When did the Pontiac Firebird SD-455 come out?
Available as an option on both Trans Ams and Firebird Formulas for the latter half of 1973 and again for 1974, the SD-455 almost didn’t see the light of day as a management change at Pontiac ushered in new bosses who saw little worth in what was then the fading performance-car business.
What kind of engine did the Pontiac Firebird have?
The SD-455 engine was an exciting addition to the Firebird engine lineup in 1973, and it was a shame that it would only be around for two years. At a time when most pony cars were seeing their maximum available power decreasing, the Firebird increased power with the new engine.
Why was the Firebird 455 called Super Duty?
Though the SD-455 looked very similar to the other big block Firebird variants on offer at the time, the lump under the hood was an entirely different animal. The result was the Super Duty 455 V8, a name which was a nod to the company’s successful early 1960s efforts in NASCAR and the NHRA.
How many Firebird Trans Ams were made in 1974?
That same year 252 Trans Ams would be outfitted with SD-455 package, and 72 of those also got the manual gearbox. For 1974, the second and final year of production for the SD-455, a total of 58 Firebird Formula SD-455s and 943 Trans Am SD-455 cars were built, with 212 of the latter receiving the Muncie 4-speed gearbox.
When did the Firebird Super Duty 455 come out?
Image: Hemmings Between 1973 and 1974, Pontiac would produce just 1296 examples of the Firebird equipped with the Super Duty 455 at an additional cost of $500, with 101 of those being outfitted in Firebird Formula models and the rest installed in Trans Ams.
Is there a 1974 Firebird Formula SD-455?
Figures for how many manual transmission-equipped 1974 Firebird Formula SD-455 models were built are not available, but suffice to say that the figure is likely quite low. The SD-455 looks almost identical to the standard Pontiac 455 externally, but most of the similarities end there. Image: Hemmings
What was the horsepower of a 1974 Pontiac Firebird?
The 1974 model year production literature listed the specifications of the production engine (290 SAE net horsepower). In 1973 and 1974, a special version of the 455, called the Super Duty 455 (SD-455), was offered.
Is the Pontiac Firebird SD-455 a muscle car?
Considering its status as legitimate contender during a particularly dismal time for high performance and the relatively low amount of Firebirds that were built with the SD-455, it comes as little surprise that many standard Firebirds of the era were subsequently retrofitted to resemble the more desirable SD-455 cars.
When did the Chevy 455 V8 come out?
1973: 455 Stage 1 V8 270 bhp@4400rpm, 390 lb-ft@3000rpm (net). In 1961, Chevrolet introduced its 409 cubic inch V8, the engine that would launch the Big Three auto manufacturers into the horsepower race that would last well into the 1970s.
What kind of engine did the Pontiac 421 SD have?
Pontiac offered this to the public as a streetable version of the 421 SD. The engine came with 543797 (4-barrel) and 9770716 heads for the tripower and special exhaust manifolds and a 7H cam with 292deg. intake duration and later 1964 L with 288deg intake essentially the same as the 068 cam.
What kind of emissions test does a SD 455 pass?
And it’s certified by Uncle Sam to be free from any bad manners. The SD-455 passes the same emission tests after a 4000-mile break-in as does every other production engine. If this were an all-new engine, it would then have to complete a full 50,000-mile certification program.
Is the Firebird SD part of the 455 engine family?
However, since the Federal government recognizes the SD-455 as part of the 455 engine family, the SD version doesn’t have to run the durability tests, but can use a deterioration factor defined by a standard 455 four-barrel engine. It is only that kinship to a volume engine that makes it a reality.
Pontiac offered this to the public as a streetable version of the 421 SD. The engine came with 543797 (4-barrel) and 9770716 heads for the tripower and special exhaust manifolds and a 7H cam with 292deg. intake duration and later 1964 L with 288deg intake essentially the same as the 068 cam.