1969 Pontiac Firebird Ram Air IV runs 11.58 E.T.

First outing for this Ramair IV Firebird at Virginia F.A.S.T Race.

Best pass 11.58 @ 118MPH

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Ramair
• IV
• Ram
• Air
• Firebird
• F.A.S.T.
• races
• Bruno

[1Bandit455]

Awesome -- Pontiac power .

[mongoose704]

Firebirds were the sleeper of sleepers. They were equipped with a throttle restrictor to prevent WOT to keep in line with Pontiac's rule that the GTO had to be its fastest production car. That's why the GTO engines had higher horsepower ratings. Removing it added 30 horsepower. Furthermore the RA IV was underrated by 30-40HP. They dynoed out at about 400-410. My stepfather had a RA IV Bird. No shit they scream. They were Camaro killers. High elevens. The much heavier GTOs ran low 12s.

[mr68Charger383]

@mongoose704 Not sure if it is the same RA II Firebird, but Youtube has a '68 RA II running pure stock that basically beats everything it runs against. I will not debate the weight of a GTO vs Firebird, but that bird just leans all over its rear wheels and kicks ass

[mongoose704]

@camirocz With bias ply tires and the throttle restrictor on.  The throttle restrictor is why the RA engines were rated higher in the GTO than in the Firebird. Jim Mino took a 68 RA II firebird rated at 330 horsepower and dominated stock class drag racing for years running low 12s with just some tuning, removing the restrictor and slicks. That is documented. Several GTOS are documented to run low 12 with RA IVs and the Firebird is lighter. Yes high elevens are possible.

[erick67firebird]

What setup do u have besides the ram air iv ? Email me please im building my r.a.iv . Erick_vr6@yahoo.com

[geiner66]

thats fast



[mystinger72]

I also just saw a ram air FB pull a 12.47 ET, and that WAS with bias ply......

[mystinger72]

You also have to remember that back then HP was rated fairly conservatively to keep insurance costs down for the consumer. Example, the L-88 Corvettes were rated at 435, when they were actually well over 500. Also, is this dude talking advertised hp? Ratings changed in 1971 to net HP, so if these were recent numbers then they would be more accurate.

[camirocz]

@dnazz32 Stock????Are you nuts or what ?The ram air iv had 345 h.p stock and ran low 14s this thing runs mod 11s.

[barcrrt]

I owned a 70' Ram Air IV GTO in the late 70's. That crazy little 400cu in motor ran away from some pretty mean muscle cars. In the few years that I owned it, that car earned the respect of many in Glendale, California. Wish I had it today!