DeTomaso rear frame plate

If your refering to the plate that mounts on the frame behind the rear sway bar. Mine was mounted with two metal screws one on each side near the center just need to drill some small holes in the plate and frame

That's the one. Are these just sheet metal screws that are driven in from the face of the plate into the frame? Not bolts with nuts?

I installed mine with two big globs of epoxy. No holes and no screws. It seems to be holding pretty good. Make sure that you rough up the surface of the rear frame so that you apply epoxy to the metal, not the paint...

I had actually considered epoxy but wasn't sure it would hold. I like the idea of no holes. Did you rough up the back of your plate as well?

Yes, I used 36 grit on a grinder and roughed up both. Then, I applied the epoxy to the frame so that I could make sure that I coverd all of the exposed metal with expoxy and taped the plate into place until the epoxy set up (overnight).

Thanks for the help guys. Looks like I'm grinding this weekend...

-William

I'd be afraid of losing it using epoxy. They were originally epoxied to the valve covers and many were lost when they fell off. May have been the heat? In any case an expensive piece to lose. Mine are drilled and screwed on.

Maybe we should take a poll. Has anyone with an epoxied plate on the back frame ever lost it? (the plate that is..)

I wish I knew epoxy would hold. I would much have preferred it to the two ugly screws I put in.

that has been the one complaint I have had with Hall they sell lots of stuff w/o any instructions on how to install then when you call them it depends on what kind of day they are having. I've had responses ranging from going into great detail, to "send it back if you don't like it". You might want to do what I did, which is take the plate and mount it into a block of wood and drill 2 angled holes for pens. It made a beautiful desk set for my office.

As far as the car goes there is a relatively new option that works really well, It is a plate that mounts to the rear frame that has all of the details of the plate you are wanting to use. It also covers the 2 sway bar mounting brackets. It really finishes off the back area of the car nicely, and they are available at most of the dealers.

I have attached the link from Pantera East so you can see what I am talking about. I used the clear anodized one with a fill coat of body color, it really looks sharp and finishes off that whole area

http://www.mapenterprises.net/pe/1024x768/main.htm

Gary #06984

I used riv-nuts with black allen head screws. Can't see the screws unless you look close since the're in the recessed area.

So no one can confirm that the epoxy alone will not hold?

These plates were originally intended for the valve covers on the Mangusta.
Apparently they were epoxied into place.
I drilled and tapped 10/32 machined screws into the back of the plate and drilled holes to match through the rear member.

The one on my Pantera is held on with small head black screws that are in the black part of the plate. It is nice to have it removable to it can be cleaned.

Mike

I drilled and tapped 2 screws into it. Ugly screws? I used black allen head screws that were tappered into the black part of the plate. Not sure what the propper name of screw is, but it's tappered like a wood screw, but with machined threads. You can't see them unless you're a foot away.
I wouldn't trust epoxy.
My .02

Ok, its done! I drilled two holes in the plate in the black areas, drilled and tapped two holes in the frame, then used small black coated hex screws with lok-tite. Looks good and its not going anywhere.

Thanks for all the feedback!

-William

Looks great!
Nice job.

Dave

Thanks Dave.