There has been a thread about this manifold in the engine forum below. In case you weren't following I'll provide the full story here. There was a manifold manufactured years ago in Australia by a man named John Cain, designed for the 351C with 2V heads, that was an individual runner manifold for Weber 48 IDF carburetors.
What you are used to seeing on Panteras are Weber 48IDA carburetors. The 48IDA is a racing carburetor with an idle circuit and a main circuit (for wide open throttle). It is a very tall carburetor designed with racing in mind, and has no provision for air filtration. Achieving decent part throttle response requires skillful blending of the idle metering circuit and the main metering circuit. In contrast, the 48IDF is a street carburetor, it has been original equipment on certain sports cars (such as Porsche) in the days before fuel injection. It is a more compact, less tall carburetor that has an intermediate metering circuit for proper and reliable part throttle performance. It is also designed to be used with air filter assemblies and Weber actually makes a line of air filter assemblies for this carburetor.
The manifold designed by John Cain has three appealing factors, (1) it is low enough, that used in conjunction with the 48 IDF carbys and the Weber air filters, the whole assembly will squeeze in below the Pantera engine screen. (2) The 48 IDF carbys perform better on the street than the 48 IDA. (3) You can have air filters to protect your motor from inhaling dust.
This manifold has been out of production for years. An Australian gentleman named Mark, owning a company named Aussie Speed, has acquired the rights to reproduce the John Cain line of intake manifolds. I have approached him and he has began working on preparing to reproduce the Cain 48 IDF Weber intake manifold for the 351C. He is making a change to the design, by adding additional flange material above the intake port, the manifold (designed for 2V heads) will bolt up to 4V heads without leaking air. This is a rather common practice in Australia for 351C intake manifolds.
The price shall be $750 AUD, $605 USD at today's exchange rate, 10% discount for orders of 2 to 5, which lowers the price down to $545 USD. Shipping is extra via UPS or Australian Postal. Mark could not quote an availablity date because the manifold is being modified for use with either 2V or 4V heads, he said he would have a better idea in 2 or 3 weeks.
So, at a price of $545 USD plus shipping, who is interested in a Weber 48IDF intake manifold that will allow the Webers to fit below the engine screen with air filters attached!
Besides the iron 2V & 4V heads, this intake will work with Australian 2V (i.e. 302C) heads, the alloy 2V heads from Edelbrock, CHI or AFD, and by elongating the manifold bolt holes it will work with the CHI 3V head too (although it will sit higher with the 3V heads and possibly not fit below the engine screen).
If you've ever said to yourself you would like to install Webers on your Pantera IF ONLY they weren't so fussy to tune & keep tuned; or IF ONLY they could fit below the engine screen; now is your opportunity, for $545 plus shipping, to purchase a manifold that will solve those problems by allowing use of the proper carburetor.
I must hear from Julian & Marcus, if they are still interested. I also welcome other SERIOUS buyers to chime in and be counted. If we get more than 5 buyers, Mark has promised to negotiate an even better discount for us.
cowboy from hell
Original Post
I know I am asking a lot!