Will a Blue Thunder manifold for a Mustang fit a Pantera? I seem to remember that the Pantera manifold is milled differently (slanted?) so the carb fits under the screen?
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Hey Tom,
I don't know if the Blue Thunder intake will fit under the engine screen, but as for the milling, all the Cleveland intakes are milled with the carb pad at an angle because the engine sits at an angle in a front engine car. Many people mill the carb pad flat since the engine sits level/flat in the Pantera. I did this to my Weiand Xcelerator intake.
I don't know if the Blue Thunder intake will fit under the engine screen, but as for the milling, all the Cleveland intakes are milled with the carb pad at an angle because the engine sits at an angle in a front engine car. Many people mill the carb pad flat since the engine sits level/flat in the Pantera. I did this to my Weiand Xcelerator intake.
If you decide to mill the carb pad flat, consider having your machinist re-drill and heli-coil your carb stud holes plumb to your new carb seating area.
Thanks Garth and Larry...the blue thunders are tough to find and I found one for a mustang that's new never used so not sure if it would be worth machining down to fit. I do know a machinist so I wouldn't think it would be too hard or expensive to make work.
Most intake manifolds have a slight angle milled into the carburetor mounting pad. For instance the Edelbrock manifold which is so popular amongst Pantera owners. No big deal, nobody notices it, its not a performance issue.
The Blue Thunder manifold is available in two versions. A "standard" version or a "Pantera" version. Either will perform properly in your car. The very slight angle of the carb pad (3 degrees I think) in the standard version is milled flat in the Pantera version. Since its really not a performance issue I'd bet Art Francis provided a "Pantera version" to achieve a little extra clearance for the rear of the air cleaner assembly. I think its wisest to use the Pantera version in a Pantera for the clearance it provides.
Will the induction system fit under the engine screen using the BT manifold? Well ... the manifold is a little taller than a Ford manifold, it raises the carburetor about as much as the EGR plate of the 1973/1974 Panteras. Its probably an easier fit in an L model because of the "bubble" they have in the engine screen. This means the Pre-L Pantera needs that extra clearance of the Pantera version of the manifold more so than the L-version of the Pantera. Below is a picture of a 351C equipped with a BT manifold, all fitting under the engine screen of an L model.
-G
The Blue Thunder manifold is available in two versions. A "standard" version or a "Pantera" version. Either will perform properly in your car. The very slight angle of the carb pad (3 degrees I think) in the standard version is milled flat in the Pantera version. Since its really not a performance issue I'd bet Art Francis provided a "Pantera version" to achieve a little extra clearance for the rear of the air cleaner assembly. I think its wisest to use the Pantera version in a Pantera for the clearance it provides.
Will the induction system fit under the engine screen using the BT manifold? Well ... the manifold is a little taller than a Ford manifold, it raises the carburetor about as much as the EGR plate of the 1973/1974 Panteras. Its probably an easier fit in an L model because of the "bubble" they have in the engine screen. This means the Pre-L Pantera needs that extra clearance of the Pantera version of the manifold more so than the L-version of the Pantera. Below is a picture of a 351C equipped with a BT manifold, all fitting under the engine screen of an L model.
-G
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In regards to finding the manifold, Dennis Quella used to sell them.
Two other sources are Dennis Carrico (DSC Motorsports) and Barry Rabotnick (Survival Motorsports)
Two other sources are Dennis Carrico (DSC Motorsports) and Barry Rabotnick (Survival Motorsports)
Thanks George! That's great info. I'll take the advice and go with the Pantera version. I have a late build 72 "L" (4382)but don't have that bubble in my engine screen? Was that stock?
quote:If you decide to mill the carb pad flat, consider having your machinist re-drill and heli-coil your carb stud holes plumb to your new carb seating area.
Yup! I had to do that!
4460 here. No bubble. Just sceen.
I wonder if anyone has a bubble screen for sale or if one of the vendors has something.
quote:DSC Motorsports
I too am planing on buying the blue thunder pantera manifold . Did it fit under the stock screen ?
quote:Originally posted by George P:
Most intake manifolds have a slight angle milled into the carburetor mounting pad. For instance the Edelbrock manifold which is so popular amongst Pantera owners. No big deal, nobody notices it, its not a performance issue.
The Blue Thunder manifold is available in two versions. A "standard" version or a "Pantera" version. Either will perform properly in your car. The very slight angle of the carb pad (3 degrees I think) in the standard version is milled flat in the Pantera version. Since its really not a performance issue I'd bet Art Francis provided a "Pantera version" to achieve a little extra clearance for the rear of the air cleaner assembly. I think its wisest to use the Pantera version in a Pantera for the clearance it provides.
Will the induction system fit under the engine screen using the BT manifold? Well ... the manifold is a little taller than a Ford manifold, it raises the carburetor about as much as the EGR plate of the 1973/1974 Panteras. Its probably an easier fit in an L model because of the "bubble" they have in the engine screen. This means the Pre-L Pantera needs that extra clearance of the Pantera version of the manifold more so than the L-version of the Pantera. Below is a picture of a 351C equipped with a BT manifold, all fitting under the engine screen of an L model.
-G
At one time I had mounted the tall Ford Motorsport spider manifold on the car (for A3) heads.
It's manufavtured with the carb sitting flat, not angled.
In order to get it fit, I had it milled 17 degrees. They took 3/8" in the front to 0 in the back.
Sounds strange because it is the opposite of what the Pantera theoretically needs, but it fit then with a generic L88 air cleaner.
That was before I decided to go back to taking abuse from the Webers and discovered they had changed their aditude and decided to cooperate.
Believe that's what I'm running. Was told they don't flow evenly . . .
Had mine flowed - sure enough. After porting it was better . . . and made a difference!
Had mine flowed - sure enough. After porting it was better . . . and made a difference!