[Brian '74]

Damn Shelly, I didn't know you bought a Ventura. Too bad you weren't looking when I sold mine, would have save you a lot of work.

Good luck w/ it!

[69f bird]

Yeah Brian, I know. Oh well.

[ponjohn]

Here are the pictures.

[ponjohn]

Shelly- Can yout ake a photo of how you secured your battery tray to or around the frame?

John

[69f bird]

It is bolted through the steel tank support which is welded to the frame and body

[69f bird]

More progress ! The engine is in and the interior wiring is complete. The drive shaft will be done this week and we can fire it up. The lexan will be test fit this weekend then we can install the aluminum door panels. The aluminum dash is out for ease of routing wires and accelerator cable. Next we will test fit the radiator and fan.

[form74]

Looking good shelly, will it be finshed for Norwalk.

[ponjohn]

Lookin' good.

Cover that carb up!!!

Your side bars are much higher than mine. Just an observation.

[69f bird]

Thanks guys!

I removed the carb cover for the photos...thanks! Notice that everything else is taped.

The side bar runs just below my shoulder and crosses just above my elbow, just as the rule book says. It also crosses my hip and lower leg. It is also angled towards the door a little bit as I am quite wide.

I thought MAYBE we'd make E-town this coming weekend, but it doesn't quite look like we'll be done.

[69f bird]

Still more progress. All that's left to do is install the rest of the Lexan...most of it has already been fit, re-install the aluminum inner panels, finish 2 AN6 lines from the fuel regulator to the carb, install driveshaft, bolt in seat and harness, tighten all suspension, install bumpers (need to fabricate aluminum supports) and hood (still being designed) and get a front-end alignment. Still needs all fluids too.

We will likely try to fire it up some night this coming week. Here are a few more pictures:

[ponjohn]

Coming along nicely.

[69f bird]

We are expecting to fire it up later this week. Maybe get it to the track for a shake-down and some tuning in mid-July. I am expecting to have it at Norwalk in August. It may still be in primer, but it will be race-ready.

Anyone know of a track rental near Philly in the next few weeks?

[69f bird]

She runs! We broke in the motor last night. We found a couple of minor issues...the new BG fuel pump was weeping...needed to be "snugged up", a little water leak...forgot to tighted the clamps on the lower radiator hose DOH!, etc. Set the timing and broke the engine in. Probably about 30 minutes total run time. With the electric water pump and fan on, it stays at about 195. Sounds great.

[69f bird]

All the lexan is in and the front and rear window chrome. Still have to install the rear inside side panels and then the drivers seat and harness. We will swap out the Comp Engineering 3-way drag shocks for the QA1's from Herb tomorrow and tighten all suspension, steering, etc. and bleed the brakes. Still need to get the front end aligned. Also retorque the head bolts and header bolts. .

Getting real close!

[AGTO8U]

Shelly, you have made amazing progress! My day job has been so demanding this year, I'm just glad to have my '73 running and reliable now. Thanks for the updates, they are encouraging.

[71 Ventura II]

Originally Posted by 69f bird

All the lexan is in and the front and rear window chrome. Still have to install the rear inside side panels and then the drivers seat and harness. We will swap out the Comp Engineering 3-way drag shocks for the QA1's from Herb tomorrow and tighten all suspension, steering, etc. and bleed the brakes. Still need to get the front end aligned. Also retorque the head bolts and header bolts. .

Getting real close!

Really nice to see the progress pictures! Any ideas what it will run? I'll have to back read the thread because I can't remember what engine combo your running. I see the #64 heads and the "Retorque head bolt" reminder on the valvecover! LOL I like that you can't miss it. Looks really good so far!

Definitely gives motivation for me to get out there and get mine running again. I'm just waiting on parts at this point. Good luck! JD

[69f bird]

Thanks guys!

It is a '72 2 bolt 455 block, .030 over, re-dolled the mains, ARP main studs, align bored, Eagle rods, Ross pistons .002 out, Comp Cams 51-816-9 (solid roller 271,280 @ .050, .600 lift w/1.5 rockers), Comp roller lifters, Spotts ported #64 heads 89 cc's (flow about 260@600), 10.2:1 compression, Victor 4150 intake port matched to heads, BG Race Claw 1025 carb, Maddog 1 7/8-2" step headers, Redneck 3300 stall custom convertor, TH400 w/reverse manual valve body, 3.42 12 bolt (Eaton posi, Moser Axles). Still picking tires, but have a newer set of MT Drag radials 275/60-15 on Drag-Lites installed for now.

