[stl67]

One of my neighbors told me they have a relative that has a 69 firebird convertible sitting in their garage that they may want to sell.

They said it is a 350 4bl with a hood tach.

Car has been sitting a long time, original owner.

I am going to take a look later this week and was wondering what to look for besides running a PHS.

I was thinking 350 with a 4 bl would mean HO, but not sure.

Anybody know block codes to look for.

What say you firebird experts?

As always, thanks for any replies

[johnta1]

If it's a 350 HO, the codes would be WN or XC.
Or one of these for a 4 bbl 350: WR WV XT XU YP

Engine Codes

I think if it has a 350 4 bbl it was the 350 HO.
(from factory)

[stl67]

Thanks John!

[stl67]

So a 350 4bbl is with a stock 4bbl manifold is not enough to call it a HO?

If I read right, there is a difference between a 350 with a 4bbl and an HO?

Thanks again

[johnta1]

I think the difference is in the 4 bbl 350, it had a different carb and was probably a single exhaust.
(intake manifolds all the same on the 4 bbl engines, except RA IV)

The 350HO had dual exhaust and different carb.
(and manual tranny ones have different cam)

Also, the carb was limited on the Firebirds to have less 'HP' than the Tempest.

Really in 1969, there wasn't a real difference between any 350 4 bbl and the 350 HO. It was probably a marketing thing.

Interesting thing I just saw in the SM, the Tempest 4 bbl 350 shows a 'small valve' head and the Firebird has the large valve head.
Should both have the 48 heads?
(I always thought so)

[MikeNoun]

There wasn't a 1969 Firebird 350 4-barrel available, other than the 350 H.O. The standard Firebird 350 was a 2-bbl, so if it's a 4-barrel (factory), it's an H.O., block code WN or XC. Very rare cars.

All 350 H.O's had dual exhaust (single exhaust for the base 350 2-bbl combo), and included the chrome air cleaner lid and rocker covers. The 350 H.O.'s used a flat hood, so from the outside, there was no way to tell a 350 2-bbl from a 350 H.O., other than the 350 H.O. had dual exhausts out back.

The manual trans 350 H.O. used the 068 cam, the auto trans cars used the 067 cam. All 350 H.O's used the large valve heads, and used Premium Fuel with 10.50 to 1 compression.

The automatic 350 H.O.'s used the TH400 trans, the standard 350 2-bbl used the TH350, so that's another good way to tell if the car is originally a 350 H.O. car, or a 350 2-bbl car that someone swapped in a 4-bbl.

The 1969 Firebird carbs eliminated the special throttle limiter (to reduce hp) used in the 1967-1968 Firebirds, so the 1969 carbs actually opened full throttle.

Hope that helps!

Mike

[steveK]

48 heads for a manual, 62 (?) for auto trans car, same as RAIII & TA RAIII.

[trmjr1]

Mike, one clarification - only 400 engines received chrome valve covers and air cleaner lid. All the '69 350 HO cars I have seen have painted valve covers and black air cleaner lid.

Tom

[MikeNoun]

Originally Posted by trmjr1

Mike, one clarification - only 400 engines received chrome valve covers and air cleaner lid. All the '69 350 HO cars I have seen have painted valve covers and black air cleaner lid.

Tom

Crap! That was SUPPOSED to read "only the 400 cars included the chrome air cleaner lid and rocker covers." Cannot edit my post, sorry about that. And go figure, that was a copy and paste from my own web article, and somehow, it got hosed up.

See what happens when ya idle a 455 Pontiac in an enclosed garage for 10 minutes without ventilation?

[Cammer-6]

also 350 cars with a/c also used a TH400
I have the complete drivetrain from one I parted many years ago.

[johnta1]

With the 2bbl?

[Donovan]

yup. Bought a crossmember off of an original 1969 350-2. Had to pull it myself. TH400 with a/c. I thought it was strange at the time.

[Cammer-6]

yes 2bbl

[jetallman]

I have 2 350 2bbl cars, both a/c, one has th400 the other is th 350 both disc brake cars one floor shift one column shift bench with posi

[stl67]

Thanks for all the replies, very informative!

Well, I bought the car.

I just went to look at it and it is in very good shape, the owner was anxious to sell he said he was being transferred out of the country for work and didn't have time to market the car.

He heard that I was a Pontiac lover from my neighbor and wanted it to go to a good home. He gave me such a great deal I couldn't pass it up.

1969 Firebird Convertible
350 4bbl ( Carter on a Edelbrock manifold) Not an HO
Power Steering
Power Front Disk brakes
Power Top
Power trunk release
Power antenna
Clock
tinted glass
lamp package-trunk,etc
console
turbo hydro tranny
deluxe int
vanity mirror
rally wheels
Hood tach

Chrome all looks brand new
small rocker rust
trunk looks spotless
still has spare and jack in bag

I sent off for PHS

I would usually get the PHS first, but he gave me such a great price I had to move on it.

I pick the car up in 2 weeks. Don't have storage yet.

It will be nice to have a car that I can just jump in and drive for a while.

My 67 GTO convertibles have been sitting too long, one almost done the other is up next this winter.

MY 67 rs/ss is coming out of paint next week, nice to have that one back also.

I think I need an intervention.

[The Boss]

Sounds great - what colors?

[johnta1]

Ditto what Boss said.

Sounds like you got a heck of a deal.



I could store it for you here in Florida.
(I'd keep the gas fresh )

[trmjr1]

Cool. Keep us posted.

[stl67]

Car is red with black top, black interior.

Guy told me it was originally blue and he painted it red for his wife.

I already decided I would go back to original color of blue until I got the PHS today.

Car was originally Crystal Turquoise.

I had to goggle the color, never have seen one that color.

I think it looks pretty damn sharp with black/black.

Anyone ever own or see a CT 69 Firebird?

I for one am a little tired of resale red on every car out there.

Love the unusual or rare colors.

One of my GTO's was red-originally Montego Cream, I am going back to Montego Cream on that car as well.

Don't get me wrong, if its originally red, I would keep it, just don't want 3 red cars.

[form74]

We need pictures

Congrats on the find.