Yes it is mystery on the block. Several mechanics and race guys have looked at engine and say it is not a typical 351C. It is a machined passage in the block with no provision for the stat. Some of the parts on the car are Earnie Elliot such as the
Oil Injected Valve covers. According to the previous owner this was a custom race engine originally built by Elliot for another car but I have not looked in to this to verify it. He may have been full of it. It seems questionable to me considering the compression being so low. The car also maintains 50 to 70 psi on
oil pressure. Arizona must be nice right now. Here in Norway we have 3 inches of solid ice on the driveway right now. Not great driving weather.