[DeTomaso] engine question

Asa Jay Laughton asajay at asajay.com
Tue Mar 31 23:17:19 EDT 2009


Chris,
If you have the original engine, you should be hard pressed to part with 
it.  The serial number on the back of the block is about the only way 
you can validate a "numbers matching" engine.  You toss that, and you'll 
never get it back.

And Barry,  it's D2AE.  The "D" indicates it came from the 1970's, so 
you -would- be correct in that respect, but Ford used an Alpha character 
in that position, not a number. C= 60's, D=70's, E=80's.

http://www.351c.info/gallery2/v/asajay/351C_Build_2001/block_number.jpg.html

and you'll note in the photo linked above, it's the same casting as 
Chris.  Mine was a 2-bolt block.  However, as Barry points out, it's 
most likely a 4-bolt block based on the engine builds used in the Pantera.

Now, with that said, the ONLY way you will know, is to pull the oil pan 
off and look.  But again, if the engine serial number matches the plate 
on the inner fender, I wouldn't give it up.

The 4 Barrel heads, most commonly referred to as 4V heads, will have a 
nice big "4" cast into the upper corners of the head, just outside the 
valve cover.  They are -very- easy to spot.  Just look where the intake 
meets the head and you'll see the number 4 cast in the corner facing you 
in the same plane as the valve cover.  (Sorry I don't have a good photo, 
I'm working on that).  BUT, that will only tell you the port size 
(massive versus small).  The only way to know if you have quench heads, 
is to either remove the intake and look for numbers on the bottom of the 
intake runners:

http://www.351c.info/gallery2/v/asajay/351C_Build_2001/head_id.jpg.html
(partial)

or take the head off and look at the combustion chamber:

http://www.351c.info/gallery2/v/asajay/351C_Build_2001/head1.jpg.html

But again... if it's a numbers matching engine.... why get rid of it.

But that's just me.
Asa Jay

Asa Jay Laughton, MSgt, USAFR, Retired

& Shelley Marie
Spokane, WA

1971 Mach I Mustang  [ASA JAY]
1973 Pantera L 5533  [ASASCAT]
    
******************************     
http://www.asajay.com
http://www.351c.info
  



Barry Seib wrote:
> Chris
> If I remember right your Pantera is an April-ish 1972 model, most came with
> a 351 Cobra Jet engine. That engine had open chamber 4V heads, 4 bolt mains,
> dual point distributor and spreadbore Motorcraft 4300D carb. From what I've
> seen of your car in photos, it was pretty original until you got it, so
> chances are very good that is the engine you have. Obviously the carb and
> intake were changed. There is a plate in your engine compartment with a 4
> digit engine # stamped in it. That number is stamped in the rear of the
> block on the left hand side. If it matches, I'd bet on it being 4 bolt
> mains. If the heads haven't been changed, they will be open chamber 4V
> heads.
>
> I think you mean 72AE-CA, which is another sign you have the block used from
> 72 on. Virtually all the first year or two of CJ engines seemed to have the
> four bolt main caps in them and then got a little haphazard toward the end
> of US production in 1974. The 71 4V engines with closed chamber heads came
> with single point distributor and square bore Motorcraft 4300A carbs. None
> of these had 4 bolt mains, as far as I I know.
>
> The Boss 351 was the only 351C to get the 4 bolt mains, dual point
> distributor and spreadbore Motorcraft 4300D carb in 1971, so all other 4V
> engines with closed chamber heads came with 2 bolt mains until the 72 Cobra
> Jet began production in 1972. Some people have said that some 1971 4V
> engines found there way into very early 72 Panteras, but probably only in
> the early January 72 cars?
>
> Barry
> Pantera originality freak
>
>
>
>
> Christopher Kimball chrisvkimball at msn.com wrote:
>
> I have someone interested in my old engine, but he asked whether or not it
> was a four-bolt with four barrell heads.  At least, I think that's what he
> said.
>
>
>
> I'm not exactly sure what that means, but my motor has certain numbers on it
> which may tell those of you that know these sort of things.
>
>
>
> On the block, there is a raised circle with a 10 on it, and elsewhere on the
> block these numbers are shown:  231, and below that 92AE-CA.  The Edelbrock
> manifold has the numbers F3514V.
>
>
>
> Do these numbers reveal the four bolt & heads questions?
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
>
> Chris
>
>
>
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