Project Firebird

Specifications:

 
Dyno Runs Spark Plug Tech  
General Specs    
VIN Number    
Body Tag    
Invoice    
Block    
Heads    
Transmission    
Rear End    
Carburetor    
Distributor    
Alignment Specs    
     
Engine Modifications    
Wiring Diagrams Files  
Flashback to the Year 1969    

 

Dyno on 1/27/07

 

Dyno on 9/19/06

approx. 250 HP and 300 ft-lb torque

with cast iron intake, cast iron heads

and cast iron exhaust manifolds

 

Make:

  

1969 Pontiac Firebird Convertible

 

Owner:

  

Carl Matthews, Houston, TX

 

Body:

 

Originally, Dark Blue Convertible. When I bought it, the car was white with a black top. I liked the white color which is great in our hot climate, so I kept it that way.

 

Interior:

  

Dark Blue Standard Parchment

 

Engine:

 

Originally, a 350-2barrel. The original block was cracked and leaking water near the oil filter. It was replaced with a 1972 350-4barrel. Currently has a rebuilt 1972 350 with original #46 heads, 1:1.65 rocker arms, stock intake and exhaust manifolds.

 

Trans:

  

4-speed Muncie M20 (rebuilt Aug. 2005)

  

Rearend:

  

3.23 Gears, Open Rear End

  

Exhaust:

  

2 ½" dual aluminized steel exhaust pipes connected to DynoMax mufflers. Many thanks to my brother Mark for the exhaust and support.

  

Wheels:

  

15x7 Rally II’s wrapped with BFG Comp T/A Z-rated tires. P245/50ZR15 front and P225/60ZR15 on the rear.

 

Brakes:

  

Front: Power discs from a 69 Camaro donor car, identical to the factory option. Rear: Drum.

 

Suspension:

  

Polyurethane bushings, new front coil springs, Herb Adams 1" front and rear swaybars, KYB shocks on all 4 corners.

 

Factory Options:

  

AM/FM Radio, Power Top, Power Steering, Tinted Windshield, Deluxe Steering Wheel, Console, Suggested Retail Price with options $3045.00

 

Owner installed

Options:

  

A/C, 4 core Radiator, Front disc brakes, 16" Rally wheels, Tachometer in glove box, Cassette player and speakers

 
       
 

 

VIN Number:  223679U120399

    

1st digit:

GM Line

2

Pontiac

2nd digit:

Series No.

2

Firebird

3rd digit:

Model

3

All

4th & 5th digit:

Body Type

67

Convertible

6th digit:

Model Year

9

1969

7th digit:

Assembly

U

Lordstown, OH

8th - 12th digit:

Production No.

120399

 

 

Body Tag:

Body Tag

  
 

ST 69 - 22367

1969 Pontiac Firebird Convertible

  
 

LOR

Lordstown, OH plant

  
 

523533

Sequence No.

  
 

TR 200

Dark Blue Std. Vinyl trim

  
 

12 - C

Build Date, December, 3rd week, 1968

  
 

51-C PNT

 

"51" Liberty Blue paint

with "C" Dark Blue convertible top

  

 

Original Invoice:

Original Invoice

courtesy of PMD Registry

 

My car was purchased in Boyertown, PA

on 4/10/69. The invoice price was $3788.06



 
1969 Engine Identification Codes
Code Cyl. Disp. H.P. C.R. Carb. Trans. Description Qty. Built Location
WC 8 350 265 9.2:1 2 BC Man. Firebird 350  
Engine Identification
V-8: Find code stamped on the block in front
of the right bank of cylinders.
6-Cylinder: Find code stamped on cylinder head
contact surface of the block behind the oil filler pipe.

123456 = Production Number
WH = Engine Code

VIN Identification
V-8: Stamped on the right of the timing chain cover.
6-Cylinder: Stamped on the right rear lower side.

(i.e. 2L9100001)
WH 8 400 345 10.75:1 4 BC Man. Firebird 400 Ram Air IV  
WM 8 350 265 9.2:1 2 BC Man. Firebird 350  
WN 8 350 325 10.5:1 4 BC Man. Firebird 350 H.O.  
WQ 8 400 335 10.75:1 4 BC Man. Firebird 400 Ram Air III  
WZ 8 400 330 10.75:1 4 BC Man. Firebird 400  
XB 8 350 265 9.2:1 2 BC Auto. Firebird 350  
XC 8 350 325 10.5:1 4 BC Auto. Firebird 350 H.O.  
XL 8 350 265 9.2:1 2 BC Auto. Firebird 350  
XN 8 400 345 10.75:1 4 BC Auto. Firebird 400 Ram Air IV  
YE 8 350 265 9.2:1 2 BC 3-Spd./Auto. Firebird 350  
YJ 8 350 265 9.2:1 2 BC 3-Spd./Auto. Firebird 350  
YT 8 400 330 10.75:1 4 BC Auto. Firebird 400  
YW 8 400 335 10.75:1 4 BC Auto. Firebird 400 Ram Air III  
ZC 6 250 175 9.0:1 1 BC Man. Firebird Standard  
ZF 6 250 175 9.0:1 1 BC Auto. Firebird Standard  
ZH 6 250 230 10.5:1 4 BC Man. Firebird Sprint  
ZL 6 250 235 10.5:1 4 BC Auto. Firebird Sprint  
(1) Air
(Note) Conflicting information for following codes. One source lists them available but have not been able to confirm with other sources: XD, WK, XK, ZD, ZE, ZN.

