Vehicle Owner

Member ID: smith462

Location: Portland, OR

Vehicle Info

1972 Pontiac Ventura

Bragging Rights

  • 1/4 Mile0 sec @ -1 mph
  • 0-600sec
  • Top Speed-1mph
  • HP375
  • Weight3500lbs

Major Upgrades

  • turbo
  • nitrous
  • bore increase
  • port and polish
  • supercharger
  • extrude honed
  • stroke increase
  • engine swap

Modifications

Performance Parts

Ratings

    • Currently 3.4/5 Stars.

Login to rate

 

Last updated: Aug 07, 2009

Hits: 2,024

Shawn’s Pontiac Ventura

  • Currently 3.4 /5 Stars.
22 guestbook comments

smith462's 1972 Pontiac VenturaPage 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.
smith462's 1972 Pontiac Ventura smith462's 1972 Pontiac Ventura
smith462's 1972 Pontiac Ventura smith462's 1972 Pontiac Ventura
smith462's 1972 Pontiac Ventura smith462's 1972 Pontiac Ventura
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.

smith462's 1972 Pontiac Ventura smith462's 1972 Pontiac Ventura
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.

smith462's 1972 Pontiac Ventura smith462's 1972 Pontiac Ventura

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.
smith462's 1972 Pontiac Ventura smith462's 1972 Pontiac Ventura

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.
smith462's 1972 Pontiac Ventura smith462's 1972 Pontiac Ventura

Guestbook

Displaying entries 1-5 of 22

renato83  

Posted by: renato83

03/05/2009 11:15PM

sweet ride! i just started work on my 73 ventura im havin trouble finding parts like the grill inserts and trim around windows i was hopin maybe you had some ideas?

GIN_TONIC  

Posted by: GIN_TONIC

08/05/2008 08:35AM

Cool Ventura!! Even better it is a daily driver . That 400 must haul @ss Later Trev :)

ballroomblitz79  

Posted by: ballroomblitz79

06/19/2007 01:34AM

kool pontiac. very strong looking car! i like how u showed all the pictures of its transformation though the years. i found a pic from 90 in my firebird. man.. lemme tell ya u were right the 80's were funny in america. i wish the owner of my car from back then can see her now. haha! anywho.. check out my 79 firebird, and tell me what ya think.

ONESIK95  

Posted by: ONESIK95

05/18/2007 02:07AM

Very nice looking keep me updated. Come check out our 1995 GSX 2.3 Stroker 587.39 HP @ 24psi on race gas. Also check out our 1992 GS-T Pro Touring Racecar. Vote and give us feedback on what you think in our guestbook. Thanks again and keep up the good work!!!

~Road/Race Engineering

pontiacflo  

Posted by: pontiacflo

03/15/2007 03:43PM

Thats a great looking Ventura, please update us on the 455. What size rims and tires do you have on there.

Show Older Comments

Post a comment

Bookmark this Ride

Vehicle Owner

Member ID: smith462

Location: Portland, OR