pontiac, superduty
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The Superduty (SD) engine was only available in the years of 1973 and 74. Here's the short history on it:
"The first was the introduction of a new Super Duty 455 V8 (SD-455). "Super Duty" was the name Pontiac used on its high performance (i.e. race ready) engines in the early 1960's, and the Super Duty 455 was a street legal race prepped engine. All SD-455's were hand assembled, and had a reinforced block, special cam shaft, aluminum pistons, oversize valves and header-like exhaust manifolds. Pontiac rated the SD-455 engines at a stout 310 bhp and 390 lb-ft, but experts agreed that it was closer to 370 bhp. This level of engine ratings were unheard of in an era when other manufacturer's engines' output were falling dramatically, and the Firebird became the only true performance car remaining in the market. Unfortunately, Super Duty engines were expensive and therefore rare; only 252 Trans Am's and 43 Formula 455's received the SD-455 engine."
"The first was the introduction of a new Super Duty 455 V8 (SD-455). "Super Duty" was the name Pontiac used on its high performance (i.e. race ready) engines in the early 1960's, and the Super Duty 455 was a street legal race prepped engine. All SD-455's were hand assembled, and had a reinforced block, special cam shaft, aluminum pistons, oversize valves and header-like exhaust manifolds. Pontiac rated the SD-455 engines at a stout 310 bhp and 390 lb-ft, but experts agreed that it was closer to 370 bhp. This level of engine ratings were unheard of in an era when other manufacturer's engines' output were falling dramatically, and the Firebird became the only true performance car remaining in the market. Unfortunately, Super Duty engines were expensive and therefore rare; only 252 Trans Am's and 43 Formula 455's received the SD-455 engine."
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Tex 66, the production figures you quoted, 262 TA's and 43 Forumla's were for 73 only. There were a few more produced in 74, I don't have the exact number at hand, but the hp was down to 290 (rated) and the 73 is the more rare bird. No pun intended.
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Tex66 has the scoop on them for sure.
Herb Adams said that they had originally wanted to have enough parts on hand to produce 1000 SD-455 engines by the time the long-lead press preview happend for the '73 models, but due to pilferage at the plants they only had enough parts for 600 engines - they had lost 400 sets of parts to theft within the plant! There are probably more sets of parts around (or at least 'were') than were SD-455s released into production due to that. That may also be responsible in part for the SD-455 not materializing in the '73 GTO & Grands Am as originally planned.
I think that another 943 SD-455 trans Ams were made in '74 plus about 30 or so Formula 455 'birds. Those Formula 455 'birds had a shaker scoop like the Trans Am instead of the usual twin hood scoops when the SD-455 was under the hood.
It was certainly the best 455 Pontiac there ever was. That is especially surprising considering that it came out in the smog era and OPEC did it's part as well.
Herb Adams said that they had originally wanted to have enough parts on hand to produce 1000 SD-455 engines by the time the long-lead press preview happend for the '73 models, but due to pilferage at the plants they only had enough parts for 600 engines - they had lost 400 sets of parts to theft within the plant! There are probably more sets of parts around (or at least 'were') than were SD-455s released into production due to that. That may also be responsible in part for the SD-455 not materializing in the '73 GTO & Grands Am as originally planned.
I think that another 943 SD-455 trans Ams were made in '74 plus about 30 or so Formula 455 'birds. Those Formula 455 'birds had a shaker scoop like the Trans Am instead of the usual twin hood scoops when the SD-455 was under the hood.
It was certainly the best 455 Pontiac there ever was. That is especially surprising considering that it came out in the smog era and OPEC did it's part as well.
I happened to be one of the very few owners of one of the genuine 1973 Super Duty 455 Trans Am's! I special ordered it from Pontiac-but, it took a long time to get it-because, although I had placed my order, I was on a long waiting list-and, Pontiac kept telling me that although they surely wanted me to be able to obtain my ordered 455 SD TA, they couldn't offer me any guarantees! However, I kept writing letters to the Pontiac Motor Division-constantly informing(Pushing!)them that it was just a "Life or death" situation(In my case!)to be one of the "Lucky" owner's of this very "Rare" Bird! It was truly a long wait-but, one morning, that very important letter finally arrived-and, I was informed that my new(White)SD455 SD TA was heading down the production line-and I would definately be receiving this car! I had never been so excited about receiving any car as much as I had been for this one! Unfortunately, I sold this car(To my regret!)! Many times, I wished that I could get it back! Then, 30 years later, I saw an ad in the San Francisco bay area newspaper, for a white, 1973 TA! I went to see the car-and, bingo-there it was(My original car!)! The only problem was that the seller wanted $20,000 for it-but, although it still looked reasonably good, it needed to be somewhat restored! And, I was then, on disabilty and, I couldn't afford to buy back my original SD455(Pooh!)! Well, the seller was impressed to know that I had been the first owner of this SD455 TA-and, I still had all of the letters and literature that I had received from Pontiac regarding this car! The owner enjoyed my visit with him and he allowed me to take my old SD455 out for a test drive! It brought back some very fond memories for me! I was very sad to lose this car once again! However, the new buyer of this SD455, contacted me later about my SD455 and we communicated for quite some time-as he wanted to restore this SD455 to pristine new condition and he asked me if he could consult with me about the various original details about this car! Of course, I said yes! In any event, I no longer have contact with this new owner of my SD455 TA! All I have left, is my memories of this car and.........well, it was really a neat Trans Am for sure!
In those days, every weekend, all of the local hot car "Buff's" used to like to meet out in the country, on a marked off quarter mile to drag race their new musclecars-which consisted of 440 and 426 hemi Dodges and Plymouth's, 396 Chevelles, 442 Oldsmobiles, Buick Gran Sport's(455 stage 1's!)Pontiac Ram Air III & IV GTO's, 428Cobra Jet Mustangs and Fairlaines etc.! Well, need I say more? I had great fun dusting all of these cars off in the quarter mile! All of these owner's jaws just dropped to see what looked(To them!)as just a stock blue 455 engine under the hood of my TA(With low compression, to boot!)and they just couldn't believe how easily they got sucked up by this "Mystery" 455SD TA! After all, it was 1973-74 and most "So-called" supercars were just dogs-and, nobody was expecting a plain-Jane Trans-Am to just explode going down the quarter(In full stock trim!)! It was just Wow!(And then, Wow some more!)! Yes, those were the good old days!
In those days, every weekend, all of the local hot car "Buff's" used to like to meet out in the country, on a marked off quarter mile to drag race their new musclecars-which consisted of 440 and 426 hemi Dodges and Plymouth's, 396 Chevelles, 442 Oldsmobiles, Buick Gran Sport's(455 stage 1's!)Pontiac Ram Air III & IV GTO's, 428Cobra Jet Mustangs and Fairlaines etc.! Well, need I say more? I had great fun dusting all of these cars off in the quarter mile! All of these owner's jaws just dropped to see what looked(To them!)as just a stock blue 455 engine under the hood of my TA(With low compression, to boot!)and they just couldn't believe how easily they got sucked up by this "Mystery" 455SD TA! After all, it was 1973-74 and most "So-called" supercars were just dogs-and, nobody was expecting a plain-Jane Trans-Am to just explode going down the quarter(In full stock trim!)! It was just Wow!(And then, Wow some more!)! Yes, those were the good old days!
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