Pontiac Transam 1973 SD 455 Test Car

28/11/2022

The 490132 SD 455 Block does not have the 132 cast into the side of the block but rather 212 on both sides.

28/11/2022

The tops of the cylinder heads had an opening in the Inner Exhaust Chamber that has been plugged internally which can be seen in the old press release cards of the SD 455 that are shown below also. There is nothing to suggest AIR system was ever tested on the Super Duty's but looks they had had provisions to do so in if needed.

The word INSERT also stamped for a modification to the cooling system that Louie Clements modified as they were burning out valves during testing at the GM Proving Grounds at Arizona. I believe it helped divert coolant.

28/11/2022

A PRE PRODUCTION SD 455 Part Number 490471. You can clearly see other numbers ground off and this one sits at the rear of the intake. Also it does not sport the LS2 or LS2X casting. The Date Code H 9 1 AUGUST 9th day of 1971.

19/11/2022

A very special pre production SD 455 is headed my way.

This vehicle ran all the same equipment in pre production that My vehicle was using.

Pontiac production records for the 1973 model year reveal that one A-car was assembled with the Super Duty 455. Its disposition and/or whereabouts have remained unknown for 50 years. Its engine had been saved from being salvaged by a former GM engineer in the mid-1980s and its significance was recen

12/11/2022

A very special Cam is headed my way. I can't wait to see what else is in the box.

Thanks to Rocky Rotella for looking over it for me.

https://www.pontiacv8.com/blog/2022/12/5/the-illusive-super-duty-455-308320-k-camshaft

03/02/2017

I haven't seen these Pictures before. Wonder who was driving.

25/04/2016

Pontiac were fined for using this Timed Emmission Delay Switch and had to Revise the Emmission System prior to Any Production Super Duty cars being released.

25/04/2016

Intake Ports that show the Push Rod Tubes that are exposed.

19/01/2016

My Car as it was Featured in Car and Driver of May 1973.

C/D Archives: Our original test of the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SD-455. Full test at Car and Driver.

19/03/2015

Make sure you click on the picture and VOTE.

1970 Plymouth Superbird or '73 Pontiac Trans Am 455 Super Duty??

Vote now! Muscle Car Match-Ups, Round 1.

23/02/2015

Arrived today.
NOS Service Replacement Distributor Part no. 1112218 with the early style 463 vacuum advance so I can get the early style emmissions routing correct to my car which was used in pre production testing.

25/01/2015

SR Super Duty 455 has now arrived. Great to finally have this project headed in the right direction.