[DeTomaso] Downgrading a Cleveland and header flanges fornon-pantera

[Kurt Byrnes]

Although plans change, my idea is NOT to get caught up in the need to be 
first at the track.  I've always been happy as long as I can pass just 
one car.  The only reason I'm thinking of taking the Pantera out is that 
I want to let my dad drive the MG at some events.   It was originally 
his car from his college days and he's completed his driver's school and 
is ready to drive.  I truly love racing the MG but with the limited 
track time we get at events, if I take both cars, we would both be able 
to run full schedules.  I was thinking if I could put together a simple, 
reliable engine and add the safety stuff, we could have some fun for a 
lot less than getting another car.  Rules for the groups I run with 
(VRG, SVRA, and VSCCA who wont except the Pantera for another decade or 
so) are original displacement and period correct modifications.  If it 
was available and done in '73, I can do it.  The question is, what do I 
do with the monster engine I have now?  Although it's not very practical 
for street driving, I love it but wouldn't want to swap engines several 
times a year.

Kurt

On 12/30/2010 12:36 PM, Julian Kift wrote:
> As a guy who has a 74 Pantera in his garage that has been undergoing a 
> transformation to a track/race car for almost 3 years (and is still a 
> bare chassis) I would support the previous comments by John and Mike.
>
> A lot will depend on what sanctioning boday and class you intend to 
> run, you can get into some Production classes with minimal safety 
> upgrades, some not even requiring a full roll cage, question is would 
> you feel safe doing that? I know of a couple people that run SCCA 
> Vintage class with street registered Panteras. Another question is 
> what dictates 'stock' for your engine, showroom stock or something 
> like FIA homologated GP4, very different.
>
> Good luck,
> Julian
>
>
> > From: jtaphorn at kingwoodcable.com
> > To: MikeLDrew at aol.com; kdb at kbyrnes.com; detomaso at realbig.com
> > Date: Thu, 30 Dec 2010 07:19:16 -0600
> > Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Downgrading a Cleveland and header flanges 
> fornon-pantera
> >
> > I agree with Mike. Racing is a slippery slope where you try to step in
> > lightly and realize you need to commit. You start by modifying so as 
> that
> > it could be converted to stock; yet, before long you realize to be
> > competitive it requires more tweaking.
> >
> > Engine cheating used to be rampant in many historic venues. I sincerely
> > doubt that your competitors are running stock engines; although, 
> they are
> > probably dressed up to look that way.
> >
> > JT
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: <MikeLDrew at aol.com>
> > To: <kdb at kbyrnes.com>; <detomaso at realbig.com>
> > Sent: Thursday, December 30, 2010 1:02 AM
> > Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Downgrading a Cleveland and header flanges
> > fornon-pantera
> >
> >
> >
> > In a message dated 12/29/10 18 53 9, kdb at kbyrnes.com writes:
> >
> >
> > > The question is, do I try to downgrade my current
> > > engine, buy another engine to prepare, keep mine, sell mine, or put on
> > > big boy pants and run the current engine in the "unlimited" class? I
> > > can probably run for a year as is but after that, I'd need to do the
> > > engine, fuel cell, roll cage, and 15" wheels too. Comments? 
> Suggestions?
> > >
> > >
> >
> > Don't spend money turning a great engine into a less-great engine. Also,
> > if you are going to go vintage racing, kiss this Pantera goodbye as 
> a road
> > car. Do you really want to be without a Pantera for the street?
> >
> > What I'd really suggest is buying a second Pantera, a clapped-out beater
> > with a standard 351C, then race-prepping and running that. There are
> > plenty
> > of them out there. I just saw an ad for a red Pre-L in Virginia (I 
> think)
> > with a $22K asking price, could probably be had for much less. It's 
> one of
> > these 'ran when parked' cars that could probably be running again 
> with just
> > a bit of tinkering. Gut it, sell all the bits you don't need on E-bay,
> > and go racing!
> >
> > Mike
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