[tirebird]

Those are tough numbers to believe are stock. In 71(2nd Gen), the Pontiac LS5 455HO was advt. as 335hp/480lbs tq. at the flywheel, pre-SAE adjusted numbers. All the magazine tests I read ran the cars in the 14's sometimes 13's. The best first generation cars, with Ram Air 1V L67 400 engines were easily in the 13's,..with some turning 12's.

Now, I know all the articles about my car said it was a high 13sec. car with the stock 71 LS5 455HO.

In 1973, the first LS2 455SD was offered, with lower c.r., then the HO(8:1 compared to 8.4:1), and was factory rated at 290hp/390tq.

One magazine test ran it at 13.54/104.2 in the quarter. Now, of course, all these engines were underated and the 73SD, I think, was the new SAE net hp. rating.

They were still fast cars. I'm just happy that Pontiac, in 1973, refused to sell the 2nd owner of my car, Tom Senter, an HD prompting Tom to call Berger to purchase an LS6 BBC warranty replacement engine for $750.

I don't know what the true hp/tq. of this engine is but Tom, with the "grand rodent" under the hood of the Tirebird, turned consistent 11's at 115. I'm too chicken to chance a catastrophic failure by trying to duplicate Tom's numbers at the track.