1970 Hemi Cuda vs 1968 Firebird RAII

[MidnightinSavannah]

This firebird now runs 11.40's. It is a stock RA II 400 and it does race according to the rules of this events just like every else does.

[moparnutjim]

11.89 for the 'Bird ? That thing ain't stock, I know !

[445FEar]

stock firebird running 11.8...I dunno about that.

[deRANGEDkilla]

@445FEar In super stock, you can put whatever rear end gear you want, whether it's a 3.42 or 4.88. The engine however has to be left alone. That firebird has to have steep gears in it

[moparXdarren]

@445FEar true that.

[tyler62292]

damn the birds front wheels looked like they hovered off the ground the whole way, thats true american muscle

[carsbyjeff]

Listen, I'm a huge Pontiac fan but a Firebird 400 does not beat a Hemi , period.

So how did this happen?

[1971transam455ho]

@carsbyjeff Looks like the 400 makes more power than that Hemi if you ask me. Same owner has a white "68 Firebird that runs low 10's with a stroked 400.

[poppinthangs]

PONTIAC POWER baby!!!!!!!

[mr68Charger383]

I am a Mopar guy but a big Pontiac fan too. I need some info here. What is the difference between a RAII, RAIII and RAIV?

[Boredout454]

@mr68Charger383 RAIV is very rare, different cam,intake and carb I believe. The RAV is the most rare, none officially released I believe but some got out. I think in the end it was the rear end gear ratio and the suspension setup that won this.

[LynxOGrady]

@Boredout454 nah the RAV got out, but only 80 1970 Trans Ams got them. So its ultra rare to find RAV Trans Ams

[Boredout454]

@LynxOGrady That was a different RAV. The one I speak of is for the 400ci, they made 25 of the 303's and 80 - 200 of the 400's (had to look it up)

[dcd442]

@Boredout454

So this was the SCCA motor?

[Boredout454]

@dcd442 As in Trans Am series racing? No, while the Firebird used the name Trans Am for its highest performance version in 69 it was never ever raced in Trans Am by the factory and never meant to. It was just a gimmick and like many things Pontiac did (John Deloran) it was a luxury performance muscle car. They weren't the fastest cars but they were pitched like they were.

[1971transam455ho]

@Boredout454 Ram Air II and IV use the same cam but the RA IV use a 1.65 rocker arm (519 lift),RA II use 1.5 (469 lift). RA II had a cast iron intake and RA IV used a alumium,both had round port heads. And give the '68 firebird credit, it flat outran that Hemi Cuda which i believe is owned by Bob Karakashian "Mr Six Pack".

[Boredout454]

@1971transam455ho Im not sure about that but then again the Hemi Cuda wasnt the fastest either. SS 68/69 Dart/cuda were then it went down to the 69 1/2 440 Sixpack Roadrunners and Superbees. But saying one car out ran another back then is a little hard to do for the simple fact of the many options such as gearing, transmission, options on the engine,a 200 unit production vs several thousand, traction, driver. But I will give it to the 68 Firebird is fast but saying its faster then any Hemi Cuda?

[vigilanteghost]

WOW

[10mak01]

@nicetna2010 The rules at this event are very strict and enforced. About all that is allowed is re-jetting of an originally equipped carb, final drive gear ratio changes are O.K. and shift kits for auto trans allowed. No non- original paint schemes or interior changes including shifters and gauges. That being said that's an impressive run by the bird and the hemi time looks about right.

[swasey1952]

@10mak01 

[swasey1952]

@10mak01 - I think these mopar guys are all afraid of blowing up ther rare cars, they are not running like they should, their no Ronnie Sox thats for damn sure! Thats the trouble when these old cars get so valuable, no one can enjoy them for fear of ruining numbers matching motors, big deal just so it runs good. I sold a rear end on ebay and the idiot wanted to know the date code on gears, like someone would tear a 12 bolt apart to check date codes, what a idiot!

[hal101]

nice