[Ganggreen]

Originally Posted by Baron Von Zeppelin

Check the partial VIN on the engine .
Passenger side , front flat face of block , down low , alongside timing cover.
Then start documenting things like block code , head codes , intake code , carb code.

And also the dealer invoice from PHS.
That will list the engine option.

This TA had SD engine option on the Invoice.

Pretty sure the GA did also. Been a while since it was discussed on here.
Rocky's site has the feature articles about them both.

Originally it would have been 3.08 10bolt axle.
Upgrade would be understandable.

I did have it professionally appraised by a well-known appraiser,, Here in Oregon,, He appraised it out as a true 73 formula 455 SD, he looked at the numbers and verified. It was a 455 SD, but the Vin # Is a Y code, I’ll take your suggestion And get a dealer invoice from PHS, I also found out, through California DMV, that I can get the owner history all the way back on this car. Thank you for your information, I’ll try to figure out how to post pictures, beings. I’m not a Computer, smart person, lol,

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

The SD Formula cars did not have Formula twin scoop hoods.
They had TA Hood and Shaker .

Be as proactive as you can and verify all things for yourself regarding the engine.
It is not difficult at all.
No reason to rely on an appraisers estimation.

[johnta1]

I'd agree with BVZ.
Especially if the 'appraiser' is not a Pontiac guy.

The SD Birds are quite rare and PHS is one of the only way to know for sure if it is real.

A lot of Birds have had SD engines installed in them. (I have done it for racing purposes)

The partial VIN on the engine block will also tell a lot.

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

GangGreen , I am going to start a new thread titled "73 Formula 455 GangGreen" for your car and this discussion.

Will post illustrative pictures there that will make it very easy for you to personally document your engine components.

[mscicluna007]

Originally Posted by Baron Von Zeppelin

Good Lord !

Hollywood can't even write stuff this good



... remember that time a guy over in Australia bought a run of the mill Y-Code 73 TA project , and decided to get the PHS Invoice just as a formality ? It was a pre-production SD magazine test car



... remember that time a guy over in Australia bought an Eng/Dev pre-production SD engine , and it had a VIN stamp . It came from the ultra-mysterious 1 of 1 SD Grand Am magazine test car



The dynamics have been astounding

More congrats to you Michael

The paper trails of Pontiac have been amazing and invaluable.

Hey Baron,
Haven't heard from you for a while but this Grand Am Pre Production motor caught my eye and couldn't skip over it. It's really something and the Previous Owner Rick did so well to hold it all these years. I've just got back from a work trip interstate so just catching up on this thread .

The Intake and Camshaft really amaze me that they are everything that was documented over the years and never seen until now.

Michael

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