Little Horsepower- less than 400HP Cleveland!

quote:

So, will a Pantera be worth driving if it only has a factory like pre-emissions Cleveland build

Absolutely!!! I would argue that a 400 hp Pantera may be more enjoyable to drive around town than a 500 hp Pantera because it will tend to be more streetable.

Remember, you can always do as VW owners used to do during fuel-mileage discussions-

Lie.

Some of those "500+ horse engine" owners- and/or their dyno operators- are likely doing this. I have several friends that have pulled their high-horse engines- one of which cost $26,000 and is still for sale I believe- and replaced them with more streetable engines. As one said, 'You don't need to spin 12" wide rear tires in 3rd gear to take your lady to Sunday Brunch. It ruins her appetite!"

I think that the most "streetable" everyday Pantera is the one that Ford had Detomaso deliver new.

This is part of the heart of the discussion when someone asks which camshaft should I use?

If I had to drive my Pantera everyday, it sure would not be like it is now.

This thing is now just a toy for me and is like riding the giant roller coasters. I do not want to do that every day, all day long.

I said that 40 years ago I knew someone who drove his fathers '74 from Grosse Point Shores, MI, to Sparta, NJ in 8 hours.

The only way I would do that in my car is if I could do it in 4.

Do the math (and Google's).

quote:

Originally posted by Bosswrench:
Remember, you can always do as VW owners used to do during fuel-mileage discussions-

Lie.

Some of those "500+ horse engine" owners- and/or their dyno operators- are likely doing this. I have several friends that have pulled their high-horse engines- one of which cost $26,000 and is still for sale I believe- and replaced them with more streetable engines. As one said, 'You don't need to spin 12" wide rear tires in 3rd gear to take your lady to Sunday Brunch. It ruins her appetite!"

I don't seem to have any issues with driving a Pantera with over 500 horse power on the street. Of course port fuel injection on an all aluminum stroker engine with the right camshaft helps make things easier to live with. We logged over 2k miles on the Pantera going to and from the Texas rally and the car ran great on the highway and in city traffic. I do agree that you have to control yourself in the first couple of gears because the rear tires can sometimes break loose. I try to think of the cost of replacing the rear tires every time my right foot wants to go all the way to the floor. My wife never complains about full power runs, just as long as we are going in a straight line and I don't start to burn the back tires off.

quote:

Originally posted by PanteraDoug:....
This is part of the heart of the discussion when someone asks which camshaft should I use?...

Not happening! going to let the Builder chose.

My relationship/contact with this Builder is very sparse. The friend that delivered it to him is just one of his long time buddy's and is one of the reasons he is even doing mine.

I did talk to him last week and thus informed that he had the heads and if they check out, he would then start putting it back together. All he said about the cam is that he would be changing mine. he then got above my head talking about valve geometery would take a little time.

Maybe some here may have heard of him if you followed NHRA in the 70/80's. Roosevelt/Melvin Revels? He has mentioned his past and dropped some names, but doesn't remember exactly what records his father held

quote:

Originally posted by Bosswrench:
...'You don't need to spin 12" wide rear tires in 3rd gear...

But I do hope I can burn 8" in 1st

Letting someone else pick a cam for you is like letting someone else pick your wife. "Mom! I said she's too fat for me!"

I have over 500hp and have no problem driving it on the street. People make it sound as if the tires break loose at idle.

Joseph ... I laughed at the title when you first posted this topic!

Boost the compression of your Pantera's engine to 10:1, install a good carburetor, install a good exhaust, and install a camshaft with at least as much "performance" as the Cobra Jet cam; i.e. overlap between 50° and 60°. Nothing accelerates like a 351C with 4V heads. That alone is enough to scare me nowadays. Or put a smile on my face, depending on the proximity of happy hour.

You gotta know I drove 351C powered cars as my daily drivers most of my life, outside of a few years driving a 3 liter V6 Duratech powered Taurus (200 net bhp) and a 2001 Lincoln Continental. I gave the Taurus to Justin, and put so many miles on the Continental in such a short time it wouldn't pass California smog testing. I sold it to the state for $1000 with over 200,000 miles on the odo. Continentals were equipped with 280 net bhp 4.6 DOHC engines, same motors as the 320 bhp Cobra Mustang motors but tuned for lower rpm. Gosh I miss the Continental. The sport compacts would try to make moves on the "slow old man" and I'd leave them in the rear view mirror like they were nailed to the tarmac! The kids didn't understand what happened.

Once my Pantera is up and running it will be my daily driver, and I'll again be driving a 351C powered car as my daily driver ... until I can't drive any longer. Sport compacts? Most of the time folks just follow Panteras in awe ... but if one should try to make a move ... nothing accelerates like a 351C with 4V heads.