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Author Topic: Pontiac 455 gas mileage?  (Read 13206 times)

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Offline Paxter

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Pontiac 455 gas mileage?
« on: May 24, 2009, 03:41:24 PM »
Hi, I have a  question regarding a 78' Trans am SE, 455 Pontiac, and a 4speed.  What kind of gas mileage am I looking at if I were to buy this car?  I would TRY to drive like a granny.  But I'd like to use it as an everyday driver, but I'm worried about gas.   Anyone have any insight?  Anyone have a Trans Am like this?
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Kyle - 21
Owner of a 1978 Brown T/A
#'s 403 brought back to life 12-21-09
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Army Infantry- 101st (Air Assault)
HHC 3BCT/101

Offline Joker (§ir£Ðragon)

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Re: Pontiac 455 gas mileage?
« Reply #1 on: May 24, 2009, 04:03:56 PM »
I was getting about 15mpg, but then mine wasn't a stock engine.





I'm not trying to question the seller, but have you verified that it is a 455 in the car? We've seen a lot of cases where (giving the benefit of the doubt) the seller didn't know the truth about the car and the buyer was very disappointed later.
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Larry

Offline Paxter

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Re: Pontiac 455 gas mileage?
« Reply #2 on: May 24, 2009, 04:33:53 PM »
yes it is.  Its the original owner whom I might buy it off of.
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Kyle - 21
Owner of a 1978 Brown T/A
#'s 403 brought back to life 12-21-09
---------------------
Army Infantry- 101st (Air Assault)
HHC 3BCT/101

Offline jphillips3333

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Re: Pontiac 455 gas mileage?
« Reply #3 on: May 24, 2009, 04:37:05 PM »
With a 4 speed you can nurse it off the line and squeak out, oh, 14 to 16 MPG.  Maybe.  If it's tuned and you do a whole lot of coasting.

The 455 isn't exactly like the 1.8L Corolla the neighbor drives.  LOL.

Post some pix of the car if you end up getting it.
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John

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Offline Joker (§ir£Ðragon)

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Re: Pontiac 455 gas mileage?
« Reply #4 on: May 24, 2009, 04:50:46 PM »
Quote from: Paxter on May 24, 2009, 04:33:53 PM
yes it is.  Its the original owner whom I might buy it off of.

Just out of curiosity, did he retain the original engine too?
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Larry

Offline jphillips3333

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Re: Pontiac 455 gas mileage?
« Reply #5 on: May 24, 2009, 05:06:27 PM »
Yeah, the 455 stopped making it into the TA in 1976.  What's the VIN - if the fifth digit is a K, it was originally a 403.
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John

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Offline RENOVATIONS

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Re: Pontiac 455 gas mileage?
« Reply #6 on: May 25, 2009, 03:37:55 AM »
If the 4spd is original, the engine would have been a 400.
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Jeff

Projects:
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1978 Trans Am
1970 Camaro
1970 'Cuda
1987 Fiero GT
1982 Trans Am
1986 Corvette

Offline Paxter

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Re: Pontiac 455 gas mileage?
« Reply #7 on: May 25, 2009, 05:18:35 AM »
well thats 2 people.  Anyone else?
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Kyle - 21
Owner of a 1978 Brown T/A
#'s 403 brought back to life 12-21-09
---------------------
Army Infantry- 101st (Air Assault)
HHC 3BCT/101

Offline y88rick

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Re: Pontiac 455 gas mileage?
« Reply #8 on: May 25, 2009, 06:07:32 AM »
my advice is if your worried about gas mileage, you should buy less of a ta to work on and something like and escort everyday driver for the remaining ammount you didnt spend.
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Offline y88rick

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Re: Pontiac 455 gas mileage?
« Reply #9 on: May 25, 2009, 06:08:10 AM »
i got about 10mpg with a 455 4speed 74 ta so i dunno what to tell you.
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Offline O'Neall

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Re: Pontiac 455 gas mileage?
« Reply #10 on: May 25, 2009, 10:35:34 AM »
depending on the condition of the motor overall and how it's tuned (and how close to stock the motor is) I'd guess you'll get about 10mpg in town, 14-15 on the highway.

However, since it's not the original engine it may well not be a stock engine (ie, when the original owner swapped in the 455 he may have had it "built" for more power) it may be a real gas pig.  Hard to say.

As asked above, does the original engine come with the car because Pontiac discontinued the 455 (in any car) after 1976, so it can't be the original engine (or the owner is confused and really has a 400 but has thought for 31 years it's a 455)?  Worth asking probably if you're serious about the car.
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Jon O'Neall
1977 Y81 Trans Am
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"Trans Am!  What's your pleasure?"

Offline Joker (§ir£Ðragon)

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Re: Pontiac 455 gas mileage?
« Reply #11 on: May 25, 2009, 12:28:00 PM »
Quote from: y88rick on May 25, 2009, 06:07:32 AM
my advice is if your worried about gas mileage, you should buy less of a ta to work on and something like and escort everyday driver for the remaining ammount you didnt spend.

i was actually thinking that if the original motor was still around he could swap that back in and not only get better lilage, but up the value of the car too.
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Larry

Offline O'Neall

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Re: Pontiac 455 gas mileage?
« Reply #12 on: May 25, 2009, 12:40:32 PM »
Good point Larry.
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Jon O'Neall
1977 Y81 Trans Am
W72-400/Auto (1 of 549)
"Trans Am!  What's your pleasure?"

Offline y88rick

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Re: Pontiac 455 gas mileage?
« Reply #13 on: May 25, 2009, 02:23:39 PM »
then sell the 455 to buy a little cavalier or neon or something.
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Offline Paxter

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Re: Pontiac 455 gas mileage?
« Reply #14 on: May 28, 2009, 12:45:08 AM »
He said its a dealership installed 455.  Before he even got the car he requested that they put in a 455.  He said it has some high output heads and is bored .30 over
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Kyle - 21
Owner of a 1978 Brown T/A
#'s 403 brought back to life 12-21-09
---------------------
Army Infantry- 101st (Air Assault)
HHC 3BCT/101
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