Steve Webster www.ocpanteras.com
March 2006
Steve Webster Died on 2/9 during a heart operation.
Our unofficial TPOC member often helped us at our tech sessions. He gladly gave both his expertise and bright
outlook that will be sorely missed by all who grew to know and love him. The hardship of his stroke last year added
stress beyond measure to his big heart.
Dragon Foundation Carol Ann Michelle CAMichelle@DragonFoundation.org wants your help to make the
“Running of the Beasts” in support of animals a huge success. Volunteer for this worthy cause along with
the other TPOC members or enter your car now.
Tentative date is July 15th.
Reminders: from rkunishige@hotmail.com
? Car Museum Rick Flores hosting.
Mar
8 TPOC Mtg 7PM Mimi’s 18461 Brookhurst & Ellis FV. Bring your pics.
Mar
10-11Temecula Rock N Rod 951
325-7100 drifterpat@msn.com.
Mar
12 Long Beach Swap at
Memorial Stadium.
Apr
7-9 LB Grand Prix CART
racing at its best www.longbeachgp.com.
Apr
9 Long Beach Swap at
Memorial Stadium.
Apr
12 TPOC Mtg 7PM Mimi’s 18461 Brookhurst & Ellis FV. Bring your suggestions.
May 3-7 POCA Las Vegas Fun Rally
& Car Display at Orleans Hotel.
Kent & Sandi Snyder 626 966-0890.
May 10 TPOC Mtg 7PM
Mimi’s 18461 Brookhurst & Ellis FV. Bring your
car.
May
14 Long Beach Swap at Memorial
Stadium.
May
18-21ORR Nevada Open Road
Race (SilverState), Ely Nevada Call Dennis Antenucci 714 962-9754.
Jun
11 Long Beach Swap at
Memorial Stadium.
Jun
14 TPOC Mtg 7PM Mimi’s 18461 Brookhurst & Ellis FV. Bring your stories.
Jun 15-17 ORR La Carrera Road Race,
Ensenada, Mexico Contact Dennis Antenucci 714 962-9754.
Jul 9 Long Beach Swap at Memorial Stadium.
Jul 12 TPOC Mtg 7PM
Mimi’s 18461 Brookhurst & Ellis FV. Bring your
associate.
Jul 30 Long Beach Swap at Memorial Stadium.
Aug 13 Long Beach Swap at Memorial Stadium.
Aug 18-19Concorso Italiano
& PI’s Laguna Seca Historics sign up early.
Aug 26 TPOC BBQ
Ron & Gayle Huff.
Sep 10 Long Beach Swap at Memorial Stadium.
Sep 14-17 ORR Silver Road Race, Ely, Nevada Contact Dennis
Antenucci 714 962-9754.
Sep
17 Long Beach Swap at
Memorial Stadium.
Oct
8 Long Beach Swap at
Memorial Stadium.
Nov
4-5 Willow Springs Open Track
featuring Panteras and Ferraris---Jim Saxton 626 285-2024. This TPOC event is on the fastest track in
the West. It is often seen on Speed TV
for car testing. Why not test your
ride where the pros test? This event is
for pro and novice alike classed in 4 groups.
Nov
12 Long Beach Swap at
Memorial Stadium.
Nov
26 Long Beach Swap at
Memorial Stadium.
Dec 3/10 TPOC
Christmas Party Gayle Huff & Bob Singer.
Dec
10 Long Beach Swap at
Memorial Stadium.
TPOC Christmas Party followed
tradition at the country club with 19 Panteras in fine form. It’s always amazing how much of an
attraction is generated by so many Panteras on display in the parking lot. This pride of cats draws crowds with ease.
Aren’t there any Mongustas in SoCal?
After all, we do need some Cobra killers to compliment the gang. This year was a low-keyed event with plenty
of time to talk among the nearly one hundred guests whilst soft Christmas music
filled the air. Special awards hand
crafted by our artistic President Dave Rudderow were distributed to members who
helped to make 2005 to be an exciting year.
Sign up now for Las Vegas, Monterey and
Willow Springs!
Write an article of your own and submit it to Mike Drew, Jack Deryke, or Dave Adler.
Please send any changes
to Judy McCartney at jpoca2@hotmail.com ‘cause we’re considering sending a TPOC
roster to you. Check your phone
numbers, email address and most importantly your associate’s name. Oops, it’s not listed but we do want it for
our database anyway. Then tell us what info you’d like to
include or exclude in the roster to all our club members.
The mystery surrounding this motor has led me to
find out some points about this four-year production engine. It started in the fall of 1969 ending in
1974 model year. Some may remember the
1974 Cougar I once stored in order to safe guard its 351C 2V. Others will recall that I currently run a
1974 351C 2V in my 73 Pantera while its original 351C 4V awaits rebuild (a
casualty of a POCA Las Vegas open track event).
Let’s ignore the famous 351 Windsor engine to focus
on Ford’s successor to the Cleveland --- the much heavier 400M whose 1972
introduction uses a taller deck, wider profile and big block (429/460) bell
housing pattern. This block was
destroked to yield the 351M in 1975, which barely overcomes its weight
disadvantage.
The Cleveland’s most noted feature is its
heads. Early 351C 4V heads have wedge
chambers, monster ports and valves measuring 2.19 intake and 1.71 exhaust
designed for big blocks. The design stems from SCCA Trans Am winner of 1969 as
they rested atop the very high-revving BOSS 302s with oversized 2.23
intakes. BOSS 302s for 70 were reduced
to our 2.19”. The closed quench style
chambers were opened in 1972. This
massive flow characteristic gives us poor street performance but an outstanding
one on race courses demanding high revs in the 7,000+ range. To take advantage of this, a stroker of 377
to 408 is needed to provide enough volume and revs. 351 2V heads have smaller ports, open chambers, 2.04 intakes and
1.67 exhaust valves found in the long gone Cougar and my current Pantera. High performance Chevys would love to have
this size valves. And, I found one drag
race 350 modified to mount the Ford Cleveland head in San Mateo in an effort
beat Jack Roush’s lowly 351C Tijuana Taxi Maverick. 2Vs offer great gobs of low end torque but
limits the high end. The Aussie 351
heads uses the 4V wedge chambers with the smaller 2V ports to give us both
excellent flow and burn characteristics more in keeping with the 351 cubic
inches and bottom end construction so limited in most Fords with their oiling,
rods and crank shortcomings.
So what’s this all mean? For the 2V heads engine seeking more, consider the Aussie
heads. The 4V heads need more
displacement and higher spin capability (7,500-8,000) than stock so check out a
stroker with a forged crank, longer rod length, and stronger connecting
rods. But be sure to have your block
sonic tested to insure proper wall thickness.
Use push rod guide plates and screw-in adjustable studs to steady your
valve train regardless of heads. Eye
the single plane intake manifolds for tack and dual plane for street. I’ll suggest a probable fix to the oiling
problems inherent in Ford blocks in a future article.
One more thing, there is a reference to an Australian 302C head but I have not been able to find any specific information on it. Have you?
Rod Kunishige