Decklid ideas

A clear lexan piece to show it off, but also cover the area. Tint it a light blue or some color that compliments the car. You would need to get someone to mold the shape for you but it would look really cool.

a muliti piece wire mesh (smaller seeve than grille screens) than mates with the same screening where the original engine covers were. the engine cover section will need the matching stepup as the deck section.

I would think the wire mesh could even be stamped (bent) so there would be little framing steel

I like the clear plexi idea!

quote:

Originally posted by GTPowered:
Looking for ideas about how the decklid should look for my supercharger cutout. Perhaps a hood scoop over it or leave it as it is.

GTPowered,

When ever I am asked to help with a concept design, help to finish idea, or the occasional "I have this so WTF do I do next!", the first response is "are you totally happy with what you have right now?" and " how much of the modification (in this case is the engine) do you want exposed?". If the answer is a resounding YES, I'll try to suggest---design---add to the look with the YES in mind, if possible. If it's a "Well I don't know--what do you think?", that opens it up to the next questions which starts by finding out if the owner is doing the work them selves and if yes, it's best to establish the owner's skill set so the design does not overwhelm the them and/or a budget for the build. Next come up the some "napkin sketch" ideas and see if you're on the same page. With this in mind, how public do you want to go?

Whenever you are modifying anything, some will love it as much as sex and others would rather put pins in the eyes which is why I asked the public question. Personally I love the GT power plant and hope to build a car with one soon.

The only thing I can suggest without some additional info is this, just keep in mind the body work is body work and do not try and design around items that are not part of the body like the engine. If you can use the body shape to expose things like the blower, fantastic! Again keep in mind the modified shapes you chose should compliment the overall look or your taste since you'll be the one living with the final product.

My suggestion at this juncture would be to raise the front of the deck lid from side to side clearing the blower. As you come back where the blower and parts stop, stager the opening with 2 additional louver/grill work evenly dropping down to the original deck.(similar concept art below) If this is something you might consider, see if the deck builder would send you a section of the deck surface from the mold to use as the new surface since you have already cut yours. I can supply you with a section from on of my deck molds if this approach is of interest and you can not get the lid supplier to help.

The picture below gives you an idea of how the extended deck might look with the grill louver drop when needed. IMHO clear would net be the best approach in your case because of the heat involved and openness of the Pantera's deck size from side to side would expose items beside the engine that do not need to be seen---like 75% of the people on the French side nude beach in St Martin---some of those people should take showers with there clothes on---OMG.

For history's sake the concept art is from 1988---a 25 car custom Countach build for the 25th anniversary. I was working on the idea with Mr. Lamborghini's approval and with Chrysler's new ownership. It was a way cool project but the back story was unique, unfortunate and out of my control so another idea that went by the way-side.

Good luck and God speed with your finish---love the GT stuff.

Kirk

quote:

Originally posted by Rob Borruso:
I like the clear plexi idea!

Sorry Rob---was not trying to step on the Clear plexy kudos---I was typing before you posted. Knowing how plex or even resistance Lexan reacts to heat, the car is in Arizona with a blower generating temps and with limited air flow under the best of circumstances, that causes my concern antenna to raise.

So long as it doesn't look like the car below, it should prevent any of the Pantera guys from visiting the needle drawer.

Obviously the cut edges need to be dressed somehow. Outside of that, I would be concerned that any cover you create for the engine may draw attention to itself and away from the engine, or it may spoil the lines of the Pantera.

OMFG, sorry that's not constructive but that was my initial thought.

Something like the mind train louvers to hide it would be the only way to go in my opinion.

My question is why is that dry sump GT motor sitting so high, did you modify the chassis rails to drop the engine (and Ricardo assuming that's what you have) in the chassis as others have done with a GT conversion?

Julian

Thanks everyone for their ideas. Someone off list proposed raising the entire decklid surface up too. I posted an image of what it may look like.

The engine sits high because even after lowering it 3 inches from the mounts that is how high it is. Maybe 2 inches I recall above the current decklid. I am still running the ZF. The ZF sits lower too with CV joints. Thought about flipping the ZF to go lower but didn't want ground clearance issues. The Mark H car is the only car I am aware of that has a GT engine and Ricardo. His car was extensively modified to get that combo in. IIRC the suspension points were changed too.

GTPowered,

I love the install. The GT engine would be my number one from the list of US built engines for a Pantera install so massive thumbs up. Your possibilities for the cover is endless and bet it will look great when she's finished. Please post some deck pictures of and if you would like to talk about ideas, please call my cell. Good luck.

