1973 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455-SD - Page 4

Paul Ceasrine · 08-13-2013, 04:46 PM

Rich,

The 1973 Trans Am cars had the 'gaudy' Front Spoiler, and Front and Rear front-flared Wheel Wells, besides that 'funky' Bird hood decal.

The Formula 455 and Formula SD-455 cars had the cleaner looking front valance {fiberglass} with a small air-dam spoiler, all as one-piece.

As seen in the photo {Post #28}.

On all the EGR and Smog connections,,,,,,,,,, my father pulled all that stuff off, and disconnected the Air Conditioning Pump, and
removed it., replaced the Cast-Iron Intake with an Edelbrock Spead-Bore Intake, and played around with the 800 CFM Rochester carburetor..

Once the SD-455 Engine got warm, it was like somebody filled the gas tank with 'Jet Fuel'..........

Dwight Southerland · 08-13-2013, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich Biebel

In '79 I believe it was a manual trans TA came with a 403 Olds motor and a Turbo 400 came with a Pontiac 400.......

The 403 Olds was used 1977-1979 in the Firebird and was available with automatic only. In 77 & 78 there was a 400 Pontiac engine available rated at 180 hp. In 78 & 79 a 400 "HO" Pontiac engine was available rated at 220 hp and available with a 4-speed only.

Rich Biebel · 08-13-2013, 07:19 PM

Well I was close on the trans and engine combos....

To be honest those cars were really not good...

Many had T-Tops and they usually leaked.....The doors were huge and the cars had squeaks and rattles and were constantly brought in for these issues....

The T/A's were about the only muscle car left by then and fun to drive....

I liked the shaker hood and the big decal on there....

Paul Ceasrine · 08-13-2013, 07:22 PM

A Formula SD-455 with the 'rare' Option {Code #D98} ''Stripe Kit'

Which I believe was supplied by the ''Factory' and installed by 'Dealer'.

Jeff Lee · 08-14-2013, 01:17 AM

I've owned a blue '77 T/A that was a 403 Auto, a '78 black & gold 403 auto.
And I had a '79 white T/A that was a 400 4-speed with a worn out engine. The '79 400, with a worn out, smokey engine and probably a broken valve spring or two, was a faster car than either of those 403 / 180 HP POS's.

And a buddy had a '75 or '76 T/A 455 4-speed with A/C that was all stock. He bought it because it was the big engine and a 4-speed. Man, was that thing a pig! He didn't want to deal with making it fast so he didn't own it long.

Another buddy of mine worked at Mechum Pontiac in Glendale, AZ and he was in the paint shop and applied all the Macho T/A graphics. On slow days he put the headers on. By the time Mechum was done, you had a solid, low 14 second '77-'78 T/A (pontiac engine of course). I remember a a brown one (maybe an '80?) in the show-room that had full IMSA flares and a 350 SBC with a turbo (twin turbo?).

I guess because I graduated H.S in '78 and saw Smokey & the Bandit at the local drive-in, I'll always like those 3rd gen T/A's. I'd love to have any of the '70-'73 models. 4-speed mandatory of course! SD-455's will probably always be out of my budget.

Dwight Southerland · 08-14-2013, 06:35 AM

I have a very good friend who is a Pontiac addict. He owns several '70-'77 Firebirds, one of which is a '74 Formula SD 4-speed that he restored. It was a low-mile car with all the original parts to begin with so the restoration was easy. Right after he bought it, we tooled around in it one evening and I was pleasantly surprised how much power that car had. The PO had installed headers and had some distributor-carburetor tweaking done, but it was basically stock. It helped me understand the mystique of the SD. The car is dark blue with factory leather interior (I didn't know they made such in 1974!) but without the 455-SD stickers on the hood, no indication what it is.

My favorite car he owns is a '71 455 HO that he smoked over with a lot of suspension mods and a motor that did 584 hp on the dyno. Lots of fun and will make you think you are a Trans-Am racer on open roads. He also owns the most optioned '69 GTO ever documented.

Paul Ceasrine · 08-14-2013, 08:11 AM

The 1973 SD-455 engines had the 'monster' cast-iron header-type
exhaust manifolds.

Big 1.625" Round-Port ]primary' openings and 2.50" collector outlet.

And nice-flowing 2.50" Exhaust Pipes

They really didn't need Headers for Street-Use.

Paul Ceasrine · 09-12-2013, 11:28 PM

Jake,

The 1973 Firebird 'Formula 455' was available in both the 455 and 'Ram Air' version.

jmracing · 01-12-2020, 04:19 PM

My name is Jacques Marier from JMRACING from Montreal
July 16 / 2016 at Napierville Dragway at the NHRA National Open with my 1974 trans am SD455 * PURE STOCK * IHRA car legal at 3838 lbs
11.87 / 113mph qualify 1st (In Canada NHRA accept IHRA race car ) ( 2 time IHRA national record holder in D/PS 2003-2005)

jmracing · 01-12-2020, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Ceasrine

Thanks Again,,,,,,,,, Mr. Run to Rund

Herlsow & Merlock from Scotch Plains, New Jersey

1973 Pontiac Firebrd Trans Am SD-455 {455/310 HP} re-factored to 345 HP.

1975 = E/SA

National Record set at ATCO {September 1975}

11.89 @ 112.50 MPH

My name is Jacques Marier from JMRACING from Montreal
July 16 at Napierville Dragway at the NHRA National Open with my 1974 trans am SD455 PURE STOCK IHRA car legal at 3838 lbs
11.87 / 113mph qualify 1st (In Canada NHRA accept IHRA race car ) ( 2 time IHRA national record holder in D/PS 2003-2005)

