1973 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455-SD - Page 3

Paul Ceasrine · 08-12-2013, 07:03 PM

SS3011,

Beautiful Car,

As a Mopar Guy, I've always had to admit, that my sister's 1973 Formula SD-455 was the sharpest
car I ever saw.

Buccaneer Red with Black Interior, and 'no' graphics other than the SD-455 on the Hood Scoop.

Her car was ordered with the optional #D80 Rear-Spoiler which made the car appearance 'stellar'.

A fabulous piece of machinery.

Even the Model looks great. Once Clean Car.

71Dartman440 · 08-12-2013, 07:36 PM

Video is of a 70 TA, but does a great job of capturing the sound of that 455's Quadrajet eating up all the air in the neighborhood...

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf2iugXZOHI"]1970 Trans Am burnout - YouTube[/ame]

MWNorris · 08-12-2013, 10:12 PM

"X" code cars...
my 73 Formula did come w/ TA scoop, blocked off by riveted plate as did the TA. 3.42s no ac. 3rd owner , Navarro orange I think, came to Arkansas originally. Lighter than TA.
TA 3.08 w/ ac. (they would not factory install even the 3.42s in an air car coming to the south, per a phone call made to the plant at the time it was ordered) 2nd owner still in it's home town...
column shift auto no console, floor shift w/ console was an option then.
both had "plastic" front valence panels (slotted in top against lower bumper vs replacement steel piece slotted in the middle like the 70 1/2 - 72 versions)
had the 313' dur cam low lift, not the 308' ram air 4. had 1.5:1 rockers ran down tight.
Vapor locked like crazy in summer when new.
Did not come w "SD-455" on the TA scoop, lol, had "455" . apparently they did not have the stickers ready when the car was finally built. Someone from Pontiac called and said they could ship it w standard 455 right away or wait 6 months...
didn't one mag jump the gun and name the 73 SD-455 GTO "car of the year"?! and was never built...

Charlie A · 08-12-2013, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ss3011

I think the 70 - 73 Firebird models were one of the cleanest designs GM or Pontiac ever made. I have raced my 1973 Formula since I bought it in 1982. Running a 455 Super Duty engine is a tough deal because of the parts availability and cost. It is still a cool combination. Just ran it at the IHRA Pro-Am at Martin , Michigan this weekend.

Nice!!!

Paul Ceasrine · 08-12-2013, 10:56 PM

1973 Formula SD-455

The Rear-Spoiler was an option..... Code #D80

Standard Rally II Wheels.................14" x 7" with F70 x 14" R-W-L {Firestone Wide-Oval}

Optional Honeycomb Wheels........15" x 7" with F60 x 15" R-W-L {Firestone Wide Oval}

'RTS" Radial Tuned Suspension....GR70 x 15" - Radials 'Thin Stripe White-Wall'

SD-455 lettering on Scoop, which had the vent-plate riveted closed.

Paul Ceasrine · 08-13-2013, 06:57 AM

Original Plans for the 1973 SD-455

* Camshaft #041 = .470"/.470" Lift ~ 308*/320* Duration ~ 87* Overlap

* Aluminum Intake Manifold

* Solenoid Activated Vent-Slot Opening for Hood Scoop

Though EPA Emission Restrictions wouldn't permit it, but with the desired
10.25 - 1 Compression Ratio the 1973 SD-455 could put out 370 HP.

chris ok · 08-13-2013, 08:12 AM

I know it's not an SD but my neighbor recently sold their 73 455 4 speed Trans Am. It sat in street last 2 years thru rain, snow, salt etc... after a nother neighbor painted it 5 or 6 years earlier. I inquired if it is for sale, 10k, to much for me as it needed to be restored again.
Left my neighborhood and I miss driving by it. Only saw it drive 2x in those almost 10 years it sat near my house.
Chris

Paul Ceasrine · 08-13-2013, 01:44 PM

One of the few still around.

Rich Biebel · 08-13-2013, 03:24 PM

Was the flared front fender/lower valance bodywork an option or part of a certian model package?

I like the cars better without it....a cleaner look.

Herslows has it in the SSDI cover picture so maybe it was std with the SD's ???

I worked on many later model T/A's.....during the "corporate engine" era...

Lots of black ones with t-tops and honeycomb wheels.... Smokey and the Bandit.....

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 engines installed during that period triggered a firestorm and class action lawsuit......Buyers were not happy to learn they bought a Pontiac and did not get a Pontiac engine.....Soon after that the window stickers on new cars stated clearly that engines from various brands were being used and also the mileage stats were on there....

Carbs were calibrated way to lean.....and we dealt with driveability issues and mileage complaints every day......

Many people blocked off the EGR valves thinking it would make their car run better.....It made it worse and pinging was a major issue....

GTX JOHN · 08-13-2013, 04:03 PM

You are right on the timeframe.
The 79 Olds 403 combo ran a terrible 17 Sec. ET.

