Pontiac's RULE. In 2012, Australian Michael Scicluna purchased what he believed was a garden-variety 455-powered 1973 Trans Am in need of restoration. (Of course, once printed in a major publication, any doubts that it could ever be incorrect are erased!). The engine develops so much power that representative 1/4 times on street tires are impossible to obtain as you burn rubber all the way through about 1/2 of second gear while having a hard time keeping the car straight. "I always wanted to see how much potential the SD-455 had, so I decided that if Pontiac wouldn't build my proposed Trans Am, I'd do it myself," he remarks. This Code 75 Buccaneer Red Trans Am is equipped with a black deluxe interior and has a number of desirable options including air-conditioning, power windows, tilt steering, 8-track player, and rear defogger which is no longer installed on the car. A long-lead press preview took place at the Milford Proving Grounds on June 28, 1972, and Gregg was selected to work it. To satisfy the EPA's emission test, the camshaft was changed to the specs of the manual-transmission Ram Air III, aka the 744. It is 1 of 1 in the SD registry with white and white standard interior with Turbo 400. [1] Designed as a pony car to compete with the Ford Mustang, it was introduced on February 23, 1967, five months after GM's Chevrolet division's platform-sharing Camaro. But the SD-455 is a whole new breed of car, not just an engine. The 1973 SD455 is one of my all time favorite Classic high performance cars with 7.5 liter V8 and full street legal that ran on 91 octane fuel . It is #'s matching with 22K original miles. I want to say , this car , in the first , is a street car , no semi race cars that came from GM , Chrysler , AMC and Ford in 60' . While a routine 3 engine landing was made at Reading, we are now left in need of a replacement engine. The engine added $521 to the bottom line for a Trans Am and $675 for a Formula. The SD-455 passes the same emission tests after a 4000-mile break-in as does every other production engine. Think of the Street Hemis, the L88s, the Boss 429s. With catalytic converters on the docket for 1975 and other related emissions changes, Pontiac knew from the very start the engine wouldn't live beyond 1974, but it was a hell of a ride while it lasted. "The rear wheel horsepower jumped when we installed the curve kit into the distributor and advanced the initial timing to 20 degrees BTDC (from 10)," says Gregg. Though effective, the hole was small enough that a piece of foreign material or sludge buildup could potentially plug the hole and prevent the lubrication, which could cause cam or distributor gear failure over time. ", Pontiac engineer Herb Adams headed a Special Projects group that included Skip McCully, Tom Nell, and Jeff Young. The 5.0-liter engine size was a requirement for Trans Am rules, so Pontiac developed a 303-cubic-inch . One-of-a-Kind Q-Jet Author Barry Kluczyk delivers more on the Super Duty Trans Am and Formula models in his new book from CarTech. You were able to quite well getting your legs under you in that 1970 Ram Air III car. Hairy Air Intake "I always talked with them," says Gregg. Engine Specs. I knew I had to have one someday.". It was the fastest car of 1973 despite the low 8.4 to 1 compression ratio. They knew I was a performance enthusiast too, so I was asked to join Herb's NASCAR race team. The Super Duty was an engine that for all intents and purposes, should never had seen the light of day, but on March 15, 1973, permission was given to release the engine into production cars. We Were Wrong on the 2024 Camarobut at Least We Weren't Idiots About It! After talking with them, we were not only confident we could lay some of the SD-455 mysteries to rest but we could also reveal and provide accurate insight on how the Super Duty evolved. All were hand assembled, with a reinforced block with casting provisions for a dry sump oiling system, a special cam shaft, forged pistons, big valves and header-like exhaust manifolds. "For whatever reason, my first order never got cancelled because I got an unexpected call from the dealer saying my car came in. Nikolas has them all in a box. The SD-455 was originally scheduled to be offered in several Pontiac models, including the Grand Prix and Le Mans/GTO. The 1973 T/A proved that when the engineers run the asylum, excellence and creativity can prevail. It somewhat high revving just like RA V because even it using 4.10 final, the car still can reach 140 mph. I've driven it on a couple of the Hot Rod Power Tours. Should long tube headers be added along with a taller gear ratio of 3.90 or 4.10, the 11's should be doable. There was no difference in net horsepower. Other parts were rumored to have been sold over the counter at some Pontiac dealers. Hicks headed a specially assembled group of UAW manufacturing workers who, in conjunction with the Special Projects Engineering team, cast the production Super