Anybody interested in seeing a Pantera with a Cleveland that has a completely flat firewall?
Michael
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We're waiting!
Mark
Mark
Yes! Pictures please.
I made this prototype electric water pump system back in '00 - '01 for my first Pantera, a '74L. I wasn't sure if/how it would work, so it was basically an experiment using low cost parts. (I used pipe fittings, copper tubing, and regular black hoses. I soldered it all together myself.) Needless to say, it looked very clean and pretty when first completed!
I laid my radiator forward and mounted the electric water pump under the front trunk. I used shut-off valves at the pump and carried a spare pump in the car. If it were to fail, I could have swapped the pump out on the side of the road in literally 5 minutes using hand tools without any loss of coolant (except the small amount that was in the pump). I had the pump wired on with ignition with an override switch to turn it off (in the event of a low battery and weak cranking for startup). I made the actual firewall in two pieces so the bottom can act as a belt guard when working on a running engine.
The system worked flawlessly for the rest of my ownership with the car (which was until Oct. '04). I took lots of pictures throughout the project, but I can't find them (I've looked many times over the years), all of the pictures were lost! As luck would have it (3 years later), I came across a very familiar looking Pantera for sale 3 states away in PA. So one Dec. morning in '07, I hopped in my car and drove for hours just to see it again. The salesperson was great and allowed me to take all the pictures I wanted. At least I was able to recoup what the finished product looked like. At that time, the system was still operating flawlessly and the salesperson thought it came with the car stock! As I understand it, the car was sold and shipped to Austrailia and I haven't heard about it since.
When I undertook this project, I also rerouted my upper coolant return hose down and under the engine so it wouldn't be seen. I incorporated the coolant fill cap into the custom thermostat housing I made. I moved all the necessary engine bay components behind a heatshield I had made that mirrored the gas tank heat shield and routed all wires and hoses up from under the engine for an ultra clean, engine-only look in the engine bay.
When I get into the engine in my 5-S, I will make this system again, only this time I'll use nicer tubes, hoses, and fittings knowing the investment will be worthwhile.
This project was a lot of fun and the end result was/is very satisfying! I hope you enjoy seeing a different approach to a flat firewall.
Michael
I laid my radiator forward and mounted the electric water pump under the front trunk. I used shut-off valves at the pump and carried a spare pump in the car. If it were to fail, I could have swapped the pump out on the side of the road in literally 5 minutes using hand tools without any loss of coolant (except the small amount that was in the pump). I had the pump wired on with ignition with an override switch to turn it off (in the event of a low battery and weak cranking for startup). I made the actual firewall in two pieces so the bottom can act as a belt guard when working on a running engine.
The system worked flawlessly for the rest of my ownership with the car (which was until Oct. '04). I took lots of pictures throughout the project, but I can't find them (I've looked many times over the years), all of the pictures were lost! As luck would have it (3 years later), I came across a very familiar looking Pantera for sale 3 states away in PA. So one Dec. morning in '07, I hopped in my car and drove for hours just to see it again. The salesperson was great and allowed me to take all the pictures I wanted. At least I was able to recoup what the finished product looked like. At that time, the system was still operating flawlessly and the salesperson thought it came with the car stock! As I understand it, the car was sold and shipped to Austrailia and I haven't heard about it since.
When I undertook this project, I also rerouted my upper coolant return hose down and under the engine so it wouldn't be seen. I incorporated the coolant fill cap into the custom thermostat housing I made. I moved all the necessary engine bay components behind a heatshield I had made that mirrored the gas tank heat shield and routed all wires and hoses up from under the engine for an ultra clean, engine-only look in the engine bay.
When I get into the engine in my 5-S, I will make this system again, only this time I'll use nicer tubes, hoses, and fittings knowing the investment will be worthwhile.
This project was a lot of fun and the end result was/is very satisfying! I hope you enjoy seeing a different approach to a flat firewall.
Michael
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Nice setup; would be nice to have a list of parts that was used to make this. Great solution. Is there a way to install an A/C compressor if someone wanted to?
Thanks for the pic's. Very informative.
Mark
Mark
quote:Originally posted by DeMopuar:
Is there a way to install an A/C compressor if someone wanted to?
Yes, I originally had both the A/C and alternator side by side.
I modified my original A/C - alt bracket by cutting the alt U shaped mounting point (for the through bolt) off the top of it. I then used that U piece mounted upside down on a section of long flat steel that hung over the side of the remaining A/C bracket. I used the curved adjustment bracket for the alt underneath it bolted the the A/C bracket. I ran the alt off of the second groove in the A/C pulley.
When A/C compressor seized I removed the whole A/C unit and bracket as an assembly and simply moved the alt in it's place. My A/C - alt bracketry was the same concept as the ones used in the bulkhead reduction kits.
The rerouting of the upper coolant return hose is not necessary for this to work, I just wanted a cleaner, uncluttered engine bay.
Michael
Very cool Michael. When can you come by and do my car?
Mark
Mark
Very innovated! Great job. Looking forward to the "new improved version" on your GT5S.
Anytime you'd like, Mark. I could use a little 'escape' to Canada!
cat7195,
The 'new and improved' version will likely include a remote thermostat. This wouldn't be a necessary improvement, but it will give me additional clearance for other planned modifications.
There is, however, one change I would make: I would run one larger pipe from the pump to the engine rather than two smaller ones. I would 'Y' the two smaller hoses off of the larger one where it exits the tunnel at each end. This would simplify things just a bit. The picture is under the front of the car looking back as the tubes enter the tunnel.
Michael
cat7195,
The 'new and improved' version will likely include a remote thermostat. This wouldn't be a necessary improvement, but it will give me additional clearance for other planned modifications.
There is, however, one change I would make: I would run one larger pipe from the pump to the engine rather than two smaller ones. I would 'Y' the two smaller hoses off of the larger one where it exits the tunnel at each end. This would simplify things just a bit. The picture is under the front of the car looking back as the tubes enter the tunnel.
Michael
Attachments
Images (1)
Michael,
This is John Taphorn's remote BMW by-pass thermostat installation:
http://www.spacecitypanteras.c...Cooling-JTaphorn.pdf
http://www.spacecitypanteras.c...era_coolant_flow.jpg
This is John Taphorn's remote BMW by-pass thermostat installation:
http://www.spacecitypanteras.c...Cooling-JTaphorn.pdf
http://www.spacecitypanteras.c...era_coolant_flow.jpg
Great reading, cat, I appreciate the links! I remember reading about it when John first did it years ago, that's where I got the idea for the remote thermostat. He did his after I did mine, but this is the first time I'm posting mine. It was a nice refresher (and motivator) to see it again!
Michael
Michael