RAM AIR II CAMSHAFT
I've done some research on this since I own one of the 12 1968 RA II Firebirds with automatic trans.
Apparantly Ram Air II's equipped with automatic transmission may have been delivered from the factory with the 068 cam. The 4-speed cars got the 041. I have a letter from Malcom McKellar (Chief Engineer at Pontiac who designed these cams) concerning the RA II stating, "In regard to the camshaft the auto trans was released with the 068 cam". This can be confirmed in Pontiac's parts book which lists the 9779068 camshaft for all 67-68 F/T Ram Air engines with H.T. (Hydramatic transmission) and the 9794041 camshaft for 68 F/T Ram Air with M.T. (manual trans) and WU or WY engines.
However, pre-production sales information and a memo from Pontiac's Parts & Accessories Dept. dated June 24, 1968 that lists the parts that must be ordered to update a 1968 Ram Air to Ram Air II shows only the 9794041 camshaft. This may have been the original intention for NHRA racing purposes but idle requirements on production engines required using the 068 with automatic trans.
just my 2 cents,
Jim Mino
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