DeTomaso Mailing List: September 98, Message #58

>To: "Bjarke BC Nielsen" <Bjarke.Nielsen@MaerskEsbjerg.Com>
>From: USER_LOGIN@datanet.ab.ca
>Subject: Re: Exploed clutch, Pressure plate, Bell housing, transaxle and
engine block
>
Hi! 

I  thought I might add a few more cents worth here.

My friend had his throttle stick for about 5 seconds before he could get the
key turned off. The tach was seen to bury at 9000+ rpm during this time. The
motor and drive train STAYED TOGETHER, but it almost instantly started to
smoke from the exhaust BIG TIME. He had to replace 8 pushrods about 500
miles later and he  put about 500 more miles on it until oil mileage was
down to 50 miles per litre(quart). I pulled it apart soon after and found no
damage to valves or piston tops BUT I recalled reading somewhere that 351C's
are prone to cylinder ballooning when over-reved. I found this to be the
case. All cylinders were ballooned about 10 thou out in the middle bore.
This explains the oil burning. 

I would suggest checking for ballooning. This might not be conclusive, but
if it is present you can be sure the motor was over-reved at some time in
its past life.

Norm Searle
>
>
>
>>Who can explain how the following damage tog place or has some one seen this
>>before?.
>>
>>My Pantera GTS from 73 was sendt to a garage for whell aligment, when i
>>wanted to pick the car up a major explosion had occured in the engine
>>compartment.
>>
>>The rear deck (lid) had dents from below.
>>The bellhousing was missing about 50%.
>>The pressure plate shield had been changing schape to something looking like
>>the letter U.
>>The pressure plate shield was still attatch to the flywheel wtih one bolt,
>>the rest was sheared off.
>>Parts from the pressure platehad penetraded the wheel "housing" (inner
>>frame) p/n 19217 a+b.
>>The damage had caused the transaxle housing and engine block to crack.
>>The starter was cracked.
>>The clutch disc was still OK.
>>
>>The bolts in the flywheel had not been over tighten and did not have any
>>other problems.
>>
>>If possible can some one explain this encident?.
>>Has there been any common problems with the clutch assambly on the Panters?.
>>What would happend if say a finger in the pressure plate would brake off and
>>is this a common problem
>>or has some one expirend that a finger in the clutch been broken ?.
>>
>>Regards
>>
>>
>>Bjarke BC Nielse
>>
>>BBCN@post5.tele.dk
>>Bjarke.Nielsen@maerskesbjerg.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>