[DeTomaso] To sleeve or not to sleeve

Steven Edwards gsedwards at cox.net
Sun Nov 6 10:08:20 EST 2022


This is a 427 Dart block Ford 351 base, C302 heads, solid roller cam for a 72 Pantera



Steven Edwards

From: Will Kooiman
Sent: Sunday, November 6, 2022 8:28 AM
To: Charles Engles; 'Ken Green'; 'Dan'; detomaso at server.detomasolist.com
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] To sleeve or not to sleeve

Hi Chuck,

True.  The 9.2" deck height Dart block is similar enough to a 351C that you could do this swap and most people wouldn't notice.

351C headers fit perfectly.

The bellhousing is the same, so the ZF bolts up with no changes.

The Dart block is beefier.  The block bulges out a bit at the cylinders, plus there are some stiffening ribs.  I had to grind on the motor mounts to get them to fit.  Not a big deal - maybe 1/4" of aluminum removed in a non-critical area.

You need a 351W style oil pan, but if you're doing an Armando pan, it's not a big deal.  One plus is you can run a one-piece 351W oil pan gasket.

The China wall is 351W style, which juts out a bit, whereas a 351C juts inward.  One again, not a big deal.  You just screw a small piece of aluminum to the bottom of the intake, and it seals just fine.  I learned that trick from Tom Upton.

351W and 351C distributors are the same.  The only difference is the gear.  So, buy a 351W gear for your 351C distributor, and you're done.

The water neck/thermostat housing can be a small challenge.  I already had A3 heads with water coming out the front of the heads and a remote thermostat, so mine was easy.  If you want to retain the stock look, you have to figure this one out.

You can use off-the-shelf 302/5.0, 351W camshafts, but multiply lifts by (1.73/1.6) to get the true lift.  I ran a Ford Motorsports X303 for a while, but finally had one custom made for my combination (from Brent Lykins - very happy with this camshaft).

You have to use a 351W timing cover, fuel pump, and water pump.

The stock Pantera dipstick fits in a 351W timing cover.  It was nice to not have to figure that one out.

I have a bulkhead reduction kit, which relocates the a/c compressor and alternator down and to the passenger's side.  It fits the Dart block.

The Dart block accepts factory roller camshafts - with that sheet metal retainer.  So, you can use factory hydraulic roller lifters if you want.

Will.


On 11/6/22, 9:06 AM, "Charles Engles" <cengles at cox.net> wrote:

    Dear Will,

                   I seem to recall that the Ford SVO and perhaps the Dart Windsor blocks with the 9.2" deck height, permit  you to bolt on Cleveland heads and intake manifolds and headers.  Is that right?  

                     Does it use the same motor mounts and ZF bellhousing?

                                          Curious, Chuck Engles

    -----Original Message-----
    From: Will Kooiman [mailto:will.kooiman at gmail.com] 
    Sent: Sunday, November 06, 2022 5:40 AM
    To: Ken Green; 'Dan'; detomaso at server.detomasolist.com; Charles Engles
    Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] To sleeve or not to sleeve

    How about the cost?

    If you have a .030 block with 1-2 damaged cylinders and if you are happy with your .030 pistons, just do 2 sleeves.

    If you go back to standard, you have to buy 8 pistons, plus you need to rebalance, and for what?

    What if you sonic test, and 2 more cylinders are thin?

    If I had a machinist I trusted, I would be okay with 8 sleeves.

    I didn't do that.  Instead, I went with a 9.2" deck Dart block.  Yes, I had to switch to a Windsor oil pan, oil pump, fuel pump, water pump, cam, and distributor gear (dist is the same, only the gear is different).  But the Dart block is so much better, it's amazing.

