Reply to "UK GT5 Full engine rebuild - 351 Cleveland aiming for 400bhp"

Tom,

Sorry to hear of your woes so early in ownership, but once the engine is done you are going to have one great Pantera on your hands.

Being in the UK Cleveland parts are probably not as easy to come by, so what we might just replace here may be a re-use for you e.g. crank.

A few things that come to mind;

As you have been forced to go this far, it would be worth checking the cylinder wall thickness to ensure that block is sound for re-use.

You mightbe able to get away with thicker head gaskets to solve the piston protusion problem.

Lower on you priority list at present, but do consider a 9 quart baffled Pantera specific oil pan (sump) as offered by Aviaid or Armando.

You likely have a stock Ford 11" clutch, which are known to foul the bell housing as the clearance is minimal. Consider a Pantera specific replacement from Centerforce or McCleod.

If you need them I have a good set of used stock conrods (my rebuild is going upgraded H beam). I'd have to separate the pistons, but they are yours for cost of packing & shipping.

If you need other parts that can be shipped from this side of the pond, then Summit Racing is a few blocks away from my work, just let me know.

Julian