No I have no evidence of an M20 used on a Trans-Am or Formy with the L75
455. The guys have this correct. No M22 in 73, and the only Trans for the
the L75 was the M21 Big in Big out Muncie. I think there was a reason for this
or multiple reasons. This Combo L75/M21 used only a 40 pound Flywheel and
an 11 inch Clutch. The max Axle ratio was 3:42. This extra inertia I think was
to compensate for the reduced axle choices, and keep the MPG's in a reasonable
range. Remember this was 1973 (Oil embargo Ect) in 71 and 72, you could
get the axle ratios, with the M22, and this was the major difference in 73. The
reasons were predictable, it was a way to continue the 455 without the HO features
for marketing, and the reduction in axle ratios with the big flywheel kept the RPM's
down for MPG. Pretty much a requirement of the times. The SD however is the
aberration, and everyone knows that story. Really kind of amazing the thing was
even offered during that time. I had a job at the Gas station at the end of my street
in 1973, and when I arrived the line was already a mile long. It sucked even owning
a Car then, and these days very few realize how easy it is for something to happen to
return us to those days or worse. Living in that time was crazy as MPG became the
phrase known in every house for the first time. Know one used that term before the
embargo.
|