The Pontiac Super Duty 455 Story

[@rebeccakenworthy4623]

I've been a qualified mechanic for 21 years, I really enjoyed this vid! Being an Australian, they were never sold here- but have always been a favourite of mine! Thank you for making and uploading this for the younger generation to learn from

[@enerrivers4392]

73/74 was my dream muscle cars. In 74 I got my junior license. Since I kept my grades, dad promised me a car. He had a 73 Buick Riviera STAGE 1. Many so called friends/neighbors informed my dad how I would race & drive his car & didn't like it. So, in 74,he got me a 70 Buick GS STAGE 1,4spd. I loved except the gold color,black vinyl top and interior. In my hood, I was kill of the hill. NEVER RACED A HEMI,didn't wanna lose my crown. In 74,many muscle cars were already being restrained by anti pollution devices. Ran to an SD @ mainstreet, my pals were telling me to go for it. Upon my invite, the driver of the Formula 455 SD, informed me, that it was NOT BROKEN IN. What a sigh of relief. But, that STAGE 1 was fun while I got my new 76 Buick Electra 225 Landau coupe. Power everything. But the 455 was no where near in power from my STAGE 1. Those 455 SD were the final big blocks with cojones. No turbocharged nor Supercharged, straight out displacement. Very informative video, thanks.

[@trucking604]

The only American car company that made a true muscle car engine in 1973-74! Pontiac always dared to be different!

[@stevejohnson1397]

After 1970 all the Pontiac became boat anchors because the combustion Chambers in the cylinder heads or increase from 64 CC to 110 cc lowering the compression ratio from 10 to 1 to 8to1the super duty 455 I had a little bit higher compression ratio of 8.4 an a different crankshaft nothing special just a boat anchor

[@quincee3376]

@@stevejohnson1397 lol...hell no. 73's move . Not a boat anchor at all. 74 were meh and 75 and newer were a total joke but the 73 moves. My buddy has one.

[@jeremythompson9122]

@@stevejohnson1397 Lol a 455 Super Duty engine is anything but a boat anchor. It's basically a full race engine de-tuned to run on the street. A regular low compression 455 is a boat anchor. The 455SD had practically nothing in common with a regular 455 other than the displacement. 13.5 seconds in the 1/4 mile isn't what id call a boat anchor. Not even close

[@harryguy76]

@@jeremythompson9122 All those engines...even the Hemi is a boat anchor compared to todays engines...with near half the weight...double the fuel efficiency and way more reliable... Muscle cars are not dead...they are the best they have ever been...especially when one throws a modern light weight efficient engine into an old classic...like an aluminum 5.3 stroked to 427 cid weighing 400 lbs dressed making 500hp and tq easy on pump gas with hyd cam...in something like a 67 Mustang fast back...which is just wrong and only an example lol... I kick myself in the ass for trading my 78 Pontiac Sunbird Formula coupe for a truck...it had a 350 boat anchor err truck motor in it with 4 barrel ,headers and dual exhaust...nothing special and went pretty fast for what it was...faster and handled better then any old Firebird of the same vintage...but it would have been crazy with an aluminum 5.3 swapped into it...not just for the stock 350 hp...but more so for the 200 lbs weight savings off the front end of the car would have been a huge improvement in speed, braking and handling... I cringe every time I think about getting rid of it...the thing was mint....nowadays you never see them any more....most people never heard of them and think of a front wheel drive 4 banger POS...not a mini Firebird.....damn it.

[@keithnoneya]

Loved every bit of the video. Thanks for the great history and education. Had a 74 400 4spd Super T-10 TA from the late 80's to around 97. I had a lot of fun in that TA, I got it to run 13.78 at 101 in the quarter in street trim. It had 3 tube headman headers, ported and polished stock intake and heads, a RAIII cam, Holley 600 CFM Vacuum Secondary in it running out 2-1/4" exhaust and 3:23 rear gears. Drove it to the track from Oak Harbor Washington to Seattle Raceway and drove it home. Got 13.5 MPG out of it too with a Holley 600cfm vacuum secondary carb, as long as I kept my foot out of it, LOL I also ran cast rods that I mirror polished the side beams and had them manafluxed to ensure they weren't cracked. I kept them under 6 grand to help insure they did't let go, and I ran them from the time I got them. I originally purchased the car in Tacoma Washington with a froze up engine from rain, same color as yours. Thanks for sharing your video with us. Best Wishes n Blessings. Keith Noneya

[@scottbaker1800]

Had lots of fun with my 66 GTO hiding a 73 SD 455.... 18 mpg till I opened up the the front and back carbs

[@trucking604]

Pontiac invented the muscle car, and ended the muscle car.

[@MasterChief-sl9ro]

Nobody ended shit.. The EPA to my generation was if it takes away HP. It fucking gets tossed! As you always had a friend at the inspection station. As I almost got caught. Just as I was still on the rack. The fucking trooper shows up to collect his books. I had to idle out of the shop before he could hear that exhaust and lopping cam! As that salvage yard was your friend and it was full of Muscle car engines! Man those were the days....

