Reply to "Engine out"

I'd go with cutting the cross brace out and replace with a bolt on version...Dennis Quello sells a really heavy duty one that I have or most of the vendors also sell them. The later Pantera's had the removable cross member so it's not a horrible thing to do. That can be done with the motor & trans in the car. I'm in the process of cutting mine out but the motors out and am doing many of the things Garth mentioned to the engine bay.

I see a problem I think...if the main seal is two piece and you have to lower the crank...that can't be done unless the trans is unbolted and removed. Also, since the flywheel essentially protects the clutch from oil, the oil will run down the flywheel and get slung from rotation onto the bell housing...that might drip onto the clutch and contaminate it...but you would have to be losing a lot of oil for that to happen. If you don't have long before the Longchamp is done maybe get some additive that you add to the oil that will swell the main seal like power steering and transmission leak stop does (if the rear main is rubber). That might stop or slow down the leak until you can do the job with the motor and trans out of the car and you can take your time.

I am looking for a set of quench heads as I have the open chamber 4V's now. Garth where did you get the Edelbrock aluminum heads? I have not given much thought to those because the prices I've seen was higher than you mentioned. Are you pretty happy with the Edelbrock heads?

Also as Julian mentioned you might also think about changing the oil pan to one with more capacity and better baffling since the pan will be off. Armando makes a nice Pantera oil pan for under $350 and it holds 10qts with a nice baffle system. I have one and it's made well.