Reply to "Wanting a new engine for my 73 Pantera - what to replace it with?!!!"

First a clarification. The oem motor for a 1973 Pantera is a 1973 351C 4V (i.e. Cobra Jet) motor. What the Mustang guys call a Q code motor. The exact same motor found in a 1973 Mustang. 8.0:1 compression ratio, Autolite 4300D carburetor, exhaust gas recirculation, dual point distributor, cobra jet camshaft indexed 4 degrees retarded from the 1971 specification. The heads have big 4V ports, 78cc open combustion chambers, 2V size valves, and the pistons are dished.

Second, if it were me I would fix the engine you got and minimally modify it to achieve 400 to 450 bhp. That's an easy goal to achieve with a 351C. Raise the compression, port the heads, install a better cam & matching valve train, and finally induction system and exhaust system improvements will do it. I won't go into detail here.

-G