Mike, a 46-year-old toolmaker, has been racing for two years. He bought his Ventura in 2009 because “I love the old, nostalgic drag cars.” It’s special to him because “I really like the roofline of the [’61] bubbletops.” His favorite moment in it “was the first time it lifted the left front wheel.” Mike also owns a ’69 four-speed Judge, and has owned various ’64-’72 GTOs in the past.
Strip Specs
Year/Model: ’61 Ventura
Race Weight With Driver: 4,260 lbs
Curb Weight: 4,050 lbs
Fuel Level When Weighed: 3⁄4 tank
Fuel: 50/50 blend of 91-octane and 100LL AV gas
Engine: ’68 code-YS 400
Cubic Inches Before/After: 400/461
Engine Built By: . .Self (with input from Tom Wilhite and Jim Butler)
Induction System
Air Cleaner: Reproduction Corvette w/modified base
Carburetor: Two 600-cfm Edelbrocks
Jets: As delivered
Spacer Plates: None
Intake Manifold: Vintage Offenhauser 360-deg., dual-quad, removed crossover and all unnecessary mounting lugs
Fuel System
Pump: Mallory, with internal regulator
Lines: 3⁄8-in
Regulator: In pump, non-adjustable
Heads
Casting: ’68 No. 16
Head Porting: Yes, also exh. c/o filled with alum.
Flow Numbers: 253-cfm intake at 0.600 lift
Valves: Ferrea stainless steel, 2.11 / 1.77-in
Bottom End
Pistons: Ross, forged, 4.150-in, dished for pump gas
Rings:Total Seal, file-to-fit, 1⁄16, 1⁄16, 3⁄16
Rods: Eagle H-beam, forged-steel, 6.800-in
Compression Ratio: 9.4:1
Crankshaft: Eagle cast, 4.250-in stroke, 3.00-in mains
Rotating Assembly Balanced: Yes
Camshaft
Brand: Comp Cam solid-roller
Duration at 0.050: 254/260-deg
Duration Advertised: 291/297-deg
Lift with Specified Rocker Arms: 0.622/0.628-in
Lobe Separation Angle: 112-deg
Installed Position: Straight up
Rocker Arms: Scorpion 1.6:1
Ignition
Distributor: MSD Pro-Billet
Amplifier: MSD Digital 6 Plus
Coil: MSD Blaster 2
Wires: MSD 8mm solid-core
Spark Plugs: ACDelco R43S
Total Timing: 34-deg
Rpm That Total Timing is Reached: 2,200
Exhaust
Headers: Mad Dog (modified for better clearance)
Primaries: 1.75-in
Collectors: 3.50-in
Exhaust Pipes: 3.00-in
Mufflers: Flowmaster Super 44 two-chamber
Crossover: 2.50-in H-pipe
Drivetrain
Transmission: Turbo 400, performance rebuild w/Ultra Bell bellhousing
Converter: Continental 10-in, 2,800-rpm stall
Shifter: B&M (nostalgic)
Rear: Stock
Rear Gear Ratio: 4.10
Spool: Fabcraft
Axles: Fabcraft, 31-spline
Chassis and Suspension
Brakes F/R: . . 10.5-in Fabcraft discs / 11-in stock drums
Wheels F/R: Cragar S/S 15x5 / 15x7
Tires F/R: BFGoodrich Silvertown reprod. 7.75-15 / M/T Street 28x11.5x15LT
Tire Pressure F/R: 32 psi / 14 psi
Suspension Front
Springs: Stock replacement
Shocks: Competition Engineering 90/10
Control Arms: Stock
Stabilizer Bar: Stock
Other Features: None
Suspension Rear
Springs: Stock w/airbags, 20-psi (r)/12-psi (l)Shocks: Competition Engineering 50/50
Control Arms: Boxed upper, boxed lower w/polyurethane bushings
Stabilizer Bar: None
Other Features: None
Chassis Mods: Six-point rollbar
The Rest
Interior Mods: . . ’64 GTO Custom Sport (wood) wheel, Auto Meter Shift-Lite, Moon reproduction tachometer, oil press, water temp gauges
Exterior Mods: VFN Super-Duty hoodscoop, inner headlights removed for nostalgic look
Safety Mods: Driveshaft loop, RCI safety harness, battery cut-off switch
Color: Coronado Red
Launch Technique: Footbrake to 2,500 rpm
Best 1⁄8-mile ET/MPH Prior to Event: 8.10/86.17
Best 1⁄4-mile ET/MPH Prior to Event: 12.60/109.38
Strip Tuning Log |
| Run/Tuning |
Launch RPM |
Shift Point |
60-ft. |
1/8-mile |
1/4-mile |
| 1. 31-deg timing |
2,600 |
5,600 |
1.82 |
8.00/87.05 |
12.54/107.95 |
| 2. Remove air cleaners, open exhaust dumps |
2,600 |
5,600 |
1.84 |
7.90/88.39 |
12.37/110.00 |
| 3. 34-deg timing |
2,600 |
5,600 |
1.78 |
7.83/110.97 |
12.26/108.71 |
| Best Pass Corrected |
11.88/112.24 |
| 4. Same |
Idle |
5,600 |
1.84 |
7.96/88.17 |
12.42/110.60 |
| Run Notes: 1) Hooked good, ran straight; 2) Hooked harder; 3) Great launch; 4) Better front end lift but hurt 60-foot. |