DeTomaso Mailing List: June 98, Message #251

Please help guys!  I need a good 351 Cleveland block fast.  At least in time
to get an engine together and installed in a GT-5 for Pocono. Does anyone
have one for sale or a resource?

The history is this.  I've been attending Pocono for many years now with a
couple of friends I grew up with - grade school and all.  All married at
this stage of our lives this is our annual reunion and getaway.  We arrive
in from California, Texas and Connecticut to thrash Ferrari's and Lambo's
with my Pantera while getting a little time away from our SOs.  At the end
of the '96 event, my Connecticut buddy, Phil, say's ' Hey I committed to buy
that '72 converted GT-5 of Glenn Pascal.  I was amazed - and more than a bit
skeptical. However, my hats off to him as he acquired it in time for Pocono
'97.  Unfortunately, Phil had no time to prep the car and even with his
fingers crossed it didn't pass tech inspection.  Bad rear wheel bearings.
Phils an Orthodontist and very protective of his hands.  While mechanically
inclined, it had been a long time since I saw him with non-dental tools in
his hands. However, Saturday at Pocono with grease under all his nails he
replaced those rear wheel bearings in the Paddock.  Unfortunately, the car
laden with poorly adjusted Holley projection? ran terribly - and I guess
lean.  On Sunday the car saw the track but the engine ran poorly.  He handed
the car over to his friend to try and, well - it came back under tow.  His
friend unable, perhaps too embarrassed, to communicate the noises the engine
made when it ceased functioning, left everyone optimistically thinking it
may have been a blown head gasket.  We loaded the car on his trailer and to
his home in Connecticut it went.  The car sat on his trailer in his garage
for 10 months.  Last month, Glenn came and picked it up to repair it.  Upon
disassembly, it was evident a valve head had broken off destroying the head
and damaging the cylinder wall in the piston bore.  ( I alone know of a half
dozen of these occurrences) I had a spare head that I sent to Glenn, while
Glenn had the block magnafluxed to see if it could be saved by sleeving.
Apparently, the block can't be saved.  So, if you can help us with Project
Pocono please feel free to e-mail or call me at work - my number is (713)
216-5475.

Thanks everyone
John T