1976 Formula 455
The Basics: This is my 1976 Formula 455, Turbo 400 Automatic Transmission and a 3.42
Posi rear.
See the bottom of this page for all the details on the car and modifications.
Racing at Island Dragway, Hackettstown, NJ
Return road at Raceway Park, Englishtown, NJ, during the first ever "Pontiac
Shootout" sponsored by High Performance Pontiac Magazine. The spread was
printed in the May 1996 issue.
ABOVE: My YC 455 with all of the goodies . . .
BELOW: Out with the 400 and in with the 455 !
Modifications:
- Motor:
1972 YC 455, bored 15 over and TRW pistons.
- Heads:
6X, ported, Stainless valves, Exhaust increased to 1.77, 1.5 full
roller rockers on BB chevy studs. Compression is about 9.4:1.
- Intake:
Edelbrock Performer
- Headers:
Heddman 1 5/8" primary, 3" Out.
- Exhaust:
Flowmaster 3" to muffler and 2 1/2" out the back.
- Carburetor:
780 Quadrajet, rebuilt many times!
- Ignition:
MSD 6AL with Blaster II coil.
- Fuel Delivery:
Mallory 1140 electric pump with 1/2" line. Moroso Cool Can.
- Transmission:
TH 400 built by Steve Gillan of Steve's Trans.
B&M trans cooler and B&M Pro Stick shifter.
- Rear:
3.42 posi with new clutches and axles.
- Suspension:
New rear leafs and South Side Machine Bars.
- Other:
Accel shift light, oil pressure light, and gauges. Hurst Roll Control.
PRODUCTION NUMBERS FOR 1976 FIREBIRDS
Firebird 21,106
Esprit 22,252
Formula 20,613
Trans am 400/auto 37,015
455/stick 7,099
T/A Limited Edition Y81 Coupe
400 1,628
455/stick 319
T/A Limited Edition Y81 T-top
400 533
455/stick 110
1976 Formula 455