Mike Garrity's 1979 455 Trans Am

Mike Garrity's gold 1979 Trans Am is powered by a 1973 455 engine. The car served as his daily driver while in college, now it's used more for pleasure. However, he still logged 5000 miles on the car last year in 5 months while driving the TA to work. The TA sees strip action at US 41 Morocco, Indiana, about an hours drive away and occasionally at Route 66 which is closer to his home.

Technical Data
Engine Block: 1973 Pontiac 455 2-bolt mains
Bore and Stroke: 4.15" x 4.21"; + .030" overbore
Heads: 6x-4 d-port heads with 2.11" Ferrea SS intake and 1.77 exhaust valves; Lunati valve springs, stock retainers and keepers, teflon valve seals on both valves; heads were ported by Paul Knippen; compression is 9.5 to 1
Rocker Arms: Harland-Sharp roller rockers, 1.65 ratio using stock pushrods
Crankshaft: Stock, reconditioned .030/.030, balanced
Rods: Stock, reconditioned, ARP bolts
Pistons: TRW forged .030" over; moly rings
Bearings: All bearings are Clevite 77
Timing Gear and Chain: Double roller
Gaskets: Fel Pro engine set, Felpro header set and collectors
Camshaft: Custom grind Lunati hyrdaulic; 235 intake / 245 exhaust @.050"; 110 LSA, .560" lift intake/ .590 lift exhaust with HS rockers
Intake Manifold: Edelbrock Performer RPM with .5" cut to secondary divider
 Carburetion: Edelbrock Performer RPM Q-jet with #75 jets and .039 secondary rods
 Fuel Pump: Carter high volume mechanical for street use assisted by Carter 100 gph electric pump at tank; stock 3/8" fuel line to the mechanical pump and braided 3/8" line to the carburetor
 Exhaust: Hooker Super Competition headers, 3" Dr. Gas X crossover, 2- 3" Dynomax Super Turbo mufflers with 3" Torque Technology tail pipes
 Ignition: Stock HEI ignition, 8 mm plug wires; 35 degrees total mechanical advance
 Oil Pump: Melling M54DS, 60 psi; 10w-30 oil
 Transmission: THM-350 rebuilt by Trans-Pro with 11" Coan 3500 rated flash; B&M hammer shifter
 Rear End: Stock 8.5" 10 bolt limited slip unit with 3.23 to 1 gearing; unknown brand traction bars
Suspension / tires: Cragar 15" x 7" race rims front, 15" x 8" race rims rear; 225/70 radial TAs in front and MT Indy Profile SS L-60-15s in the rear (28" x 9.5"). 25 psi on street and at the strip
Vehicle Weight: 3950 pounds with driver

Performance: Best performance to date, 12.41 at 109.2 mph with 1.82 second 60' time--April 9, 2000


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