Reply to "1717 Engine"

To get your stock engine screen on without removing any carb-spacers which I assume you've found useful (many aren't without dyno tuning), there are a couple of possibilities I can suggest. First, dump the t-bone air cleaner and use a round drop-base unit. This lowers the top of the air cleaner some 1-1/2". Most guys- including racers with 600+ bhp- have good results with a 3" high x 14" dia element, with a black top for reduced glare in the mirror. If you insist on the t-bone, remove both motor mounts and section up to 1" out of the vertical part of the upper mounts with a bandsaw and a TIG welder. You should also either section or Z-bend the steel ZF mount tabs to keep the complete powertrain more-or-less level. There are a few slight interferences to lowering the powertrain but nothing serious; 1" is about the max to keep the pan base from becoming the lowest point of the car. Needless to say, a removeable crossmember should be under the oil pan, which itself should be a fully baffled 10-quart type on any Pantera. That should keep you busy during the cold weather.
Using Ford/SVO high-port alloy heads & intake raises my carb top above the left & right engine covers without a spacer, so I'm in a worse situation than you are, engine-screen-wise, but I'm still trying....