Duty components as close to the original design as possible. ", Gregg began his work with Pontiac in 1969 as a student engineer while attending the General Motors Institute of Technology (GMI) in Flint, Michigan. It helped that the engineers were deep into the project when the market turned against high-performance cars, so it seemingly wouldn't take much to push the SD-455 over the line. The modification resulted in much greater valve life and greatly reduced coolant temperature, which cured engine overheating at 110 to 115 degrees F ambient air temperatures. Let your concentration wander over the truly fast cars of today, the 454 Corvettes, 911 Porsches, Panteras and Jaguar V-12sbut only briefly, because they are merely mid-14-second quarter-mile cars. The Super Duty (SD-455) was a street legal race prepped engine. And since additional advance at part throttle typically generates excessive hydrocarbons under light load, the vacuum advance unit was limited to provide enough advance to benefit, yet remain emissions compliant. The naysayers seemed to be everywhere. His Buccaneer Red '74 has been featured in HPP several times. (This graph shows the number of Pontiacs produced for each 1973 model) If you have a classic or collector vehicle you want to protect, contact us today about classic car insurance. They were supported by a handful of emissions engineers who predicted that certification of a performance engine to 1973 standards would be impossible. . Ilove only 1971 chevy LT1 350 the best and fastest in america in original and stock class. I drive it to work regularly and take it cruising on Woodward Avenue in the summer. "Herb was presenting the SD-455 to the press writers that day," he adds. While many Pontiac hobbyists are familiar with the Super Duty 455 and the information commonly found in factory sales and service literature, and in articles in publications such as High Performance Pontiac, rarely has any credible information about its development emerged. emerged for 1971. The SD-455 engine finally reached production in June 1973. Romano currently has four Super Duty Firebirds in his private collection. The engineering team was responsible for many programsone of which was the SD-455. Very expensive when new, SD-455 rods remain quite valuable and are suitable for high-performance use. Camaro underrated but Corvette no.. That's really disturbing. Like other Pontiac engines, the SD-455 block was stamped with a code that delineated its specific usage. This differed from the Series 62 Coupes and Convertibles which were five inches longer overall but with the same 129.5 inch wheelbase. (A forged crank would be stronger, but Pontiac bypassed the expense with special treatments for the casting. Block Work - Call for Pricing! The SD-455 was sent to Leader Automotive, where George DeLorean (brother of former Pontiac General Manager John DeLorean) prepped and machined the block. Block True/Square Deck (up to .020) Deck Heights over.020 Removed. ", 1974 Trans AM SD-455 UCC Truck Show 2023: Maximum Performance Under Big-Time Pressure. He then stated that ideally he would have preferred to have the compression ratio closer to 10.25:1, a camshaft with 041 valve timing, slightly richer carburetor jetting, and as much vacuum advance as the engine would tolerate at light load for maximum throttle response. The name Super Duty brings back memories of the famed lightweight Catalina drag cars of the early sixties. He also added 1.65:1-ratio rocker arms, pushrods, and other valvetrain pieces from the R/A-IV. 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV Tested: More, More, More! So few people will ever even see one in their lifetime let alone own or drive one. Pontiac could have faced severe consequences from the federal government and potential legal suits if anyone was injured in an accident had they been released to the public. Amazingly, achieved by using the same block outer dimensions and configuration. All Plymouth Savoy 2/4-Door Sedan (P-26-P-29) versions offered for the year 1956 with complete specs, performance and technical data in the catalogue of cars. 4,550. "He had a few different developmental Super-Duty Trans Ams on hand for performance testing, and I was assigned to run the dragstrip, which was setup on the north end of Black Lake. Pontiac 455 engine makes 608 hp and 593 ft lbs of torque on a 600 rpm . "The plan was to increase engine output, while maintaining durability by using equipment proven on the 600hp SD-455 mule developed in the Pontiac Engineering dyno lab. Those 2 got a 455 Hp net @ 7000 rpm when my father's friend dyno it in a tune shop. There are a few out there, finding a airworthy replacement may be difficult. I installed a set of custom-fabricated units and one of Herb's deep sump cast-aluminum oil pans on my Trans Am early on but eventually removed the headers because of ground clearance issues.". Non-A/C cars received a shorter 3.42 gearset. By the end