[@jeremythompson9122]

The EPA ended muscle cars...not Pontiac. Chrysler built the first ever muscle car...the 55 Chrysler 300. And Dodge, Plymouth, and Desoto started building their own high performance models in 1956...the Dodge D-500, Plymouth Fury, and DeSoto Adventurer. Mopar invented muscle cars...not Pontiac. Even Jim Wangers himself wrote that in his memoirs. But Pontiac did build the car that started the full blown muscle car craze...the 64 GTO. And Pontiac did build the last true muscle car as well...the 74 Trans Am/Formula Firebird 455SD. I'm a Mopar guy but Pontiac has always been my favorite GM division and my favorite high performance car manufacturer other than Dodge and Plymouth

[@joshbrekke6374]

Actually ford built the first muscle car for the masses with the flat head V8 1932 coupe. But Duesenberg should get the credit, also for antilock brakes back in 1929

[@trucking604]

The EPA did end the Muscle Car era. In 1972 the automobile manufacturer's had to drop the compression to run on low lead and no lead gasoline then in 1973 they started with EGR and the other pollution goodies, so ending the muscle car era. Pontiac was the only American car company to build a true muscle car engine in 1973 and 1974 and yet still meet the emission standards of the day with the 455 SD. Not an easy feat.

[@chrisholcombe137]

GM started and pushed for mandatory unleaded fuel Feb. 1970 and wasn't completed till 1974 ! Thanks GM had bad ass 427 rats on premium fuel in 1969 then pushed for little trap doors on your fuel tank for a unleaded future ?

[@barclaybenjamin6322]

Owned a 74' with turbo-hydramatic 400 trans for about two years before I got married. Both the wife and the car are gone now. The car was much faster than she was. Really miss that!!!

[@chrisnizer1885]

I had no idea they (PMD) put all that effort & expense into those engines. I always loved the '73-'74 455 SD's. Especially since they appeared at a time when high performance from the factory was dead and stinking. Good grief, no wonder those cars ran like a scalded dog! Great video. Thanks for posting and Semper Fi!

[@bluesman7475]

I bought a 74 ta , sd-455 new. I really woke up with a set of hooker headers and thrush mufflers. Then ditched the 3.08 ring and pinion and went to 3.72's with a B+M Holeshot converter and kit, ran 12.20's all day long. Kept it until 2000 and was talked out of it. Wish I kept it.

[@timarnott4483]

I wonder if ur still taking comments, ur vid is older, but i have just found it today, so i want to comment......I am a Poncho NUT!!......i was brought up in NJ, and my brother was a good friend of THE MAN NUNZI!!!.....so my stuff works fairly well.......i liked your history, and pics....the lifter valley diffrence speaks for itself!!...WOW!!.....yet we can make GREAT reliable power from our regular 455's....mine was cast Feb 23rd 1970....Still a '70 block...(June started a '71 designation)...i use Kauffman Racing heads, a custom grnd cam, in a '64 Tempest Post car.....i run 11:0's at 120.....pump gas......NON SD block, etc.......so we can make GOOD power.....(car weighs 3450 with me in it)......my math says i'm at 580 hp, and other math says i'm at 615 lb ft of torque.....not to shabby eh?.....REALLY dug the vid...PONCHO POWER!!

[@kingkrimson8771]

The SD-455 also found its way into a small number of Formula Firebirds. Those are the ones to have if you're looking for ultimate rarity.

[@clevlandblock]

Dirty little secret. Unlike the TA, posi wasn't standard on the Formulas. There are some SD Formulas with open rear ends.

[@74SD455TA]

In fact probably most of them didn't have a posi.....PLUS, you might even see a 2.56 axles and not even a 2.76. You had to be real careful when spec'ing out an SD Formula. An that wasn't good enough either, the salesman had no info either!! One of the best ones is that on both the TransAm and the formula, if you ordered an automatic and did not order a center counsole, you ended up with a column shift car!, @@clevlandblock

[@sergiojacquez2277]

Yessir! Formulas with the SD-455 and a 4sp are more rare than the T/A….

[@richardbowers5233]

I still have the 74 SD that I bought new 4 speed and numbers perfect red with white interior but it came with pad mags instead of the honeycomb wheels that I ordered. Glad to here of another one owner car.

[@hksigman]

The music is too loud!!

[@johndunn678]

Funky town needs to be turned down most definitely

[@bobwilson758]

Un watchable - Shit

[@mohamedgamaleldien4216]

70's disco and 6×4 meters cars what a beautiful era!!!

[@bobburchett8517]

My Brother in Kentucky just passed away 3 days ago. He was 70 years old and in poor health. I live in El Paso, Tx and I went to Kentucky 2 years ago because my Brother gave me a 1970 Pontiac Firebird with a 350 cu. in. High Performance Engine. He called me about a month before he passed away and said he had a 455 cu. in. Engine and a 4 speed Top Loader Transmission that he was giving me to go in the Firebird. I can't wait to go to Kentucky in a couple of weeks to pick up my new toys. God bless my dear departed Brother. Oh if you only knew some of the stories that my Brother and I have from our younger days.

[@sergiojacquez2277]

Sorry for your loss. R.I.P. 🙏 Enjoy the Bird.... By the way, I have lots of family in El Paso. Around Loma Land area...

