[DeTomaso] Engine/distributor questions

[Paul Timko]

My car (#9270) came with the original Aussie block.  It was the standard 
2V item.  I would have a hard time believing that ANY Pantera came from 
the factory with the Aussie XE block (the good one).  There are a few 
minor differences with the Aussie 2V block from the standard US blocks. 
  You can tell the difference from the outside, there are bulges in the 
sides of the block between the freeze plugs.  It should also have a 
smaller distributor hole (the one in that the very bottom of the hole 
where that distributor uses to drive the oil pump).

While I'm not sure if it came this way from the factory, it also had 
Ford electronic ignition and a Ford electronic distributor.

Paul
#9270

MikeLDrew at aol.com wrote:
> Hi guys, with a special ping for Dan Jones,
> 
> My buddy Stephane Bergeron in Paris, owner of pushbutton #1256, which has 
> been undergoing a slow-motion restoration complete with upgrades such as a 
> 427-inch Windsor, big brakes, etc. etc. etc., finally got tired of having a project 
> but not a Pantera, so he took the expedient of purchasing a second Pantera.
> 
> It's a 1979 Euro GTS, #9119, built on a GT5-S-style chassis.   
> 
> http://members.aol.com/mikeldrew/StephanePanteraGTS.zip
> 
> The previous owner had picked it up with a forklift and stuck it high up on a 
> mezzanine in a warehouse where it then sat for more than ten years.   So 
> Stephane now has to recommission it for the road.
> 
> The questions he/I have are:
> 
> 1)   What kind of 351C is this car likely to have?   As a 1979 model I would 
> think that it was built with an Australian 351C, but I know not all "Aussie" 
> motors are equal.   Some are quite desirable, others are dogs.   How can he 
> tell what he has?   Aren't there some fitment issues with motors of this period, 
> i.e. non-standard distributors?   Thomas, didn't you have all sorts of fun and 
> games with this one?
> 
> 2)   He wants to replace the stock dual-point ignition system.   The default 
> answer seems to be small-base MSD distributor, but the ones I have (and have 
> seen) have mechanical advance only.   Does anybody know if MSD is making a 
> small-base distributor with a vacuum advance setup?   Also, MSD makes a 'ready to 
> run' distributor, which does what exactly?   Get rid of the need for an 
> external MSD6AL box, integrating those electronics into the body of the distributor 
> itself?   What other ignition suggestions might you have?   Remember that r
> eliability is crucial, as you can't pop into your neighborhood Kragen's to pick 
> up spare parts in rural France!
> 
> Stephane isn't on the forum so please hit 'reply all' with your answers so he 
> can get them directly.
> 
> Thanks in advance for your help!
> 
> Mike
> 
> 
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