomorrow to show her off as it's supposed to be a really beautiful day, so I'll check the RPM's. This is more fun than I should be allowed to have. BTW, did I say I have a great wife to let me do this? She actually found it for me.

There's a thread under Drivetrain with discussion an links to help with engine ID, if you didn't see it. Once you know what numbers to find and where they are it's a piece of cake. If you can't get your head in there you can stick a digital camera down close

You might want to break up that many questions into a small series of posts over a short time. that's a lot to digest in one sitting,but love the enthusiasm!! Did you figure out how to post pics yet?

Awesome on the wife- good for you!

Ok, too much at once. I'm continuing to investigate what engine I have. There are lots of good info sources. I was looking for a short cut. Build sheet question on the tranny - which is true - column 33 showing a 3 speed manual or columns 77 and 78 showing a hydra-matic?

Here's a good source of parts identification numbers: http://www.teufert.net/pontiac/page2.htm

Yup, lots of good sources for parts identification. I'm trying to figure out the build sheet to see what it came with. It states 2 different things in 2 different places, so I must be reading it wrong.

Like sleddog said, go to

http://www.phs-online.com/

and you can get the original dealer invoice from the original microfilm and a packet of info for your car. It's $75 now but still worth every penny.

First, thank you all for trying to help me with this and pointing me to numerous resources. And I apologize in advance for another long post, but it is all related.

I do have the packet and am trying to decode the invoice, number A 611856. It says different things in different places.

Column 33 shows a 5. Going to the master order number 97031, it decodes a 5 in column 33 as a 400 4 bbl, 325 HP, chrome air cleaner, chrome rocker covers, chrome oil cap, dual exhaust, declutching fan, dual hood scoops, 3 speed manual transmission, floor shift, E70 red stripe wide oval tires.

In column 77 of the invoice however, it shows an X. On the power train chart that came in the packet, it shows that X means hydra-matic transmission. In column 78 of the invoice, it shows a 1. On the order it shows that 1 means hydra-matic.

The invoice also shows the engine code is a Y in column 75, and a T in column 76, which decodes to be a 400 4 bbl.

So I assume that column 33 is the basics, and the other columns further define the options, so I must ignore the basics, and assume the options are correct.

So it was originally built as a 400 4 bbl with the hydra-matic tranny. Of this I am 90% certain. I'm not perfect so I gotta leave the 10% chance out there.

Now I just need to find the casting numbers on the block, to help determine what year the block is, to help determine what displacement it really is. It is not a YT as shown on the invoice, but a YU with the transfer lug.

One of the resources I looked at http://pontiachunters.com/articles/pontiac-engine-block-identification/ shows if it has the transfer lug it is NOT a 389 or 400. This is actually a very in-depth article. I will get this figured out!

BTW, I have not yet tried anymore to get pictures posted. Been to busy trying to figure the engine out!

PHS is supposed to decode it for you. They highlight on the print of the invoice. You can believe them. They are experts

Again - different things are highlighted on different parts of the invoice. Everything I previous stated is highlighted on the invoice.

I do have it all figured out now though. I was told it was a numbers matching 400 4 speed, and being the trusting soul that I am, I believed him.

Caveat emptor.

It was originally a 1967 400 4 bbl hydra-matic (YT engine code, X1 transmission code).

It is now a 1970 350 block determined by the YU engine code with the transfer lug and block casting number 9799916 on the passenger side rear below the valve cover, with 1968 350 heads determined from the casting number 17 between the center exhaust ports.

The reference resources out there are great,

Next is pictures - I saw a post the other day that I will have to look up again later on how to do it. Busy day today so hopefully I'll get them posted tonight.

That is cool that it was an original 400 car. Usually it's the other way, 6 cyl or 326 2bbl where the stick in a 400 and install a 400 hood

Yeah, and I know a guy with a '68 400 YT complete engine hanging on an engine stand. I'm gonna see what it takes to get him to part with it. I know it needs the hardened valve seats installed yet, so I might as well freshen the rings while it's apart if I can get him to sell it to me. That will be closer to what I was looking for than a '70 350... Still haven't worked on posting pictures, but at least I got some taken. Will try to make some time again tonight.

Picture test:


Edit: JaNeily, It seems that the picture posting problem may be with the FGF Photo Gallery thread and how you and I are using it. See if you can post your pictures here in your earlier thread.

FYI, The picture is a plastic model I built to match my car several years ago.

I have been gone from the forum for a while, but just posted about a barn find I picked up. Anyway, now I can post pictures of my first Firebird.

Very nice . Did you figure out the engine numbers yet ?