Catman's recent inquiry regarding the Ford 385 series engine swap has prompted me to stir the pot a bit.
Owners have so many varying ideas regarding how to power their Pantera, you and I don't have to agree with them, it is an individual thing, to each his own. I think it is important to show the same amount of respect that we ourselves want for our own "Pantera ideas". However, there is always so much focus on the motor. I would like to challenge you to focus on other areas of the car.
The Noble can click off 3 second 0 to 60 times with only 450 bhp (3.0 liter Ford Duratech V6, twin turbos), because it weighs about 2300 pounds and has a wonderfully sorted chassis. I mention this to perhaps give a few owners ideas, there are other ways to make your Pantera fast, besides the "overkill" of a 514 cubic inch motor. The Pantera is an Italian sports car after all, I don't consider it a muscle car.
After driving Coz's GT5 with it's aluminum flywheel, I agree the aluminum flywheel was not "too much" weight reduction of the reciprocating assembly, and I'm sure everyone understands that the lighter assembly acelerates faster. Lighter rotating parts "behind" the clutch such as wheels, axles, half shafts, rear brake rotors will also help accelerate the Pantera more quickly, reduce vehicle weight overall and make it easier for the driver to acelerate from a dead stop (improve drivability). In fact, the more you lighten the vehicle and the drivetrain parts behind the clutch, the more you can lighten the reciprocating assembly as well. Aluminum engine parts, carbon fiber body panels, removal of the bumpers can significantly lower the weight of the car. Goran has gone so far as to remove his motorized headlights and install fixed headlights. The suspension A-arms could stand some weight reduction too. The alloy arms on the market look cool (bling bling) but weigh as much as the steel parts they replace, what the Pantera owner needs is some serious chrome moly or titanium tubing suspension parts that reduce unsprung weight. There is a reason Wilwood named their brake system "super-lites". The Wilwood calipers are featherlight, and reduce unsprung weight, as do their alloy rotor hats.
Technology exists to produce 500 ft/lbs of torque with the Cleveland motor. I would think that is enough. I know a big motor is impressive at a car show, but driving down the road nobody sees what's under the hood. There are other ways to improve the Pantera such as lightening the car, including the drive train behind the clutch, and sorting out the chassis. If I were an owner with a 400 bhp motor already in my engine bay, and I wanted more performance from my Pantera, it would be nice to have a choice between a 427 crate motor OR a set of titanium axles & half shafts. Personally, I would choose the axles & half shafts. I hope this idea will sink in with a few of you.
thoughts, ideas, anybody?
your friend on the DTBB, George
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