    On 11/6/22, 12:38 AM, "DeTomaso on behalf of Ken Green via DeTomaso" <detomaso-bounces at server.detomasolist.com on behalf of detomaso at server.detomasolist.com> wrote:

           These folks have sleeves from 1/16 to 1/8 thickness.  The 1/16 would
           require a minimum amount of material removal.  Does that make a
           difference?
           [1]https://www.lasleeve.com/tech/faqs

           Ken

           On Saturday, November 5, 2022 at 06:17:17 PM PDT, Charles Engles
           <cengles at cox.net> wrote:
           Dear Dan,
                       Hmmm.  Yes, the experts can be wrong.
                       However, regarding the shop in business for forty years
           that says they can sleeve all eight and it will be fine, stop for a
           minute and ask yourself: "If that is true, then why do people fret
           trying to find a good solid Cleveland block?  Why do people go to the
           effort to get them sonic checked for wall thickness?  WHY do they do
           that, IF the simple answer is to take any old 351C and simply sleeve
           all eight cylinders????      Possibly, just possibly, because while it
           can be done,  the durability and longevity are dubious and poor??
                             Warmest regards, Chuck Engles
           -----Original Message-----
           From: Dan [mailto:[2]dan at excaliburre.com]
           Sent: Saturday, November 05, 2022 4:40 PM
           To: 'Charles Engles'
           Subject: RE: [DeTomaso] To sleeve or not to sleeve
           Yeah, I was hoping someone had been down this path before.
           After so many screw-ups at supposedly top notch engine shops I don't
           know who to trust in that industry either.
           The shop which has the engine now has been in business 40 years and
           says they can sleeve all eight and it will be fine. But I'm not "sold".
           Probably on SBC or GM big block but Cleveland's have such thin walls.
           Dan
           -----Original Message-----
           From: Charles Engles <[3]cengles at cox.net>
           Sent: Saturday, November 5, 2022 12:15 PM
           To: 'Dan Courtney' <[4]dan at excaliburre.com>; 'MICHAEL DREW'
           <[5]mikeldrew at aol.com>
           Cc: [6]detomaso at server.detomasolist.com
           Subject: RE: [DeTomaso] To sleeve or not to sleeve
           Dear Dan,
                             The answers to the question are: 1) seek out a
           reputable and reliable machinist and engine builder with actual
           Cleveland experience and follow his recommendations; or 2) seek out
           amateur, non-machinist, hear-say opinions and sort out the truth from
           the (dis?) information.
                                           Warmest regards, Chuck Engles
           -----Original Message-----
           From: DeTomaso [mailto:[7]detomaso-bounces at server.detomasolist.com] On
           Behalf Of Dan Courtney
           Sent: Saturday, November 05, 2022 10:57 AM
           To: MICHAEL DREW
           Cc: [8]detomaso at server.detomasolist.com
           Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] To sleeve or not to sleeve
           Then the question becomes:Is it better to have a .030 block with one or
           two non adjacent sleeves or a fully sleeved block at original bore?I've
           been told you get heat transfer between cylinders on a Cleveland at or
           over .030.And we all know there's already too much heat in a Pantera
           engine. DanSent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
           -------- Original message --------From: MICHAEL DREW
           <[9]mikeldrew at aol.com> Date: 11/4/22  8:14 PM  (GMT-08:00) To: Dan
           <[10]dan at excaliburre.com> Cc: [11]detomaso at server.detomasolist.com
           Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] To sleeve or not to sleeve Dan,Sleeving all
           eight cylinders is like putting eight plugs in a flat tire with one
           hole in it!If you have a block that needs one or two sleeves, you
           install one or two sleeves. MikeSent from my iPhone> On Nov 4, 2022, at
           18:13, Dan <[12]dan at excaliburre.com> wrote:> > i>>?  I'm having handful
           of 351C blocks sonic tested.> >  One is the Boss 351 that Dennis Quella
           built for "The Winged Warrior">  in the early `80's.> >  I'm wondering
           if it would be advisable to sleeve all 8 cylinders to>  bring it back
           to original bore.> >  Another option is to sleeve just one or two holes
           and go with .030.> > >  A 3^rd option is to sleeve two cylinders on an
           original bore 2 bolt>  block.> > >  Over the years I've received advice
           regarding sleeves from sleeving all>  8 holes makes for a stronger
           block to sleeving a Cleveland can>  interfere with the water jackets.>
           > >  Does anyone have an opinion on sleeving a 351C?> > >  Dan> > > >
           >  Dan Courtney> >  La Jolla, CA> > >  [1][13]Dan at excaliburre.com> >
           References> >  1. mailto:[14]Dan at excaliburre.com>
           _______________________________________________> > > Detomaso Email
           List is not managed by POCA> Posted emails must not exceed 1.5
           Megabytes> DeTomaso mailing list> [15]DeTomaso at server.detomasolist.com>
           [16]http://server.detomasolist.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso> > To
           manage your subscription (change email address, unsubscribe, etc.) use
           the links above.> > Members who post to this list grant license to the
           list to forward any message posted here to all past, current, or future
           members of the list. They also grant the list owner permission to
           maintain an archive or approve the archiving of list messages.
           _______________________________________________
           Detomaso Email List is not managed by POCA
           Posted emails must not exceed 1.5 Megabytes
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           To manage your subscription (change email address, unsubscribe, etc.)
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           Members who post to this list grant license to the list to forward any
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           or approve the archiving of list messages.

