Date: Thu, 02 Apr 1998 13:42:05 +0000
From: Mike Drew {[email protected]}
Subject: Re: 385 series bellhousing adaptors
To: Multiple recipients of list {[email protected]}

Does anyone know if a bellhousing adaptor kit for ford big blocks is
available?  If so , who, how much etc.

}}}YES!  Pantera Performance Center in Colorado stocks these; they like to put 
427 side-oilers in Panteras, but the bellhousing will fit any FE motor.  I 
don't know if it's an adaptor for your existing bellhousing; their catalog 
makes it sound like it's actually an all-new ZF bellhousing.  Give 'em a call, 
see what they say! 

}It looks like a small block chevy (aaak) kit is available for around a grand. 


Date: Thu, 02 Apr 1998 13:53:32 +0000
From: Ted {[email protected]}
Subject: Re: 385 series bellhousing adaptors
To: Multiple recipients of list {[email protected]}

As far as I know, no one makes such an adapter since I had to make my own
using an early ford flat head to big block Ford and adding a spacer adapter
plate to the ZF.  Right now it is included with the price of my 72 Pantera
race car along with the mounts, but if someone ends up buying the 72 and
doesn't want the adapter, I would sell it separate.


Date: Fri, 03 Apr 1998 02:21:21 +0000
From: JDeRyke {[email protected]}
Subject: Re:  385 series bellhousing adaptors
To: Multiple recipients of list {[email protected]}

Our Master Mechanic Ted Mitchell is trying to sell a Pantera rigged for
racing, and in the pile of parts is a 385 adapter. He was gonna run a 460....
J DeRyke


Date: Sat, 09 May 1998 02:06:04 +0000
From: JDeRyke {[email protected]}
Subject: Re:  Re: Ahh! GTS?
To: Multiple recipients of list {[email protected]}

{{Its been sittin up for about 7 yrs, here comes the bad stuff..will I be 
  banished, hung to dry and the like if I admit that previous owner or before 
  converted it to 350Chev.}} 

If you wish, the car can easily be re-converted to 351C power. Your conversion
stuff has some value since a Chev big-block can also use the bellhousing
adapter, and with a White Power super-short waterpump, it'll fit fine. You'll
probably get some teasing re the Chebie; just remember, one of the 401 sacred
Mangustas was converted by DeTomaso to run a Chev V-8 for GM styling boss
Mitchell. Now owned by a design engineer in Detroit. Oh, and Mike Cook in
Norwalk CA converted around 10 Panteras to Chev 427/454 power in the early
'80s. Saw one at Monterey last year (Kerry Shaw- owner). Your 'previous
ownership' more than qualifies you- the Pantera has its entire wiring loom
lifted from an XKE- its all Lucas! Welcome aboard the Detomaso Support Group-
J DeRyke


Date: Thu, 02 Jul 1998 10:19:59 -0700
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: 351C vs. 351W
To: Multiple recipients of list {[email protected]}

} -} Oh no not again!!  We will hear that this is Mike's favorite idea.
} -} And someone will say that a Pantera without a Cleveland isn't a
} -} Pantera.  Oh yeah, Ted will pipe up with his bell housing and engine
} -} that is STILL for sale.

 I'm now of the opinion that if you *must* pull the Cleveland, the FE is
the way to go.  With an aluminum intake and water pump it's almost the
same weight as the Cleveland, loads of parts are available, it has a
proven competition history (so does the Cleveland, but the 351C never
took Le Mans!) and the FE swap has been done at least as often as the
Windsor.

 The least FE you could consider would be the 390, which is almost as
cheap as dirt.  A 390 can be stroked to 427 to 431 cubic inches with
little difficuly.  If you find a 391 truck motor you can take it out to
443 cubic inches.  428s are still reasonably priced and would be a fine
transplant even without exotic internal work.  A fully prepped 427, of
course, would cost an arm and a leg (going rate ~$10K).

 If the FE was good enough for the GT40, it's good enough for a Pantera...