Its got a picture inside of this exact car with the SD 455 on the scoop and in red but its a 74. I have a 1975 trans am with a 383 striker and the original 400 on the side of my garage. Were the numbers for real? It was a raw and surly car that had little tolerance for inexperience or stupidity. This generation received a new body style that was more swoopy as opposed to the Coke bottle style of the first-generation Firebirds. Stories on some of the most unique cars and trucks on the road. Rated at 310 horsepower, it was closer to 370, unmatched by any rival. "I placed an order for a Super-Duty . But a $300 cam kit, headers and some tuning could easily bump the output of the otherwise stock engine to 300 horsepower or more. That thing was bulletproof. (Not sure) and cars lke th 5.0 should never have a Governor, 420Bhp and you limit what it can do? If you prefer not to usePayPal, our mailingaddress is: EPautos Sign up for our free daily email and youll never miss another find: Disclosure: This site may receive compensation when you click on some links and make purchases. The idea was wed own a piece of the woods to do with what we wished. What a difference a few years makes, huh? Yet, the SD-455 was something very special, not just a warmed-over 455. Until this event, almost no one in America cared about their energy consumption. Stock photography was even created showing SD-455 badging on the 1973 Grand Am. The trunk pan does have rust in it that is probably from leaky weatherstripping. Unfortunately, the original engine and transmission is no longer with this car. $185,000 1-2 Search Tools Refine Search? In 1973, a buyer had a choice of the base engine which was a Y code 455 cubic inch V8 engine and the optional X code 455 cubic inch V8 engine. I ordered a 1974 SD 455 with a 4 speed and had to wait 10 months. Click here to show it anyway. Car and Driver is rather weird in that they always average the speed of two directions (not the right way to do it in my opinion) so you could be right with 175+ mph if the net hp really is 371. Based on that video I had theorized that with optimal gearing 172 mph would be possible. Meanwhile, just a few . Regarding his launch technique, Norris shared his thoughts. In order to determine this action had been performed, the EPA instructed that the engines be painted a slightly different color so the inspectors could easily recognize them. Just curious. Introduced in '73 as a maximum-performance effort capable of sustained 6,000-rpm operation, it was hampered by production regulations, but possessed a seemingly-infinite amount of power potential. The front wheel flairs look strange and so does the lower air dam under the bumper. In 1974, 58 Formula Firebirds and 943 Trans Ams rolled out of the factory. This car was in my opinion the apogee of muscle cardom. I am curious about the High Performance Pontiac rating, and how they determined it. UCC Truck Show 2023: Maximum Performance Under Big-Time Pressure. Type: 3-speed automatic In Detroit for The Woodward Dream Cruise, a local radio station would have a restoration shop restore , then donate, a neat muscle-car. Cheers. or 155 mph for 1970 Cougar 429 ? Another interesting fact is the Trans Am Super Duty was only available only in Brewster Green, Buccaneer Red, or Cameo White. If you broke traction on the 1-2 upshift and didnt know how to keep it straight, there was no TCS to bail you out. . Enough said! Most enthusiasts believe that Super Duty engine was underrated in terms of horsepower. I think it's enough to reach 190+ mph with that if using 3.23 final. 3 All Rights Reserved. The true Output is 371 Hp net from source High Performance Pontiac magazine. Better-handling than the same-era Corvette which did not handle well. 582-Inch Big-Block Chevy Puts Down 1,460 HP at 7,400 RPM. Does this one look all original and legit to the pontiac experts ? with 139 hp ??? The wonderful times had in that car couldnt be repeated in a new car and wouldnt come close to being the same in an Suv or crossover. Displacement: 455 cubic inches Before 1973, horsepower dominated and it seemed the Big Three couldnt make enough muscle cars to satisfy the buying public. It felt more like a community. The 1973 Pontiac Trans Am is the finest TransAm that Pontiac ever built. Hope it doesnt become a trend.. In fact, it was a $55 option the huge Firebird hood decal called the screaming chicken by some that debuted in 1973 that usually gets credit for putting the Trans Am in the publics eye and boosting sales from 1,286 in 1972 to 4,802 in 1973, and then to 10,255 in 1974. Wow, Im channeling Tor this morning! I started working for Western Electric a week later, when I was 17, for $800 a month, in 1972. I was in High School in the early 1980s. Horsepower/Torque Curve 1973 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SD-455 4-speed It was not a facade for an entire line. I settled for a signed letter from the principal saying that I had completed the requirements to graduate and would receive a diploma