[TPR] What we are about . . . .

John Bentley gndplne at yahoo.com
Sat Dec 3 20:50:15 PST 2011


Asa,

There is a difference between doomsdayer's and experience.

The single-grove keepers on the stock valves and the 2-piece construction of the valves are both time-bombs. (IMHO)  I doubt I would take a chance running an engine I really wanted to keep under those conditions in a long, high RPM event like SSCC.  If you want to see what happens when a stock valve let's go, I can $end you $ome picture$ or $hip you $ome part$.


If you want to run an old engine that's fine, but I would just pull the heads and replace the valves with some Manley stainless (and of course do a basic grind), and put all the rockers/springs/pushrods back where they came from and run the event.  Of course you'll have to pay attention to stuff like installed height and pushrod geometry, but any basic shop can help you with those things. For around $500, you can be good to go.  And, its easy to do with the engine block/trans in the car.

We all want to see you run the event, so let us know what we can do to help.  Its TEAM Pantera Racing! :)


JB




________________________________
 From: Asa Jay Laughton <asajay at asajay.com>
To: tpr at teampanteraracing.com 
Sent: Saturday, December 3, 2011 5:52 PM
Subject: Re: [TPR] What we are about . . . .
 

Well the fact is there is nothing -wrong- with the stock engine -in- the Pantera right now.  Except for doomsayer's like John (no offense intended) who keep a tinge of doubt in my mind, I have no qualms about running this engine at 100 MPH for 90 miles.  It needs nothing right now other than an oil and filter change, well and maybe a new radiator (or rebuilt, I'm working on that).

Granted, running it between WOT and full Brakes on the local track
    for 20 minutes at a shot, or brutalizing it on an autocross course
    isn't the same.  Might it not survive 100 MPH for 90 miles?  Maybe.

Two years ago I replaced all the valve stem keepers and valve stem
    seals.  I've tuned it for no-knock on 92 Octane pump gas (of course
    it's a '73 de-tuned engine anyway.)  It has a full-roller timing set
    (after the stock set went south).  Okay, so it's not strictly stock,
    like Brock Tella stock, okay?

No worries though, I'm not about to spend a brazilian dollars on new
    parts for a new rebuild.  That comes secondary.  What the angst is
    about is whether to buy in to the idea the stock engine might
    grenade on course and instead run the engine I've built for the Mach
    I.  Details on that engine build are here:
http://www.asajay.com/351rebuild/351rebuild.htm

It's been running in the Mach I since 2001, just not been driven a
    whole lot.

<sigh>  I just need new shocks/springs, a new radiator, wheels
    and tires, an oil and filter change and I'll be ready.  But I'll
    also listen to other advice.  What other reasons are there that my
    engine as it is might not make it 90 miles at 100 MPH?