[@robertbairt9094]

Could be a 350HO/320hp in 68✌️

[@clevlandblock]

This video popped up again, and after reviewing all the viewer contributions I was left with a lingering question. If the SD-455 heads were so choked off compared to the hemi and BB square port Chevy, how come the SD cars ran so well relative to them? I have a considerable library of car magazines (sorry, these beat anecdotes any day) dating back to the origins of the 64-74 muscle car era. Someday, when I'm retired, I'll compile a full list of issues and performance results including averages. Based on memory I would say the range of professionally tested, factory stock, 426 hemi equipped cars from 66 to 71 would be from 13.1 to low 14s. A typical ET would be 13.5 @ 105 (C&D 69 Road Runner). None were equipped with ac of course and many testers had 4.10 gears to achieve that result. It's very similar looking at the 70 L6 Chevelle tests. One fair comparison would be the 1970 multicar comparison test by Car and Driver wherein an LS6 Chevelle equipped with an automatic and conservative 3:55 gears and driven by a professional race driver, clocked 13.8 @ 104. A couple of years later in 1973, the same Car and Driver editors clocked a 73 TA SD 455 at 13.5 @104. This was essentially duplicated by Hot Rod magazine the same year. That car had auto, no ac, 3:42 gears and weighed the same as the Chevelle. If the hemi and Chevelle have so much better heads, 2 points (plus) higher compression, way hotter solid lifter cams, stiffer gears, more carburation, dual reverse-flow mufflers instead of the SD's single crossflow muffler, and weigh no more than the TA, how is it the SD does so well? Oh, and Super Stock and Drag Illustrated (6/74) borrowed a private owner's new 74 SD-455 TA with ac, auto, 3.08 gears, and weighing over 4000 lbs and ran 14.2 @ 102 out of the box.

[@chrisnizer1885]

Since the standard and H.O. 455's were already emissions certified, Pontiac didn't have to classify the Super Duty as a brand new engine. Otherwise it's VERY unlikely it would have passed and been approved for production. They still had to revise the camshaft specs to a slightly lower duration but it got the job done and the BEAST was released! Thanks for a really great video on one of the greatest musclecar engines of ALL TIME.

[@sergiojacquez2277]

You are 100% right!! Pontiac claimed the SD-455 had 310 HP but that wasn't true at all. Some would say, more like 370...

[@74SD455TA]

You both have that wrong. in your case you are simply speaking of gross versus net HP. Gross, begin at the flywheel of course is higher and it pushing 370 is probably accurate. For insurance purposes, they went to gross HP which put it at that 290 number. The 310 HP was nothing but a wives tale. No SD car got that as the more economical cam was put in to keep the 73 and 74 at 290 gross HP. @@sergiojacquez2277

[@74SD455TA]

You are mistaken and the recirification had nothing to do with the 72 engines. The recertification would have specifically applied to the Super Duty Formula's only and because of that potential recertification which Pontiac did not want to do, all they had to do was keep the TransAm hood on the Formula so that it could go into production right away.

[@debi5292]

Same S cam as the 455 HO from the previous years. In stock form barely any more HP than the 455 HO. In pure stock racing they are often beat by 455 HO cars because they are around 220 lbs lighter due to 1973 bumper laws adding weight. Modified they are more durable.

[@avinalpal]

Amazing. I'm lucky enough to own my 1974 Trans Am. One of 1750 made. 400 4 speed numbers matching.

[@encoencomen8361]

I have the same. 1974 T/A 4-speed 400 motor. Great car.

[@74SD455TA]

Well done and congrats as original owner.I also own a 74SD T/A.White/white std int.Turbo400.No hood decal.1of1 in SD Registry.22K original miles.#matching.Original body/interior/carpet and glass.Radio delete.No A/C.3.42 gears.Mods:Nunzi RamAir IV style cam.2200 stall speed.Rejetted carb and recurved distributor.Shift kit. Trap speeds 113MPH and low 12's at 5700RPM.They are bad ass machines.Living the dream. Poncho's rule.

[@stevesimone9761]

What the hell is Nunzi?

[@74SD455TA]

@@stevesimone9761 Nunzi Automotive out of Brooklyn New York is the Pontiac expert since the 1960's and is recognized as such by Pontiac itself. His name is Nunzi Romano. Pontiac enthusiasts know very well of him. The cam that I have was ground by Nunzi's and has the benefit of his years of research and racing. It is ground similar to a Ram Air IV style came that GM used. Talk about an upgrade that just wakes up the SD 455 engine. Between that and the re-jetting of the carburetor, its just as the Pontiac engineers would have wanted the SD to be but they were halted by the EPA when the SD's were being attempted to be produced and Pontiac was forced to make changes.

[@sergiojacquez2277]

You're a lucky man, take good care of that beautiful car.....

[@74SD455TA]

@@sergiojacquez2277 Thank you, I will. I am hoping to keep it for a long long time. I turned 16 years old back in February 1974 and didn't know that these even existed. Not that I could have afforded one but even if I could have, as a kid, I would have destroyed it. Ironically, my 74SD T/A was built the second week of February and my birthday is February 15, its as if it had my name on it however it took me 25 years to buy it at the end of 2009. Yes I am lucky.

[@clevlandblock]

My neighbor back in 1977 had a 73 SD TA auto. Nunzi sold him a RA V grind cam and the car fizzled out big time...inadequate cylinder pressure with 8.4 compression.

[@thehemiolds455]

that is a well done sd 455,tuff and simple.well done Pontiac engineers. badass that is true engineering.sweet

[@gristlepounder]

I love Pontiac's and the SD-455 motor. I've been around a long time and heard the rumor but never have seen any flow sheet data an SD head out flowed a 426 HEMI.

[@DSRE535]

They don’t outflow the hemi head, but it sounds cool 😎

[@dannywilsher4165]

I love these kinds of videos!!! We all have our stories of the ones that got away. I also had a white 73 HD 455 Trans Am. Sickness overwhelms me thinking about me selling it. I loved that car!!!!!! I bought a 77 after I sold the 73 thinking I would build me one even better. I built a 455 with all the best parts made back then. Ram Air IV heads, hooker headers, all the goodies. And it did run much better than the SD. I was out of town on vacation and my younger brother needed partying money and sold my 77 Trans Am!!! I think I should get all the guys commenting that they were going to beat that guy up for parting out that 74 and come beat me up for selling my 73! And my brother for selling my 77... I had a 69 Grand Prix model SJ that had a 428 that was a pretty awesome car also....