after they were printed in the spring. Sounds like a Frankenstein, all patched together from pieces parts. In this edition of Muscle Car Milestones, well turn back the clock and look at the 1973-1974 Pontiac Firebird and Trans Am Super Duty. Compression ratio was stock 8.4:1 as were the #16 heads with factory 2.11/1.77 valves. Now I just do what I want and enjoy it.". The brakes were pretty much identical from base to Z28/Trans-Am (excepting the 77-81 TA, which offered four wheel discs) and the wheels were not much different 14s vs. 15s. This engine produces a maximum power of 304 PS (300 bhp - 224 kW) at 4000 rpm and a maximum torque of 563.0 Nm (415 lb.ft) at 4000 rpm. I thought AC was only available on SDs with TH400 trans? @Bijan I don't believe most of the top speed claims for cars unless the source is carefully documented. The Y Code 455 cubic inch V8 engine was the base motor and was rated at 250 horsepower and 370 lb-ft of torque. Bought in 80 for $2500 & sold in 84 for $5700. Ahhh, the good old days when the private sector actually fought regulation and with action. In fact, it was accurately rated at 290. Pontiac first had to swap cams to a milder grind to get the SD-455 engine certified, but only just barely.. Rear: 1.9 x 9.5-inch cast iron drum, power assist, Suspension Skip McCully, former special project engineer for Pontiac, stated that no production SD455s released to the public were fitted with the 480737 cam. Wedepend on you to keep the wheels turning! The 455 HO was stock in 71 and 72. The Super Duty was launched at the beginning of what was to become known as the Malaise Era. Put another way, the bar to entry has been raised and its one of the reasons why car culture is on life support. It was only about 100 years ago one could still see homes next to office and light industrial spaces in cities, and of course theres the neighborhood intersections with the bar on one corner, the church on the other. It is just a lot of money now, even pieced together, to bash on without mercy. And then use them till the lease runs out at which point they lease or finance another one. Fuel prices and insurance costs were rising but Pontiac was still producing large cubic inch V8 performance cars in 1973. With 70s Camaros and Firebirds, the main difference was the coil/leaf springs. Wyoming? Reputation Management: Welcome to the Jungle! 4) in 1973, the model with 2-door fastback coupe body and V-8 7469 cm3 / 455.8 cui, 231 kW / 314 PS / 310 hp (SAE net) offered since September 1972 for North America .. From the factory, this car came with a Muncie M-21 4 speed transmission. A 0.34 Cd is quite good (estimate based on appearance I think), so a high top speed is possible, I just haven't seen enough evidence yet to be fully convinced. That performance stood for 16 years until the 89 15th Anniversary Trans-Am came along. Its a damn funny scene since hes lifting weights and smoking pot, two more things she highly disapprove of. Into a reinforced block went a nitrided crankshaft, forged pistons and forged connecting rods. 4) in 1973, the model with 2-door fastback coupe body and V-8 7469 cm3 / 455.8 cui, 231 kW / 314 PS / 310 hp (SAE net) engine offered since September 1972 for North America . Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. . "I constantly pay attention to keeping up with maintenance and repairs. Almost everyone ordered (or bought) their car this way, though! 1973-1974 Pontiac Firebird and Trans Am Super Duty However, the seating is not correct, the car needs new door panels and the console is missing. Id have to say he added a unique touchRIP Merlin the dog tamer.. Didnt know Pontiac tried to hide that engine, and didnt know that engine existed at all. This is another '73 Super Duty Trans AM from our stash of project cars. So top speed with 3.73 rear should be roughly the same between Boss and GT. Sometimes automotive scribes have to beat themselves over the head to comprise a strong lead for a feature article. My Maverick is one of the exceptions. I had a 73 4 speed Bucanner Red with AC and the optional heated back window another one of those cars I wish I kept. 455 ci SD 4 speed REF#1013 located in Katy, Texas showroom. For all other Muscle cars, it can reach higher max if only using long ratio gearbox but it's only give not too much boost of speed depend on power rating. All specifications, performance and fuel economy data of Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SD-455 4-speed (231 kW / 314 PS / 310 hp), edition of the year 1973 since September 1972 for North America , including acceleration times 0-60 mph, 0-100 mph, 0-100 km/h, 0-200 km/h, quarter mile time, top speed, mileage and fuel economy, power-to-weight . On the 73 bird be careful not to drop anything down the small slot between the bumper & radiator support! I just crunched some numbers, and my current estimate would be 162 mph with 310 net hp and 172 mph with 371 net hp, assuming gearing was made to reach those velocities. And the 74 SD455 can reach to 7000 rpm %100 . 