Page 1 - Stone stock
Page 2 - Bodywork and paint
Page 3 - Engine swap

This is my 1972 Pontiac Ventura. My very first car. It was a birthday present from my parents when I turned 16 in 1987. I've kept it with me all these years. It wasn't perfect by any means but I drove it every day to school and work.

It had the stock 2-bbl Pontiac 350 with an automatic and 2.73 gears. Certainly no hot rod but a good all around car. It was two-tone orange and white. The paint was pretty sad but it didn't have much rust.

This is how it looked in 1987.

Aren't the gold center wheels and the Road Hugger Radials cool? Weren't the 1980's something in America?

It was still fun running around in Eastern Oregon. Sounded good with the dual exhaust it had on it but it only had the one-wheel-peel diff so I kept rotating the tires around to the right rear. That stopped pretty fast after I had to buy that first set of tires.

Fall of 1991, stripped most everything down to bare metal. Car body had at least 2" of plastic filler in some areas. Had to replace one panel and pull rear back into shape.

The drivers door, door jamb and front part of 1/4 panel had been wadded in an accident. The person who did the previous repair decided to sculpt the 1/4 panel back up to proper level. Almost 2" of plastic filler. Had to cut out worst part of 1/4 panel and weld in new piece. Had to pull door jamb back into shape.

It just had those little dings all over the place. Took a lot of time but I finally managed to get everything straight enough for 1/8" plastic body filler. Not bad for a first time body man in training.

Never lean against your car or sit on the hood. Now you see why car owners freak out when you lean against their car. Most just don't understand. I say everyone should have to do this so they know how much hard work it truly is. I cringe when I see people do this or throw a door into the side of your freshly painted pride and joy.