[@timjones5844]

That's lofty RPM's for a long stroke engine like this. This thing must have been built tough.

[@trevorwilson5461]

Thanks , now I have this video ,I can win my 30 year argument with 5 of my friends , that Pontiac had 2 completely different 455's .

[@chutoparadinni5474]

Indeed, Big difference between Round ports 455's, and D Port 455's!

[@Banjo455]

Thanks Bandit!! The SD is just one of many great engines out there and I love em all...especially the Ponchos!!

[@bartbullock9742]

Yo Banjo, I am senior citizen, I remember my Pontiac buddy when I was young ,mid to late '70s, he had what I thought was 455 sd, I was told it came with a stage 2 Cam that had to be ordered(from factory) this motor, (several of his friends built the same motor, from junkyard, armed with the right part number for the cam) had factory exhaust manifolds,(everything factory), it made 510 horsepowe, 570 ft lb of torque, on Dyno. I am curious what you know about this.... Remember, all factory motor.

[@flyonbyya]

12.90’s or 17.90’s.....I agree...don’t matter I had noooo clue the SD had all the trick elements you describe...super super cool !!! It’s always been one of my most sought after of all

[@six-pack1332]

My friend had a 73 Grand Prix SSJ that had a SD-455. I've been called a liar but, it's true. This car was ungodly fast! It had vinyl top, leather interior and, a suspension that had it sitting approximately 3 inches higher all the way around. The suspension was firm but. smooth like a cop car suspension. I've owned and been in many fast cars. This one was in a league of its own. I estimate it topped out at 160 mph. I'm not sure if it was a special order car or what. I miss that car. We had much fun just obliterating cars in street races. I drove it quite frequently and loved every second of it! Great power, great brakes, great handling and, comfortable as hell! That's all I got, thanks for reading this rambling account of my friends car.

[@chutoparadinni5474]

If he did, it was a Swapped or something like it, maybe dealer installed, non from the Factory

[@six-pack1332]

@@chutoparadinni5474 Maybe so. Everything looked factory but, who knows? I wish everyone could experience a car like that once in their life. Words don't do it justice. He bought it off of a used car lot I worked at. Who knew?

[@clevlandblock]

Well if you look at an original Pontiac customer brochure for the 1973 model year, they do show the SD-455 as an option for the GP. It was also listed as an option for the GTO and Grand Am. It could be a prototype or pilot car that got into public hands.

[@mattwolice9741]

Nice overview, well done... from what I could hear. Geeze turn down that damn awful music.

[@TheMrmmkkpro]

Awsome post ! I have been a poncho fan for 40 years and am lucky enough to own a 1972 455 H.O. currently installed in a 1980 Y-84 , I don't think folks realize the torque these engines produce , mine is bored and stroked , still running the 7f6 heads even so it's a beast , I love your car , great information in your video , thanks for posting.

[@jasoncentore1830]

Nice car!!!

[@jeremythompson9122]

The 1971-72 455 HO was still a pretty good high performance engine in spite of its low compression. It seems like Pontiac was the only manufacturer who was still trying to build high performance engines after 1970-71. A 455 HO Firebird/Trans Am or 455 HO GTO were probably the fastest factory muscle cars you could still buy in 1972. Mopar no longer built the 426 Hemi, 440/6, or 383 and the 440 4bbl was de-tuned all the way down to 280 net horsepower in 1972. And Ford no longer built the 429 CJ/SCJ in 1972. I believe their top engine was the 245 net horsepower 351 Cobra Jet in 1972-73. If you were still in the market for a brand new high performance car in 1972-74 your best bet was definitely a Pontiac

[@shawnmcculley2995]

I wish they made more of these. Wish you could of ordered this engine in a Bonneville or Grandville.

[@Steveeoaktree41]

Excellent! Thanks for the upload, all of us Ponchanatics appreciate it.

[@keachmister]

I have a 455 that was given to me. It's '73 block (no, not sd). When sent to the machinist for rebuild, he found what you mentioned. A broken lifter bore. He was able to sleeve it, and worked out great. We went with weaker springs than originally planned. Running like a true torque monster now years later, but always have that thought about lifter bores. Hope they hold up. BTW, 73-74 were my late HS years. Wish I new all this SD stuff then. Would've saved up for one ...or 2,3. Good vid Banjo.

[@transam4555]

Interesting video learned some good stuff.. although I don't have an SD 455 I do have a modified 1973 455 Block which is a ton of burning rubber fun!!!

[@georgeblack3185]

They don't make cars like this often... Pontiac only made 252 Trans Ams with the 455 Super Duty, in 1973, @ 175 with automatic transmissions, and 75 with manual transmissions. I was able to buy a 1973 Trans Am, with the 455 Super Duty from the original owner, in 1977, and the owner had rebuilt the Super Duty 455 for street racing (800 Holley double pump, with mechanical secondaries, 3/4 street racing cam by Engle, TRW aluminum 10.50 to 1 ratio pistons, Edlebrock aluminum intake, Hooker headers, High Output ignition system, water injection system) and had it custom painted black, with flames and grave yard scenes. (The screaming eagle was replaced on the hood, natch' :) Reminds me of the times when I had engaged in street racing... I thank God that He saved my life :) If you will recall the scene where Burt ran over some mail boxes, try to visualize me in my super duty trans am street racer, out in the sticks being challenged by a car from South Carolina, and the local sheriffs department looking for me, finding me and trying to chase me down, with three of my friends in my car, and clipping 11 fence posts. By God's grace none of us died, including me with a fence post hitting my windshield right next to my head :)

[@joshbrekke6374]

George Black what’s a 3/4 cam? TRW forged aluminum pistons were oem in the 455SD.

