'68 Firebird 400HO...ex Dennis Tuttle car

[1967Z28]

Very cool car, no doubt. I'm very confused why the Firebird had four different 400 engines available in the Firebird in 1968. Is the 400HO not as hot as the Ram Air I?

[iluv69s]

I was wondering The same thing ...same HP, and torque..but different cam specs

[Tracker1]

Originally Posted by 1967Z28

Very cool car, no doubt. I'm very confused why the Firebird had four different 400 engines available in the Firebird in 1968. Is the 400HO not as hot as the Ram Air I?

-When you ordered a 400 Firebird, you got the base 400 at 330 horses with the #16 casting heads.

-Then you could order a 400 HO which used the high-flow exhaust manifolds from the next-rung-up 400 Ram Air engine and the hotter cam for the manual trans car. Everything else stayed the same as base 400. Closed air cleaner, closed hood scoops.

-Then the 400 Ram Air Engine had the special exhaust manifolds, and different heads, casting 31, with swirl polished valves and special valve springs, for higher RPM operation. And, of course, the foam air cleaner element that mated to OPEN hood scoops.

-In April 1968, came the first "round port" Pontiac engine. The nasty b#*ch Ram Air II (even though Pontiac never used Ram Air I as a designator for their 400 Ram Air - until much later) This was a very special engine with completely re-engineered heads with round exhaust ports, forged aluminum pistons (versus cast of the other 400s), special crank, special 4-bolt block, re-balanced Armasteel crank etc. Foam element air cleaner, open hood scoops. The lousy 5hp difference at 340 was a joke - it was much more.
A beast in a Firebird.

[auwrestling]

Originally Posted by Tracker1

-When you ordered a 400 Firebird, you got the base 400 at 330 horses with the #16 casting heads.

-Then you could order a 400 HO which used the high-flow exhaust manifolds from the next-rung-up 400 Ram Air engine and the hotter cam for the manual trans car. Everything else stayed the same as base 400. Closed air cleaner, closed hood scoops.

-Then the 400 Ram Air Engine had the special exhaust manifolds, and different heads, casting 31, with swirl polished valves and special valve springs, for higher RPM operation. And, of course, the foam air cleaner element that mated to OPEN hood scoops.

-In April 1968, came the first "round port" Pontiac engine. The nasty b#*ch Ram Air II (even though Pontiac never used Ram Air I as a designator for their 400 Ram Air) This was a very special engine with completely re-engineered heads with round exhaust ports, forged aluminum pistons (versus cast of the other 400s), special crank, special 4-bolt block, re-balanced Armasteel crank etc. Foam element air cleaner, open hood scoops. A beast in a Firebird.

Also add that the 68 RAI Firebird had four bolt main cap 400 block!

[Tracker1]

Originally Posted by auwrestling

Also add that the 68 RAI Firebird had four bolt main cap 400 block!

You would know sir - how many dozens of these things have you owned Matt? I'm betting you've lost count.

[1967Z28]

Thanks for the info. Where all the 400 engines available from the start of '68 production except the RAII?

I think any RAII would smoke an L78 and I am a Chevy guy.

Originally Posted by Tracker1

-When you ordered a 400 Firebird, you got the base 400 at 330 horses with the #16 casting heads.

-Then you could order a 400 HO which used the high-flow exhaust manifolds from the next-rung-up 400 Ram Air engine and the hotter cam for the manual trans car. Everything else stayed the same as base 400. Closed air cleaner, closed hood scoops.

-Then the 400 Ram Air Engine had the special exhaust manifolds, and different heads, casting 31, with swirl polished valves and special valve springs, for higher RPM operation. And, of course, the foam air cleaner element that mated to OPEN hood scoops.

-In April 1968, came the first "round port" Pontiac engine. The nasty b#*ch Ram Air II (even though Pontiac never used Ram Air I as a designator for their 400 Ram Air) This was a very special engine with completely re-engineered heads with round exhaust ports, forged aluminum pistons (versus cast of the other 400s), special crank, special 4-bolt block, re-balanced Armasteel crank etc. Foam element air cleaner, open hood scoops. A beast in a Firebird.

[WILMASBOYL78]

Originally Posted by 1967Z28

Thanks for the info. Where all the 400 engines available from the start of '68 production except the RAII?

I think any RAII would smoke an L78 and I am a Chevy guy.

Interesting comment...I have asked about this before and others have said the opposite. On paper the torque specs are better than the L78...but, the L78 can rev a little bit higher. I would think that a Firebird vs. Chevelle matchup would lean toward the bird...but with an L78 Camaro or Nova it might be a different story

Either way I would love to see and drive one of those 68 RA2 cars...especially if it had the 4.33 gears.

-wilma