This seems an appropriate time to again state what is obvious to most of us when looking at a Pantera for purchase:
DO A VERY COMPLETE, TIME CONSUMING INSPECTION - INSPECTION - INSPECTION
If you purchase a Pantera without getting it up on a lift and then spending at least fifteen minutes with a hammer and a center punch you are asking for trouble.
Yes, a hammer and a center punch. You are not going to tap around on a Pantera chassis with your pencil or your knuckles and find anything, especially if the seller is fraudulent and has tried to cover known defects. Bondo, paint and undercoating from Kragens can cover almost anything. But if you HIT THE BEJEZZUS out of frame sections, you'll find such camouflage.
On the other hand, the small impact point from a punch or awl will not leave any damage of any importance. Should the seller get bent out of shape, politely explain the real world - perhaps this example - and tell him YOU are not willing to repeat such a scenario.
Eastwood sells an overpriced magnet device that will give you some sort of an idea of paint/bondo thickness on painted areas:
http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump...799&itemType=PRODUCT
Another type of this magnet unit is the Spot Rot. I couldn't find a current selling listing for this - I bought one back in 2001 - but here is info:
Larry