[@ashqelon7267]

Interesting 4+ decades later, a little “proper” work to make these machines look & Run as they should have, creates its reborn and ignored true potential. Our oversight in cars like this is actually humbling! Loved the AMC car w a 390 or 401 HO~12 second car, that us BB owners had no idea existed till it showed us its read RED tail light lenses.

[@dmbolender]

Thank you Banjo455! You really opened my eyes WRT the Pontiac 455HD. I always thought it was a gimmick -- those engineers should be given access to hallowed ground in the Pontiac community. Absolutely amazing. In Thrust We Trust, for real.

[@ThunderAppeal]

7k rpm rev limit for a big block. A sump oiler that *adds* ~ 60hp. 4 bolt main. Forged aluminum pistons. Inconel exhaust valves. Nickel chrome forged connecting rod and shot peened to withstand stresses of 1k hp...... From the factory. That was seriously a bad ass engine, absolutely bad ass.

[@ThunderAppeal]

I am back 4 years later to tell myself and anyone listening to this video and reading this comment. Pontiac NEVER made a big block. Pontiac NEVER made a big block. Pontiac NEVER MADE A BIG BLOCK!!

[@JosephAGilardiJr]

That was an awesome video I enjoyed it thoroughly.

[@letitrest4662]

It truly was designed for Nascar racing. The story is that a group of engineers that had been tasked with developing the engine for Nascar racing, had a big wig that realized they'd spent money designing and manufacturing these engines, and told them to find a production car purpose for them, and to then shut it down. The cylinder heads were actually designed by the Air Research Company. Famous for coming up with great volumetrically efficient cylinder head designs. The engine in the 73-74 cars were choked by the restrictive exhaust systems. Supposed just a good set of tube headers and true dual exhaust, will give an SD-455 another 100 horsepower.

[@eastin6868]

What's great is I bought set of TRUE SD heads off a kid for 20 bucks had them checked out for cracks and they are great.

[@VirginianSpencer]

I ordered an SD-455 in 1973, but what got delivered was a "standard" 455. I took it and was very disappointed it was way slower than my '66 GTO. When I got thru with it, it ran 12.8 seconds in the mid 120s in street trim. Still miss that car.

[@sergiojacquez2277]

You shoulda decline it and made pontiac give you the SD455

[@VirginianSpencer]

@@sergiojacquez2277 That was not the way the world worked back then.

[@clevlandblock]

Same here. I ordered a 73 SD in October 72 and later, the dealer informed me that the SD option was on indefinite hold. So they built me a regular 455 TA. I did some mods and had fun with it for 44k miles.

[@clevlandblock]

@@VirginianSpencer That's right. The dealer slammed the door on my SD order back then autumn of 72. Only 252 made it out the door that spring.

[@Banjo455]

So true Trucking604! They weren't afraid to put it all on the line! Thanks for viewing!

[@smartalecthemotorguy2405]

I have a 72' 455 HO and you just let me know every thing I'm missing out on!

[@superduty4556]

Sorry about your cast rods! Haha

[@FRANKSBESEK]

What an excellent look into an outstanding Pontiac offering. You really did this video justice. Was not aware of all of the differences between the SD and HO. Thought them to be the same, as you suggested (not). Drove Pontiacs near all my life of 68 years. I always drove Big Brother. The Heavy Hot Rod. Thanks for the wonderful info . Good day to you.

[@MrDjh66]

I wish my 73 was an SD you got a gem there love it

[@sergiojacquez2277]

You can get the same flow with a set of Edelbrock aluminum heads. Just make sure you get the round port heads from them. 👍

[@ShogMan]

Nice story. One thing to consider - sd heads flow well past .45" lift. even if they didn't, picking a cam that tops out there is counterproductive. Ask yourself if you spend only a couple of degrees at peak flow lift vs. 30 degrees at max flow - wouldn't you move more air? Stay at max flow longer? That's why I usually run .58" lift and tailor the cam profile ramps accordingly to the engine and the type of use.

[@Dirty_Bird]

love the video but funkytown is way too loud lol either get rid of it or turn it down so we can hear you i like listening to this kind of stuff and that makes it difficult

[@boblochen]

Good stuff! Always wondered what made it Super Duty. Thanks for putting this together!

[@05cr125rider]

Hey Banjo455,real pontiac OLD guy here! Love your TA my friend. Had a 71 455 HO TA a few years ago and still have my "survivor" '68 4 spd HO GTOI've had since 1980.Thanks for your video.Hey,do you remember when Hot Rod magazine compared the '73 SD455 TA to the Pantera and the title of the story was,"AT half the price the Trans Am is twice the car" ????!!!!

[@bg147]

It seems the key to these motors were the cylinder heads. From what I understand, the original cam was hotter but it was right on the emissions borderline and they had to adjust the grind which is unfortunate. I would hate to mess with the exhaust but I assume it would be easy to switch it back to stock. The car is a very cool piece of history

[@judgegixxer]

So cool, thank you for posting. Love pontiacs, they had a few other potent sleeper motors that kinda flew under the radar. Crafty bunch at pmd. Congrats on keeping your beauty car so long.

