FE motor in a Pantera

I was thinkin about the same thing.But dose it go with the flow!!A alum block 427 block and heads at 600hp on street gas sounds like blast to me. weighs in less than a 302 steel motor



[This message has been edited by Lloyd Dog (edited 10-13-2003).]

I would like to see a general discussion on different engines people have put in the car, which work easily, which require a lot of mods, what are the problems associated with changing these engines and what will adapt to the ZF. I was always curious about the 400M. I also wondered if there were ZF alternatives from other cars.

Gary

This topic comes up all the time.

The most common swaps are: 351W, 302, 385 Ford (429/460/514), BBC, and 4.6.

You can get headers for the 429/460 and 351W swaps. Everything else will probably be custom.

The bellhousing matches for the 351W and 302, and I think for the 4.6 too. There are bellhousings out there for Chevy. Everything else will probably require an adapter plate.

The FE will fit, but why? Don't get me wrong. I love the FE. I had a 428CJ in a Mustang. It was bad. But... so is the 351C.

The 4.6 is short on low end torque. I have a 97 Cobra, and it runs pretty strong, but it has very low gearing from the factory. The 2003 Cobra has a nice blower 4.6.

You can fit a 5.4, but it probably requires more surgery. Someone's doing that swap right now.

The 385 guys (429/460/514) have tons of power. With alum heads, they are about the same weight as an iron 351C. If you want to go big, do one of those. People have already done it, so you won't have to make mounts, hoses, brackets, etc.

One guy put a 429 Boss in a Pantera.

Search for Hemi Pantera. You'll find Goran's website. Great site. Great guy.

If I get tired of my 351C, I'll either do a 2003 Cobra engine or a 385-series. I don't see the point in building a 351W.

I agree. The iron FE looks like a poor choice: difficult to install and 100 pounds more on the rear where it is definitely not needed.

Out of curiosity, eons ago, Hall sold 302ci Ford/Gurney-Eagles for Panteras. Anyone still have one of those installed, or remember riding in a Pantera so equipped?

It was just a thought since I gave a 428 based stroker assembled in my shop at the moment. It has a lot of aluminum in it, probably 100lbs less than a typical iron head and intake FE. It will most likely go into the truck as planned, so that I can use all of that torque to pull around other projects! Hopefully a Pantera project in the near future.

------------------
Next Project, I want a visually stunning Pantera with GT5 conversion.

From the past, there are several problems with FE-based Pantera conversions. First- cost. FE stuff is expensive. Second- the FE represented the performance engine of the 50s and early '60s and is now considered ancient-tech. Finally, the block is long requiring a setback in the chassis, the bellhousing is wider than the Cleveland so there are gearshift rod routing issues and it is heavy. Other than that, assuming you can solve these without getting discouraged, a 514 crate motor (based on the 460 from PreProFormance) in a Pantera will probably blow your doors off- for less money, and speed shop parts are much more readily available. There are serveral successful FE-based Panteras running around the country but fewer each year.

"You can fit a 5.4, but it probably requires more surgery. Someone's doing that swap right now."

For those of you that don't know I am one of the ones doing a 5.4 and I think the only one doing a DOHC 5.4. So far the only surgery required is to the gas tank and the back of the cylinder heads. I am a couple of weeks away from actually putting the engine in the car but here is my opinion so far.

Good:

The engine looks amazing

The bellhousing fits the 4.6/5.4 with minor modifications.

The 5.4 is considerably shorter than any of those other engines so you can go "humpless".

Bad:

the gas tank and shield have to be clearanced to clear the front of the cylinder head

requires a custom intake manifold $$$$. and headers (actually neither are that bad as both really wake the engine up performance wise). Custom motor mounts and headers are available from Wilkinson.

Cooling system redesigned

engine management system $$$


Well the project continues.

madguy