Mystery Motor Revival
The motor was in this rusted out 76 TA, and was pretty much an unknown when I brought it home. Patrick Page, the previous owner, had parked the Trans Am behind his fathers barn 18 years earlier when family commitments (kids and houses) came first, and it was still there. Unfortunately the car did not survive the down time but Patrick knew the power train was special (he knew the motor had 4 bolt main caps) and he wanted to see it go to a good home. The power train included a recently rebuilt Borg Warner Super T10 4 speed transmission and 10 bolt 3.23 Sure Grip rear end. The bonus was, he also sold me another 455/TH400 combination that came from a 1971 Grand Prix SJ
and the extra motor 
On removal the motor in the car was found to be a 1971 455HO Service Replacement long block, missing only the HO heads and intake - certainly something worth saving!
Spring 2006 Update
The old M/T valve covers were refinished along with some Hooker Super Comps
The motor was delivered to Killer Racing in London Ontario where Larry Kilpatrick will revive it to better than new. The block was cleaned by shot blasting it inside and out
The lifter valley is reinforced with the SD Performance Mega-Brace kit
New Eagle 6.80" H-Beam rods (Big Block Chevy) and Ross pistons
Comp Cams Roller Cam & Lifters
Dave Bisschop modified 72cc E-heads that flow 300+ cfm
Big Valves - 2.19" intake (BBC valves), 1.77" exhaust.
Larry Kilpatrick, drag racer and engine builder
My other 455HO motor is in the foreground, he also rebuilt it with new pistons, bearings, timing chain and return to "041" cam and 1.6 roller rockers. The previous valve springs had only lost 10 lbs of pressure in 3 years of use with the solid lifter cam - guess I wasn't reving it high enough :)
The Revival is complete!
The "Revived" Motor is going in the TA this year.
Time Slip from St. Thomas Dragway Oct 18/08
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