Scott, I have to agree with you. The Pantera is a hybrid in the chassis/engine sense (not in the Toyota Prius sense). It is one manufacturer's chassis with another manufacturer's engine. Sure, Ford owned a controlling interest in DeTomaso for a few years but that doesn't mean the Pantera is a Ford any more than Ferrari's are Fiats, Lamborghini's are Audi's or Bugatti's are VW's. Ford enthusiasts buy Pantera's because they have Ford engines but not all Pantera owners are Ford "guys". At the time I was building a new engine for my Pantera, I decided a Ford based motor was the way to go (Fontana block, SVO heads, IR EFI, etc.). At the time, I felt it was the best option for me. Then Chevy came out with the LS7 and I felt sick that I'd just invested three or four times the cost of an LS7, in my Ford based motor. The LS7 was, and still is, the pinnacle of pushrod engine development. Furthermore, an ECU change, a cam change and free flow exhaust pick-up close to 100 Hp over stock. The most complicated aspect of the swap is dealing with the engine's dry-sump lubrication system. The LS3 has a wet sump, so it's an easier conversion. If I was to do it over, an LS7 conversion is the way I'd go, without a doubt. Naturally, I'd have some custom billet valve covers made with the DeTomaso logo machined into them (just like the ones I have on my Ford motor). Then, there's that cool Kinsler carbon fiber cross-ram intake for the LS motors . . . Anyone want to buy a Fontana aluminum block, C302B head, solid roller cam, IR EFI Pantera motor ? ? ? ! ! !
Attachments
Images (1)