08-12-2013, 07:03 PM	#21
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 SS3011, Beautiful Car, As a Mopar Guy, I've always had to admit, that my sister's 1973 Formula SD-455 was the sharpest car I ever saw. Buccaneer Red with Black Interior, and 'no' graphics other than the SD-455 on the Hood Scoop. Her car was ordered with the optional #D80 Rear-Spoiler which made the car appearance 'stellar'. A fabulous piece of machinery. Even the Model looks great. Once Clean Car. Last edited by Paul Ceasrine; 08-12-2013 at 07:08 PM.

08-12-2013, 07:36 PM	#22
71Dartman440 Junior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 74 Likes: 0 Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: 1973 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455-SD Video is of a 70 TA, but does a great job of capturing the sound of that 455's Quadrajet eating up all the air in the neighborhood... [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf2iugXZOHI"]1970 Trans Am burnout - YouTube[/ame]

08-12-2013, 10:12 PM	#23
MWNorris Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Atlanta, Tx 75551 Posts: 14 Likes: 24 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: 1973 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455-SD "X" code cars... my 73 Formula did come w/ TA scoop, blocked off by riveted plate as did the TA. 3.42s no ac. 3rd owner , Navarro orange I think, came to Arkansas originally. Lighter than TA. TA 3.08 w/ ac. (they would not factory install even the 3.42s in an air car coming to the south, per a phone call made to the plant at the time it was ordered) 2nd owner still in it's home town... column shift auto no console, floor shift w/ console was an option then. both had "plastic" front valence panels (slotted in top against lower bumper vs replacement steel piece slotted in the middle like the 70 1/2 - 72 versions) had the 313' dur cam low lift, not the 308' ram air 4. had 1.5:1 rockers ran down tight. Vapor locked like crazy in summer when new. Did not come w "SD-455" on the TA scoop, lol, had "455" . apparently they did not have the stickers ready when the car was finally built. Someone from Pontiac called and said they could ship it w standard 455 right away or wait 6 months... didn't one mag jump the gun and name the 73 SD-455 GTO "car of the year"?! and was never built... Last edited by MWNorris; 08-13-2013 at 06:05 AM. Reason: clarify

08-12-2013, 10:56 PM	#25
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 1973 Formula SD-455 The Rear-Spoiler was an option..... Code #D80 Standard Rally II Wheels.................14" x 7" with F70 x 14" R-W-L {Firestone Wide-Oval} Optional Honeycomb Wheels........15" x 7" with F60 x 15" R-W-L {Firestone Wide Oval} 'RTS" Radial Tuned Suspension....GR70 x 15" - Radials 'Thin Stripe White-Wall' SD-455 lettering on Scoop, which had the vent-plate riveted closed. Last edited by Paul Ceasrine; 08-13-2013 at 09:07 AM.

08-13-2013, 06:57 AM	#26
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 Original Plans for the 1973 SD-455 * Camshaft #041 = .470"/.470" Lift ~ 308/320 Duration ~ 87* Overlap * Aluminum Intake Manifold * Solenoid Activated Vent-Slot Opening for Hood Scoop Though EPA Emission Restrictions wouldn't permit it, but with the desired 10.25 - 1 Compression Ratio the 1973 SD-455 could put out 370 HP. Last edited by Paul Ceasrine; 08-13-2013 at 07:01 AM.

08-13-2013, 08:12 AM	#27
chris ok Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Long Island, New york Posts: 591 Likes: 127 Liked 46 Times in 29 Posts	Re: 1973 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455-SD I know it's not an SD but my neighbor recently sold their 73 455 4 speed Trans Am. It sat in street last 2 years thru rain, snow, salt etc... after a nother neighbor painted it 5 or 6 years earlier. I inquired if it is for sale, 10k, to much for me as it needed to be restored again. Left my neighborhood and I miss driving by it. Only saw it drive 2x in those almost 10 years it sat near my house. Chris

08-13-2013, 01:44 PM	#28
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 One of the few still around.

08-13-2013, 03:24 PM	#29
Rich Biebel VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern New Jersey suburbs Posts: 2,312 Likes: 25 Liked 543 Times in 212 Posts	Re: 1973 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455-SD Was the flared front fender/lower valance bodywork an option or part of a certian model package? I like the cars better without it....a cleaner look. Herslows has it in the SSDI cover picture so maybe it was std with the SD's ??? I worked on many later model T/A's.....during the "corporate engine" era... Lots of black ones with t-tops and honeycomb wheels.... Smokey and the Bandit..... 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 engines installed during that period triggered a firestorm and class action lawsuit......Buyers were not happy to learn they bought a Pontiac and did not get a Pontiac engine.....Soon after that the window stickers on new cars stated clearly that engines from various brands were being used and also the mileage stats were on there.... Carbs were calibrated way to lean.....and we dealt with driveability issues and mileage complaints every day...... Many people blocked off the EGR valves thinking it would make their car run better.....It made it worse and pinging was a major issue.... __________________ Rich Biebel S/C 1479 Stock 147R

08-13-2013, 04:03 PM	#30
GTX JOHN VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boulder City, Nevada 89005 Posts: 2,708 Likes: 2,732 Liked 2,398 Times in 679 Posts	Re: 1973 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455-SD You are right on the timeframe. The 79 Olds 403 combo ran a terrible 17 Sec. ET.