08-13-2013, 04:46 PM	#31
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: 1973 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455-SD Rich, The 1973 Trans Am cars had the 'gaudy' Front Spoiler, and Front and Rear front-flared Wheel Wells, besides that 'funky' Bird hood decal. The Formula 455 and Formula SD-455 cars had the cleaner looking front valance {fiberglass} with a small air-dam spoiler, all as one-piece. As seen in the photo {Post #28}. On all the EGR and Smog connections,,,,,,,,,, my father pulled all that stuff off, and disconnected the Air Conditioning Pump, and removed it., replaced the Cast-Iron Intake with an Edelbrock Spead-Bore Intake, and played around with the 800 CFM Rochester carburetor.. Once the SD-455 Engine got warm, it was like somebody filled the gas tank with 'Jet Fuel'.......... Last edited by Paul Ceasrine; 08-13-2013 at 05:14 PM.

08-13-2013, 07:19 PM	#33
Rich Biebel VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern New Jersey suburbs Posts: 2,275 Likes: 25 Liked 510 Times in 200 Posts	Re: 1973 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455-SD Well I was close on the trans and engine combos.... To be honest those cars were really not good... Many had T-Tops and they usually leaked.....The doors were huge and the cars had squeaks and rattles and were constantly brought in for these issues.... The T/A's were about the only muscle car left by then and fun to drive.... I liked the shaker hood and the big decal on there.... __________________ Rich Biebel S/C 1479

08-13-2013, 07:22 PM	#34
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: 1973 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455-SD A Formula SD-455 with the 'rare' Option {Code #D98} ''Stripe Kit' Which I believe was supplied by the ''Factory' and installed by 'Dealer'. Last edited by Paul Ceasrine; 08-13-2013 at 07:29 PM.

08-14-2013, 01:17 AM	#35
Jeff Lee VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Anthem, Arizona Posts: 2,766 Likes: 0 Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: 1973 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455-SD I've owned a blue '77 T/A that was a 403 Auto, a '78 black & gold 403 auto. And I had a '79 white T/A that was a 400 4-speed with a worn out engine. The '79 400, with a worn out, smokey engine and probably a broken valve spring or two, was a faster car than either of those 403 / 180 HP POS's. And a buddy had a '75 or '76 T/A 455 4-speed with A/C that was all stock. He bought it because it was the big engine and a 4-speed. Man, was that thing a pig! He didn't want to deal with making it fast so he didn't own it long. Another buddy of mine worked at Mechum Pontiac in Glendale, AZ and he was in the paint shop and applied all the Macho T/A graphics. On slow days he put the headers on. By the time Mechum was done, you had a solid, low 14 second '77-'78 T/A (pontiac engine of course). I remember a a brown one (maybe an '80?) in the show-room that had full IMSA flares and a 350 SBC with a turbo (twin turbo?). I guess because I graduated H.S in '78 and saw Smokey & the Bandit at the local drive-in, I'll always like those 3rd gen T/A's. I'd love to have any of the '70-'73 models. 4-speed mandatory of course! SD-455's will probably always be out of my budget. __________________ Jeff Lee 7494 D/S '70 AMX

08-14-2013, 06:35 AM	#36
Dwight Southerland VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Arkansas - In the middle of everything. Posts: 1,980 Likes: 52 Liked 724 Times in 177 Posts	Re: 1973 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455-SD I have a very good friend who is a Pontiac addict. He owns several '70-'77 Firebirds, one of which is a '74 Formula SD 4-speed that he restored. It was a low-mile car with all the original parts to begin with so the restoration was easy. Right after he bought it, we tooled around in it one evening and I was pleasantly surprised how much power that car had. The PO had installed headers and had some distributor-carburetor tweaking done, but it was basically stock. It helped me understand the mystique of the SD. The car is dark blue with factory leather interior (I didn't know they made such in 1974!) but without the 455-SD stickers on the hood, no indication what it is. My favorite car he owns is a '71 455 HO that he smoked over with a lot of suspension mods and a motor that did 584 hp on the dyno. Lots of fun and will make you think you are a Trans-Am racer on open roads. He also owns the most optioned '69 GTO ever documented.

08-14-2013, 08:11 AM	#37
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: 1973 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455-SD The 1973 SD-455 engines had the 'monster' cast-iron header-type exhaust manifolds. Big 1.625" Round-Port ]primary' openings and 2.50" collector outlet. And nice-flowing 2.50" Exhaust Pipes They really didn't need Headers for Street-Use. Last edited by Paul Ceasrine; 08-14-2013 at 09:36 AM.

09-12-2013, 11:28 PM	#38
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: 1973 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455-SD Jake, The 1973 Firebird 'Formula 455' was available in both the 455 and 'Ram Air' version.

01-12-2020, 04:19 PM	#39
jmracing Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: REPENTIGNY, QC. CANADA J6A8G5 514-642-0603 Posts: 39 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: 1973 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455-SD My name is Jacques Marier from JMRACING from Montreal July 16 / 2016 at Napierville Dragway at the NHRA National Open with my 1974 trans am SD455 * PURE STOCK * IHRA car legal at 3838 lbs 11.87 / 113mph qualify 1st (In Canada NHRA accept IHRA race car ) ( 2 time IHRA national record holder in D/PS 2003-2005) Last edited by jmracing; 01-12-2020 at 04:45 PM.