[DeTomaso] 12 cylinder Pantera?

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

A couple of Euro Panteras have Mercedes V-8s, which are shorter and more 
affordable than the muiti-cylinder units. It depends on why you're considering 
this- if its for power, I 'd look at a big-block Ford based on the 460 V-8. 
This can be expanded to over 600 cubic inches and 900 bhp, and kits are 
available to add them to a Pantera. Hot Rod mag for this month has a build-up 
using Boss 429 heads. And if you just won the lottery, the same issue has a 
build up of an EFI Ford 427 SOHC from all-aftermarket pieces, with flow-bench 
and dyno sheets. Cost= $21,000 as a collection of parts (assembly extra). 
Power= 800+ on 93-octane pump gas. The OEM iron block SOHC 427 was a heavy 
beast at 750 lbs but this build spec's an aluminum block, so it will be a bit 
lighter. One was successfully installed in a Pantera decades ago- the 
engine's the size of a 426 Hemi!
If you're considering it for the bling of a multicylinder motor, there is 
one 'sort-of-exotic' engine that will fit: the modular Ford truck engine 
known as the Triton V-10. Due to its small bores, this SOHC V-10 is roughly the 
same length as a 351-C and in fact will bolt up to a ZF. The challenges are, 
being a truck engine, there are NO speed parts beyond a blower kit or two- 
you're on your own to modify it for sportscar use. The second is, as in most 
'modern' engines, physical bolting-up is trivial compared to getting the 
electronics to work in a non-computerized car like the Pantera. Do not 
underestimate this chore.    Good luck- J Deryke


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