SD Trans Am...short history
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRYLyd2pJtM

https://st.hotrod.com/uploads/sites/...haker-hood.jpg

Good video, but 0.2 in the 1/4 from opening the shaker? Really?

That and any Firebird photo to fill the time of the story.

Maybe.

The ram air pan and removing the nose piece is .2 on my 65.

I ran a flat hood with dual snorkels on my Chevelle for many years and that was worth .2 as well.

K

I know when mine opens up she sounds like all hell is breaking loose so that's gotta be at least .2 in my mind lolz... 🥰

Flipped lid on GTO aircleaner was worth that.

I had a ‘67 Camaro years ago that was tuned on the dyno with a typical open element air cleaner. I used to put the stock one back on for car shows, it would always run like crap. No way I’d even try the stock air cleaner at the track so I don’t have numbers for comparison. The 327 would do the 1/4 in 14 flat with the open element.

Not a bad video, thanks for posting. I am currently working on a 73 SD engine. (my first one). The engine block and internal parts are certainly way, way above the regular production 455's of the era in casting thickness, added strength to the weak areas, and much better parts such as pistons and rods. Like the video said, Pontiac was certainly giving the big middle finger to the EPA, and as a muscle car fan, you have to love that. Somehow, it met the emission requirements of the time.

Ya it makes for a great story and argument about the SD being "the last musclecar"...

IIANM a title it held for about 13 years until the GNX

posted before elseware SD engine Firebird factory vid

https://youtu.be/OiARnJXVqJY?t=206

Thanks for posting that; I literally laughed out loud when I saw the youthful Herb Adams, fresh outta GMI (I presume).

The main gate at the Proving Ground still looked like that when I started there in 1986.

K

Oh I never seen that one...so cool

Thanks havent seen that one. I remember modifying my shaker hood scoop with screen wire. Still have the block off plate. The sound initially was loud.

They need to breathe too...

Jim Lyons managed to get an SD engine into the automotive lab at GMI that "supposedly" didn't dyno well enough at the foundry so we had that to tear down and investigate. We really didn't find anything wrong ;) I don't know what happened to the engine after reassembly and testing. Probably in Jim's garage. :)