1969 Trans Am: Head Games
 

I just contacted a well-known well-respected expert on the following and he provided some excellent insight. I thought I’d open it up to the forum to get some more opinions:

I own a 1969 Trans Am with the 400 HO/RA III engine with an auto trans. It is one of 32 with A/C. It is very original although it is not a numbers-matching car. I have owned the car for 50 years (yes, that’s right) and I continue to take steps toward getting it back to close to its original condition.

Currently, it has 1970 Grand Prix 350 HP (casting #13) heads on it. I’m considering replacing them with a set of 1969 RA III heads (casting number #62) for originality and to increase the car’s value.

The car has a build date as of the first week of October 1969 (as a sidenote, the last 1969 Trans Am was built in November 1969). As you may be aware of, the factory stopped making engine parts for 1969 models near the end of June 1969. So, the build date is at least 3 months or more since the last engine parts were produced. Some of the date codes of parts currently on the engine are as follows: Intake manifold – May 20th, Distributor – May 22nd, Exhaust manifold – June 11th.

In your opinion:

1) Is it worth the expense to replace the 1970 heads with a set of properly date-coded 1969 heads?

2) What should the proper date code be on the heads? May or June 1969? Is April OK? Currently, I have the opportunity to buy a set of heads that have date codes (non-matching) in April 1969. Would it be a good investment for me to buy these heads?

Thanks, all.

put the 62 heads on it

Yeah I’d say put the 62 heads on it
It’s not that much money and every step closer is a Step in the right direction.
Although you’re talking to a guy w a RAV dual quad in a real RAIV firebird so …. But I do have a correct RAIV for it sitting on the stand. .

If you didn’t put them on. I’d certainly acquire them and keep them with the car .

I try to locate and buy as much of the correct parts as I can for my car .

Agreed! Put the 62 heads back on or at least acquire them. I also own a 69 T/A automatic. Someone gave the previous owner bad information that it was supposed to have 48 heads on it. Fortunately, he saved the original heads which I got with the sale.

one of my 69s is a automatic w ac and my neighbor bought it new. its not molested and has the 62 heads on it.

fun fact about mine, it is literally the very first trans am i ever laid eyes on. not many people can say they own the very first trans am they ever saw.

I’d say go with the 62 heads and try to keep the date code in line with the engine / intake etc. you already have. Your only other alternative would be to find a complete engine in the timeline you’re looking for but that as you know is a difficult & expensive process. I did exactly this for a manual WQ engine which I found with mid May 1969 build date. Unfortunately the block had a crack and was unusable. 2 years later I found another WQ block built end of May 1969 that was usable. This block had the ‘70 P/N and date stamp on it yet had the earlier motor mount bosses only drilled. Emailing with Rocky Rotella I found out that this wasn’t highly unusual as the had already started build of the ‘70 Components at that time and as ‘69 production ran late than planned they needed to use what they had. Ironically, neither of these blocks were ever VIN stamped.

@Mo Pontiac
Not knowing who you have talked with , suggest it will be worthwhile to get in contact with PY member " tellyshavilli " about some more (late late) 69 TA specifics.

Block would be a 70 casting - but with the 69 motor mount bosses and a very high EUN.
A normal early 1970 block would have a low EUN.

Im not sure on the intake , but thinking yours would probably be a 1970 part number 9779068
But I don't know that for positive

The #62 heads should have stayed in casting process up through July 69.
They were still building 69 GTOs up through July.
I wouldn't buy the April heads.

There was a late late 69 TA sold on BaT that was fairly well dissected , but I don't remember the intake scenario on it.
Was about 2 years ago iirc. And it was 4spd.