If your theory is correct then I would think that there would be later 302's in the later cars?
There are 69, 70 and 71 models of the 'goose.
No matter. No pissing contest for me. I just dribble now.
How well are the Mangustas documented by Detomaso? Manufacturing dates would have been kept, no?
I would think that might effect this carb reversal situation too?
J codes have their date codes stamped into the block near the water pump and the engine tag has the engine date on it as well.
You could document that information with enough owners reporting to a central registrar I would think?
Detomaso could have bought a batch of J codes and just stored them until gone. That could account for all J codes into the '70 models too?