totally new to this so hear me out. We have always assumed my aunt's firebird was a 400 per her son who was previously working on it. the car has sat for years and I'm just digging into it again for her. From what I can gather it is not a 400 and he was attempting a clone, any way I still need a little help decoding its original options. The cowl tag has some numbers I can't seem to find meaning for. For example, above the "ST" line on the tag are the numbers 331 053. it is my understanding those a date codes for manufacture but the letter appears to be missing for the week, could these be accessory codes in a odd place or some other exception? below is the full tag as best I can read it: General Motors Corporation 331 053 ST 67-22637 LOR26559 BODY TR 259-Z S-S PAINT 2WG Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Could that 053 be a bad stamped 05B? (2nd week in May)
The 2WG options show it got a 2 speed automatic which indicates it was probably a 326 if it had a V8 originally. The 400s with automatic got a 3 speed.
Depending on the amount of changes since '67, there were several other differences between the 326s and 400s; body and bumper emblems, different hoods, grill chrome, engine chrome, etc.
thank you for the info. I will try the links. I had already tried the first one and found all that you had mentioned although the indication of and original 326 is interesting. I believe I'm starting to realize a previous owner was modifying it to look like a 400. It has the emblems saying as much. I'm almost certain the engine is not original and a spoiler is added (which I just learned was not an option!) As for the bad stamp, I could see that and it is possible I attached it here. perhaps I can get a better look at it later.
A '67 400 car is easy because there was code 3F on the cowl tag. No 3F, not a 400 car. And whether a mis-stamp or hard to read, I'd say that is 05B. Its a fairly early build car.
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. I feel like I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe. 1968 400 convertible (Scarlet) 1976 T/A - 455 LE (No Burt) 1976 T/A New baby, starting full restoration. 1968 350 - 4 speed 'vert - 400 clone (the Beast!) 1968 350 convertible - Wife's car now- 400 clone (Aleutian Blue) (Blue Angel) 2008 Durango - DD 2008 GXP - New one from NH is AWESOME! 2017 Durango Citadel - Modern is nice! HEMI is amazing! 1998 Silverado Z71 - Father-daughter project 1968 400 coupe - R/A clone (Blue Pearl) (sold) 1967 326 convertible - Sold 1980 T/A SE Bandit - Sold
yes the VIN has a 1 in the eighth digit. So it wasn't a 400 per no 3f on the cowl tag, and the vin indicates a V8, so it originally had a 326 I gather. I don't suppose there is anyway to tell if it was the HO version? Not that it really matters because I still feel like previous owner has swapped it out. Thank you guys for the replies.
