[DeTomaso] windsor motivation?

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

Cullen, as far as I can tell, using the truck-based 351W engine has 1.0 
benefit: its still well supported by Ford and lots of aftermarket parts are 
available. The Cleveland has been out of production for 37 years in the U.S. 
and 27 years in Australia, and castings are getting scarce. And many of those 
available have been thoroughly "used" & are useless for performance. Some 
aftermarket stuff is still available but not nearly as much- you need to be 
innovative or well-to-do if you're going to lean on a 351C engine for much 
more power.
Swapping a 351W block into a Pantera requires changes to the front 
AC/alternator mount bracket, the headers (due to the taller block) and many 
carb/intake combinations won't fit under the engine screen. The W oil dipstick needs 
modification. The heads won't fit either- even if you use Cleveland heads 
on the Windsor block: the left side tubes will hit the gas tank and the 
header-to-exhaust flange will hit the rear shocks/springs on both sides. And the 
3" mains on the W crank tend to limit rpms unless other things are done 
internally. It can be done but IMHO its NOT a bolt-in. Good luck- J DeRyke