We hope the car will weigh around 2800 lbs...we'll see soon. But then you add my fat a$$ and it will be 3100 lbs. I am thinking mid 10's IF I can get any traction. Maybe with a little luck, low 10's.

The rear springs were custom-made with the second leaf all the way forward and tight banding all through the front 1/2 plus solid aluminum bushings. QA1 single adj. drag shocks all around, frame tied (welded) with an 8 point bar through the floor welded to the rear frame rails and the subframe connectors...plus welded to the floor with 6x6 steel. Solid subframe bushings and CE traction bars (I know, I'll try the Cal-tracs after I find how bad the traction bars are ).

[71 Ventura II]

Originally Posted by 69f bird

Thanks guys!

It is a '72 2 bolt 455 block, .030 over, re-dolled the mains, ARP main studs, align bored, Eagle rods, Ross pistons .002 out, Comp Cams 51-816-9 (solid roller 271,280 @ .050, .600 lift w/1.5 rockers), Comp roller lifters, Spotts ported #64 heads 89 cc's (flow about 260@600), 10.2:1 compression, Victor 4150 intake port matched to heads, BG Race Claw 1025 carb, Maddog 1 7/8-2" step headers, Redneck 3300 stall custom convertor, TH400 w/reverse manual valve body, 3.42 12 bolt (Eaton posi, Moser Axles). Still picking tires, but have a newer set of MT Drag radials 275/60-15 on Drag-Lites installed for now.

We hope the car will weigh around 2800 lbs...we'll see soon. But then you add my fat a$$ and it will be 3100 lbs. I am thinking mid 10's IF I can get any traction. Maybe with a little luck, low 10's.

The rear springs were custom-made with the second leaf all the way forward and tight banding all through the front 1/2 plus solid aluminum bushings. QA1 single adj. drag shocks all around, frame tied (welded) with an 8 point bar through the floor welded to the rear frame rails and the subframe connectors...plus welded to the floor with 6x6 steel. Solid subframe bushings and CE traction bars (I know, I'll try the Cal-tracs after I find how bad the traction bars are ).

Interesting combo: It will be interesting to see how that cam matches to a 3300 converter. Another interesting part is the 3.42 gear. The only reason I say this is most people running that sized cam lean towards 3800-4400 converters and 3.73-4.10 gears. Like you said, if you can get it to hook it shoud MPH like a "BIG DAWG"!

I can't wait to see how it runs! I aggree it should run in the 10's I'm just not sure which part. Power to weight looks great though! Keep it coming! JD

[69f bird]

The same block and heads, with a very small solid roller (255,255, .555 lift) with an RPM intake, long branch manifolds and full 2 1/2" exhaust ran a 12.56 at 107.9 and a 1.79 60 ft in my 4300 lb. (with driver) '69 Firebird convertible. Same rear and using a Coan 3200 converter.

So a 1200 lb weight savings could be worth up to 1.2 seconds...that gets me to 11.30's. What does the Victor intake, bigger cam and headers get me?

I can run a shorter tire to simulate more gear. Redneck will redo the converter...we discussed the setup before they built it. We'll soon soon enough!

[71 Ventura II]

Originally Posted by 69f bird

The same block and heads, with a very small solid roller (255,255, .555 lift) with an RPM intake, long branch manifolds and full 2 1/2" exhaust ran a 12.56 at 107.9 and a 1.79 60 ft in my 4300 lb. (with driver) '69 Firebird convertible. Same rear and using a Coan 3200 converter.

So a 1200 lb weight savings could be worth up to 1.2 seconds...that gets me to 11.30's. What does the Victor intake, bigger cam and headers get me?

I can run a shorter tire to simulate more gear. Redneck will redo the converter...we discussed the setup before they built it. We'll soon soon enough!

I support what ever works and if everyone followed the same path we would never learn anything. I'm anxiously awaiting the results to see if the car can 60' well, hook on a relatively small tire, and run like the wind. Sorry if it seemed like I was putting it down in anyway, on the contrary I'm a supporter! JD