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Muscle Car of the Month:
1973 Super Duty Trans Am
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1973 Super Duty Trans Am
In 1973, Pontiac released a limited production engine known as the Super Duty 455 (SD 455).
The engine was optional in '73 and '74 Formula Firebirds and Trans Ams.

The SD-455 was a race bred engine that featured a special heavy duty block, forged pistons,
four bolt main caps, a provision for dry sump oiling, round port heads that are known as the best flowing production Pontiac heads,
"header" style ram air exhaust manifolds, and an 800 cfm carb.

Original SD-455 cars are valuable collectibles today.
Production figures for 73 are: 252 Trans Ams-180 automatics and 72 4-speed,
43 Formula Firebirds-33 automatics and 10 4-speeds.
Figures for 74 are:943 Trans Ams-731 automatics and 212 4-speed,
58 Formula Firebirds.
During the motors 2 year production run Pontiac only made 1296 Super Duty cars
total which makes them very rare and desireable cars today.

1973 Super Duty Trans Ams

The top car is a buccaneer red 73 SD-455 Trans Am it features rally II wheels and the optional hood bird.
The bottom car is a cameo white 73 SD-455 Trans Am
it features rally II wheels and the optional hood bird.

   Super Duty's Statistics

1973 Trans-Am SD 455

Engine:

Type: V-8, water-cooled, cast iron block and heads, 7 main bearings
Bore x Stroke: 4.15 x 4.21 in
Displacement: 455 cu in.
Compression: 8.4:1
Oil Pressure: 80 psi.
Carburetion: 1x4-bbl Rochester Quadrajet 800cfm
Valve Gear: Pushrod operated overhead valves, hydraulic lifters
Power: 310 bhp @ 4000 rpm
Torque: 390 lbs-ft @ 3600 rpm

Dimensions and Capacities:

Wheelbase: 108.0 in
Track - F/R: 61.6/60.3 in
Length: 192.1 in
Width: 73.4 in
Height: 50.4 in
Ground Clearance: 4.2 in
Curb Weight: 3854 lbs
Weight Distribution - F/R: 58.4/41.6%

Suspension:

F: Ind. unequal-length control arms, coil springs, anti-sway bar
R: Rigid axle, semi-elliptic leaf springs, anti-sway bar
Steering
Type: Recirculating ball, variable ratio power assist
Turns lock-to-lock: 2.4
Turning circle: 36.5 ft

Brakes:

F: 11.0 in vented disc, power assist
R: 1.9x9.5 in cast iron drum, power assist
Wheels and Tires
Wheel Size: 7.0x15 in
Tire Type: Radial ply, steel belted
Inflation Pressure: 24 psi

Performance:

Zero to in:
30 mph 2.2 seconds
40 mph 3.1 seconds
50 mph 4.1 seconds
60 mph 5.2 seconds
70 mph 6.7 seconds
80 mph 8.0 seconds
90 mph 10.4 seconds
100 mph 12.8 seconds

Standing 1/4-mile: 13.54 sec @ 104.29mph (HOT ROD 6-73)
Top Speed: about 165 mph
Skidpad:  0.86g


SD-455 Engine

Colors for 1973
1973 PONTIAC TRANS AM PAINT COLORS and CODES
COLOR--CODE
Buccaneer Red*--75
Cameo White--11
Brewster Green*--48

*= new for 73


Valve Cover Decal for SD-455

Notice on the second line from the bottom, it says:

length measured over conical depressions

The after market stickers produced have a typo on them,  instead of saying depressions, they say despressions.