Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr. Eric M. Schiffer
Here lets throw some thing else out there. The 1969 Ram Air IV was named by the amount of outlets that it was originally designed to bring air in from. Look back at the 1969 Lime Light Green press GTO's engine compartment. This is the GTO that later became the test magazine Judge. The air cleaner had two tubes running to the radiator core support, for two of the air intakes, along with two hood scoop air intakes above. Even though during the Ram Air III (Which is what it was called in the 1969 test) vs Ram Air IV. The article showed the Judges' four inlet air cleaner but called it Ram Air IV. Then the Ram Air IV Bobcat cars' air cleaner which did not have the core support tubes was used as the the III's air cleaner engine shot. Confussing?
Since the air cleaner did not go into production and the print ads and media had been told this "new" for 1969 engine was called Ram Air IV Pontiac and the public bought into it.
The early1968 Ram Air was just called that. Mcuh like the 1966 -1967. Just put a ram air tub on an HO motor. The round port that appeared in March/April at no extra cost was called 1968 1/2 Ram Air initially. Later in a few print ads it was called Ram Air II. The one that comes to mind is the 1968 Firebird ad calling it Ram Air II.
I'll try and find some of those old ads too.
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Now we can muddy the waters even more. Since the 1969 Tunnel Port Ram Air V, 303, 366, 400, 428 et.al., never became a regular production engine (RPO). The PMD marketing people suggested that the new for 1970 455 High Compression Ram Air IV head engine that engineering had been working on become the RPO Ram Air V. That way there would be a sequence of RPO Ram Air engines the public would understand.
Unforunately PMD's new General Manager had his own ideas and the marketing people changed. With the change in direction at PMD the high compression 455 Ram Air IV head engine was cancelled. The low compression 455 first as a d-port HO was first offered then the following year it became a round port HO then SD.
So, everything remained as we now know it. The Ram Air V is the Tunnerl Port engine no matter what cubic inch it is.