[DeTomaso] DuraSpark cap kit to 351C

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

In a message dated 12/12/10 4:00:27 AM, detomaso at luleweb.se writes:

> I want to buy an extra cap and rotor in reserve. I thinking to buy a 
> Motorcraft or Standard Motor Products that looks more OEM, a blue or grey would 
> be nice.
> Is it same Distributor Cap (Male/HEI-Style), Rotors and spacer on 351W, 
> 351M
> and my 351C?
> 

The cap, plastic stand-off and matching rotor were all made for Windsors. 
Cleveland production ended before such caps were available, so they're ALL 
Windsor or Ford 460 caps. The later gray big caps did not use a separate 
stand-off piece; the cap and stand-off are one part. The rotors are the same for 
both type of big cap. Finally, it's a rare unmolested Pantera in which the 
big cap actually clears the firewall sufficiently for safety. Usually, an 
owner can find a position where the big cap barely clears. Then while driving, 
the engine shifts on old motor mounts and the cap hits the firewall, shifts 
and breaks the rotor. Sometimes the cap gets torn up too, but in any case, 
the engine quits until the broken parts are replaced.

The real fix for all this is to unbolt the motor mounts, elongate the long 
connecting bolt hole for the mount halves, or ideally- reverse the 
asymmetric upper mounts, unbolt the ZF mounts, and pry back the entire powertrain, 
then shim as necessary to bolt everything back. The later sidemount ZF frame 
tabs can be bent into a shallow 'S' almost by hand. The whole powertrain can 
slide back a maximum of about 7/8" before the oil pan touches the rear 
crossmember. Doing this does nothing to fuel lines, A/C, wires or exhaust which 
can all remain undisturbed. The only extra adjustment is to realign the shift 
stick in the cockpit per the Red Owners Manual. This rearward engine 
reposition also aids in home-built 'flat firewall' systems. It's been working well 
on our '72 L since 1999. Good luck- J Deryke