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#1
06-25-2015, 08:30 PM
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1971, 1972 ventura II, 455ho
Hey guys, I have a question. Did they ever build a '71-'72 ventura II with a 455ho available as an option. For some reason, I remember reading in a book or a magazine that they built one. And that they possibly built 13 of these cars. I was just curious and was wondering about it. Any information you could provide would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely, 1970gto400 |
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#2
06-26-2015, 12:47 PM
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No, but they should have. There was an engineering excersize '72 Ventura that was in a few magazines that had a 455 HO engine and a hood tach I believe. It also had the sport stripes and 60 series Goodyear Polyglas's. It was not a test vehicle, so there were no times or other performance data, but it was cool. Black & white photos too. There may have been a shot of the interior, but I can't recall what transmission it had, if they even mentioned it.
Dennis |
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#3
07-19-2015, 11:48 AM
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Pontiac did build a '71 Ventura with a 455 HO and sent it to a magazine. I asked the people at PHS about and they couldn't tell me anything.
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#4
07-21-2015, 12:42 PM
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That's the article! Thanks se428bandit for posting it. I think it was in conjunction with the new model year roll out article. I can't recall what magazine this was in. It's interesting that there is a 455 HO decal on the front fender, so it either had '69 F & B body round port long branch manifolds, or they just installed the D-port 455 with X body log manifolds and pretended. It would still be pretty quick with the 250 net hp 455!
Dennis |
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#5
07-21-2015, 12:55 PM
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My bet as an engineering exercise, it had one of the first 8.5 X body rears in it, possibly with multi leaf springs (which as multis weren't avail til '73 in a Ventura). Just not seeing an 8.2 Chevy 10 bolt holding up to the thrashing behind that engine at the strip.
__________________
Buzzards gotta eat... same as worms. |
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#6
07-21-2015, 08:32 PM
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I am glad they put it in this lightweight in 71.
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Mike/Illinois |
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#7
07-24-2015, 05:52 PM
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Milt Schornack tested that car for an article featured in the July, 1971 issue of Super Stock magazine. The 455 HO Ventura came from the Pontiac Engineering with a stock Turbo 400 and tuned to factory specs. Milt got it run in the low 14's at around 101 MPH by shifting the Turbo 400 manually. He said traction was a huge problem and after a few runs and a little tweaking, he posted a best time of 13.98 and a high of 101.87 MPH. It would have been an interesting car if Pontiac would have released it, but that never happened.
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#8
07-25-2015, 06:11 PM
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Jim,
Did the article in Super Stock print the times? I don't remember seeing them. Roger's comment about possibly having a pre-production version of the 8.5 corporate rear end is intriguing, but it may have had a Chevy 12-bolt too. Dennis |
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#9
07-27-2015, 10:38 AM
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Dennis, the article printed the times for several runs at the Milan Dragway. The only mention of the rear end was that it was a 3.42 posi. It did say the Pontiac engineers had to install heavy duty front coils springs to compensate for the extra weight of the Pontiac engine. The initial run was 14.85 @ 99.40 in complete stock form. Schornack had to try different launches and different shift points to get the times down to 14.25 @ 101.12. He then bumped the timing and installed a different hanger to richen the secondaries and then he got the best time of 13.98 with the best high of 101.87.
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#10
07-27-2015, 03:40 PM
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Quote:
As far as the times the Ventura ran, this prototype almost made it into the strippo HO T-37 range  I'd also bet, the stock cross flow muffler and oem pipes held the car back some.
__________________
Buzzards gotta eat... same as worms. |
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#11
07-27-2015, 05:11 PM
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Jim, Do you have the whole article that you could share? That would be great for forum members and Pontiac fans to see.
OPH, Definitely 8.5" rear with 3.42's. Did they mention the long branch manifolds in the text and have any pics of the engine where you can clearly see the round port exhaust of the heads? Dennis |
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#12
07-28-2015, 07:40 AM
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Neat car ,I am surprised it was not much faster in the 1/4?
__________________
Rich Johns Owner/Operator of Pure Stock Auto Restorations Inc. www.purestockauto.com 1969 GTO Judge Ram Air IV M21 4 speed 3:90 1970 GTO Judge Ram Air III M21 4 speed 3:90 Oshawa Built 1970 GSX Stage 1 M21 4 Speed 3.64 # 67 of 678 Original Paint 1970 GSX Stage 1 Auto 3.64 # 603 of 678 12.44@109.73 mph 2011 Buick GS Nats Pure Stock, 12.71@110.64 mph PSMCDR 2011 1970 GS Stage 1 Convertible Auto 3:64 12.71@109.15 mph PSMCDR 2009 1970 GS 455 M21 4 Speed 3.42 1987 GN Astro Roof |
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#13
07-28-2015, 08:03 AM
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Rich, this would be a cool "what-if" car to build today just like the article with a hood tack, Sprint stripes, F60-15's on Honeys. It looks like it was Laurentian Green with gold stripes and black interior.
Dennis |
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#14
07-28-2015, 04:59 PM
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Quote:
A definite Rock & Roll machine for sure!
__________________
Rich Johns Owner/Operator of Pure Stock Auto Restorations Inc. www.purestockauto.com 1969 GTO Judge Ram Air IV M21 4 speed 3:90 1970 GTO Judge Ram Air III M21 4 speed 3:90 Oshawa Built 1970 GSX Stage 1 M21 4 Speed 3.64 # 67 of 678 Original Paint 1970 GSX Stage 1 Auto 3.64 # 603 of 678 12.44@109.73 mph 2011 Buick GS Nats Pure Stock, 12.71@110.64 mph PSMCDR 2011 1970 GS Stage 1 Convertible Auto 3:64 12.71@109.15 mph PSMCDR 2009 1970 GS 455 M21 4 Speed 3.42 1987 GN Astro Roof |
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