Hey, I think we talked before! I think we exchanged pics of our cars. Yours was taken in a garage. It's a well optioned car. Anyway, it's always cool getting everything working just right. Mine is a stripper, so I didn't have a lot to get done. But, every gage, light, buzzer, and smog device is functional!

I was just checking through the pics of the 70-73 TA's on the other thread. I saw your car SD73. Very clean, especially after you swapped out to the Rallye II's. Definately the sister car of mine. I also have no hood bird, like the look of the small bird on the endura. Are your decals red?

The original owner had the decals swapped over to the orange ones meant for the red T/A's back in '73. The second owner had it painted and reinstalled the incorrect decals in the 80's. It's due for paint again. The second one was a cheap Maaco special. When I get it done I'll have the correct ones reinstalled. I also found an NOS bumper bird I'll be putting back on too.

What mods if any have you made to the drive train?

What's the big deal about SD's? In the latest Musclecar mag the HO spanked on the SD by almost 40 HP.

And before anyone gets their panties in a bunch (Larry), I too was surpised by the outcome.

The big deal on SD's?.......I'm laughing all the way to the bank.:D

Why, did you sell that red turd? lol

It's fairly stock, SD4ME. About the only thing that's been upgraded is an HC02 cam, 1.65 rockers, and a 28k stall converter. In another 50 miles I'll have 3k on the new engine and I'll be switching to Redlines synthetic 10w-40. I also use a K&N filter through an open shaker. I have the Gardner repro exhaust system and repro RamAir manifolds as well. Nothing too exotic for me.

Have you deviated from factory much?

FWIW....
I have done back to back track testing with a K&N and a quality paper filter. My '79 with a 474 engine runs high 11's in the 1/4 at 119mph, no difference in performance.

Hold a K&N filter up to the light and notice how porous they are. Well that porosity is letting micro-dust particles in your engine.
I'll never put a K&N filter on a car.
However, back in the 70's I used them on my motocross cycles because they were designed for off-road, dirty conditions. The K&N representative at the tracks told us that they are designed to run dirty and should NOT be cleaned unless the dirt was caked-on the filter.

Just food for thought.

How can you be laughing all the way to the bank when you still own the car?

That's the same setup I ran when I put an HO in my '79 10th with a 4 gear except I was running Hookers. Ran 13.31 @ 108mph. I'll bet my 60ft were 2 seconds because it wouldn't hook for nothing but it freight trained big time.

Those are some decent times. Where your heads worked at all?

Yeah, down low is hard to get bite with this setup. Running through a factory exhaust sure doesn't help my 1/4 times, but it keeps me out of a little trouble.

Hey Chris...remember this one?
'73 clone SD455, completely stock service replacement motor, 8.4:1 compression, 1.5 rockers, cast iron intake, ram air exhaust(before headers shown) & Q-jet.
Exception: the HO racing HC-03 cam

High 12's @108mph

What do you have their Larry ?

Its an old '73 T/A "Y" code car, 4speed...NO options.
The engine was a service replacement that was installed years ago when stuff was alot less expensive.
I bought the car in '93 and it had every SD part on it except the intake. I found an LS2X intake in Hemmings and bought it for $175.
I rebuilt the engine with standard bore and original SD single "trough" pistons! It was in that good of shape.
Like I said earlier, the only thing that wasn't stock was the HC-03 cam I bought from H-O racing.

I sold the car in '97 for $9500 bucks.
It made its round in the Houston area over the years and was sold on Ebay last year for $26,000 !!!

Awesome, That is a good buy considering the motor alone is worth more then 2/3 of that. Looks like the real sweet ride, and would be a great rip around town weekend car.
Thanks

I think just try to keep certain special interest cars together in each category.Or 'all' SD cars.Your idea would be good and convenient,though.
14.0,100 mph all original unmodified.
12.17,110mph,all stock parts,weight 3636.headers,3.73's, 9" tires, 3300 converter.Heads and intake are stock volumes and unmodified.

Larry,

I saw that SD clone for sale some time back and thought it was a pretty good deal for the money. With the price of these cars we're almost afraid to drive them anymore and I figured that would be a good driver. As I recall it was on the auto trader and then ebay. I knew it was in Texas and didn't sell right away but didn't know what ever became of it. Wasn't it white with a saddle, or tan interior?

great idea guys...good luck with a dedicated forum.

i wish i could say i had an SD Formula :D

Eaglesan13....
Yes, saddle interior. I took the console out for that "sporty" look, and removed the mounting pods and replaced carpet after the pic was taken.
Also took the other pic, right after I restored the engine and surrounding compartment.
The car was sold locally to a person in Arizona, then was immediately placed on ebay the same week it was sold.