DeTomaso Mailing List: December 2000, Message #60

Mark:

	I'm one of the friends that helped with Rob's 351W conversion.  The only thing
that I know that is somewhat troublesome is the thermostat housing and associated
hoses.  We had to fab a new throttle bracket out of a small piece of angle iron, move
the e-brake attachment (to clear his bigger oil pan).  Other than that, everything
bolted right up.  We didn't install his AC and just modified the alternator bracket
from some bracket he got from a local junkyard.  The headers didn't fit perfectly, but
a some judicious minor dents with the mallet solved that.  It's a real good time to
check out your gas tank, if you haven't already.   Rob used a Edlebrock low-rise manifold
so everything still fits under the engine screen.  I'm using the Victor Jr, (which is
the same as your crate motor, right?) and that won't clear the screen, even with
a drop base air-cleaner.   Although it might work if you got a really small 
(height-wise air cleaner, with one of those top-filter elements)

I'll be interested to hear how you solve the thermostat housing problem.
You may not have it as not all Pantera's have exactly the same amount of clearance in the
front by the center engine cover.  The problem we had is we couldn't find a hose that had
a sharp short radius bend to let the engine cover seat completely without rubbing/bending
the water outlet hose.   Right now, Rob just lives with it...  I suspect he's waiting till
I finish my Winsdor conversion (near exact same story as yours, just got it licensed, 
engine goes boom) to see what I do.. :)    We tried the 90 degree fitting (from SVO) and it
actually hit the firewall.  The 45 degree fitting seems about right except it needs turned
45-90 degrees towards the water tanks.  That's the solution I'm contemplating right now
for mine.  That *may* interfere with the heater bypass hose in the thermostat housing.
Let me know if you have other questions or concerns.  I've had my Windsor in and out
*lots* of times for fitting of various thing.  

Bill Bitner
#5171 undergoing resto-mods