73 Formula 400

[PAINLESS]

New here. I'm going to go look at this car later this week. The guy wants $1500 for it and says its all there but has some rust and a few dents but runs fine. It has a 400 engine and turbo 400 trans. Were the Ram air III and IV options available in 73? Other than the snorkle air cleaner housing, can you tell just by looking if it is a Ram Air car? Can you tell by the VIN?

[71' Formula 461]

I have never heard of a Ram Air motor in 73'. Use this link to decode the VIN#. As far as ram air hood goes, looking into the hood intakes there should be a deflector about two inches back that does not completly block the intake at the top. You should be able to fit your fingers over that deflector. If the deflector is solid at the top than you have a "non functiong" Formula hood. Hope this helps.

VIN # decoder Pontiac Firebird Trans Am V.I.N Information, VIN Decoder

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There is no mention in that link about ram air's. If it was only an option and maybe dealer installed it wouldn't be in the VIN, I don't think.
I did find out that RA III and IV had aluminum manifolds with a separate cast iron exhaust cross over and #722 heads so that would be some other things to look for. I can't find what year they quit offering the RA option though.

[sprint250]

Get th Vin # off the car & engine code that is stamped on the block @ the front the block pass side cylinder bank.
All 400 dual exhaust 400s for that year are listed as 8.0:1 copression ratio @ 230 HP. That is when they went to the SAE net HP ratings.
Y6 ,YG, XN,YS , YT,WP, WS,WP are all 1973 block codes for 230 HP dual exhaust 400" Firebirds . All others 400s for that year are listed as single Exh.

The standard 455 engine was an option for the Formula and it would indicate that on the vin , block code and badging on the car if it was genuine.
The super 455 Super Duty engine was a possibility for the Formula for that year but a car like that would be extremeley rare.


Formula 400s were available all day long in 73 , the hood scoops were not hooked up to anything and the ram air air filter housing that connects to the hood was not present .The 2nd gen factory Formula 'glass hoods for any year that did not come with the "Ram Air Option " were made with a thin solid fiberglass blacked out panel at the inlet of the of the scoops and there was no connection to the standard air filter housing found on the engine. Other than that it is basically the same 'glass hood you would find on any (I believe) 75 or earlier Formula 400 / 350 car.
The hood should be able to accept all the hardware to make it a funcioning "Ram Air" hood.
The block offs are easily removed to make the hood funcional again.
Getting all the other parts and pieces to make it a functioning factory style ram air hood is another story.If reproduction or original hardware cannot be found and the motive is a funcioning hood ,and not show quality restoration perfect , some clever fabrication can yeild a nicely functioning ram air style hood.

[sprint250]

Here is a PDF scan of a factory illustration of the components that would be present on a functioning Ram Air Formula hood.

The air filter assembly is available as a reproduction through either P.Y. or Classic Industries.That part will set you back almost $400.
As far as I can tell from the catalog photo it does not come with functioning "Thermo AC" air inlet heater mechanisims on the snorkels.

The reproduction Formula hood can be had through U.S. Body Source.
Fiberglass Reproduction Body Panels
It is supposed to be a direct replacement.

[PAINLESS]

I ended up buying the car for $500. It has more rust than I care to deal with and all the interior was gone except the dash. The guy also swapped the hood and nose for an 81 nose and trans am hood. I have been looking for a car to build a hobby stock oval car out of and this will be it. I also found out that it originally came with a 350 engine and th350 trans. It has a few good parts that I don't need and will sell or trade for some stuff I do need.