[justincampbell]

So, I recently purchased a 1974 Firebird Formula 400. I was thrown off a bit when I discovered it had a 2bbl. Is it just me or is that really odd on a Formula 400? I was told the car had been ordered that way. I have looked at and owned a fair number of Formulas over the years, but this is the first time I had ever seen this.

So I guess my question is, has anyone else seen this? After a couple weeks I still can't wrap my mind around someone ordering a Formula, but then wanting only a 2bbl carb.

To answer a few of the obvious questions: The car does not appear to have ever been modified with the exception of the usual stereo and mag wheels. It is indeed a Formula (2U87). No, I haven't ordered a PHS yet as I want to get it running and drive it a little bit before I spend any additional money on it.

[Held for Ransom]

P in the VIN will indicate the 400/2 bbl status. You would have had to have lived in the '70s to understand the culture of why a 2 bbl for marketing while a gas crisis was happening.

[johnta1]

Keystone wheels!

[jerry455]

I had a set of those on my 1971 GTO back in 1981.

[justincampbell]

Originally Posted by Held for Ransom

P in the VIN will indicate the 400/2 bbl status. You would have had to have lived in the '70s to understand the culture of why a 2 bbl for marketing while a gas crisis was happening.

I thought that may have had something to do with it. I just can't wrap my head around someone ordering the 400 but then opting for the 2bbl. If someone wanted economy, why in the world would they choose a 400?

[justincampbell]

Originally Posted by johnta1

Keystone wheels!

Indeed! Unfortunately 3 out of the 4 have chrome letting loose in big chunks. I'm guessing it would cost a small fortune to get them replated... IF it's even possible.

[71GP76TA]

A buddy had a brown '74 Formula 400 2bbl a couple years back. It was a nice clean CA car.

[Rocky Rotella]

As HFR noted above, automakers were doing lots of weird things in the name of "economy" during the mid-70s. The 400 2-barrel had been optional on Esprit since 1970. Pontiac expanded that to Formula for 1974.

A total of 3,931 Esprits and Formulas received the optional L65 400 2-barrel during the 1974 model year.

[Held for Ransom]

Justin, did you find a LH grille yet?

[justincampbell]

Originally Posted by Held for Ransom

Justin, did you find a LH grille yet?

I found one that we couldn't agree on a price.
A local Pontiac guy is supposed to check his collection for me once the field work is done.

[Held for Ransom]

Originally Posted by justincampbell

I found one that we couldn't agree on a price.
A local Pontiac guy is supposed to check his collection for me once the field work is done.

I can look later in the week...

[justincampbell]

Originally Posted by Held for Ransom

I can look later in the week...

Thanks

[unruhjonny]

Originally Posted by Rocky Rotella

As HFR noted above, automakers were doing lots of weird things in the name of "economy" during the mid-70s. The 400 2-barrel had been optional on Esprit since 1970. Pontiac expanded that to Formula for 1974.

A total of 3,931 Esprits and Formulas received the optional L65 400 2-barrel during the 1974 model year.

Wow.

I learned something new today.

[F-body Fan]

Terrible and doesn't make sense -- the '74 was one of the years that offered a 350 2 barrel and the difference between those two engines in horsepower and torque is only about 10 for each.

So my next question is this -- the low compression 400 4-barrels from 1971 to 1974 all seem to run very healthy, at least in a 3,600 pound car (which may let the '74s out.) Can someone please school me on the whole cylinder head question during those 4 years ----- did the very-low-po 400 2 barrel also use smaller valve heads and/or a sadder cam than the 400 4 barrels? I think some buyers, flippers, and dealers think they can just bolt a 4-barrel carb onto a 400 2barrel engine and suggest it is the same --- is it?

... and can I include the 1969 -1970 400 2 barrel engines that sadly were sometimes ordered in GTOs and Grand Prixs, because I already know that those apples and oranges at least also pertain to high and low compression.