[@larryspiller6633]

Friend had a 1973, 455SD Trans Am. His had side pipes. Was his way of opening up the exhaust. Keeping it hooked up was always a challenge from light to light. On the highway, you couldn't catch it. Not even the Indiana State Police.

[@larrycavanaugh9371]

Nice video about the car. Why you took the time to fuck it all up with that disco music is anyone's guess...

[@evilswingythingy]

Great Job, very informative and I love Lipps Inc

[@rickyburton4642]

I remember them, and they still are great 👍!😃👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@clevlandblock]

My 74 SD has a matching number Borg Warner ST-10 4 speed trans, one of 220 units. The intact build sheet for my car calls it an "M-21" which is normally a reference to a Muncie gearbox. Perhaps that term was generically used by the factory to label any close ratio gearbox. The question is, were any SD cars equipped with an actual Muncie as this video narrator seems to claim?

[@TheFastracer455]

Great Video and very informative. All those that complained about the music are the kind that always had to complain about something. Again Great Job my friend !!!

[@peterhogan9537]

the music in the background is not 1973 or 4. Should have used the Eger Winter group.

[@doctorgonzo2000]

James Brown’s “Coldblooded” would have been good.

[@glennmanchester1568]

Anything would have been better than the one chosen lol at least something from that era ! Nice ass car though I've been a poncho man my whole life more than once I've had to save someone from looking bad and reminding them the firing order of all GM v8s Is the same the distributor runs on the opposite side of the cam gear hence the rotor turns counter clockwise unlike its cousin the chevy so switch those wires around before you try to start this thing and the oh shit your right look on the face or if they have been trying to make it run but can't and for that reason it's an o shit I knew that lmao

[@robertbairt9094]

Deep Purple - Highway Star🌟Radar Love💜 on spoiler. Not "Made in Japan" LolGreat album📻

[@michaelreilly1310esq]

The coolest license plate I ever saw as a kid on a brand new ‘66 GTO. It read, ‘SMOKEM’

[@keithbaker1951]

well.. the music totally ruined the video.. very interesting info with a too loud horrible soundtrack

[@MrColdwatercanyon]

Keith Baker I get the period song but yes i have to agree

[@gfoursux9]

Agreed. I was trying to listen to wha he was saying but kept losing track.

[@MrColdwatercanyon]

Waterbird 4222 this guy should make a revised vid think he still has the Bird ?

[@cdnpro4x577]

I quit watching a quarter of the way in because of it.

[@toneyfast1582]

Whats up with music

[@thegreenerthemeaner]

In 1979, I lived in Wichita Ks. A met a dude with a 71 Formula that had finally gathered enough of the RA V parts to assemble an engine for that car. It was impressive to say the least. I saw it run off and hide from a 65 Golden Commando style Hemi and a 64 Thunderbolt. That Poncho would wind but it bent pushrods with impunity. Never knew if he ironed it out but a guy offered to trade his 455 SD motor for it despite that problem. Again, don't know what happened but if so, someone is probably howling to this day about it. I'm curious why PMD never tried to put RA V heads on SD block. That would be a monster.

[@joshbrekke6374]

thegreenerthemeaner Hello there, that is a great point you made. Pontiacs RamAir V program was abruptly ended just as it began. Late 1969 or early 1970. SD 455 came out in 1973-74. EPA forced low compression. RamAir V heads were very hi Compression for the 303, 366, and 400. However you can now buy aftermarket Blocks made of iron or Alluminum that are far superior than the 1973 and 74 SD 455,s. Also Aftermarket RamAir V heads made of Alluminum are Available. All Pontiac.Com, Mcarty Racing, DCI. You will be shocked and astounded how far Pontiac has been developing.

[@thegreenerthemeaner]

@@joshbrekke6374 I don't recall how they achieved the different displacements below the 400. Was it an in house crank that had been given some special machining and hardening or were they an aftermarket offering thru PMD? I also recall that the preferred displacement for stock displacement was 428 for the RA V heads due to it's ability to turn more rpm, which they handily lent themselves. The 303s could definitely get the rpms from the shorter stroke and reduced rod bearing surface speed, keeping the oil film in place with more than reasonable torque, far superior to a 302 of whichever flavor you favor. Boss 302s had heads with great flow and you could buy the darn thing with a warranty, along with the Z28. PMD didn't get there in time for the party again. I think that is why the 455 SD had all the good parts to MAKE a terror on the EPA tarmac. I also recall many Pro Stock guys seeking out the SD rods. They came with the big end unmatched so you could make them fit your application. Yessir, many a BB Chevy had 'em. GM needed to let Pontiac, Buick, and Oldsmobile do their own thing and let Chevrolet run interference for them. Let everyone cry about them while things heated up across the hallway. Oh so so close.

[@rafaelallenblock]

When I was in high school in 1977 I had a buddy with a white Formula 400 but he always wanted a 455 TransAm. One day his best friend took me for a ride in the Formula, and he promptly crashed it and it caught fire, burning to the rims. The owner took the money from the insurance and bought himself his dream car: A black SD-455 Trans Am. I wonder if he still has that car.

[@tunnelportterror]

the compression was too low as issued in 1973-74. but it made a great kit to start from. mill heads .065" small domed pistons aluminum intake, Holley carb bigger cam or better yet, put milled RA IV or RA V heads on it, then presto you have a kick ass race motor. a solid foundation and framework was there for 600-700HP race motor, with 13:1 compression

[@fleetwin1]

Very interesting indeed! Never new there were so many differences..

