[DeTomaso] Another Grenade Job - (sorry long)

[Christopher Kimball]

How frustrating!

As you may know, I've had my share of challenges with my '72, which eventually was affectionately named "Pandora."

Three years and $41,000.00 later (not including the purchase price), it still drips oil on the floor of my garage.  BUT--all one has to do is gaze upon the beauty of a Pantera, and quite soon all is forgiven, out comes the checkbook, the wrenches, and all the Pantera friend one makes by owning a Detomaso.  Soon, you're back on the road once again intoxicated by the sound of a big V-8 coming from a beautiful Italian masterpiece.

Hang in there, remember 5th time's a charm...

Chris
3846 



> From: wkooiman at earthlink.net
> To: detomaso at realbig.com
> Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 23:07:59 -0600
> Subject: [DeTomaso] Another Grenade Job - (sorry long)
> 
> FYI - I grenaded my engine - again.  I'm going to write a book.  50 ways to
> blow your 351C.  (I started to say Cleveland - don't you bet Larry would
> love that one?)
> 
>  
> 
> How many times is this for me?  3?  4?  I've lost count.  I had a Thai
> friend in high school that used to say, "Run good boy, but don't last long."
> Whatever.
> 
>  
> 
> Here's what happened...
> 
>  
> 
> I was taking it for a drive this morning.  Oh wait.  Before the drive, I had
> a conversation with a guy whose dad used to race T-bolts.  We went at it for
> an hour trying to top each other's story.  He was shocked when I told him
> you can still buy Panteras in the $35-40K range.  I still think they're a
> fantastic deal on exotic cars - even though mine is garage art now (fire
> away Nolan).
> 
>  
> 
> At any rate, here's what happened...  I took it for a drive.  It was running
> great.  I checked the timing yesterday and discovered it was on 12deg
> initial.  I upped it to 15deg initial, 21 adv, for 36 total.  I heard a
> slight knocking.  The same noise I've been hearing.  It wasn't pinging.  It
> was hitting on all 8.  Oil pressure was on 50psi at 2000rpm.  Nothing was
> popping out the Webers.  Nothing was popping out the exhaust.  I checked the
> valve lash yesterday.  Everything was exactly where I left it.  I have a
> high volume (Rob McQ. sp?) fuel pump.  I figured the high volume pump was
> knocking behind the timing cover.  It has a heavier spring, so maybe that
> was the source of the knocking.  That's what it sounded like anyway.
> 
>  
> 
> I decided to turn around and head back home.  I couldn't resist, though.  I
> pushed it about 1/2 way down.  The tires immediately lit up.  And then, it
> happened.  It sounded like I knocked a 2" hole in one of the header pipes.
> Very loud - like BRAAAP BRAAAP BRAAAP.  Sorry - it's hard to describe.  I
> coasted for a while, found a good place to pull off, and called AAA.
> 
>  
> 
> By the way, I'm still amazed at the difference with the Webers.  It ran
> great with the Holley, but the Webers feel like it adds another 75hp to the
> midrange.  When I push it 1/2 way down, without popping the clutch, in 1st,
> it hits the rev-limiter almost immediately.  I can't tell you what it does
> in 2nd or higher.  All I can say is I'm hooked.  I can only imagine what
> it's like in one of the EFI cars (Kirby's GT40, Mad Dawg's, etc.).  Oh yeah,
> it's also smoother, and quieter - more exotic - less muscle car (rumpity
> rump).
> 
>  
> 
> My guess is it dropped another valve.  That's the only thing I can come up
> with without opening it up.  I feel like Dr. House.  "It's
> circumflatulosis."  "Start it on a 50cc of corkulene."
> 
>  
> 
> I should mention that I have the 7500 pill in the MSD.  With everything I
> have in the bottom end, I figured I could pull more than 6000rpm.  Maybe
> not.  If it's another valve issue, though, the bottom end has nothing to do
> with it.
> 
>  
> 
> I should also mention that I'm running the springs recommended by CompCams.
> It has 7000 series stainless one-piece Ferrea valves.  The heads were set
> up, CC'ed, etc. by a local shop that does work for NASCAR teams.  If it
> really did drop another valve, I'm going to drop kick the whole mess to a
> real engine builder - i.e. not me.
> 
>  
> 
> I should also also mention that I was going to pull the engine anyway.
> Really.  I want to get it painted in January.  The paint job will include
> fixing rust issues behind the fuel tank, which as everyone knows includes
> pulling the gas tank and the engine.  So, yes, I really was going to pull
> the engine.
> 
>  
> 
> No promises on when I'll pull the engine.  I've used up my share of kitchen
> passes.  It may be a couple of weeks.  I promise I'll take pics this time,
> though.  Actually I took pics the last time, but the memory card in the
> camera is corrupt. I can see the pics in the camera, but I can't upload them
> to the computer.  The memory card was probably made by Lucas.
> 
>  
> 
> Will (bummed in Texas)
> 
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