[Alvin]

The SD-455 GTO back-story

Thanks to the October, 2011 HMM article, you can now read “the rest of the story” by Joe Odlham.

[Alvin]

Here is a little 455 SD history compliments of Jim Dietzler. (Jim conducted an interview in 2002 with Herb Adams):

http://peterschoon.com/455sd_history.html

[Alvin]

Although they were never offered to general public, it’s still nice to see info about the 1973 SD455 Grand Am’s.
This is from Pete McCarthy’s’ “Racer’s & High Performance Handbook”.

[Brian Baker]

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=676122

See post #9.

[The Boss]

Very cool Brian - sorry I missed the show!

[Grand73Am]

Thanks for the article Alvin! Great story.

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by Brian Baker

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=676122

See post #9.

"uber rare"

[Alvin]

OK then, how about Wood Grained LeMans wagon with the N.A.S.A. LS2 Scooped Hood like this one from the GM assembly manual?
I added the upper left index text. (Below)


Nice side view of Luxury LeMans with “Wheel Covers” aka: Fender Skirts. I added the hood option cutout. (Below)


I am visualizing 15 x 8 or wider RAII’s on the rears tucked up behind those Skirts.

[Alvin]

?

[Brian Baker]

Phil Griffith's car has the SD-455 decals on it in the same place...as installed by the original owner.

[Brian Baker]

Also, I think tucking a 15x8 under skirts on a '73 would be difficult. My '73 Luxury LeMans had skirts, and when I went to a slightly larger 70 series tire on a 14x6 American Racing rim (same size as the stock Ralleye II's, but backspacing was unknown), I could not run the skirts on the car, they would not mount up as the tires were in the way. I could still install them at shows for static displays, but that's it.

[77 Canamman]

Courtesy Murray Simon

[Brian Baker]

Rick, that shot for the January 2012 HPP was shot by Tom DeMauro (I saw him running around that day) at Maple Grove, the Sunday after the PY show. First time Phil had the car out in about 4 years due to health issues. The original paint is holding up well, but the nose is starting to show its age. Phil is looking into one of the 'glass noses now and hopes he can get it color matched to the original paint, but is concerned that some of the 'glass noses have required a bit of work to make them fit as well as the originals. He's not interested in tweaking the fenders, he wants it to be a bolt on deal, and I don't blame him.

You should see his other Pontiac...a '75 T/A with an E-headed 455. It's painted an interesting shade of metallic green that's a recent Honda color.

[x-bird2]

hey... there's my truck! lol ....

[77 Canamman]

Originally Posted by Brian Baker

Rick, that shot for the January 2012 HPP was shot by Tom DeMauro (I saw him running around that day) at Maple Grove, the Sunday after the PY show. First time Phil had the car out in about 4 years due to health issues. The original paint is holding up well, but the nose is starting to show its age. Phil is looking into one of the 'glass noses now and hopes he can get it color matched to the original paint, but is concerned that some of the 'glass noses have required a bit of work to make them fit as well as the originals. He's not interested in tweaking the fenders, he wants it to be a bolt on deal, and I don't blame him.

You should see his other Pontiac...a '75 T/A with an E-headed 455. It's painted an interesting shade of metallic green that's a recent Honda color.

The Motorealm noses have spotty Q.C. Guys have reported great fit and others have required more than their fair share of work to make them fit well. That's the nature of most fiberglass parts. The original noses were pretty bad in that dept.. They are much better than those plastic noses being sold by another company, and once done will never require replacement due to age.

[Brewster]

Originally Posted by Alvin

The SD-455 GTO back-story

Thanks to the October, 2011 HMM article, you can now read “the rest of the story” by Joe Odlham.

Great article and love to see all the pictures of these A bodies. Thanks for posting!

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by Brian Baker

Also, I think tucking a 15x8 under skirts on a '73 would be difficult. My '73 Luxury LeMans had skirts, and when I went to a slightly larger 70 series tire on a 14x6 American Racing rim (same size as the stock Ralleye II's, but backspacing was unknown), I could not run the skirts on the car, they would not mount up as the tires were in the way. I could still install them at shows for static displays, but that's it.

True, but by playing with wheel backspacing and the tire width one could come up with that stealth look with the skirts in place.

Have had factory skirt experience on 1967 Grand Prix and 1976 Caprice Classic.

Perhaps gutting the factory hinge/pin/lever skirt mechanism and replacing with DZUES style fasteners would enable the stock look while also providing more inside back space. Definitely would be a look you don’t see anymore these days.

[Brian Baker]

If kept hidden, Dzus fasteners would take up more space than the factory setup since they would require 90-degree brackets...or you could drill the skirts on the outside, which would look like $h!t.

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by Brian Baker

...or you could drill the skirts on the outside, which would look like $h!t.

Come on BB, tell us what you really think! Careful, someone here may take offense…LOL! I know I have a time or two, but got over it. Hence my bitmap creation above. Poking fun at myself and how "serious" this "important stuff" can get.

Anyway, Replacing the manual factory mechanical hardware with a “Spring Loaded Pins” setup through the sheet metal on the fender skirt and ¼ opening radii is a possible simple solution.

[Brian Baker]

The factory skirts I had on my '73 were not made of metal. Now imagine 3 or 4 Dzus tight buttons around the perimeter of the skirt in that pic...does the phrase "looks like hammered dog poop" come to mind? It does for me.