 

Head Casting Identification Codes
Code Engine Comments
47 350  
48 350 HO  
16 400 Automatic - 16, 62 W/AC
48 400 Ram Air III Automatic - 16, 62 W/AC
722 400 Ram Air IV  
 
 


 

Trans ID Numbers:  P9T14A

  

1st digit:

Muncie Plant

P

Pontiac

2nd digit:

Production Year

9

1969

3rd digit:

Month

T

Dec. 1968

4th & 5th digit:

Day

14

14th

6th digit:

Model

A

M20

 Transmission is stamped 29U120399 on top making it original to the car.

 

Transmission Identification Codes
Code Description Engine Comments Location
LF 2-Speed Automatic 250 6 Cyl. - 1 BC, W/O AC Stamped on low servo cover (1)
LH 2-Speed Automatic 250 6 Cyl. - W/AC Stamped on low servo cover (1)
MA 2-Speed Automatic 350 2 BC, W/O AC Stamped on low servo cover (1)
MC 2-Speed Automatic 350 2 BC, W/AC Stamped on low servo cover (1)
JB Turbo Hydra-Matic 350 250 1 BC Stamped into sheetmetal cover on side of trans. (1)
JD Turbo Hydra-Matic 350 250 4 BC Stamped into sheetmetal cover on side of trans. (1)
JF Turbo Hydra-Matic 350 350 2 BC, W/O AC Stamped into sheetmetal cover on side of trans. (1)
PQ Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 400 4 BC, W/Ram Air Stamped on metal tag located on right side of trans. (2)
PS Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 350 4 BC Stamped on metal tag located on right side of trans. (2)
PV Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 350 2 BC, W/AC Stamped on metal tag located on right side of trans. (2)
PX Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 400 4 BC, W/O Ram Air Stamped on metal tag located on right side of trans. (2)
(1) Identifies year, trans. model, and date built (ie: 69LH135)
(2) Identifies year, trans. model, and trans. serial (ie: 69PR1234)

 

 

Rear End: stamped 069 YF

 		 
 

Code YF

3.23 open gears

  
 

BOP 10-bolt 8.2" ring gear

Buick 1964-1970

Oldsmobile 1964-1970

Pontiac 1964-1971

  

 

Firebird Axle Identification Codes

Ratio

Series

Gear Teeth

1967

Std. Axle
Code

1968

Std. Axle
Code

1969

Std. Axle
Code

1967

Safe-T-Track

1968

Safe-T-Track

1969

Safe-T-Track

2.56

1

41:16

XB

XB

YB

UN

ZB

ZB

2.78

1

39:14

XC

XC

YC

UP

ZC

ZC

2.93

2

41:14

XD

XD

YD

--

ZD

ZD

3.08

2

40:13

XE

XE

YE

US

ZE

ZE

3.23

2

42:13

XF

XF

YF

UT

ZF

ZF

3.36

3

37:11

XG

XG

YG

UV

ZM

ZG

3.55

3

39:11

XH

XH

YH

UW

ZN

ZH

3.90

3

39:10

--

--

--

UX

ZP

ZK

4 pinion

4.33

3

39:9

--

--

--

UY

ZR

ZM

4 pinion

 

 

Rochester Quadrajet:

See more on Carbs here.

 

 

Currently Carter Qjet #7041264 LO © VF

Originally used on a 1971 YS block, 400c.i. 300HP Automatic

 
 


Carburetor Identification Codes
Code Type Engine Comments
7028071   350 Man.
7029062-72   350 Auto.
7029263   350 H.O. Man.
7029268   350 H.O. Auto.
7029263   400 Man.
7029268   400 Auto.
7028273   400 Manual Ram Air III
7029273*   400 Manual Ram Air III
7028270   400 Automatic Ram Air III
7029270*   400 Automatic Ram Air III
7029273   400 Manual Ram Air IV
7029270   400 Automatic Ram Air IV
* Late 1969

 

 

Distributor:  1111960

  
 

Date Code:  8L25

  

1st digit:

Year

8

1968

2nd digit:

Month

L

Dec.

3rd & 4th digit:

Day

25

25th

 

Distributor Identification Codes for 1969 FBs
Code Engine Comments
1111960 350 Manual
1111942 350 Automatic
1111966 350 H.O. Manual
1111965 350 H.O. Automatic
1111952 400 Manual
1111952, 1111946 400 Automatic
1111941 400 Ram Air

 

 

ALIGNMENT SPECS
Guldstrand recommends the following specs for a "touring car":
Caster: 3 - 4 degrees positive (+) PS = more, manual steer less.
Camber: 1/4 to 1/2 degrees negative (-)

With upper a-arm relocation Camber: 0 degrees
Toe-in: 0 - 1/8 inch
Guldstrand recomends for racing:
(assumes "Guldstrand mod" is done)

Caster 3 to 4 1/8 deg pos
Camber 1.5 to 2 deg neg
Toe in 1/8" out to 1/8" in (I would try 1/8" out first) more neg camber
= more toe out.

Herb Adams recomends these alignment specs for the street:
1 degree positive caster ( I would use 3.5 degrees if PS)
1 degree negative camber.
1/16" toe in

Stock factory alignment specs:
Caster +1/2 deg
Camber + 1/4 to 1/2 deg
Toe-in 1/8" to 1/4" (Radial tires need less toe-in, use 1/8" or less for
them)

 

  

 

Wiring Diagrams for 1969 Firebird

    
 

Rear Half

 

Front Half

 		  
 

AC Wiring

 

Power Seats Wiring

(not my car)

 

  
 

 

    

Flashback to 1969

 

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©Carl Matthews 1998,2003