of 1973 only 295 Super Duty-powered Firebird models had been built: 252 Trans Ams and 43 Formulas. Delete the mile time, it was accomplished on a prepped dragstrip with rollout. @ Super8 : you better type the 1973 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am sd455 3.08 Automatic . Gregg added a 4-inch-stroke, forged-steel crankshaft that was left over from the SD-421 days. Torque 415-lb.ft. Vehicles; Tracks; More . . of torque than the 1970 performance 400's. By the time Pontiac recertified the engine, with a revised camshaft and commensurate carburetor adjustments, the horsepower rating was revised down to 290. Hot Rod magazine got 0-60 mph in 7.3 seconds, and the quarter mile in 13.54 at 104.29 mph. Only after this was corrected and the SD-455 recertified was the engine finally released for production in approximately late April 1973. but for 1973 that used Wilder cam durations of 308 degrees intake and 320 degrees Exhaust , opting for a .470 - inch lift instead of .520 , that used in RAM AIR V and they said the power from 370 to 400 SAE Net hp . So what about the performance enthusiasts working for the Division who had no role in its development? Intake Manifolds As a final reserve, there were the antediluvian members of management . The joke within the caravan was that the SD-455 would require frequent stops for refueling, slowing progress. Its lifter valley received additional cross bracing, and the bulkheads received added material around the main saddles and oil-pan rails for improved rigidity. The A/C was heavy, never worked all that well in those cars and you were not able to order it with the 3.42 gear ratio which did nothing but sacrifice performance. After the engine's production delay, it was cheaper and faster for Pontiac to use the Trans Am hood and shaker scoop with the SD-455 than certifying it with the Formula air induction system. Though he attempted to stop the first order from processing, it seems it may have been too far along. I immediately replaced the Shaker's block-off plate with an open mesh screen.". Where standard-production D-port heads with 2.11-inch intake valves typically flow around 210 cfm at 0.550 inch lift, Super Duty heads flow around 240 cfm at the same lift point, or roughly 10 cfm more than an average R/A-IV or 455 H.O. HOT ROD Captures the World of Racing: 1968 in Photos. 1973 Pontiac 455, two-bolt mains (YC-code), .030-inch overbore (462 ci), balanced, blueprinted for compression ratio and rod clearance, cylinders honed. "Between the performance and the mystique surrounding the engine, there's really something magical about these cars," says Nikolas. Skip was working on a low- compression, high-performance 455 to compete with Buick's Stage 1. He made a significant number of changes to the suspension, along with a few to the body and interior to create a Trans Am that coincides with his original proposal. 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. Mustang, got big, heavy, and sluggish, with the 4-barrel 248-hp 351 engine as the top offering. Even the monster 425 hp (gross) 1971 LS6 454 engine was really only 325 hp net. It's the same with other Trans Am models of the era, too. automatic transmission. 9 Gone With The Wind via designcorral Yes, this is what happened to the Trans AM SD-455, a Pontiac creation with one of the shortest production runs in Pontiac's history. "As a graduation present to myself I ordered a Trans Am through Pontiac Engineering when the order bank opened. ( all AC's ) . What Makes This 1949 Buick Sacramentos Best Custom of 2023? It proves that once again, blindingly fast acceleration can be yours right off the assembly line. As for T/A's little sister, the Z28, the 245hp detuned Corvette 350 V8 was as good as it got, and also the 275 hp LS-4 Corvette . Main bearings 5. Cost was a likely factor, as the $521 premium for the Trans Am was the equivalent of more than a $3,700 option in today's money, adjusted for inflation. Turns out it was the original SD-455 test vehicle Pontiac loaned to automotive media. That includes comments from the Pontiac engineers directly involved with the program of how it was compromised for production. How it ever got past the preview audience in GM's board room is a mystery, but here it isthe car that couldn't happen. Pontiac engineers redesigned the intake port to maintain constant cross-sectional area, and the result was a noticeably wider and taller port just past the intake flange. Trap speeds come in around 115MPH at 5700RPM shift points. I recall a dyno test of a developmental SD-455 that had 12.5:1 compression, a modified Edelbrock intake manifold, a Holley four- barrel carburetor, an aggressive camshaft, and tubular headers. The 400- and 455ci block castings remain the most popular foundations for modern Pontiac builds, but the Division produced several variations during the 1960s and 1970s. UCC Truck Show 2023: Maximum Performance Under Big-Time Pressure. In addition