Asa Jay



Asa Jay Laughton, MSgt, USAFR, Retired
& Shelley Marie
Spokane, WA
******************************     
http://www.racingagainstautism.com
http://www.teampanteraracing.com
http://facebook.com/racingagainstautism
On 12/3/2011 5:35 PM,  Charles Engles wrote: 
RE: [TPR] What we are about . . . . 
>Dear Asa,
>
>                 Ahem.  That should read:  John’semail is filled with words of wisdom.   
>                                          My bad,  Chuck Engles
>From:tpr-bounces at teampanteraracing.com [mailto:tpr-bounces at teampanteraracing.com]On Behalf OfCharles Engles
>Sent:Saturday, December 03, 2011 7:33 PM
>To:'John Bentley'; 'Asa Jay Laughton'; tpr at teampanteraracing.com
>Subject:Re: [TPR] What we are about . . . .
>Dear Asa,
>                      John email is filled with words of wisdom.    
>
>                                                 Warmest regards,  Chuck Engles
>From:tpr-bounces at teampanteraracing.com [mailto:tpr-bounces at teampanteraracing.com]On Behalf OfJohn Bentley
>Sent:Saturday, December 03, 2011 6:03 PM
>To:Asa Jay Laughton; tpr at teampanteraracing.com
>Subject:Re: [TPR] What we are about . . . .
>Asa,
>You gotta stop this!  Don't run Silver State with an original un-touched engine since you will probably suck a valve at mile 25!  Don't worry about the long list of $20k worth of parts you WANT and just get it running and run the 100 MPH class.  Take smaller steps or you will NEVER drive it again. :)  My garage is filled with parts I have collected along the way and if I waited until they were all installed it would never leave the jack stands.
>Don't make me send the Brazilian girls up there to fix your engine......!
>JB
>From:Asa Jay Laughton <asajay at asajay.com>
>To:tpr at teampanteraracing.com
>Sent:Saturday, December 3, 2011 3:51 PM
>Subject:Re: [TPR] What we are about . . . .
>You're excellency,
>
>There is always room at the Northwest Pantera Research
            Institute for The Pope.  The last transients to stay here
            were Mike Drew and John Christian on their way to the Rocky
            Mountain Tour.  I have a refrigerator specifically
            designated for beer.  Although it's not normally stocked, it
            miraculously fills anytime a man of the shop cloth comes to
            stay.  And one of the natives has a "Hut" always well
            stocked with pizza.
>
>I do have an emotional attachment to the engine in the
            Pantera.  It's an original numbers matching, never been
            rebuilt, still runs.  Yes.... the more I drive it -hard-,
            the more I take a chance on breaking something, which I
            sometimes have angst about.... until I climb in, fire it up
            and drive away.  So on the one hand, I really should swap
            it, but on the other... how cool would it be to complete the
            SSCC in a triple digit speed class, with the original
            numbers matching engine, never been rebuilt, 40 years after
            it was made?  ...   WOW!
>
>The Mach I could sit without an engine.  I haven't actually
            driven it in -over- a year.  It's really in a sad state of
            bodywork and paint.  But I just know if it sits for -long-
            without an engine.... it will depress me even further as to
            it's non-driven state.  That engine is -not- numbers
            matching and I could pretty much put it anywhere I want
            without any angst.
>
>The engine currently on the stand in the lab is still
            waiting further forensics, which I'm hoping to get to this
            winter.  It isn't a good candidate for a rebuild; it was
            bored .030" over last time and has nearly 80K miles on it or
            so.  I have three others stored that I could use for new
            rebuilt platforms, but I don't know what condition they are
            in.... again, the Northwest PRI has no money for research at
            the moment.
>
>If the angels granted this kind of project could be
            undertaken, it would most likely happen in January and would
            look something like this:
>
>- Move Shelley's Jeep out of garage, move Mach I in
>- Remove engine sans transmission (time estimate, half a
            day)
>    - Drain radiator of coolant, unhook radiator hoses,
            remove radiator
>    - Drain engine of oil, unhook oil lines to accumulator
>    - Remove fan belts and fan
>    - Remove power steering pump and set aside (or unhook
            hoses if necessary)
>    - Remove alternator
>    - Unhook all wiring to the engine and place aside
>    - Remove carb, tape over intake
>    - Remove distributor
>    - Unbolt headers at head
>    - Unhook fuel line and cork it (if there's any left)Asa
            Jay Laughton, MSgt, USAFR, Retired
>    - Unbolt transmission, motor mounts and pull the sucker
>    - Put the engine on a stand
>- Move Mach I back outside, move Shelley's Jeep back in.
>- Remove the engine from the Pantera (time estimate, half a
            day)
>    - Remove the decklid
>    - Drain coolant, unhook hoses, remove radiator (needs
            new or rebuilt radiator)
>    - Drain engine oil
>    - Drain ZF gear oil
>    - Unhook fuel line and cork
>    - Remove carb and distributor, cover holes
>    - Unhook all wiring, set aside
>    - Remove A/C compressor (unused currently), set aside
>    - Unhook/remove starter (get it out of the way)
>    - Remove A/C Condensor
>    - Unhook headers
>    - Unhook transmission linkage
>    - Unhook transmission wiring
>    - Unhook half-shafts
>    - Remove clutch slave, set aside
>    - Unbolt engine and trans mounts and pull the sucker
>- Swap the ZF to the other engine (an hour maybe)
>    - Swap flywheels (the Mach I is an automatic)
>    - Install new pilot bearing since the Mach I doesn't
            have one (money)
>    - Install pressure plate and clutch disc (assuming they
            are fine, otherwise.... more money)
>- Reverse the process on the Pantera (another half day)
>
>But then.....
>- I don't have a well-tuned carb for the Mach I engine.  The
            Carter AFB on there works, but not as optimally as it
            should.  The Holley from the Pantera would work, but it's
            not tuned to the higher horsepower of the Mach I engine.  Do
            I rebuild and re-tune the Carter or do I re-jet the Holley?
>- I could use the Duraspark distributor from the Mach I in
            the Pantera but I'd need to wire up a computer box in the
            engine compartment to make it work.  Best to do that while
            the engine is out. (more money)
>- If the engine is out it's a good time to replace the
            rubber mounting doughnuts. (more money)
>- If the engine is out, it's a good time to re-plumb the
            cooling system, ala John Taphorn/Dave Bell's method. (more
            money and some creative work in the engine bay)
>- Might as well remove the A/C parts for now since they
            aren't being used.
>
>So I look at all this and it just doesn't seem practical. 
            But I get that darn thundering clapping sound from a good
            strong V8 engine in my bones and "practicality" begins to
            get awfully transparent.
>
>Bless me father for I have sinned... I have lust for more
            horsepower and coveted my neighbors ponies.
>
>Asa Jay    
>& Shelley Marie
>Spokane, WA
>******************************     
>http://www.racingagainstautism.com
>http://www.teampanteraracing.com
>http://facebook.com/racingagainstautism
>
>On 12/3/2011 1:48 PM, David in Durango wrote: 
>So, you have a "spare" for the Pantera?  Hot motor? (well, usable).
> 
>Swap them out!  If you have some emotional attachment to the Pantera motor, use it for the dream rebuild  "next winter" [1] and have some fun in the mean time.  I've heard the Pope would donate labor for 3-4 days if he had a place to stay and beer/pizza rations.  That way, if you dropped something big, you would have back up!  Hell, he might even deliver your new wheels, too.
> 
>Or you could sit on the porch while the big dawgs play . . . . . 
> 
>Morally unemployed,
>David in Durango
> 
> 
> 
>[1] next winter = appropriate economic time
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From:Asa Jay Laughton
>To:tpr at teampanteraracing.com
>Sent:Saturday, December 03, 2011 2:10 PM
>Subject:Re: [TPR] What we are about . . . .
>AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgh.........
>
>The more I -SIT- here and dwell on it.....
>The more I want to put the 351C from the Mach I into the
            Pantera.....
>nnnnnnngh......
>I know I could have it done in a couple weekends....
>rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh........
>It's winter........
>I'm not driving the car......
>mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmph................
>Must.... resist.... temptation.
>
>If I take that engine out of the Mustang... it'll be the
            death nell for the car and I can't have that.
>
>must.... resist....
>
>Asa Jay
>Asa Jay Laughton, MSgt, USAFR, Retired
>& Shelley Marie
>Spokane, WA
>******************************     
>http://www.racingagainstautism.com
>http://www.teampanteraracing.com
>http://facebook.com/racingagainstautism
>
>On 12/3/2011 12:20 PM, David in Durango wrote: 
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIn0IOD9eEc&feature=related
> 
>just in case you've forgotten.
> 
>Snow and low of 16 forecast for tonite!
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