Carburetor on 74

Chuck,

the engine in the Pantera sits "flat".

the engine in the typical front engine, rear wheel drive American auto does not sit flat, it is angled so that the rear of the engine is lower than the front, this was done to align the drivetrain. To compensate for the angle of the engine, the intake manifolds for carbureted auots are cast with an angle to the carb mount, so the carb sits flat when mounted in the auto, necessary for the fuel bowls to operate at the proper level. The rub is, of course, Ford did not manufacture a special manifold for the Pantera, so the carb is tipped forward as you noticed.

The Blue Thunder aftermarket intake manifold is the only 351C 4V single 4 barrell carb manifold available with a flat carb mount, aimed specifically for Cobra & Pantera owners.

George

George thanks for the quick response. My first thought was is the engine level? If the fuel bowls are not level doesn't that mean overflow or leakage? I will pass this info to the person rebuilding my carb. Chuck

George, does the carb have an electric assist choke? If so i can't find the wire with the clip that attaches to the choke coil,is that the correct part name,choke coil? Also it appears this coil is heat sensitive as a tube from the manifold plumbs into it. Do i need both? Chuck

the short answers are yes both times. Yes the choke is electrically "assisted", meaning it is not 100% electric. Yes you need the manifold heated air as well, the choke will not function properly without both.

On the 351C used in Ford vehicles, the heat for the choke was supplied by the manifold heated air in conjunction with heat from a heater hose that was held with a clip intimately against the choke housing. The heater hoses on the Pantera are not routed near the carb, so the electric heat element was added in place of the heater hose. I believe the issue was exhaust emissions, the heater operates the choke more quickly, about 1 minute after the engine bay temperature reaches approx 55 degrees. Below 60 degrees F, the manifold heated air was drawn into the choke housing to heat the bi-metallic spring more slowly. So, if the engine bay is above 60 degrees and the electric heater is disconnected you have neither heated air or the electric heater to warm the bi-metallic spring inside the choke operator.

Power for the heater element came from the center tap of the alternator (stator terminal). This termial should have a white wire with black stripe running between the stator & voltage regulator. Your pantera is so low mileage I'm kinda assuming the wiring, alternator, etc is still "stock".

The proper terminology? Well, the whole assembly is a bi-metal thermostatic choke operator, or more commonly the automatic choke operator. The little heater is a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) ceramic heater. The round, black, housing that contains the bi-metal spring & the heater element is a choke thermostat housing. Its replaceable, Pantera specific, I'll bet Mike's parts dept has them in stock.

George