[455Grandville]

My daughter just sent me a screenshot Facebook ad for 1973 SD455 heads for $8,000.
If they’re worth this much I’m curious what my complete 71 455 HO with # 197 heads is valued at ?
I was going to use it in my 79 TA but if it’s worth even half this I’ll sell it and use one of the many garden variety 455 big car engines I have stacked up and put some Edelbrocks on it and lighten up the front end as it’s gonna be a corner carver.

[Stuart]

No idea on the price but it appears the ad includes the exhaust manifolds, and I imagine they aren't cheap by themselves.

[68bird400HO]

Depends what all you have. Unless prices have changed in recent years, a nice pair of 197s should be close to 2000. A std bore WC block I think would be 2000. An auto code block 1500. Intake with crossover and sheilds 800. Carb $$$. 2073 distributor 500. exh manifolds 300-400.

[Jack Gifford]

Educate me- do manifolds (intake and exhaust) differ between HO and SD ?

[njsteve]

Yes. 1971 and 1972 455HO intakes are aluminum and have a separate cast iron heat crossover that differ due to the choke pull down mechanisms unique to each year. 1973 and 74 SD manifolds are cast iron one piece units with provision for exhaust gas recirculation valve and choke air tubes.

[Judge273]

I'm thinking a standard bore WC block at 2K is low...

[SD455DJ]

Originally Posted by 68bird400HO

Depends what all you have. Unless prices have changed in recent years, a nice pair of 197s should be close to 2000. A std bore WC block I think would be 2000. An auto code block 1500. Intake with crossover and sheilds 800. Carb $$$. 2073 distributor 500. exh manifolds 300-400.

Those prices that 68bird400HO posted are right on...even seen the heads go for $1500 +/-.

Dennis

[sdbob]

AND SDs intakes are heavy! From different sources the plenums for HOs intakes are shallow, not sure why,some say to make room underneath for cast iron crossover. I have 72 nos and 73 and 74 SD.Never flowed SD. One last piece of useless trivia I had a SD intake that came off of a record holding SD stocker, the bottom egr provision was chiseled off. NHRA says at that time you could remove emissions!! You be the judge.

[Firedup6975]

I guess I won’t be owning one of those birds any time soon. if just parts are that pricey. CRIKEY!

[455Grandville]

Originally Posted by Firedup6975

I guess I won’t be owning one of those birds any time soon. if just parts are that pricey. CRIKEY!

It’s insane, but old car stuff in general has really shot up since 2000. The yards I used to go to in my youth in the early 90s were filled with old stuff (especially rural ones) for cheap.I’m guessing this HO455 complete is worth $5,000, never would have thought.

[bird72]

I tried the almost 50 year old used round port exhaust manifold game. Expensive fixing of cracks. I would only go original if resto. Check them out carefully. I'm sure there are good ones out there, curious on peoples experiences.

They made way more HO's than SD, and SD is next level of factory performance head. So HO's always lil bro to SD ($$$). I have 2800 in intake and heads (71) and last I checked prices were flat and same. SD keeps going up it seems.

[sdbob]

My all original SD -39k ,the exhaust manifolds are cracked.

[ponchjoe]

Find the car that your HO goes to and it’s worth more.

[unruhjonny]

Originally Posted by sdbob

... From different sources the plenums for HOs intakes are shallow, not sure why,some say to make room underneath for cast iron crossover....

I've read of late that the casting was revised for the 1972 model year;
So any intake (either OE or SR) dated after the 1971 model year stuff was cast, will have the shallower plenum bottom;
So it's a safe bet that parts with 1969-1971 part numbers, and date codes corresponding to them, will be the deeper plenum.

[Mr_GTO]

for someone looking for correct date heads it's what they want to pay. I think abou 20yrs ago I sold some 197 heads and intake (no crossover) for $1300. Heads needed to be rebuilt. I think I paid $500 for them.

I think for performance people once the Edelbrock heads came out the value for the round port heads were really only to those needing them for restorations or correct racing series.

[East]

https://lasvegas.craigslist.org/pts/...750045278.html


Here is the list of items for sale:

(pair) 1968 Ram Air I '31' heads, complete SOLD SOLD SOLD
(pair)1969 Ram Air IV O-port heads, ported, '722' castings SOLD SOLD SOLD

(several pairs)1970 Ram Air IV O-port heads, '614' castings starting at $2500

(pair) 1972 455HO O-port heads '7F6' castings, bare, lightly bowl ported and gasket matched $2k

(pair) 1970 Ram Air III '12' heads, completely rebuilt, unmodified, with matching date-code '9068' intake MINTY $2.5k

(pair) 1973-4 SD455 '16' casting O-port heads, best-flowing Pontiac heads EVER produced $6k

(one) 1969 Ram Air IV factory aluminum intake, absolutely the BEST intake made for Pontiac street cars $1.8k

(several) 1971-72 455HO factory aluminum intakes (same as above but different casting #s) starting at $1.2k

(assorted) used Edelbrock intakes, Performer, Torker II, Victor 4500 EFI (new) from $200/up

(several sets) factory SD455 connecting rods, sets of eight, NEW and 'as-NEW' starting at $500/set

(one) complete 1966 GTO tripower (intake, carbs, linkage, air cleaners, carb kits) SOLD SOLD SOLD

(sets) Tribal Tubes Tri-Y headers to fit 68-73 GTO and 2nd Gen Firebird, D-port, new starting at $700

(sets) Tribal Tubes Tri-Y headers to fit 68-73 GTO and 2nd Gen Firebird, O-port, new starting at $800

various used headers to fit 68-72 GTO, D-port and O-port

Pontiac V8 valve covers, no-name, blue anodized, new $40/pair

(one) RARE 1960-61 SD factory aluminum tripower intake, bare SOLD SOLD SOLD

(one) 1958 370 forged steel crank $500

(several) 67-up 400 blocks - have several from $

(one) RARE Service Replacement (SR) as-cast 1968 Ram Air I or Ram Air II 4-bolt '9792506' block SOLD SOLD SOLD

(one) RARE 'WS' 1970 Ram Air III '9799915' 4-bolt shortblock early SD rods & forged pop-up pistons $4.5k

(several) 455 blocks - have several

(dozens) Rally II wheels, 14" and 15"

and there is plenty more that I can't recall right now. :^D

Will ship worldwide on your nickel.

[unruhjonny]

wow, just, wow.

[Jack Gifford]

Originally Posted by njsteve

,,, 1971 and 1972 455HO intakes are aluminum...

Thanks for the answer. Are SD exhaust manifolds different from HO?

['ol Pinion head]

Originally Posted by Jack Gifford

Thanks for the answer. Are SD exhaust manifolds different from HO?

455 SD ex manifolds have 5 bolt holes for attachment to the cyl head, while '70 RAIV-72 HO ex manifolds use 3.
Over 2 decades ago, when Paul Delfield repro'ed his RARE brand round port ex manifolds, he chose to make them similar to the '73-74 SD versions.

[Mr_GTO]

Originally Posted by unruhjonny

wow, just, wow.

Lofty goals lol