        References

           1. https://www.lasleeve.com/tech/faqs
           2. mailto:dan at excaliburre.com
           3. mailto:cengles at cox.net
           4. mailto:dan at excaliburre.com
           5. mailto:mikeldrew at aol.com
           6. mailto:detomaso at server.detomasolist.com
           7. mailto:detomaso-bounces at server.detomasolist.com
           8. mailto:detomaso at server.detomasolist.com
           9. mailto:mikeldrew at aol.com
          10. mailto:dan at excaliburre.com
          11. mailto:detomaso at server.detomasolist.com
          12. mailto:dan at excaliburre.com
          13. mailto:Dan at excaliburre.com
          14. mailto:Dan at excaliburre.com
          15. mailto:DeTomaso at server.detomasolist.com
          16. http://server.detomasolist.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso
          17. mailto:DeTomaso at server.detomasolist.com
          18. http://server.detomasolist.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso
        _______________________________________________


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-------------- next part --------------
   This is a 427 Dart block Ford 351 base, C302 heads, solid roller cam
   for a 72 Pantera


   [cid:image001.jpg at 01D8F1BF.4F5EA580]


   Steven Edwards


   From: [1]Will Kooiman
   Sent: Sunday, November 6, 2022 8:28 AM
   To: [2]Charles Engles; [3]'Ken Green'; [4]'Dan';
   [5]detomaso at server.detomasolist.com
   Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] To sleeve or not to sleeve


   Hi Chuck,


   True.  The 9.2" deck height Dart block is similar enough to a 351C that
   you could do this swap and most people wouldn't notice.


   351C headers fit perfectly.


   The bellhousing is the same, so the ZF bolts up with no changes.


   The Dart block is beefier.  The block bulges out a bit at the
   cylinders, plus there are some stiffening ribs.  I had to grind on the
   motor mounts to get them to fit.  Not a big deal - maybe 1/4" of
   aluminum removed in a non-critical area.


   You need a 351W style oil pan, but if you're doing an Armando pan, it's
   not a big deal.  One plus is you can run a one-piece 351W oil pan
   gasket.


   The China wall is 351W style, which juts out a bit, whereas a 351C juts
   inward.  One again, not a big deal.  You just screw a small piece of
   aluminum to the bottom of the intake, and it seals just fine.  I
   learned that trick from Tom Upton.


   351W and 351C distributors are the same.  The only difference is the
   gear.  So, buy a 351W gear for your 351C distributor, and you're done.


   The water neck/thermostat housing can be a small challenge.  I already
   had A3 heads with water coming out the front of the heads and a remote
   thermostat, so mine was easy.  If you want to retain the stock look,
   you have to figure this one out.


   You can use off-the-shelf 302/5.0, 351W camshafts, but multiply lifts
   by (1.73/1.6) to get the true lift.  I ran a Ford Motorsports X303 for
   a while, but finally had one custom made for my combination (from Brent
   Lykins - very happy with this camshaft).


   You have to use a 351W timing cover, fuel pump, and water pump.


   The stock Pantera dipstick fits in a 351W timing cover.  It was nice to
   not have to figure that one out.


   I have a bulkhead reduction kit, which relocates the a/c compressor and
   alternator down and to the passenger's side.  It fits the Dart block.


   The Dart block accepts factory roller camshafts - with that sheet metal
   retainer.  So, you can use factory hydraulic roller lifters if you
   want.


   Will.



   On 11/6/22, 9:06 AM, "Charles Engles" <cengles at cox.net> wrote:


       Dear Will,


                      I seem to recall that the Ford SVO and perhaps the
   Dart Windsor blocks with the 9.2" deck height, permit  you to bolt on
   Cleveland heads and intake manifolds and headers.  Is that right?