[@puppycat65481]

tis the boss of all trans am engines. A friend of mine had a 73 super duty TA, and I had the pleasure of a one on one with the car.......talk about power.

[@bluedoggg1]

I ordered a GranAm with the SD 455 only to be told that they had stopped producing it.

[@georgeblack3185]

They don't make cars like this often... Pontiac only made 252 Trans Ams with the 455 Super Duty, in 1973, @ 175 with automatic transmissions, and 75 with manual transmissions. I was able to buy a 1973 Trans Am, with the 455 Super Duty from the original owner, in 1977, and the owner had rebuilt the Super Duty 455 for street racing, and had custom painted it black, with flames and grave yard scenes. The screaming eagle was replaced on the hood, natch' :)

[@sergiojacquez2277]

George i believe it was 72 with manual trans.

[@danbaumann8273]

That was really cool and informative. Always wondered what the difference was between the HO and SD now I know at least some of it. Cool tunes too. A little loud in the mix but great pick, especially for a 70s muscle car. Do more.

[@Banjo455]

TrumpetBob mentioned that all the SDs were Borg Warner Super T-10s and he is correct. Muncie went on strike so Pontiac went to the BW trans....but, they maintained the M20 and M21 designations on the build sheets for some reason. In 73, they only offered the M20 wide ratio BW Super T10. In 74 they added the M21 close ratio BW Super T10 but didn't put it on the options list. Unless the salesman told you the M21 close ratio was available, the buyer had no way of knowing, therefore, the number of SDs with the M21 is very low. I think TrumpetBob thought I was saying I had a Muncie trans in my car so hopefully this clears up any misunderstandings.

[@13spdRoadranger]

I have a 1974 that was originally a 400cid car and I still retain the original fine spline Muncie close ratio 4-spd. It's holding up well against a 462cid dyno proven 500hp, 562ftlbs. ;)

[@racer774]

Banjo455 An excellent video with info I never knew about the PMD P&A bulletin regarding the verification of SD ownership to purchase the rods and miscellaneous SD parts after supplier shortage was revealed. My cousin ordered/purchased a new 1974 Formula 400. I did my best to try and convince him to purchase the SD engine option. At the time, he said he didn't want to spend the extra money (which was a bargain even then) and that he didn't plan on racing his car anyway. He still owns this car and it has a rotisserie restoration. -- Fast forward to about 2005. My cousin wishes he would have listened to me about the SD option. For many reasons, IMAGINE THAT! I agree that the Funky Town was unnecessary but if nothing else, the volume level of the music was too loud in relation to the dialog. Thanks for the video and indeed you have one of the most impressive and last of the true, classic muscle cars.

[@clevlandblock]

Right on. My sheet says M-21 but I have a #s matching ST-10 (2 rings on input shaft equals close ratio 2.43 first gear) in my 74 SD.

[@phillipthethird42]

I could only fantasize about finding one in a barn with only 20K on the ticker, and completely unmolested , and showing signs of factory markings on it. My next step might sound crazy, but, I would restore it to good working condition and then make it a museum piece.

[@JRM137]

Those SD heads outflowed 426 Hemi heads. Just . . . Freaking . . . Wow.

[@jamesb.6960]

What a great bit of information thank you for sharing. Would love to see that beautiful car in person.

[@67marlins]

I'm a Ford and Mopar guy, but really liked Pontiac & Oldsmobiles growing up too. If I had to choose a GM car, I'd take a Pontiac or Olds over chevy ANYDAY. Remember...only two American automakers ever beat Ferrari.....Pontiac and Ford.....sure as hell no't a chevy junker. Thanks for posting.....you put a lot of good information into this.

[@zwild1160]

Forget the music the SD455 was a great engine. Truly the best power plant Pontiac made including the venerable 69-70 Ram Air IV which made more than 370.

[@joshbrekke6374]

ZWILD1 actually the SD 421 was 488hp and 493tq and with a lil work that most of the racers did in 1961-63 it was well past the 500hp mark and Torque. All with “D” port heads. Fact

[@ramairgto72]

Can't believe I have never seen this video. When I was in HS in 92' I bought my first car, a 1972 Lx LeMans with a 2bbl 350/TH350. As a kid we had a 1975 T/A 6.6 and 1966 Bonneville convertible with a 389 tripower in that wonderful "Frigidaire White" with black top. My neighbor 's daughter was dating a doctor, and being a kid I was always screwing with something under my hood, the doc came over and asked me about my LeMans, he told he owned a 73' T/A SD 455, at the time I didnt know much about how rare the car was. And since this guy was driving a "Turbo Metro" I felt a little bit of a BS going on, but sure enough he showed up in it, he went on to buy over FIVE T/A's SD's and HO's .... One of them came from the factory without any "Call Outs", it was that Hunter Green.... That guy was such a lucky fucker, looking back that guy had to have over a million in cars.

[@Banjo455]

Yeah, if only we knew then what we know now!! Just the same, you probably had just as much fun in that 72 LeMans as I had in my 74 Firebird. It is all about the memories.

