[Mcronk]

You are correct. One line from carb supplying vacuum to thermostatic switch and 3 lines running back towards switch and distributor. I think he meant 3 lines only go out from thermo switch. I believe on some 68 cars all 5 ports on the block are used.

7029273 carbs were used in 69 for RA IV 4 speed engines, 7028273 for early 69 RA III 4 speed. 70 455 with RA and 70 RA IV and III 4 speed used 7040273. So date code would indicate what application year

Of the date coded 68 carbs i have seen they had the vaccum port on the side of the baseplate. However i have not seen a correct RA II carb to verify if it did. On the engine pic of that car it does not have a vacuum hose in that vicinity but i can't tell if the port is just plugged. I don't think we discussed that but will check my notes.

[PurelyGTO68]

Originally Posted by Mcronk

Thanks for the information. I have the same concerns about buying a "rebuilt" carb. I talked to Cliff and used his kit and rod/jet reccomendations when I freshened up the 67 carb several years ago. If the 69 Quadrajet that was on the car performed decently i would probably just rebuild it. However i fear the problem may be a mismatched set of parts or a previous rebuild that modified something. Like you I don't know what is good and what is bad. The 69 does not have the 68 type baseplate with the vacuum port on passenger near choke coil. I was leaning towards at least finding a correct 68 4 speed carb and possibly rebuilding it.

Originally Posted by PurelyGTO68

Did Jim say anything about the vacuum port in the base plate on RA II carbs? Have seen one 7029273 carb in person and it didnt have that port. I dont remember the date code though so I might not hav been from a deuce.

Photos of original RA II engines dont appear to show a vacuum line running to that area?

Edit. I meant to type 7028273. Fat fingers...

[PurelyGTO68]

Photos of carb I am currently using. Not correct but it is a real SR carb so that is something. I simplified the vacuum routing so I can get it tuned. The reproduction vacuum hose assembly that fits into the reproduction the switch is loose and let's un-metered air to the engine. I will have to figure out how to remedy that problem

Current set up 72 jets, 42 rods, yellow power piston spring, outer accelerator pump hole, BE secondary rods and 5/8 screw turn tension on the secondary air flap screen.

[The Boss]

Originally Posted by PurelyGTO68

Got a break in the weather here which gave me an opportunity to take car #18 on the list out for its first trip to the fueling station. Felt weird to be cruising in 4th gear at 35 mph. I was expecting to hear the 4.33 gears wine a but they were nice and quiet.

Flick the throttle at any time in any of the first 3 gears and the tires break loose. Kinda fun actually. Lay the pedal to the floor and watch the hood tach......once that needle hits 3500 rpm it feels like rocket thrusters kicked in because it does rip your head back quite a bit.

Really surprised how smooth it idles and runs st low speeds. I expected it to be more temperamental and run hot to the point where it might overheat but it seems to stay cool enough. That little 4 blade fan seems effective enough so far

Will spend some time today finishing up the headlight bezels and install the front wheel moldings. Need to get the front wheels aligned and button up some odds and ends but otherwise the car seems pretty close for some cruise nights.

Looking great! Congratulations on the drive!

[Mcronk]

Originally Posted by PurelyGTO68

Photos of carb I am currently using. Not correct but it is a real SR carb so that is something. I simplified the vacuum routing so I can get it tuned. The reproduction vacuum hose assembly that fits into the reproduction the switch is loose and let's un-metered air to the engine. I will have to figure out how to remedy that problem

Current set up 72 jets, 42 rods, yellow power piston spring, outer accelerator pump hole, BE secondary rods and 5/8 screw turn tension on the secondary air flap screen.

Thanks for the setup. Right now i am providing vacuum to distributor from baseplate. I don't have all the pieces yet for the vacuum hose/switch system. The intake i have has an original thermovacuum switch that appears to be in good working condition as well as the distribution block. I purchased the reproduction vacuum switch. I am usually disappointed with repop parts. This one is no exception. The hose kit was on backorder but i have heard nothing from Ames for weeks. I have another item on backorder for several months and heard nothing from them. They don't seem to be the same since the changeover.

I think i am going to use the 7028263 carb. Plenty around and only one digit off from correct one. LOL

[PurelyGTO68]

Originally Posted by Mcronk

Thanks for the setup. Right now i am providing vacuum to distributor from baseplate. I don't have all the pieces yet for the vacuum hose/switch system. The intake i have has an original thermovacuum switch that appears to be in good working condition as well as the distribution block. I purchased the reproduction vacuum switch. I am usually disappointed with repop parts. This one is no exception. The hose kit was on backorder but i have heard nothing from Ames for weeks. I have another item on backorder for several months and heard nothing from them. They don't seem to be the same since the changeover.

I think i am going to use the 7028263 carb. Plenty around and only one digit off from correct one. LOL

If using a 263 carb then try 73 jets if manual transmission. Should be pretty close.