Kirk

GTPowered;
Like your GT power and the thought of window exposure for the engine. With the cardboard template raised would it be possible to fabricate a glass/lexan "cover" with vents on the sides similar to the Ferrari F430 engine cover?

I like it the way it looks now... open air

OK, so I'm with Joules on the one pink/red/white monstrosity....OMFG. Thanks Kirk... I could have lived 2 lives w/o seeing that.. :-) Hmm....good points though about temp and material performance. This is something that should be considered. Heck, PLT-1 might have the right idea. Just make clean trimming around the opening and leave it all hanging out. I don't think anyone would look at it and think "hmmm something is missing here". I would imagine the thoughts would more be "holy crap...check it out there's a supercharged 5.4 in there!"

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Rob Borruso:
OK, so I'm with Joules on the one pink/red/white monstrosity....OMFG.

Should have sub-titled the photo with

One persons dream is another's nightmare.


It was by no means meant to be derogatory at the original post or plea for ideas---just an attempt at humor and not constructive so if I offended, please accept my apologies---it was not intentional.

Many people have likely gotten a good laugh from something I've built and frankly looking back, laughing at those past ideas and creations is hysterical.

On another note, my first attempt at building an original Pantera part was a new designed deck lid with a similar louver look the Carabo pictures. The louvers came down about half way on the side wings. The louver were about 6" wide, had the center deck lip on every louver and were removable from the under side. The design looked good in 1978 but frankly the build was beyond my skill set back then. I still have the master and have been toying with building one just for fun.

Again sorry guys for the attempt at humor.

It is already looking very impressive. Just finishing the cut edges would be enough, as said already before. I really don´t see any reason for covering such a serious looking machinery.

Kirk -

I like that green thing - it looks like a rocket!

Very cool

So how did you get the bottom "picture", did you build that car?

PS> Is that you hiding behind the driver's side quarter panel? I see your tennis shoes!

Rocky

If my memory serves me correctly. That is a styling exercise commissioned by Alfa Romeo and undertaken by Bertone for the 1968 show circuit. One of my favourites from when I was a kid.
Never saw production.
I'm not sure but I think it was the first to use the now famous lambo scissor doors. I'm sure you could google and get lots of info.

Doug M

Didn't Sam Foose ( Chip's father) cut a Pantera apart to make a replica of this car for a customer???
Ron

http://bringatrailer.com/2012/...72-sam-foose-custom/

Here it is! Sorry for the thread drift.


Ron

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Rocky:
Kirk -

I like that green thing - it looks like a rocket! [QUOTE]

This particular car one of my all time personal favorite from high school (saw a book feature in 1972) and has allot to do with my love for Italian sports cars. Doug is right about the description---it was called the Carabo. In 1988, I was at Bertone's studio near Torino with the Lamborghini club for the Chrysler extravaganza when they introduced the 25th adversary Countach. Mr Bertone pulled out all oh his prototype super cars (the list was staggering and to see them in person---WOW!) on the back lawn and allowed the club to roam the grounds---climbing in and out of the prototype cars. This Carabo was not in their position but I spotted a small scale model on the shelf leading to the grounds and asked to take pictures of the original design study---and did so. There were allot of pictures taken that day by the Bertone staff photographer but that's another story.

The Carabo weighed 1700 lbs wet. It had a titanium single tube backbone with cast magnesium front and rear suspension mounting structure the control arms were mounted too. The creative list of developments on this particular masterpiece is incredible. It was said to be able to do an effortless 220 MPH before aero issues devolved. 1968---FANTASTIC CAR!

The previous night my wife and I were introduced to Ferrucco Lamborghini at the intro celebration dinner---pic below. It was a week the two of us will always remember. We devolved a friendship over the next 4+ years which is how the custom 25th anniversary targa Countach idea was hatched. During our last visit to his farm and vineyard for lunch, he was personally dozing a new golf course---on the dozer him self---we saw him coming up the drive. After lunch, he asked my sister to come and sing for the grand opening the following spring---she was an opera singer and lived in Milan studding music and teaching English. The first hand stories he told were wonderful---even explained how and why he started the car company with Enzo Ferrari's attitude help. Mr. Lamborghini passed unexpectedly in February of 1993 before the opening---very sad day for all Italian car lovers---he was a fantastic man and I was blessed to spend a small amount of time with him over those final years. He treated my wife and I incredible well---sorry for rambling on.

Here it is! Sorry for the thread drift.


Ron[/QUOTE]

My bad Ron. It's hard to introduce ideas without direct input. I love this engine combo and is why I keep coming back to the thread and in the process took it way off track.