not a firebird, but i have listed a 1970 gto ram air iv car on ebay for a friend of a friend. the WW code that should show up on the block to prove it's a matching # manual trans car can not be found. the only #'s found on the block were SR 812484 . it does have the 614 heads on it. any ideal what the block #'s mean? here's the auction... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=7244&item=1873533133 thanks, mike
The SR is a Service Replacement block. What happened to the WW? Possible removed before he got the car or motor blew. The service replacement (SR) is not considered as numbers matching "NOM".
Unless the owner has reciept of block to go with sale, do not anticipate the car selling for the same price as a WW coded RA IV. To some potential purchasers, the SR is acceptable but as I said..blocks talk..
Although not a GTO expert...from looking at the invoice, RA IV option on invoice w/VIN, and the fact that the VIN is intact on car and matches the invoice, I speculate the GTO is a true RA IV with a SR block.
Si Vis Pacem Parabellum
1967 Starlight black PMD Engineering 400 Auto 1968 Alpine Blue 400 4 speed 1968 Verdoro Green 400 HO 4 speed 2013 1LE 2SS/RS Inferno Orange Camaro.
I am not too sure if RA IV heads were date coded but if they are, the build date on cowl and the date of heads, if close, could assert that the block was replaced, and not the entire engine. What you would really look at is..
Date code of heads Date code and casting code of intake Date and stamping of carb correct RA induction? correct exhaust manifold casting/dates
If all the dates are close and within parameters set by GM/line production, and the block is a SR, likely just the block replaced. This is good news.
If the date codes are all scattered, likely the owners in past lost the entire engine and pieced it together. Bad news. A true GTO buyer will be able to spot the issues if the block was collected and transplanted.
Again, I am not a GTO expert but am familiar with alot of the Pontiac practices.
I am unsure of when the RA IV coded GTO's were produced. Some models/options were produced throught the model year. A good example, and as an example (my dates and production numbers will be off) is the 67 RA I Firebird, 65-70 produced..None existed until the late June or "F" code, into July "G" date code. One can assert that a 97 head with a date code earlier than an approximate cast date of F287 or a cowl tag earlier than F4 is not a RA I bird.
Again this is an example...
You will be able, with a little research, ascertain the true validity of all aspects of the engine.
Si Vis Pacem Parabellum
1967 Starlight black PMD Engineering 400 Auto 1968 Alpine Blue 400 4 speed 1968 Verdoro Green 400 HO 4 speed 2013 1LE 2SS/RS Inferno Orange Camaro.
Ram Air IV heads are date coded under the rocker arms on a pad right next to the center head bolt hole. Ususally, the date code is machined off when the bolt bosses are machined flat and the holes drilled through. Check anyway - sometimes the pad is just far enough out of the way.
