[kstatefan]

I found my dream car, 1969 lemans with the 350HO. Does anyone know if there are very many of these strong motors left still running around, I read where these are getting very rare to find. Lucky me I guess. Love the car.

[Diego]

Which bodystyle? They're not on the top of many people's lists but are rare and Jeff Sawruk's been able to make impressive power with his Custom S.

[The Boss]

Pictures???

[kstatefan]

Its the same body the GTO had in 69, I will post pics of the car soon, Thanks for the info, I posted again about this same topic just a lil while ago because I couldn't find this one so sorry for the duplicate

[goatless]

Originally Posted by kstatefan

Its the same body the GTO had in 69

I think Diego knows what a '69 Lemans looks like. I think he meant is a hard top, post coupe or convertible?

Sounds like a cool car! There aren't a ton of 350 HO cars around- there weren't that many when new. I think it's one of the most under appreciated performance cars of '69. As mentioned above Jeff Sawruk has gotten his Pure Stock 350 HO Lemans running deep into the 12s.

[bigborehunter]

Roger Huntington did a small block 350 comparo article in 1969 with the various engines from Olds, Pontiac and Buick. The 350 HO Pontiac came out looking pretty good for what you got. Definitely a sleeper. I suspect market wise, clean original 350 HOs will climb steeply once people realise how few of them are left.

[nytrainer]

Originally Posted by bigborehunter

Roger Huntington did a small block 350 comparo article in 1969 with the various engines from Olds, Pontiac and Buick. The 350 HO Pontiac came out looking pretty good for what you got. Definitely a sleeper. I suspect market wise, clean original 350 HOs will climb steeply once people realise how few of them are left.

Hope you're right BigBore. Maybe I stepped in it (a little bit) with my #'s matching 4 speed 68 350 HO convertible? 10 hp less than the 69 HO but I can tell you it is quite a sleeper even in the heavier convertible.

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Originally Posted by kstatefan

I found my dream car, 1969 lemans with the 350HO.

Its pretty easy for someone to switch a 4 barrel intake/carb onto a 350 Lemans and claim it is an HO . Did you crunch the numbers and codes to verify it is an HO ?
Or did you get the PHS Invoice perhaps ?

Sounds like a good car regrdless whether HO or not.
Congrats on finding it.

We can tell you how to positively verify the car being a factory HO , and whether or not the engine is the defacto original - if you dont already know how.

And of course ,
Welcome to the PY Forum

[kstatefan]

That would be awesome if you could do that, That way at least I would be 100% sure that it is or not, like you said either way its going to be a fun project. Thanks again...

[gloryrestoparts]

Originally Posted by goatless

As mentioned above Jeff Sawruk has gotten his Pure Stock 350 HO Lemans running deep into the 12s.

technically a Tempest Custom S (a/c car too), not a LeMans. 12.86 @ 108 for those scoring at home. or even if you are alone :-)

In addition, Tom Miller has a run a 350 HO 69 bird at the Pure Stock Drags. One of the later owners put some more gear in it and ran it at the Pure Stock Drags. It currently resides up in Canada with our friend Bruno. I almost forget, Jody Trailer, another PY member, has run his 68 350 HO convert bird at the Pure Stock Drags.

[nytrainer]

Originally Posted by gloryrestoparts

technically a Tempest Custom S (a/c car too), not a LeMans. 12.86 @ 108 for those scoring at home. or even if you are alone :-)

Not sure what is allowed in Pure stock class (porting, other mods)? Pure speculation here but what do you think a 68 350HO 4speed original 56k engine (believe autos got the 067 cam, sticks got 068) with 3.23 posi convertible could do (assuming capable 280 lb. driver lol)? Hopefully I can get the car to PY weekend and find out for sure on Sunday...

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

I'll post some pictures to illustrate.

The block code is on passenger side - face.
Where head and block meet.
Take note, the number stamped above the block code is NOT the VIN.




With 2 Barrel and Manual Trans i show these possible codes - WC WM WP WU

With 4 Barrel HO and Manual show these possible codes - WK WN WR WV

The VIN stamp is most crucial to determine if it is the defacto born with original block.
It's located on passenger side next to timing cover.
The last digits should match the last digits of the car.



The head ID codes are cast in raised numbers on top of the exhaust ports.
47 is 2 Barrel
48 is 4 Barrel HO



The Intake Manifold casting date is next to the thermostat housing.
Such as B159 (Feb 15 , 1969) -//- K018 (Nov 01 1968) - for examples

The Carburetor ID # is on the driver side.
7029263 is the 350 HO Manual



48 heads, and 702963 carb, were also used on the 400 and 428 Performance/Manual engines .

[goatless]

Originally Posted by gloryrestoparts

technically a Tempest Custom S (a/c car too), not a LeMans. 12.86 @ 108 for those scoring at home. or even if you are alone :-)

Yup. A little brain fart on my part.

nytrainer, Pure Stock has strict limits on mods to the car- they are supposed to be "stock". Car's like Jeff's Custom S are highly tuned for optimal performance. You're not likely to see the bulk of 350 HO cars running quite as well as his. If your car is running well, decently tuned and you can drive reasonably well down the track I'd think that mid-high 14s could be possible. If the cars tune is a little off or if you're having trouble getting off the line or getting decent shifts you could be significantly slower.

[nytrainer]

Originally Posted by goatless

nytrainer, Pure Stock has strict limits on mods to the car- they are supposed to be "stock". Car's like Jeff's Custom S are highly tuned for optimal performance. You're not likely to see the bulk of 350 HO cars running quite as well as his. If your car is running well, decently tuned and you can drive reasonably well down the track I'd think that mid-high 14s could be possible. If the cars tune is a little off or if you're having trouble getting off the line or getting decent shifts you could be significantly slower.

So the fastest car in my Pontiac convertible corral is my wife's Solstice then? lol. Magazines ET's where usually 13.9 or so with her combo. It is definitely scary fast especially when she's at the wheel but it just doesn't have the grunt and the sound of secondary's gulping air that I have come to love.
By the way BVZ's engine codes are right (he always is) for 68 350HO (I know mine is a WR) and most likely correct for 69 350HO's too (I'm not gonna argue with a guru) but if it turns out the OP finds it to read XT he looks good for a 69 350HO too (with auto). But you need to confirm the block casting # behind pass. side head (raised numbers on block) Attached is a chart I had saved from Wallace? (IDK)

[goatless]

Originally Posted by nytrainer

So the fastest car in my Pontiac convertible corral is my wife's Solstice then? lol. Magazines ET's where usually 13.9 or so with her combo. It is definitely scary fast especially when she's at the wheel but it just doesn't have the grunt and the sound of secondary's gulping air that I have come to love.

Only one way to find out for sure. Get 'em to the track!

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Originally Posted by Baron Von Zeppelin

....
The Carburetor ID # is on the driver side.
7029263 is the 350 HO Manual

I'm not 100% on that carb number. That info came from wallace site.
But whatever number the carb has , will be in that same spot.

Any numbers or codes that don't line up - make note of them and post them on here.
Or take pictures of them and post.
And we will crunch them for you.

This is what a date code will look like - this is from a head .
The intake and block will have them too.
Its next to the distributor mounting area on the block.

I 10 8 = Sept 10 , 1968

[The Boss]

7029263 for Manual Carb, 7029268 for Automatic Carb

WV & XU block codes respectively for 1969 A-Bodies

NHRA allows the 744 cam in the manual trans 350HO motor - that's where the power is!

I'd love to find one of these street brawlers some day!