1974 Pontiac Trans Am SD-455 - Old Car Memories He doesnt mention the SBC in the all time best V8s. Ready To Rumble: 1967 Dodge Dart GT 360 V8, Bubble Top: 1978 Lincoln Continental Town Car. Just when we had fast cars relegated to the museum sections, Pontiac has surprised everyone and opened a whole new exhibit. Compared to the 1973 Chevrolet Corvette LS4 454 with the Turbo Hydra-matic, the Super Duty was one second faster from 0 to 60 and 0.9 seconds faster in the quarter mile. That was a 1969 supercharged Camaro. A deviation was the cam, which was a Ram Air IV replacement featuring 308/320 degrees advertised duration, 230/240 degrees duration at .050 with .520 lift using Ram Air IV 1.65:1 stamped steel rockers. Took 3 tries to get the right oil pan for the motor but we got there. As a guy who reviews new cars, I am often asked which cars are my favorite cars. On a hot and windy day they reached 165 mph in one direction, and 157 mph in the other. Rear track: 60.3 inches 6826 for the Trans Am that you see here. Maybe I should just quit working so I have time for my projects. nothing else really. By the time the price, the options, and the tax, license and title were totaled, the purchaser, a Mr. Leslie Hagin paid $5,309.88 for an incredibly rare SD-455 Trans Am. You could literally hear the atmosphere being gulped into abyss of the huge engines cylinders, a sound no modern, fuel-injected car makes no matter how powerful. There's no link to that magazine but since it posted in wikipedia, i think it's a little accurate but not too accurate. There were two engines available in 1973 for the Trans Am. It's the fastest Pontiac in both 1973 and 1974 and capable to reach 170 mph with 3.08 ratio as the fastest recorded top speed that ever made by Firebird after 400 Ram Air V. It's even faster than Corvette L82 that offered in that day. This one looked good for a minute until I read your post. Until the '73 model year, Leist Oil Company hadn't delivered a new Second-Gen Trans Am, but Larry planned to change that. 1974 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SD-455 4-speed (man. 4) - Automobile-Catalog At the other end of the spectrum, theSuper Duty 455 engine option for the Firebird Formula and Trans Am continued after a late entry in 1973. Pontiac first had to swap cams to a milder grind to get the SD-455 engine certified, but only just barely. And speaking of hood scoop, 1973 was the first year the scoop was non-functional. The Cobra Daytona was clocked at 182 mph on the straight at LeMans so I believe it. When the restorer added seat belts, they did not use the 1973 version buckle. Those were the cars to own. Well, Uncle caught on and the party was over almost before it started. really ??? Back in TJs time it was possible to run a small business on a piece of property, perhaps providing processing services for your neighbors who might sell you the raw materials for you to add your labor. I had an original near mint 70 w/ 455HO 4sp,. Forty years ago, Pontiac bookended the muscle car market with one car that many consider to be a low point of the genre, and another that proudly parks in the upper echelon alongside Hemis, LS6 Chevelles and Boss Mustangs. Sign up for our free daily email and youll never miss another find: Disclosure: This site may receive compensation when you click on some links and make purchases. You are correct about the SD valve cover decal. No got-damned computer compatibility issues. As mentioned earlier, by 1973 the muscle cars werent being made by other manufactures for several different reasons. As for the Ford Boss 302, I believe the standard 302 might have a governor at 160, but the Laguna Seca (LS) model has no top speed governor. According to ProfessCars estimation this Pontiac is capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 5.6 sec, from 0 to . Heres Everything You Need to Know. The rear featured new slotted taillights and black rubber 5-mph bumpers. 252 of them were the Super Duty models. As we mentioned before, the Super Duty was initially going to be made available in other Pontiac models. But these are exceptions to the old time rules. But correct me if im wrong, but dont the 2000-2004 Mustangs have better aerodynamics? Just as federal laws were emasculating the muscle car, Pontiac put the power back in the Trans Am with the SD455 V-8. Reply 2k 2 5 replies hostboy 1y ago The 73 cars also reportedly, some of them got the SD-455 with the hotter cam, before Uncle descended. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Car & Driver in 1973 tested the SD 455 Firebird at a 1/4 mile speed of 13.751 seconds at a terminal speed of 103.56 mph. Utilizes it's power better than an early nineties 911 turbonot. When I lived in the pre-car neighborhood I was a bit of a regular at the local bar, at least on payday, because I could stumble home at the end of the night instead of fearing a shakedown (or worse) from an AGW. (This graph shows the number of Pontiacs produced for each 1973 model). Since Trans Am and owner are so proficient at tripping the lights of the 1,320, HPP invited them to race during one of our Lone Star Pavement Pounder Shootouts and we photographed the T/A in action for this story. Mine was built for Nitrous and I run a 200hp fogger system. Oil capacity: 6.0 quarts With a 310 horsepower, it was as quick as many of the ledendary cars of the sixties. The special high-performance SD 455 engine produced 310 hp in 1973 and 290 hp in 1974. Good times, good memories. Shift points are 5,500-5,700 rpm and the T/A goes through the traps at 5,250 rpm.". 1973 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am for Sale - ClassicCars.com You can have the blonde one or the brunette one, but Im afraid the redhead is a little out of your budget. It was also the last real muscle car, not only because it was built at a time when almost all other high-powered American cars had already disappeared but because it was the last really powerful American two-plus two coupe built without catalytic converters or significant emissions controls of any kind and no air bags, traction control, ABS or other electronic impedimenta. The result of spreading out and zoning out the American city, sold to us under an odd manipulation of the Jefferson ideal of landowning citizenry. It was powered by a transplanted Buick Regal GNX turbocharged V6, one of the most . I took my 76 out yesterday; last weeks snow had melted and we had a good rain afterward, which washed away the road salt. If any of this sounds unlikely in your locale, maybe it is time to move back to America. 1973 SD-455 Trans Am - A Charmed Life - MotorTrend Another sign of true SD is the specific PCV valve, which was on driver side rocker cover. It was a quirky ad with lots of oddly angled pics and no phone #, with a comment something like you can pay me more if you are thinking Ill take less. which book or any Documentary facts .. sorry about this comment Shaggy but this is it . But that wasnt efficient (another falsehood) or pretty, and the central planners decided that single use structures, properly zoned, were the best way to construct cities. 206 mph for a Daytona R/T special ??? Pretty pathetic when compared to today's horsepower to displacement ratio, but nonetheless, still a rock star in its day. Some head work and bump the CR up two points and now youre making serious power and it could all by done affordable, with hand tools, by anyone reasonably competent with machinery. 1973 Pontiac Trans Am SD-455 - Muscle Car of the Week The slick close ratio 4 speed and just the nice interior extremely beer resistant and always looked like new with nothing but Pledge furniture polish. The love affair so many had with their cars has become like a bad marriage on the verge of divorce. For our outing it was 100-plus degrees and the T/A was running 12.80s-12.90s for the day at 107 mph. Front: 11.0-inch vented disc, power assist Hi-Performance Cars magazine was able to get their hands on a 1973 Pontiac GTO tester equipped with the Super Duty. For 1973, Pontiac introduced a version of the 455 cubic-inch V8 called the Super Duty or SD-455. The current engine is a 400 cubic inch V8 engine and the transmission is a Borg Warner T-10 4 speed. This model was unique because it consisted of a strengthened cylinder block including four-bolt main bearings along with added material in different locations for additional strength. The base cars with the six were all set up to receive the V8; they bolted right in. Unlikely Hero: Pontiac Firebird Trans Am and Formula SD-455 70 to 0 mph: 226 feet. I had one that belonged to my boss, we sent the motor to Butler and had them rebuild it ,but used only OEM parts on the outside, internally they built it better then Pontiac did. Complete performance review and accelerations chart for Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SD-455 4-speed (man. 25 Firebird facts every enthusiast should know - Hagerty Media 3rd: 1.00 1973 Pontiac Trans Am SD-455 - A Primed Example It was a very different motor with forged components and a high-volume oil pump. Mark however, tuned the combination with .074 primary jets and "DA" or "DH" secondary rods in the carb, a distributor recurve to get the timing all in by 2,400 rpm, and by port matching the intake to the heads. Jan 13, 2014 It's difficult to grasp how an engine can generate enthusiastic buzz more than 40 years after its inception, but mention Pontiac's Super-Duty 455 and some Firebird fanatics get. The 1973 SD-455 Trans-Am. Torque (net): 390 lbs-ft @ 3,600 rpm Even got it to 100 mph once with the 360. The car is located in Everest, Kansas. Beneath the rockers the suspension is stock save coilover shocks in the rear. In retrospect, Pontiac didnt need the SD-455, which added more than $500 to a Trans Ams price. The hunt continues :-), Thanks for the update! Copper Hill, VA 24079, PS: Get an EPautos magnet (pictured below) in return for a $20 or more one-time donation or a $5 or more monthly recurring donation. I own a 1973 Formula 455 with this engine and it is powerful and fun to drive. In the same test car, Hot Rod magazine did the deed in 13.54 at just over 104. 