to normal driving duty, the car was also part of a test fleet that traveled to the Desert Proving Grounds in Arizona for factory testing. Light Em Up: Drag Racing, the HOT ROD Power Tour Way. No question about it. Since all Pontiac engines must be considered a "big" block, the 455 is not new or unusual in the Firebird chassis. Pistons received a single-trough valve relief to boost compression and increase overall crown strength, while thicker piston skirts improved rigidity for high-rpm use. Only 1,286 of them were Trans Ams. For extra insurance, the engine is assembled with generous clearances. Unsurprisingly, the response was enthusiastic. The engine has been re-done to specifications primarily the way Pontiac engineers envisioned it before the EPA clamped down on them and they had to tone it down. A four-speed manual transmission was standard, and the stout Turbo 400 three-speed automatic was optional. Consequently, Firebird sales plunged more than 56 percent between 1971 and 1972, to less than 30,000. Like the Ram Air Super Duty, initial plans for the Super Duty 455 included a forged-steel crankshaft, but it was ultimately rejected because of excessive cost. Tube headers would have really made this engine breathe. When introduced in 1970, the shaker was a functional fresh-air inlet, but Pontiac capped it off in 1973 for noise reduction. "Ron had built some seriously fast street Pontiacs, and in my opinion was an ideal person to be part of the Super-Duty development. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links. He then used it to improve the performance of his own '74 Super-Duty Trans Am. Perhaps it was because Trans Am was now the only game in town. The round-port SD-455 cylinder heads were similar to those found on the R/A-IV and 455 H.O. ", Gregg was tracking his order and when he learned his Trans Am would be delivered in the middle of the winter, he immediately attempted to cancel the order. In 1973 and 1974, a special version of the 455, called the Super Duty 455 (SD-455), was offered. The result was smoothly contoured ports with shapes resembling those seen on professionally ported heads, with a noticeable increase in overall flow. That's cool! Overall, however, the SD-455 was much the way Pontiac envisioned it, and its performance speaks for itself. If this were an all-new engine, it would then have to complete a full 50,000-mile certification program. Still, it was the strongest American engine offered that year. The only other modification has been the addition of a 2400 RPM stall speed. . Perhaps anticipating owners' actions, the scoop was sealed with a simple plate held in place with only a trio of easily defeated rivets. Between Pontiac's ambitions and the hardware that tied it all together, there's plenty to learn about the SD-455. Chicago Show Car It is only that kinship to a volume engine that makes it a reality. ", Gregg was friends with many of the engineers and technicians who worked on the SD-455 program, so there was no shortage of helpful input and information available to him. After hearing more about its development and production from a few of the engineers who were there, hopefully the Super Duty 455 saga will continue for years to come. The event was easily on a par with Don Garlits' recent five-second runs in a fuel-burning dragster. I am the proud owner of a 74 SD 455TA. The net is over than 450 Hp @ over than 5000 rpm. A 51,000-mile car he purchased in 2004, it was sold originally in Texas and filtered through a few owners, including a well-known collector in the SD-455 world who owned 19 of them at one time, before ending up in a quiet area of western Michigan. Car and Driver tested one and got a quarter mile of 13.75 at 103.56 mph. His friend, Ed Blackerby worked in the Engineering lab and carefully assembled a centrifugal spring and weight kit that precisely tracked the unique curve Pontiac found worked best with the SD-455. This engine is different from the 455HO found in the 1971 and 1972 GTO. His company happened to be General Motors and the neighbor happened to be Pontiac general manager Martin J. Caserio. Other Pontiac engines' carbs had completely vertical tubes. Pontiac shut it down however it has been said that around 200 Ram Air V engines were sold from the dealers as crate engines. It was topped by a single-plane Holley Street Dominator intake manifold and 750-cfm four-barrel. One, I didn't have the money and two, I would have destroyed it as a 16 year old kid. They understand . Herb wanted to take Pontiac to the highest levels of performance on the street and race track and was looking to create an engine to achieve it. HOT ROD Captures the World of Racing: 1968 in Photos. The 455 cu in (7.5 L) engine made its first appearance in the Firebird in 1971 as the 455-HO, which continued through the 1972 model year. @ Wiking : You are always according to the car and driver All right
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