[68pongto]

I started working on the Ram Air II about a year ago, it is car #6 on the list here. Progress has bee a little slow, but I am also working on the Ram Air I convertible too. I removed the RA II coupe body and have all the bodywork done on it. I also did several sets of doors and decklids for the cars. I am currently working on the two frames and related suspension parts. I have picked out a few of the highlight pictures.

[68pongto]

More pictures

[68pongto]

More pictures

[68pongto]

last of the pictures for now.

[PurelyGTO68]

Originally Posted by 68pongto

last of the pictures for now.

Attachment 545953Attachment 545954Attachment 545955Attachment 545956

Nice project! I remember those days. It has taken me 3 1/2 years to get to this point. Looks like you are doing a great job. Great to see these things preserved for future enthusiasts.
Looking forward to more posts with progress.

[Greg Reid]

Fantastic work!

[muscle_collector]

I see its still riding on the same wheels it had on it when I owned it for 20 years lol

[68pongto]

Originally Posted by muscle_collector

I see its still riding on the same wheels it had on it when I owned it for 20 years lol

Old rollers never go away, they always seem to resurface!

[Mcronk]

Very nice. It will be top notch!

[brians]

Had one of the best conversations I’ve ever had yesterday.
Tracked down by pure accident thru Facebook, the original owner of my RA2 GTO.

I’ll summarizing and keep it short


Early 68, he ordered a Hemi Charger as a birthday present to himself as it was supposed to be the best out there. It came in in May 68, but when he went to take possession, the manager refused his 66 Tempest trade in as it had been modified. The gave him a short time to sell it but did not happen. So third week of May, he walked into a little Pontiac dealership in Alliance Ohio to talk to them about what Pontiac had to offer and would they take the trade in. The dealership owner sat him down and showed him literature about this new top HP package that just came available. Prior to that, he never heard of it. He sat down and checked off options on a GTO.

About 5 weeks later, he is driving down the road and sees a car transport with a single green 68 GTO. He turns around and follows it to the dealership. He grabs the dealership owner and says we are going for a ride. By third gear, the dealership owner said that is enough and tells him to go back and so they can prep it and install the RA system.

He took it back and drove it himself into the service center (it was just 2 bays). He stood there while they installed the system. One side note, he stated the 2nd set of scoops were in the trunk. They were open and already painted Verdoro Green. I asked if he was sure they were open and he said yes, he stood there when they opened the trunk, cut the hood and installed them.

And I also found out about the original engine. The RA2 engine broke a valve a few months later and it destroyed everything. They replaced the entire engine under warranty.

[1oldgoat]

Originally Posted by brians

Had one of the best conversations I’ve ever had yesterday.
Tracked down by pure accident thru Facebook, the original owner of my RA2 GTO.

I’ll summarizing and keep it short


Early 68, he ordered a Hemi Charger as a birthday present to himself as it was supposed to be the best out there. It came in in May 68, but when he went to take possession, the manager refused his 66 Tempest trade in as it had been modified. The gave him a short time to sell it but did not happen. So third week of May, he walked into a little Pontiac dealership in Alliance Ohio to talk to them about what Pontiac had to offer and would they take the trade in. The dealership owner sat him down and showed him literature about this new top HP package that just came available. Prior to that, he never heard of it. He sat down and checked off options on a GTO.

About 5 weeks later, he is driving down the road and sees a car transport with a single green 68 GTO. He turns around and follows it to the dealership. He grabs the dealership owner and says we are going for a ride. By third gear, the dealership owner said that is enough and tells him to go back and so they can prep it and install the RA system.

He took it back and drove it himself into the service center (it was just 2 bays). He stood there while they installed the system. One side note, he stated the 2nd set of scoops were in the trunk. They were open and already painted Verdoro Green. I asked if he was sure they were open and he said yes, he stood there when they opened the trunk, cut the hood and installed them.

And I also found out about the original engine. The RA2 engine broke a valve a few months later and it destroyed everything. They replaced the entire engine under warranty.

Very cool story! Thanks for sharing. I'm not 100% convinced that there was a second set of scoops in the trunk. However, I have learned to never say never or always with Pontiacs.

[J GLASGO]

Was it Paul Smith Pontiac then?

[brians]

Originally Posted by J GLASGO

Was it Paul Smith Pontiac then?

No, Orwig motors.
He said it was real small with just enough room for 2 cars in the showroom. It was the owner, his wife and a couple salesman.

[brians]

Originally Posted by 1oldgoat

Very cool story! Thanks for sharing. I'm not 100% convinced that there was a second set of scoops in the trunk. However, I have learned to never say never or always with Pontiacs.

That is why I asked him if he was sure. My car had two sets with it when I got it - a closed set and a set that sure looked perfect open. Openings are very straight and clean. The car only had 22K miles on it when I got it. The open scoops were in the hood and the system was in the trunk. The pans could have passed for nos.

Now I found out why. After they installed the SR engine he removed the system and installed dual quads on the car. There is much more to the story but he fell on some hard times and the car got repo'd late 1970. The pans were in the trunk at the time and must have always stayed there.