                        Does it use the same motor mounts and ZF
   bellhousing?


                                             Curious, Chuck Engles


       -----Original Message-----

       From: Will Kooiman [mailto:will.kooiman at gmail.com]

       Sent: Sunday, November 06, 2022 5:40 AM

       To: Ken Green; 'Dan'; detomaso at server.detomasolist.com; Charles
   Engles

       Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] To sleeve or not to sleeve


       How about the cost?


       If you have a .030 block with 1-2 damaged cylinders and if you are
   happy with your .030 pistons, just do 2 sleeves.


       If you go back to standard, you have to buy 8 pistons, plus you
   need to rebalance, and for what?


       What if you sonic test, and 2 more cylinders are thin?


       If I had a machinist I trusted, I would be okay with 8 sleeves.


       I didn't do that.  Instead, I went with a 9.2" deck Dart block.
   Yes, I had to switch to a Windsor oil pan, oil pump, fuel pump, water
   pump, cam, and distributor gear (dist is the same, only the gear is
   different).  But the Dart block is so much better, it's amazing.


       On 11/6/22, 12:38 AM, "DeTomaso on behalf of Ken Green via
   DeTomaso" <detomaso-bounces at server.detomasolist.com on behalf of
   detomaso at server.detomasolist.com> wrote:


              These folks have sleeves from 1/16 to 1/8 thickness.  The
   1/16 would

              require a minimum amount of material removal.  Does that
   make a

              difference?

              [1]https://www.lasleeve.com/tech/faqs


              Ken


              On Saturday, November 5, 2022 at 06:17:17 PM PDT, Charles
   Engles

              <cengles at cox.net> wrote:

              Dear Dan,

                          Hmmm.  Yes, the experts can be wrong.

                          However, regarding the shop in business for
   forty years

              that says they can sleeve all eight and it will be fine,
   stop for a

             minute and ask yourself: "If that is true, then why do people
   fret

              trying to find a good solid Cleveland block?  Why do people
   go to the

              effort to get them sonic checked for wall thickness?  WHY do
   they do

              that, IF the simple answer is to take any old 351C and
   simply sleeve

              all eight cylinders????      Possibly, just possibly,
   because while it

              can be done,  the durability and longevity are dubious and
   poor??

                                Warmest regards, Chuck Engles

              -----Original Message-----

              From: Dan [mailto:[2]dan at excaliburre.com]

              Sent: Saturday, November 05, 2022 4:40 PM

              To: 'Charles Engles'

              Subject: RE: [DeTomaso] To sleeve or not to sleeve

              Yeah, I was hoping someone had been down this path before.

              After so many screw-ups at supposedly top notch engine shops
   I don't

              know who to trust in that industry either.

              The shop which has the engine now has been in business 40
   years and

              says they can sleeve all eight and it will be fine. But I'm
   not "sold".

              Probably on SBC or GM big block but Cleveland's have such
   thin walls.

              Dan

              -----Original Message-----

              From: Charles Engles <[3]cengles at cox.net>

              Sent: Saturday, November 5, 2022 12:15 PM

              To: 'Dan Courtney' <[4]dan at excaliburre.com>; 'MICHAEL DREW'

              <[5]mikeldrew at aol.com>

              Cc: [6]detomaso at server.detomasolist.com

              Subject: RE: [DeTomaso] To sleeve or not to sleeve

              Dear Dan,

                                The answers to the question are: 1) seek
   out a

              reputable and reliable machinist and engine builder with
   actual

              Cleveland experience and follow his recommendations; or 2)
   seek out

              amateur, non-machinist, hear-say opinions and sort out the
   truth from

              the (dis?) information.

