'72 silver L-model, #4429

Looks wery nice and unmolested. I would just have have given it a good share of TLC, and kept it stock. Pros can do wonders to minor imperfections that when gone, would lift it to a higher level.

quote:

How much $$ do you guys think I should budget to clean up the engine bay; smooth/paint to match exterior finish, etc.?

Take it to a body shop for an estimate. Doing it yourself is a royal pain in the derriere. Since your car is so well preserved, I'd be inclined to leave it alone. Just take a rag to the interior to wipe off all that excess Armor All.

And DRIVE! Start putting some miles on that car!

Thanks, Garth! LOL
The interior does look a bit shiny in these pics... but, just so you know...no armor all in my garage !!

To do the bay correctly, and reading these forums, I think you need to pull everything out, and I don't really know if I should make that investment...as much as I would like it to look clean/polished. So, just thought I'd get some opinions...

Thanks again.
Gary

I agree, I would also leave it as is. If you must do the engine bay, it would be best to pull the engine and trans. With the engine already out, expect anywhere between $2,000 and $4,000 depending on how far and the body shop. I did my own on 1729, and just pulled the engine on 4499 today. If you decide to clean it up, I think they look best with the A/C hoses and wiring rerouted inside the wheel well. Cut the tabs that hold the hoses and fill and smooth the spot welds. While the engine is out, this is a great time to polish the trans and go for a new throw out bering. Having said all that, if I had a low miles clean car like yours, I would leave it as is.

Nice, nice clean car. Although I should talk, I would leave as is too for the best bang for the buck.

What I mean is, if you do have it look really clean, will it drive you nuts to see it dirty from driving, which may mean that you would not drive it as much. That would be a shame.

Very nice car -- ENJOY IT YOUR WAY!

Mark

I think it looks fine enjoy it for what it is. My guess your looking at $1,500 to $2,000 to do the paint and smooth that doesn't count removing the engine and trans.

Geeez, on my stock orange L, before I sold it I got a quote from a vendor of close to $20K to fix up the engine bay right, including dress up parts for the engine & trans, polishing existing things painting & such. Maybe it all depends on what level you want to go to with the engine bay.

My buddy Rich did his when the engine was out. He took it to a body shop and $5K later it looked great. Then we put the engine back in

doubleG Fantastic car! The call is yours if you want to pull the engine for the bay finishing its all up to you and what you want. I would be more than happy to come over and give you a hand. If you decide to make the move just be ready for the well I can do this while its out syndrome to take over!!!
Do you plan on driving this sliver fox? There are several Pantera owners in the area and we plan on doing some drives this year, a couple of L's, my Pre L and one gentleman with a gorgeous GT5S.
What part of the motorcity are you in?
great car and I hope to be in touch with you.
Jeff

If you decide to do it yourself, it's not technically that challenging, but it is a lot of work. It took me 100 hours to do mine. Stupidly, I didn't remove the engine—which I am sure would have taken less time than it would have saved in extra effort working around everything. Search the forum for threads about how to go about this if you do proceed. Like most Pantera projects, once the can is open you start adding things to the list. Re-routing AC lines & wires is a great one. BUT, if you are aiming to keep your car as stock as possible, don't touch anything that isn't easily reversible in a few days.

You car looks great and I'm sure whatever you decide will enhance your enjoyment of the car.

Mark

DoubleG, I can personally attest to this project...my motor and trans have been out for two years!!! Yes two. As so many have stated, once you start it hard to stop...paint engine compartment, move a/c and wiring harness...OH and while I'm at it do the firewall with stainless, and insulate it since you're already there...oh yeah,and the gas tank is right there you better seal that because it 35+ years old and WHILE THE MOTORS OUT WHY NOT. Then since the motor is on a stand you can't put the motor back in because look at that motor, it should have one piece valves, roller rockers. Seriously these are all the things that went through my head and I'm doing those and more. Now I'm pissed at myself because my car has been down for so long.

Trust me you find a million other things to do once you start. If you have 3-6 months to take the car off the road, then definitely do it...but it's spring, going into summer and that's your driving season...if I lived where you do that would be a winter project stated in October.

You are extremely lucky to have a fellow Pcar owner near you offering to help, definitely take that assistance, it will go much faster.

By the way, your car looks great. Its a beauty as is.

Tom
#4382

Thanks for all the great feedback, and insights into this kind of project. I've only put about 500 miles on this car since I bought it last year. You guys have helped me decide that I'm going to drive this thing....as is...with a little clean up here/there..... I will do exhaust manifolds since they are sounding a bit thin. Maybe next winter tackle more, when the car is down for 5-6 months.

I appreciate the offer from Jeff in Eaton Rapids, MI to help, and would definitely like to connect with you on that, and 'drive' with the guys in this region.

I will also put this offer out to the entire group....if there is interest in a small/medium/large gathering in Detroit, for the Woodward Ave Dream Cruise week, in August, somebody reply back and let me know the best way to collect interest, using this forum. We could arrange for a location on Woodward for the Panteras. What a sight that would be.

Gary

Gary,

Sounds like a good event to do. Would need to know were we could stay and park the cars in a safe place (overnight). In May there the Pantera event in Pocono called Pocono-CSD and in Sept. there a Pantera event in Canada called Kingston #. You might want to try to go to one of these events too.

quote:

Originally posted by doubleG:
Thanks for all the great feedback, and insights into this kind of project. I've only put about 500 miles on this car since I bought it last year. You guys have helped me decide that I'm going to drive this thing....as is...with a little clean up here/there..... I will do exhaust manifolds since they are sounding a bit thin. Maybe next winter tackle more, when the car is down for 5-6 months.

I appreciate the offer from Jeff in Eaton Rapids, MI to help, and would definitely like to connect with you on that, and 'drive' with the guys in this region.

I will also put this offer out to the entire group....if there is interest in a small/medium/large gathering in Detroit, for the Woodward Ave Dream Cruise week, in August, somebody reply back and let me know the best way to collect interest, using this forum. We could arrange for a location on Woodward for the Panteras. What a sight that would be.

Gary

Gary,

I will be attending the Woodward Dream Cruise this year and I am bringing along my Pantera!


If you set something up for a meeting, let me know. I would be very interested in joining you.
This is where I am staying.
Radisson Hotel Detroit-Bloomfield Hills
39475 WOODWARD AVE
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI 48304
248-644-1400
I will be there Tuesday evening till Sunday morning.


Ron

I'll look into some logistics, hotels, parking, etc., regarding Woodward Ave Dream Cruise in August, and post something on the Event Forum.

Gary