Thread: Budget SD455
View Single Post
  #15  
Old 02-18-2026, 03:24 PM
b-man's Avatar
b-man b-man is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Sunny So Cal
Posts: 17,616
Default

SD 455 cars off the showroom floor would run mid-13s which was quite respectable at the time for a low-compression smog engine.

My daily driver low-compression D-port 455 with untouched ports and HO exhaust manifolds easily ran high-13s with a TH400 and a 2.56 geared open rear end. SD cars had either 3.42 or 3.08 gears if I’m not mistaken, and a posi differential standard like all Trans Ams.

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...22&postcount=4

Getting SD-like performance out of a D-port 455 is like falling off a log.

__________________
1964 Tempest Coupe LS3/4L70E/3.42
1964 Le Mans Convertible 421 HO/TH350/3.08
2002 WS6 Convertible LS1/4L60E/3.23
1966 VW Type 2 Single Cab Pickup 140hp 2276
1956 VW Type 2 Panel Van 36hp 1200
1957 VW Type 1 Beetle 180hp 2276