1975ssnova

I thinkback then/and evennowanythingmaking over 375 HP is a fun car that can take care of most cars on the street.

S8ER01Z

Keeping it in perspective for the times you are right... Of course today 375hp in a 3200lb car might keep up with some cars.... but near 4000lbs? Not a chance.

1975ssnova

They weighed about 3400 lbs give or take a little depending on it being a big or small block car.

94Blk5.0

I agree, modern motors can pull clean, refined power, but that doesn't change the fact that 35-40 years ago the hottest street cars was making 400-500HP, and was attianable. Take a Trans Am 455(or 400) car, add slicks, headers, traction bars, and your in for a high HP, fast ride.

S8ER01Z

Most if not all of the stats I've seen with big blocks were 3700+ lbs...

1975ssnova

I was curious about this so i did a yahoo search on the formula 455 firebird and WOW was i surprised at what i found. Here is what a little of it said.

The 455 engine first made its appearance in 1971 as the 455-HO. In 1973 and 1974, a special version of the 455, called the SD-455, was offered. The SD-455 utilized leftover components from Pontiac's 366 NASCAR engine, and was built as a full-bore racing engine that produced over 540hp; the engine was subsequently "toned down" to appease the EPA and to meet GM's own strict power policy, which at the time required that no GM vehicle exceed 300hp. As a result, the PMD engineers listed the SD-455 at 290hp, but in reality it was producing, in final form, 371hp SAE NET (or approximately 440 gross horsepower). What made this engine even more appealing was the ease with which it could be returned to its 500+ horsepower form. The SD-455 is often considered the last of the true muscle car engines