Reply to "Pantera #7206 - GTS"

More food for thought regarding your monster motor... (I'm bored and stuck in an airport...)

Panteras sometimes get a bad rap for being unreliable. The stock 351C is an extremely reliable engine in its original, factory format. People aren't content with 300hp, and begin experimenting. And that's where things start to go awry.

The Ford factory built millions of motors with parts that were engineered to go together, with extensive testing. YOur local speed shop may have built a hundred, max, with the same configuration. You are forging your own path and you have to know that.

I'm convinced that a lot of engine problems come from people who didn't select parts that play well together, or didn't optimize the overall system, or they strayed too far from the main path. The performed a certain amount of experimentation, and some experiments turn out well and some don't.

Talk to owners of the 427 hammer before buying it, and talk to owners of any speed shop before spending your money there. There are lots of reliable, high output motors out there. There are also some sad stories.

When I had my motor rebuilt, I had Dan Jones specify every component, and I'm thrilled. Seek out someone you trust and let them tell you what you should and should not aim for.

I guess my point is that a stock, 300hp engine is going to be dead reliable. The further you stray from stock configuration, the more likely you could have problems if you aren't careful. (this isn't a warning away from radical engines, just make sure you know what you are getting into)

Let's see... where's the bar in here?