1973 Trans Am SUPER DUTY . The engine was supposed to also be more widespread, and offered in the GTO, Grand Am, and even Grand Prix. Im no Bird/T-A fanbut DAYUUUMMMM that is one gorgeous car- and with the 4-speed.I cant imagine anything being much better! Pontiac got in trouble regarding the EGR valve on these engines. The automotive press raved about the Super Duty. Only 252 Trans Ams were built in 1973 with the famous Super Duty Trans Am. A time when oil embargoes, the Clean Air Act, and cheap economy cars had taken their toll on muscle car sales. I own a 71. These International trucks epitomize working classics, Electrogenics electric E-Type is more than a weekend toy, Faster Than An F1 Car! The engine was rated at 290 horsepower at 4,000 rpm and 390 pound feet of torque at 3,600 rpm. The true output/capability of the SD-455 can be measured by the so-equipped Trans-Ams quarter-mile times. They became fast friends due to their shared interest in fast Pontiacs, and Norris, who had bought a '75 T/A new and got rid of it in favor of a '70 T/A because it was faster, kept constant tabs on the rare '73. Front: independent, unequal-length control arms, coil springs, anti-sway bar By the time the price, the options, and the tax, license and title were totaled, the purchaser, a Mr. Leslie Hagin paid $5,309.88 for an incredibly rare SD-455 Trans Am. We wont see those days again. Pontiac Firebird II Trans Am 455cu 7.5L Specs - Ultimate Specs It is plenty strong enough on its own ! and when they do decide if they should lease one over the other, the deciding factor isnt say the look of the car, its how many bells and whistles (like car play, cameras) it has rather than how it looks or power. torque converter: 2.20 to 1 Other times one just comes to them as naturally as waking up in the morning. (A few Grand Ams and GTOs with the souped-up powerplant found their way into the. The engine immediately acquired a near-mythical persona that has never faded. And the twist is put to the pavement through a 3.42 Safe-T-Track rear (original gears were 3.08s that were changed by the original owner prior to Mark purchasing the SD) and M/T 26x8.5x15 slicks on Rally II wheels. There are better performing cars from the muscle car era but these SDs have always had a great reputation and strong values. To that end, in the ensuing years POR-15 was applied to the chassis to keep rust at bay and a new carpet was installed, though the rest of the black Morrokide interior (code 236) is original. The car is being sold out of the collection owned by the seller. Bore x stroke: 4.15 x 4.21 inches There were two engines available in 1973 for the Trans Am. @Bijan LOL clearly that website "FastestLaps" is just not a good source for top speed info. But it was still a 455. At the line I just load the chassis, flashing the converter to 1,200-1,500 rpm and nail it on the last yellow. So let's just start at the beginning and let the superlatives fall where they may. These cars with a period tune were the real deal. Text and photographs copyright 2007 - 2021 Peter Marinacci. To underscore the point, they resurrected the Super Duty label Pontiac had used in its early 60s racing efforts. @Super8 could you post a link for the article in High Performance Pontiac magazine where they determined the true net output is really 371 hp? And today the Pontiac has yet to be restored but is slightly modified and is raced on a regular basis. Click here. This engine was hand-built with a heavy duty block, forged aluminum flat top pistons, and Rochester 800 cfm four-barrel carburetor. I talked to Herb Adams who developed the engine for Pontiac and he said that his team took what they learned from developing their Pontiac 303 cubic inch V8 engine and applied it to make a powerful but streetable Trans Am. 3 -->. ENGINE VIN STAMP. When you speak about the mighty Daytona HEMI , you say that capable to 180 mph with 3.00 , as you know the red line of the 426 HEMI was 7000 rpm , but in this page you say 7000+ 74 SD455 can do only 170 mph with 3.08 , why ? As I say before , the 73 SD is slightly faster than 74 SD . Here again, Uncle Sams new drive-by noise standards required the scoop to be riveted shut in order to cut down on noise. A new aerodynamically-shaped front end was added along with black rubber 5-mph bumpers. 1 of only 72 ever built with the highly collectible SD-455 Super Duty engine and even more rare 4-Speed Transmission! With a maximum top speed of 120 mph (193 km/h), a curb weight of 3695 lbs (1676 kgs), the Firebird II Trans Am 455cu 7.5L has a naturally-aspirated V 8 cylinder engine, Petrol motor. The good old days . Net, of course. Body: 4-passenger coupe, Engine Length/Width/Height: 192.1/73.4/50.4 Thats all you need to know, plus lacking in the eyeball department, explains why its on ebay and not at the higher end selling options.
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