quote:Originally posted by George P:
Most intake manifolds have a slight angle milled into the carburetor mounting pad. For instance the Edelbrock manifold which is so popular amongst Pantera owners. No big deal, nobody notices it, its not a performance issue.
The Blue Thunder manifold is available in two versions. A "standard" version or a "Pantera" version. Either will perform properly in your car. The very slight angle of the carb pad (3 degrees I think) in the standard version is milled flat in the Pantera version. Since its really not a performance issue I'd bet Art Francis provided a "Pantera version" to achieve a little extra clearance for the rear of the air cleaner assembly. I think its wisest to use the Pantera version in a Pantera for the clearance it provides.
Will the induction system fit under the engine screen using the BT manifold? Well ... the manifold is a little taller than a Ford manifold, it raises the carburetor about as much as the EGR plate of the 1973/1974 Panteras. Its probably an easier fit in an L model because of the "bubble" they have in the engine screen. This means the Pre-L Pantera needs that extra clearance of the Pantera version of the manifold more so than the L-version of the Pantera. Below is a picture of a 351C equipped with a BT manifold, all fitting under the engine screen of an L model.
-G
At one time I had mounted the tall Ford Motorsport spider manifold on the car (for A3) heads.
It's manufavtured with the carb sitting flat, not angled.
In order to get it fit, I had it milled 17 degrees. They took 3/8" in the front to 0 in the back.
Sounds strange because it is the opposite of what the Pantera theoretically needs, but it fit then with a generic L88 air cleaner.
That was before I decided to go back to taking abuse from the Webers and discovered they had changed their aditude and decided to cooperate.
