Unlike the GTO applications the 69 Firebird 400 HO-RA used the 067 cam (with 62 heads) with automatic transmissions and the 068 cam with 48 heads for manual transmissions. The basic Firebird 400 used the 067 cam and 62 heads for all transmission choices.
In comparison the 69 GTO used the 068 cam and 48 heads on its base 400 with manual transmissions and used 48 heads and the 068 cam on all RA (3) engines (except early manual transmission engines that had the high duration 744 cam).
This difference seems to reflect the fact that Pontiac saw the GTO as a “muscle car” but saw the Firebird 400 as more of a “sporty car”.
You see this in axle ratios and suspension too: while the basic 69 GTO used 3.55 gears with both manual and automatic applications (and 3.23 with AC) the basic 69 Firebird 400 used a 3.08 with automatic and 3.36 with manual and AC automatics used 2.73’s (I can’t find record of the standard axle for a 400 manual trans with AC).
Similarly while the 350 HO and 400HO used a heavier rate suspension the basic 400 used the standard v8 suspension.
__________________
My Break Away Squad
1969 Fbird (base OHC, 350, 400HO & Sprint Cvt’s - 400HO & TA ht’s)
1969 Custom S 2dr ht
1969 LeMans (2dr & 4dr ht & Cvt)
1969 LeMans Safari wagon
1969 GTO (2 Cvt, 2 ht & Judge ht)
1969 Cat (3 Cvt’s & a 2dr ht)
1969 Ventura wagon 2 seat
1969 Exec 4dr post
1969 2 Bonnie Cvt's & 2 wagons
1969 Bonnie Brougham (4dr ht & Cvt)
1969 Grand Prix 2 SJ’s
1969 2+2 2dr ht (Canadian)
|