RAV Trans am

**SamLBInj** · #1 05-30-2005, 08:04 AM

Wasnt this discussed about a year ago? There was no way to order a car with a RAV engine correct? this is from the Mecum Auction 1969 RAV Trans am
"Although it never became an official option, people with insider knowledge could have gotten a Ram Air V 400 for $2000 extra in their 1970 ½ Trans Am. It is believed about 20 of these engines were sold, but many made their way into GTOs and other Pontiacs, as well as being delivered by crate. As previously stated, GM Corporate Headquarters would eventually cave in to the pressure from safety conscious legislators and insurance companies. Thus the Ram Air V was deemed too powerful for street use and soon disappeared. The Ram Air 400 was designed with tunnel port heads, manifolding and a solid lifter cam. No one knows for sure but the 400 Ram Air V was reported to have had 500 hp."

http://www.mecumauction.com/auctions...D=SC0505-24603

**Charley Lillard** · #2 05-30-2005, 08:08 AM

I wonder what it sold for..

**SamLBInj** · #3 05-30-2005, 08:14 AM

What is manifolding? never heard that term before.

**SamLBInj** · #4 05-30-2005, 08:18 AM

I looked up in the dictionary and found this.

"manifolding" Adj- Man-a-fold-ing- To discard lousy poker hand to better bluffer..

**ssl78** · #5 05-30-2005, 09:51 AM

Charlie not 100% sure but if I remember right somewhere around 115k

rpoz11 · #6 05-30-2005, 10:10 AM

As far as I remember from a source here locally from years ago, the RA V heads were strictly an over the counter upgrade/Racing part and never installed as an order thru a dealer as delivered from the factory. There was a guy out here name Bruce L. who did this very same car like this and he told me this was never offered via the order sheet in 1969. He got his heads thru a New Mexico Pontiac re-seller who was big into these and made his own 69 T/A RA V car.
That car really was impressive when he took me for a spin in that car! I beleive his car was an LA T/A car as well at that time. I think he made Tachs for Year 1 back then....

**Steve Shauger** · #7 05-31-2005, 12:41 AM

I would guess in this context, it meant both special intake and exhaust manifolds.

nuch_ss396 · #8 05-31-2005, 05:15 AM

Steve,

I believe you are correct. The Ram Air V's did have
special intake & exhaust manifolds. I actually believe
there was even a one-off set of long tube cast iron headers
made at one point. Got a picture here somewhere.......

I would have loved to see that engine in production. I've
heard some Pontiac guru's say that the RAV could take the
LS-6 easily.

Steve

**Charley Lillard** · #9 05-31-2005, 05:23 AM

Ha !!! What else would the Pontiac Guru's say ?

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