                                              Warmest regards, Chuck
   Engles

              -----Original Message-----

              From: DeTomaso
   [mailto:[7]detomaso-bounces at server.detomasolist.com] On

              Behalf Of Dan Courtney

              Sent: Saturday, November 05, 2022 10:57 AM

              To: MICHAEL DREW

              Cc: [8]detomaso at server.detomasolist.com

              Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] To sleeve or not to sleeve

              Then the question becomes:Is it better to have a .030 block
   with one or

              two non adjacent sleeves or a fully sleeved block at
   original bore?I've

              been told you get heat transfer between cylinders on a
   Cleveland at or

              over .030.And we all know there's already too much heat in a
   Pantera

              engine. DanSent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone

              -------- Original message --------From: MICHAEL DREW

              <[9]mikeldrew at aol.com> Date: 11/4/22  8:14 PM  (GMT-08:00)
   To: Dan

              <[10]dan at excaliburre.com> Cc:
   [11]detomaso at server.detomasolist.com

              Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] To sleeve or not to sleeve
   Dan,Sleeving all

              eight cylinders is like putting eight plugs in a flat tire
   with one

              hole in it!If you have a block that needs one or two
   sleeves, you

              install one or two sleeves. MikeSent from my iPhone> On Nov
   4, 2022, at

              18:13, Dan <[12]dan at excaliburre.com> wrote:> > i>>?  I'm
   having handful

              of 351C blocks sonic tested.> >  One is the Boss 351 that
   Dennis Quella

              built for "The Winged Warrior">  in the early `80's.> >  I'm
   wondering

              if it would be advisable to sleeve all 8 cylinders to>
   bring it back

              to original bore.> >  Another option is to sleeve just one
   or two holes

              and go with .030.> > >  A 3^rd option is to sleeve two
   cylinders on an

              original bore 2 bolt>  block.> > >  Over the years I've
   received advice

              regarding sleeves from sleeving all>  8 holes makes for a
   stronger

              block to sleeving a Cleveland can>  interfere with the water
   jackets.>

              > >  Does anyone have an opinion on sleeving a 351C?> > >
   Dan> > > >

              >  Dan Courtney> >  La Jolla, CA> > >
   [1][13]Dan at excaliburre.com> >

              References> >  1. mailto:[14]Dan at excaliburre.com>

              _______________________________________________> > >
   Detomaso Email

              List is not managed by POCA> Posted emails must not exceed
   1.5

              Megabytes> DeTomaso mailing list>
   [15]DeTomaso at server.detomasolist.com>


   [16]http://server.detomasolist.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso> > To

              manage your subscription (change email address, unsubscribe,
   etc.) use

              the links above.> > Members who post to this list grant
   license to the

              list to forward any message posted here to all past,
   current, or future

              members of the list. They also grant the list owner
   permission to

              maintain an archive or approve the archiving of list
   messages.

              _______________________________________________

              Detomaso Email List is not managed by POCA

              Posted emails must not exceed 1.5 Megabytes

              DeTomaso mailing list

              [17]DeTomaso at server.detomasolist.com

              [18]http://server.detomasolist.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso

              To manage your subscription (change email address,
   unsubscribe, etc.)

              use the links above.

              Members who post to this list grant license to the list to
   forward any

              message posted here to all past, current, or future members
   of the

              list. They also grant the list owner permission to maintain
   an archive

              or approve the archiving of list messages.


           References


              1. https://www.lasleeve.com/tech/faqs

              2. mailto:dan at excaliburre.com

              3. mailto:cengles at cox.net

              4. mailto:dan at excaliburre.com

              5. mailto:mikeldrew at aol.com

              6. mailto:detomaso at server.detomasolist.com

              7. mailto:detomaso-bounces at server.detomasolist.com

              8. mailto:detomaso at server.detomasolist.com

              9. mailto:mikeldrew at aol.com

             10. mailto:dan at excaliburre.com

             11. mailto:detomaso at server.detomasolist.com

             12. mailto:dan at excaliburre.com

             13. mailto:Dan at excaliburre.com

             14. mailto:Dan at excaliburre.com

             15. mailto:DeTomaso at server.detomasolist.com

             16. http://server.detomasolist.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso

             17. mailto:DeTomaso at server.detomasolist.com

             18. http://server.detomasolist.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso

           _______________________________________________



           Detomaso Email List is not managed by POCA

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           To manage your subscription (change email address, unsubscribe,
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           Members who post to this list grant license to the list to
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   _______________________________________________



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   Members who post to this list grant license to the list to forward any
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   or approve the archiving of list messages.

References

   1. mailto:will.kooiman at gmail.com
   2. mailto:cengles at cox.net
   3. mailto:kenn_green at yahoo.com
   4. mailto:dan at excaliburre.com
   5. mailto:detomaso at server.detomasolist.com
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