This engine also had the distinction of using the cast-iron "headers" made famous on the original HO engine in 1967.1969 Pontiac Firebird Ram Air IV – Power and Performance In 1970 the casting number #9799914 Ram air III 4-bolt main block, also used the 4-bolt main caps on Ram Air applications. The Ram Air III had used a similar block to the Ram Air IV in that it was drilled for 4-bolt main bearing caps but used a cast crank and cast rods, and 2-bolt main bearing caps in 1969. It was rated at 366 bhp (273 kW) in the GTO version. It utilized the 288/302 duration camshaft (auto trans.) and used the "744" cam (301-313) in the earlier manual trans versions, later downgraded to the "068" version. It basically was a 67-8 H.O version with a "Ram Air" air cleaner assembly. It also was the base engine in the Firebird Trans Am of 19. The Ram Air III was the base engine in the Judge series of the GTO in 19. But the real fun from one of these cars isn't the dollars it may put someday put into your bank account but the fun you will have driving a Ram Air III equipped car and listening to the beautiful sounds it makes. As far as future collectability, factory equipped Ram Air III cars can expect to continue to rise in price. Worth noting Ram Air IV equipped Pontiacs have even higher values today than Ram Air III equipped Pontiacs. Not bad considering a Ram Air III equipped Pontiac muscle car back in the day, brand new, had a sticker price of less than $4,000 unless a buyer went crazy adding on the extra factory options. This is the reason why today, Ram Air III equipped GTOs, GTO Judges, Firebirds, and Trans Ams are overall commanding high prices with the highest priced being excellent conditioned Ram Air III 1969 Trans Ams which currently sell for low six figure prices. And that's exactly what owners of these Ram Air III Pontiac muscle cars got, was a lot of performance out of their Ram Air III Pontiac muscle cars. These Ram Air powered cars may have great styling, but never would have been a big hit with muscle car buyers if they didn't have true muscle car power under the hood. The Ram Air III powered some of the most legendary muscle cars. Government unleaded fuel mandate which forced GM to lower compression ratios for the 1971 model year. The high-compression Ram Air III would have probably had a much longer production life had it not been for the U.S. The Ram Air III had a high-performance Quadrajet 4-barrel carburetor, free flow cast iron exhaust manifolds, a dual exhaust system, a high performance cam, a 10.5:1 compression ratio, and high-performance D-port heads. The Ram Air III also had chrome valve covers and a mandatory hood sourced cold air induction system just like Pontiac's other Ram Air 400 V8s. The Ram Air III like all the other Pontiac V8 engines produced from 1966-1970 was painted in Pontiac Light Blue Metallic, one of the best looking colors to grace an engine block. This is why so few Ram Air IV V8s were produced. The Ram Air III was the smart choice since it was less expensive for buyers yet produced about 95% of the power of a Ram Air IV. Since it had a cast iron intake and D-port heads the Ram Air III was much more economical for Pontiac to produce than the Ram Air IV which had an aluminum intake manifold and round-port heads. Hot Rod magazine back in 1970 test drove a Ram Air III 1970 Firebird Formula which went 0-60 mph in 6.0 seconds and the quarter mile in 14.2 seconds. The cold hard truth was the Ram Air III's horsepower was underrated, its actual horsepower output approached 400 gross horsepower territory. The horsepower and torque differences were on paper only, the horsepower and torque figures were the same no matter which of these vehicles the Ram Air III V8 was found. The Ram Air III was rated at 335 gross horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque in the 1969 Firebird, 1970 Firebird Formula, and 1969-1970 Trans Am and rated at 366 gross horsepower and 445 lb-ft of torque in the 1969-1970 GTO and GTO Judge. The Ram Air III was the standard engine in the 1969-1970 Pontiac GTO Judge and the 1969-1970 Pontiac Trans Am. The Ram Air III was available with the 1969-1970 Pontiac GTO, 1969 Firebird, and 1970 Pontiac Firebird Formula when RPO code L74 was selected on the order sheet. The engine is the same size as later 400's. You'll need to explain a bit more about the hood fitment issue. There are block codes and engine codes that will help determine if the engine was from a GTO or Firebird. Here's the info a quick search turned up for me.
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