[TPR] Asa's Engine rebuild update

[Asa Jay Laughton]

Rod bearings didn't arrive today, so the engine stayed in the protective 
plastic bag cocoon.  Instead, I evaluated the oil pump and distributor.

The oil pump is a high volume from Ford Racing.  What makes a high 
volume oil pump you ask?  Good question.  I took this one apart to check 
the gears and wondered that myself since it looked  identical to the one 
I took out of the engine.  Well, once I got the original pump next to 
the new one, it became obvious.

A high volume oil pump, in this case, has a taller set of gears.  As in, 
a half inch taller.  Therefore it moves more oil in any given rotation.  
That was in interesting tidbit.  I'll take photos and post them later.

I began taking apart my Duraspark Distributor that was on the Mach I 
engine.  Since it has a steel distributor gear compatible with the steel 
roller camshaft, I was trying to figure out which way to get it into the 
Pantera.  I had thought I'd just change out the top end, pull the 
Duraspark pickup out, remove the top shaft and replace with the parts 
from the Pantera distributor.

Can't do that though, the housing is slightly different.  Oh well. Here 
are my three options:
- Pull the steel gear from the Mach I distributor, put on the Pantera 
distributor.
- Buy another new steel gear and put it on the Pantera distributor.
- Install Duraspark II in the Pantera.

Least cost at this point is to simply swap the gear from one dizzy to 
the other and that's probably what I'll do.  Next best option is to 
install Duraspark II in the Pantera, which will cost a little for the 
module and wiring harness.  Buying another steel gear would probably 
cost about the same as the Duraspark conversion.  I can wait on this one 
a little while, no rush.

Tomorrow night, if the rod bearings don't show up, the radiator is 
coming out.  I'm caught up on all other activities in the garage... time 
to stop procrastinating on the radiator pull.

Simple questions:
- The oil pan has an extra bung at the front.  Good spot for an oil temp 
sender?  What are the recommendations for a temp sender/gauge assembly 
for oil temp?
- What is the preferred aftermarket oil pressure gauge?  I'm thinking of 
mounting it in the engine compartment facing the rear view mirror.  
Which is better, wired or pressure tubing?  If wired, then I can run it 
into the cabin... but I have one of those already.

Just looking for answers,
Asa Jay

Asa Jay Laughton, MSgt, USAFR, Retired
&  Shelley Marie
Spokane, WA
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