Reply to "Wheel/Suspension dilemma for original 74' GTS"

Timsteren,

Regarding chassis number, mine is #6795.

David_Nunn,

I really like your idea here. I believe VW makes something for their cars out of butyl rubber or high durometer foam called a suspension limiter that sits under the bump-stop. I could probably fabricate something similar for my application. It would achieve exactly what you mentioned and the height could be custom tailored to my needs. Great suggestion.

Panther351,

The stock flares mount a few inches above the lip of the fender well, and the rivets penetrate all the way through the fender wall. These flares were a cosmetic addition to the stock body Pantera from the factory, and no metal was cut. On an unaltered US spec GTS, you should be able to put your fingers under the flare and feel the original metal lip of the fender well, once you get past the flare. A good test for you would be to remove one of your wheels and look at the internal wall of the wheel well with a flash light. If you see rivets penetrating through, chances are you still have stock flares that were only cosmetically altered on the outside. If you don't see rivets, the previous owner may have installed metal flares and done some bodywork to create a true flared wheel well.

accobra,

I am unfamiliar with the nuances of the 79' Euro GTS. Regardless, it sounds like they decided to add the flares correctly on that model, and they actually serve a functional purpose. I would be interested in seeing a photo of the under side of your wheel well at some point, for my own educational purposes.

Thanks!