73 Grand Safari engine specs from VIN

Discussion in 'General Station Wagon Discussions' started by jarbster, Mar 21, 2014.

  1. jarbster

    jarbster New Member

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    I have a 1973 Pontiac Grand Safari station wagon that I'd like to get the engine specs on. I have VIN but search engines don't go back that far. Any tips from anyone?
     
  2. OldFox

    OldFox Curmudgeon

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  3. jarbster

    jarbster New Member

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    Thanks, Fox, I knew engine is 455. The link you sent gives me inside info on VIN but the data table doesn't list horsepower. Can I assume its 250 or so for a 455 CID?
     
  4. OldFox

    OldFox Curmudgeon

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    This is what Wikipedia says:

    The standard engine for 1971-72 was a 455 cubic-inch V8 with two-barrel carburetor that was rated at 280 gross horsepower for 1971 and 185 net horsepower for 1972 and optionally available was the four-barrel version of the 455 rated at 325 gross horsepower in 1971 and 250 net horsepower in 1972. The on-paper power ratings reflect the change in power measurement undertaken by the industry for 1972. 1971 was also the first year for Pontiac and other GM divisions to reduce compression ratios on all engines across the board in order to enable use of lower-octane regular leaded, low-lead or unleaded gasoline.

    From 1973 to 1976, the Bonneville's standard engine dropped to a 170-horsepower 400 cubic-inch V8. Optionally available was the 455 four-barrel V8 rated at 250 horsepower (190 kW) for 1973-74 and 200 for 1975-76.
     
  5. jarbster

    jarbster New Member

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    Thanks, Fox ! I thought it was 250.
     

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