[@ramairgto72]

Banjo455 I think I had more fun the LeMans. Ignorance and youth was grand. I would spend so much time preloading my axle, screwing tier pressure to get my open end to hook. I jumped it, reved the snot out of it, got in more drag racers. That car took a beating, shit I would never do again in my other PMD cars. Hell, I don't even park by the doors when I go shopping, I look out for where the shopping car return is! With that LeMans I used to push shopping carts to 50mph! LOL

[@sergiojacquez2277]

The SD455 built only in 73 and 74 were monster engines that could make more HP than anyone can imagen as like any other engines, but trust me, they were special and i'm very lucky to own one on my 73 T/A. Block # 490132

[@74SD455TA]

Lets hear more about yours! You are very lucky too! To mention about mine, Dan Jensen out of Michigan who is a well known Pontiac specialist rebuilt the motor just before I bought it and ever since, the mechanic that I use exclusively was a professional drag racer running 6's at over 200 MPH in a full bodied Chevelle. With that, the performance and tuning I received is second to none.

[@cyberdel]

After I hit the like, it now has 455 likes

[@ebayerr]

I really liked the background music....seriously.

[@xaenon]

Hi! I enjoyed you video - mostly. You should turn the music down when making videos like this. It's very annoying to try to hear what you're saying over a disco soundtrack.

[@MrSmartass89]

Excellent video. First-class all the way!

[@stevefick3919]

Hey, Banjo455, you sound a lot like Michael Moore. You don't live in Davidson, MI do you? LOL! Great vid. I had a '72 Lemans with a '70 455 370 hp motor. Ran 13.9's all day long with the M-20 4 gear and 3:55 12 bolt. Everybody wanted a Chevelle back in the '70's. The Ponchos were such sleepers. No one knew how good they were. Love them!

[@waynenutter5126]

The 1972 455 H.O. Was a bad ass MF too. Had one in my 1979 T/A. Was a beast.

[@sergiojacquez2277]

All Pontiac motors are awesome, specially if you build them right.

[@mercoid]

Very informative. Nice work.

[@mikepotter5071]

I went to work at McNamara Pontiac right out of high school in 1973. New car service. Got to take numbers of these off the trailers when they arrived, service them and test drive them. Not safe to put a zero mile S.D. In the hands of a ridiculous 17 year old who thrived on tire smoke. Thought those cars would always be there.

[@sergiojacquez2277]

Mike i know exactly what you mean, i bought my 73 T/A with sd455 and 4sp on march of 1979 when i was 19 and i'm very lucky to be alive today i guess it wasn't my time to go because of all the crazy street racing i did on this beast. I'm 60 now and still have my baby till the day i die but plan on passing it on to my son.

[@richardcawalla1148]

Very few of them made . He forgot to mention , as most people do , when it comes to rare high performance cars . How much more money it cost than the standard power plants . Especially for a young guy just returning from Vietnam !

[@LuciFeric137]

Nice video. Ive owned...68 GTO, 74 TA (400, 4 spd), 79 TA (403 auto), 83 TA, 84 fiero. Best car? 74 Trans Am.

[@joejaramillo9757]

I had a hard time to focus on his SD 455 or the classic, cool, great song Funky Town,

[@geranwilson7552]

I would love to have that set up with a great big old nasty 6-71 blower sitting on top of it

[@oldschooldirtbikes9960]

Great video and don’t mind the music....I picked up a 1973 455 SD motor and trans only about 30 years ago. It’s been in my heated shop ever since. Is there any casting numbers that I can check to see what type of 455 this is?

[@chutoparadinni5474]

You said it was a 73 455 SD?

[@chutoparadinni5474]

Look for 490132 that's the main one, than it comes down to the correct pieces, carb, heads, intake, distributor and the rest

[@oldschooldirtbikes9960]

Thanks for contacting me back. I have a 77 TA and came across this 455 with 400 trans. I never looked into it because they are so rare but you never know. I will have a look at the casting numbers and send them back to you.

[@cdnpro4x577]

Lose the background music.

[@cranez006]

A hated that song then, and I REALLY hate it now.

[@jgossy5478]

You are a lucky man to have such a great Pontiac.

[@billcat1840]

Built 428 powered 79 Trans am. Had the 2.41 posi...🤣..Top end was ungodly..I got scared before it did...130+ and still had gas pedal left...😳

[@ericbrandt8675]

You have made one of the most AWESOME videos of the final fight of the muscle car era. Thanks for the video....always wondered why the special distributor for the SD455. My friends mom had a 73 SD Formula and we had great fun in the white bird with the T/A scoop on the otherwise barren bird.

[@rogergreene2272]

Awesome history on the 455

[@trumpetbob75]

All 74 4 speed SD-455s came with the Borg Warner ST-10 transmission. All 212 of them.

[@clevlandblock]

That's my understanding but this video narrator thinks his is a Muncie. Muncies were put in the 71-72 HO cars.

[@willd.5406]

great video..... now im debating wether I should build the 455 instead of my 400

[@gregbarnes7913]

Will D. build the 455, set the Compression at or near, 9.2:1,, then let the torque lay you back in the seat!!

[@mountmepython2206]

I say build the 400.

[@joshbrekke6374]

Build a 400 with a 455 crank or larger 4.50” stroke. Just make sure you go with 4bolt mains. Less rotation weight and still all the torque, more actually because of less weight

[@brenthill3241]

Enjoyed the technical analysis but I had to leave halfway because like sooo many youtube videos there was loud distracting music.

[@mikeabernathey615]

Dude...great work. But what would make you think that music belonged? Ridiculous, even my wife said from the other room, "What the hell are you watching?"

[@clevlandblock]

Good video. Nice job. There are a lot of really misguided dudes out there in the blogosphere when it comes to Pontiac V-8s. Hope this helps them a little.

[@bookkeeper9902]

Interesting choice of music. 😮