Ram Air installation on a 1971 Formula 400 Firebird

[@alansnyder4462]

My dad owned a beautiful ‘71 Formula 400. It was red with white interior and auto trans. He purchased it with the honeycomb wheels but there was some problem balancing them and Pontiac allowed him to exchange for the Rally II wheels. I remember the day he ordered it at the dealership in Brooklyn NY in ‘71 like it was yesterday. I specifically remember begging him to order it with ram air. When my dad inquired about that, the salesman told him it would cost an additional $80. My dad’s response was, “Well, that stops that clock.” The car had every other option so to this day, I’m not really sure why that cost was enough to stop the clock. Nevertheless, the car was a showstopper back in the day. Everywhere we went, people noticed the car. I felt so cool riding through the streets with my dad. Ahhh memories. Glad to see you’re keeping beautiful rides such as these rolling and hope you enjoy every mile.

[@alansnyder4462]

SP Steve thanks and stay healthy!

[@tsirkucp]

@@alansnyder4462 what happened to iy

[@Dljackson805]

was searching learning about the Hood stumbled across this . Good Job!

[@HerbLarge]

I have a 71 Formula 455 4 speed with all the Ram Air stuff from the factory. My air cleaner has studs on the bottoms of the air horns for the brackets. Guess I got lucky that all the parts are still there.

[@SPSteve]

The vacuum canisters weren't on my air cleaner so I had to extend the support brackets. A factory ram air car is a valuable machine!

[@pontiacbob99]

Nice job. I added the RamAir intake and RamAir exhaust manifolds to my '74 Formula 350. The airfilter pan is GMC original and cost$$$ and works great. Bob

[@firebird70]

great video showing the step by step conversion. shame it didnt turn out to be a smooth bolt-on process for you, but you did well repairing and modying it to make it all work, well done !

[@tsirkucp]

i like detail, thanks

[@SPSteve]

thanks for watching!

[@adammanmiller4546]

Thank you for this video I have a 71 as well

[@RaiderX948]

Nice work, it's a shame that we spend hard earned money on parts then we open the boxes and we get damaged goods.

[@SPSteve]

For sure. Definitely disappointing. The Parts Place is the only source for certain parts, but you never know what you're going to get.

[@maxxmasson4263]

Good job beautiful

[@SPSteve]

thanks Maxx!

[@blainesnider9089]

The bracketard short because the hot air flappers are missing

[@jeffcarr5363]

And after it did absolutely nothing but still cool

[@SPSteve]

Absolutely. It looks awesome so it's well worth it.

[@Cristian-jc5og]

Oh this is exactly what I want to do with my 1972 firebird esprit, has a formula hood but dont know if the air cleaner will fit because I have a edelbrock carb and intake on the car

[@SPSteve]

If you have a Performer intake it will fit, anything else probably won't.

[@davidmarquis68]

Nice job!! Do you happen to have the measurements for the Ram Air decals on the hood scoops? I'm told they are in the assembly manual. But mine just got destroyed. Thanks

[@SPSteve]

Thanks! I no longer have the car and I sent the assembly manual with the car when I sold it. So I can't give you the measurements. The placement of the decals on my car is not where the manual says to put them. The manual said they go father back on the scoop, but I liked them better where I put them.

[@fleetwin1]

nice work for sure!

[@backroom12]

Wanting to add this kit to my 72 gto but Ames has been out of stock for a year 😢

[@SPSteve]

You might want to try The Parts Place; I think they manufacture these parts. Niche items like this can have very short production runs. If you have the cash, it is best to get the parts as soon as they come available, because they may never be available again. Good luck to you.

[@backroom12]

Called them too everyone is out of stock , and no idea when they are coming back in , I’m being vigilant on my watch lol

[@SPSteve]

@@backroom12 Good luck!

[@harrymurphy8571]

You may have done it by now, but the factory hood has screens at the openings. They are available. I'm going back original. From RA to stock. Too bad I didn't see this sooner!

[@johngialanellajr8650]

SP Steve you are too nice a guy. I would have called both places and returned the damaged parts. 90 % of reproduction parts are junk. I own a 1970 SS 396 L-34 Camaro and have experienced problems with repro parts to.

[@jeffcarr5363]

On a hot day it would matter im thinking

[@SPSteve]

It would probably help more on a cooler day by letting the engine breath cooler outside air vs engine compartment air. But I doubt the difference is worth more than 2 or 3 HP.

[@w41duvernay]

so how does the car performance with the ram air set up now? What was the performance gain?

[@SPSteve]

I didn't notice anything as far as seat of the pants. But I most just cruised it. Maybe it'd pick up a hundredth on the drag strip? You're not going to get big performance gains, I did it because it's a 60's-70's thing that performance cars had so I wanted it on the car.

[@WVXL64]

Your brackets are short because you are missing the thermacs and the flaps. Thermacs go under the snouts of the base.

[@S0N0FJACK]

Keith, where would I look for the Flaps and Thermacs?

[@neighborscomplaint6859]

Just had that conversation with the folks at TPP. Me: "I am looking at your '71 GTO Ram Air Kit … is it complete?" TPP: "Of course it is, comes with everything just like original." Me: What about the actuators for the snorkels, snorkel brackets and boot retainers?" … Nothing but crickets at the other end of the phone.

[@jacklabrier8039]

I could never find anything about the thermacs and flaps. Where do I find those and is that related to the functional vacuum snorkel set up?

[@bluesman7475]

Cool upgrade.

[@mfsb8473]

Nice job Steve. Did you notice any boost in performance after completion?

[@geirmyklebust]

Consider ram air on my 73 formula. Ram air working very well on my Kawa zx10r, not until....about...80 Mph.

[@evanbarr9270]

@@SPSteve does it run cooler ?

[@evanbarr9270]

@@SPSteve cold air into the carb will help thats the whole idea

[@gillsesma]

Hey steve ! I have a 72 firebird formula 400, now 455 ! Well anyway under the hood, towards the front, there are 2 slits, 1 for each snorkel, and thats what makes the hood functional! I dont think you have to cut out the snorkels from the front, but since you did, maybe cover those slits so the air gets directed into the hood !

[@blainesnider9089]

Those slots are for rain drainage and there is a mesh grill that goes in there. I have the parts getting ready to do this to mine

[@scottsharp3356]

The air foil directs air into the scoop, the slits take in some this way, without butchering the hood.

[@chuckkerr7386]

I ordered a 73 Formula 455 with the Ram Air hood. The slots on the underside of the hood scoops are to let water out, and where the screens are put into the opened scoops. My car has the same. Sir cleaner as yours but no brackets mounted to the assembly. It also has vacuum flaps in the snorkels to help the car warm up faster, better for emissions. Probably why your brackets are too short.

[@scottsharp3356]

Any way it’s a cool hood.

[@scottsharp3356]

Chuck Kerr do you still have it? How fast was it? I had an 79 301. I put a 69 Ram Air 3 400 from a GTO in it with 370 gears and a t400 with a mild slip Torque Converter. Hurts Dual Gate. I never timed my quarter but it was fast and undefeated. 80s

[@ReddestOfNecks]

Maaaaan that looks slick! You wouldn't happen to be anywhere near Georgia and be willing to do mine would you? I NEED to make the hood on my 71 455 functional but it terrifies me.

[@SPSteve]

Thanks, nope, all the way across the country in Arizona.

[@ReddestOfNecks]

@ damn!