Wow... 2 years since the last posting on this!
An update on the engine... in case anyone is interested.
The motor is still together and running strong.
I had lots of problems with the valve stem seals. They kept disintegrating leaving elastomer and tiny spring bits in the heads which went into the valley which then went into the dry sump oil pump.
I was getting very frustrated...
No, we didn't think they were rubbing on the springs.
Best opinion was they were just moving up and down with the valve stem and getting banged around.
Then I started losing compression between cylinders.
Turns out, the exhaust port plates I had purchased were made out of some shitty cast aluminum and the head bolt torque would just not stay.
I could torque them, come back 10 minutes later and have to torque them again.
The steel 'T' washers were just sinking into the aluminum.
Solutions that seem to work so far are:
Knurling the heads and using slimmer valve stem seals which now have to literally 'screw' onto the heads.
The exhaust port plates have been replaced with new ones made out of 7071 aluminum. That was a real saga machining those....
I also put a screen filter on the valley oil pickup so if the seals do take a dump, they won't trash the oil pump in the process.
Should have done that before...
I ran all weekend last month and didn't break a thing. I was regularly shifting at 8400rpm. No drama.
For the Pantera guys, I also replaced all the A-arm bushings with Heim joints, so the suspension is much more solid.
Some adjustment of the front sway bar and the car is handling about as best you can expect from a Pantera.
Well, I think so... Some new tires would have done me well....
I also got my picture on the cover of 'Victory Lane'!
FWIW,
Kirby