[1stgenbird]

My son and I picked up a 72 Ventura II yesterday. Will be our new project. Considering a making LS1 restomod.

[SD455DJ]

That will be a nice project...but would you ever consider a 455HO What-if Ventura II. There was a one-page article of a factory prototype in Car Craft or Hot Rod magazine back in '72 of a 455HO Ventura II with 14x7 Honeycombs and Goodyear F or G60x14's, ralley stripes and I believe a vinyl top. That was a sweet car that never saw production unfortunately, but I always loved the premise of the car. I'm sure someone here on the PY forums could dig it out quicker than I (HFR).....but, it will be very cool with the modern drivetrain too. Good luck with the project!

Dennis

[ponyakr]

"...it will be very cool with the modern drivetrain..."


Not to me and many other Pontiac freaks here.

There are already PLENTY of LS powered vehicles. None of the '81 & older Pontiacs need an LS IMO. And yes, I realize that many disagree. And yes, I realize that everybody is free to build what they want & spend their money as they please.

But, to me, that still don't make it right. To me it's just WRONG !!!

I mean no offense to anyone by this, & wish good luck to all, with whatever they decide to build.

Just voicing my opinion. We do that on car forums.

[ponyakr]

Even if I had to use an original '72 Vent II 350 block, I'd still use that instead of anything other than a Pontiac V8.

But hey, there are 400's, 428's, 455's, stock block strokers of all kinds, and both iron & alum aftermarket block combos. Everything from small to large, and mild to wild is possible, using Pontiac stuff. Today there is no excuse to not put Pontiac power in a old Pontiac model that was originally available with Pontiac power.

You don't have to spend a fortune. But, if you have more to spend, you can have some serious Pontiac power, if desired. Hey, 300, 400, 500 streetable hp is readily available nowadays.

Some use the excuse that the late model engines will get better gas mileage. But, MOST 1981 & older cars are not used as daily drivers. So, what difference does it make if it gets 12mpg, 15mpg, or 20mpg, if you only drive it occasionally ? Most are not building these old cars as daily driven high speed interstate cruisers.

[SD455DJ]

Don, I appreciate your enthusiasm for all things Pontiac, but it is their car after all. You and I would both stay with the all Pontiac theme, no questions asked.

I did find a couple of pictures from the magazine article, but not the whole thing...darn. No vinyl top and I think there was a picture of the interior as well???

Dennis

[SD455DJ]

Oops...here are the pics...Looks like it was a '71 Ventura II too.

[ponyakr]

"...but it is their car after all..."


Yeah, that's exactly why I was very careful to include:

"...I realize that everybody is free to build what they want & spend their money as they please..."

"...I mean no offense to anyone by this, & wish good luck to all, with whatever they decide to build..."

[SD455DJ]

Don, no problem and I missed the 'disclaimers' in your response, sorry about that. I would love to see a 71 or 72 made to emulate the research car with long branch manifolds, a M-22 4spd trans, and a 3.42 8.5 corporate rear end or a 3.55 in a 12 bolt (which I think would be correct for 71/72 Ventura II's).

To me it looks like the car in the article was Laurentian or Wilderness Green with gold stripes.

Dennis

[1stgenbird]

This is going to be a father son project but not a keeper. I envisioned a built 455 but my son wants an LS1. Not many 455s out there unless I want to spend big bucks on a Butler. Have seen many LS1s though. Weigh the options and price each one out.

[ponyakr]

Originally Posted by 1stgenbird

This is going to be a father son project but not a keeper. I envisioned a built 455 but my son wants an LS1. Not many 455s out there unless I want to spend big bucks on a Butler. Have seen many LS1s though. Weigh the options and price each one out.

Well hey, if ya'll are just building it to sell, the quickest, cheapest, easiest way is with the old style sbc. Brand new GM 350 crate engines are still under $1800. Add a cheap alum intake & properly tuned & operating carb and dist. Should be easy to sell with a new sbc in it. Might even make a little profit on it, if you don't count your time & labor for much.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevrolet-Pe....c100005.m1851

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CHEVROLET-10....c100005.m1851

And, you can team this up with a cheap TH350 trans.

http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS-Performan...60300/10002/-1

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TH-350-Trans...ZZd31r&vxp=mtr

[Slick]

Dads need to be strong and firm.

Leaders who show their progeny the ways of the force!

[77 TRASHCAN]

It's still a free country, might have a chance to stay that way for a while longer...

LS engines are in EVERYTHING! I especially like them in fords and mopars...LOL

Shoot, most folks will look under the hood of our Pontiac's and not know that it's a Pontiac engine...........

[ponyakr]

Originally Posted by Slick

Dads need to be strong and firm.

Leaders who show their progeny the ways of the force!

If this was a Facebook page, I'd put a "like" or maybe even a "love" on that pic.

Had to share it on my FB page. Just couldn't help myself !

[se428bandit]

The only bad thing about making a clone of that 455 HO Ventura is finding the roundport manifolds. Mine would have been that way a long time ago if the LB manifolds weren't so hard to find. Instead I built a 6X headed 455 with a Crower 60919 that ran 7.90s in the 1/8 on 215-70-15 street tires.

[1stgenbird]

Nothing worse in my opinion than a sbc in a Pontiac.

Originally Posted by ponyakr

Well hey, if ya'll are just building it to sell, the quickest, cheapest, easiest way is with the old style sbc. Brand new GM 350 crate engines are still under $1800. Add a cheap alum intake & properly tuned & operating carb and dist. Should be easy to sell with a new sbc in it. Might even make a little profit on it, if you don't count your time & labor for much.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevrolet-Pe....c100005.m1851

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CHEVROLET-10....c100005.m1851

And, you can team this up with a cheap TH350 trans.

http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS-Performan...60300/10002/-1

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TH-350-Trans...ZZd31r&vxp=mtr

[SD455DJ]

se428bandit - I've heard rumors that Paul (RARE) is in the process of starting new LB castings (not sure if that is both D and O port manifolds) with a Texas based foundry. Let's hope that this is true..I'd for one buy a set of each.

Dennis

[Slick]

Originally Posted by se428bandit

The only bad thing about making a clone of that 455 HO Ventura is finding the roundport manifolds. Mine would have been that way a long time ago if the LB manifolds weren't so hard to find. Instead I built a 6X headed 455 with a Crower 60919 that ran 7.90s in the 1/8 on 215-70-15 street tires.

Very nice! Painting that intake hides it well!

[SD455DJ]

Here is the July 1971 article in Super Stock magazine on the 455HO Ventura II experiment. It had the F60x15's on the Honeycombs along with the 3.42 8.5 rear end. It looks like they installed the long branch manifolds too. They should have produced this car!

Dennis

[blueghoast]

SBC-LS1 and a nova front clip, There ya go. Got ya a nova. LOL
Father and son have fun with it.

GT

[trishieldchief]

Originally Posted by SD455DJ

Here is the July 1971 article in Super Stock magazine on the 455HO Ventura II experiment. It had the F60x15's on the Honeycombs along with the 3.42 8.5 rear end. It looks like they installed the long branch manifolds too. They should have produced this car!

Dennis

I agree Dennis.
This car would have been waaay cool!