[gtoformula]

I am not familiar with these RAIV cylinder heads. Are the casting numbers on the center exhaust ports (like most others) or are they on the most forward exhaust port?

[J GLASGO]

They are on the end exhaust port.Some service replacements are ground and hand stamped on the end exhaust port.

[Kenth]

Yes, on drivers side they are.

[gtoformula]

Thanks for the fast replies guys. I just inspected a 1970 GTO that has been in controlled storage since 1979. It appears to be almost untouched. We dropped the tank and found the build sheet and it is almost pristine. The car is an Arlington built GTO (early 1969) with a 455, ram air, auto trans, 3.07 12 bolt posi, power windows, tilt wheel, am/fm, sport steering wheel, trunk light, door edge guards, underhood light, AC, etc., etc. Was the guy's father's car. His dad just pasted away and he inherited the car. It has an aluminum factory intake as well as #614 heads. The owner states that his dad always referred to the car as a 455 Ram Air IV. He knows that his dad removed the heads once. We think that he put on the 614's and the intake. His dad was a Pontiac engineer for a brief time.
This car is Cardinal red and the paint would look great if just polished up. The interior is immaculate and really doesn't even need much cleaning. Their is not rust other than on the frame as surface rust. All the underhood vacuum lines and the fuel hoses to the gas tank are still pliable. This is probably the cleanest, original GTO that I have ever seen.
Don't even ask ... this car has sentimental value and his will not sell. He appears to have a good income and doesn't need the cash so this one is just to be admired.
The certification label on the driver's door jamb is clearly legible. This car was treated well and remains in outstanding original condition.

[1971WARBIRD]

see if he would let you take some pictures and copy the build sheet.of course cover the vin on the build sheet.it would be a great car for people check for how things were done in the day.
i have a 70 455 ram air 4 speed,so i have checked alittle over the years on details.now this was just hearsay,but i was told no 455 ram airs with A/C.would be nice to see proof that it could be had.

[BVR421]

RE the possible 455: dont forget how memories and stories take on a life of their own after 35 years. LOL
If its an original 400RAIV on the build sheet and a real 455 which you can easily see from under the hood, it was not unusual back then to replace a blown 400 with a larger short block. Spun bearings and rods through the block was not uncommon with 4sp cars. Most of us were guilty of winding the poor things way past redline. If you were in with the dealer a swap could happen under warranty. I know that happened a lot in the 50s with 389/421 swaps.
Some folks with new cars just had the dealer swap in a 455 for the 400 short block if they had a fat checkbook.

I agree about taking a lot of good pics over and under if you feel its an original survivor. That kind of reference can be invaluable to restorers although Pontiacs already seem to be among the most heavily documented of all the classic cars.

[1971WARBIRD]

don't think it can be a RA IV as it has A/C.i could see a pontiac engineer slipping a RA IV top end out the back door and put on his car "for testing".

[gtoformula]

It very clearly stated 455 4bbl on the build sheet. We definitely suspect that the father installed the RA IV heads and intake. It is an automatic car. The odometer shows just over 12,000 miles. Due to the condition of the interior, brake pedal, door hinges and other items we also suspect that the 12,000 miles may be original.
If you can access this link it will show almost 3 dozen pictures I took of the car.
http://s463.photobucket.com/albums/q...TO%20RA%20455/

[1971WARBIRD]

nice pictures,thanks for sharing.

[440GP69]

Wow! You should post this in the GTO section, Lots of people would like to see this !