67-69 400 hood question
 

Did all 1st gen Firebirds originally equipped with a 400 motor come with the hood with hood scoops or was that optional? Also, could you have ordered a 350 motor car with the 400 type hood?

The twin-scooped hood was exclusive to the Firebird 400 model, no flat hood 400 cars. You not only paid for the extra power of the 400, you paid for the performance image as well.

It makes sense that the hood itself wasn't on the option sheet, you wouldn't want to spend the extra coin to own a Firebird 400 and have 'lesser' 350-powered cars looking just like yours.

When I bought my 69 400 30 years ago it had the flat hood. Somebody switched it out?

30 years ago your Firebird was close to 15 years old, the hood could easily have been replaced with an easier to find and cheaper flat hood during collision repair. Perhaps the original could have stolen, 4 bolts and a few minutes time is all it takes.

Yes, if it is an original 400 car. And there are a few other differences on 400 cars such as the chrome "hockey sticks" in the grills.

I don't even remember starting this thread, but anyway I imagine this hood can't be an original 400 hood?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/28493118747...Bk9SR_ret-P2YQ

It's not A 400 hood, but a standard 350 hood with 400 emblems.

Worth noting is the 1969 350 HO cars came with a flat hood. It's odd to me that it didn't come with a scooped hood, but it didn't. There was no way to tell a 69 350HO vs. a standard 350 from the outside.

Then what were the 350HOs that used a hood tach housing? Dealer gimmick?

Not sure what your questioning. A hood tach can go on any hood.

Pontiac was planning (but never actually put into production) an air induction system for the 350 HO. It would have used an open hood tach shell on the right side of the hood with a flexible duct hose connecting it to the air cleaner. The 69 Hi-Po brochure erroneously showed the setup in the 350 HO pages.

Here you go...

Buried in my memory somewhere I think there may have been a couple part numbers for that system in my July 1969 parts manual.