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rice-fighter · 03-28-2003, 08:37 PM

What brands do you guys have experience with? I have a 400 that's ready to go in a 73 Ventura and need some help. I've heard horror stories about some, and good things about the same ones so I'm a little confused. I have an auto trans and I'm going to have a floor shifter on it.

rice-fighter · 03-28-2003, 08:37 PM

What brands do you guys have experience with? I have a 400 that's ready to go in a 73 Ventura and need some help. I've heard horror stories about some, and good things about the same ones so I'm a little confused. I have an auto trans and I'm going to have a floor shifter on it.

wildman131 · 04-02-2003, 09:19 PM

go with hooker super comps - and use mr.gasket copper seal header gaskets for the best results. hooker headers seem to be the only ones that take every possible option into consideration with the ventura

BAD ANDY · 06-02-2003, 07:05 PM

I HAVE A 74 VENTURA W/EDLERBROCK HEADS

. IF YOU HAVE STOCK HEADS YOU'LL BE OK IF YOU HAVE RAM AIR HEADS GOOD LUCK!

UnchainedGTO · 06-02-2003, 08:42 PM

For headers you may want to check with Nunzi and see if the ones he offers are still custom made. I bought a set from him around 1984 and the fit was great. I still have them and they are just about to go back on the car.

Unchained

ventura7211 · 06-02-2003, 10:36 PM

O.K. first thing the headers are the same as 67-69 firebird headers. Supercomps should fit well because they are very expensive. I do not know what size headers you need because I have no idea of the power you motor is producing but I did have good luck with my $90 dynomax headers they fit perfect the first time. I would also recomend copper header and collector gaskets because my 400 was pretty good at blowing out the paper ones.

Rob B · 06-04-2003, 05:34 AM

I beg to differ on being the same as the 67-69 F body. If you have E-heads that is the headers you will be told that will fit, but they won't. The passenger side 2 piece will fit with no problems (must say I am talking about Hedman Husslers 1 7/8" because Hedman is the only ones making round port pipes for e-heads to fit an x or f body outside of custom made headers). Move to the driver side and its a whole nother story!!! Piss poor ass bending! They'll hit the gear box, the steering knuckle, as well as a stock starter. I could understand this if the area was tight on space but there is pletty of room to adjust the bends. When the ones I have now rot away, next time it will be a custom set or hopefully Hooker will have decided to make round ports to fit the ventura!
If you have D-ports and you want the perfect header that doesn't hit nothing, pletty of room and super easy to install, spend the extra money and buy the Hooker Super Comps made for the Ventura, not the firebird! They are 1 /34" and an excellent quality out of the box header.

On a side note Scott Esterle supposably had Hedman making a 1 3/4" 3" collector that was to be a custom fit to the ventura for round ports and was not the race style header, came with the collector flanges so you could bolt exhaust right up to it with out any modifcations. I think a couple of the guys on this board have bought them so maybe they will chime in on their experiences.

Brian '74 · 06-04-2003, 08:50 AM

What about the 67-69 FB 2" Hedman Hedders? I am picking a set up this weekend to use w/ E-heads in a '74. Anyone try these?

Rob B · 06-04-2003, 09:41 AM

The 1 7/8" and 2" are suppose to be the same bend. God help you on the Drivers side! If for some reason you have no problems I'd love to here from you becaused I'd switch in a heartbeat.
My experiences are based upon using stock suspension, stock starter, solid motor mounts, and a manual gearbox off of a nova (this actually gives you more room at the frame rail than a power gear box).

Brian '74 · 06-04-2003, 12:45 PM

Rob B.,
I don't have the car yet, but I thought that they shared the same subframe w/ a 1st gen Firebird. Is this not true? The headers are a 67-69 Hedman Hedder's 2"/3.5" header. A local racer has them and I was going ot buy them this weekend. I may have to reconsider this.

Brian

ventura7211 · 06-04-2003, 12:49 PM

If a ventura and the 67-69 f-bodys shared the same subframe and steering systems how is the ventura differant? I've used headers for the firebirds with no problems but I've also only used d-ports. I'm just wondering because my '68 firebird looks exactly the same as my '72 ventura under the hood. The only difference may be that the motor in the ventura seems to sit further forward than the '68 I thought it was just differences in the firewalls of the cars. Does the motors infact sit in different locations making the cars slightly different?

Rob B · 06-04-2003, 01:18 PM

The 73, 74 ventura has an oddball font steering configuration that is almost impossible to get replacement parts for. Try and find the correct draglink and you'll see what I mean! The outer tie rod end alone cost $50 a pop compared to $12 for a nova. So therefore I switch everything to a Nova front steering including a manual gearbox and never looked back. I'm not positive but I believe the difference is in the placement or angle of the gearbox and steering column shaft to the firewall. Why would Hooker have a separate Pt# for D-port headers specifically for a Ventura if there wasn't something different between the 2 cars. If you are buying 2" hedman race header for a 1st gen firebird they should fit. If you are buying the 2" headers made for a firebird and putting them in a ventura, you are going to have some fun!

ventura7211 · 06-04-2003, 01:35 PM

I checked both of my cars, the boxes appear the same but the steering shafts are completely differant so I can see how bigger headers would be a pain to get them to fit. Do you think that switching to a s-10 manual steering box would create a little room? Also I did not know the switched the steering configuration in '73, I thought these cars were pretty much all nova except for the pontiac front sheet metal, drive train and tail lights.

Brian '74 · 06-04-2003, 07:11 PM

Hhhmmmmmm, I have the coulmn and box from the '68. Well I am going to get the headers, if they won't work I can sell them on Ebay and get my money back

BAD ANDY · 06-04-2003, 07:22 PM

I MUST HAVE THE HEADERS YOU TALKING ABOUT ON MY CAR.

I BOUGHT MINE WITH HEADERS ON IT, BUT EVERYTHING YOU SAID IS TRUE

. MY DRIVERS SIDE HEADERS LOOK LIKE THEY RAISED THE ENGINE THREE FEET AND DROPPED IT TO GET THEM TO FIT. MY CAR USED TO HAVE FACTORY AIR AND I'M NOT SURE BUT I THINK IT WAS REMOVED SO THE PASSENGER SIDE COULD WRAP AROUND THE FRAME

. AND DID I MENTION THE TWO PIECE SIDE LEAKS.

. SO IF ANY ONE HAS A GOOD ANSWER I'D ALSO LIKE TO HEAR!

Rob B · 06-05-2003, 05:27 AM

I just wish Hooker made a round port header because their D-ports for the ventura fit so nice.

I don't think it matter what gearbox you have in the car, there probably going to hit. I just think it piss por ass workmanship on Hedmans part. There is to much room in the compartment to adjust the bends.

Haven't had any problems with leakage on the passenger side yet but they've never been separated since they were put on.

Brian '74 · 06-05-2003, 06:11 AM

Well, the deal is set for me to pick the 2" Hedman's up this weekend. If they don't fit they will be on Ebay.

I did find that Indian Adventures has a round port header for the same application(s).
IA Headers but they are big and pretty expensive unless you are building a 10-11 second car.

Rob B · 06-05-2003, 06:59 AM

I thought thats why we were having this discussion

Pipes to fit a 10-11 second ventura!!! Anything less would be be unsatifactory

Brian '74 · 06-05-2003, 08:41 AM

Sorry, I have a 1 track mind!!

Well, maybe 2 or 3!!

Brian '74 · 06-10-2003, 11:30 AM

Think these will fit?!

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