GT5-S Conversion

Ron,

Only comment I have is I went thru 2 sets of steel flairs to finally get about an 85% of what i wanted as the end result to be for my GR4 Build.

Recently I bought sheetmetal DYNACORN for my BOSS 302 restoration and it fit to about a 90% of what i expected.

In both cases I worked the metal to fit equal to factory fit ... I;m convinced that the factory fit wasn't a 100%.

I would have to think on your subject GT5-S conversion ...its a real long shot ... who is selling these pieces and are they steel ... do they represent that these pieces where made off factory bucks ?

Ron

IMO, I would have to say that to get this done correctly, and by that I mean as nice as GT5-S as you've ever seen, there would be some non-negotiables that I could not live without. The first is finding someone that understands symmetry from one side of the car to the other; and front to back symmetry and how to check for it. The other metal working skills that would be needed for such an endeavor would be being expert at an English wheel, planishing hammer, knowing how to shrink metal, and any other metal working skills that most body shops don't do nowadays.

Not saying that the conversion could not be done, but it sounds to be very expensive to get it done correctly. I know that I would not attempt such a project without someone extremely versed in metal craft.

Best of luck!

Mark

The original GT5S cars are virtually all hand made. I am of the opinion that no two panels regardless of who made them will be exactly alike.

Installing new GT5S panels on an existing car means virtually re-manufacturing the car.

Some are better then others on that, and even so, some have good days and some bad.

Don't ever check for symmetry on any of these cars. It simply does not exist. It might only exist in the eyes of the beholder? I actually don't think it really exists on a stock body either. Never did. Never will.

The first time I ever saw a real factory GT5S in person was Lauren Fixes' car. I was so overwhelmed with the presence of the car, I never noticed anything like that. It was like I was high. I was just floating on the sensuality of the flow of the car.

Wonder if she still has it? The car that is?

PanteraDoug confirms something I have always said, Pictures dont do GT5-S es, justice, they must be seen in person to be properly appreciated.

I know of someone doing a custom carbon fiber 5S by using my red 5S as a model. Should be very light, and done to perfection. Maybe they might consider production at a cost since the mold is done.

Talk to Pat.
http://www.patsauto.com/

quote:

Originally posted by OSOFAST:
Talk to Pat.
http://www.patsauto.com/

Already did.

Ron

quote:

Originally posted by DOES 200:
I know of someone doing a custom carbon fiber 5S by using my red 5S as a model. Should be very light, and done to perfection. Maybe they might consider production at a cost since the mold is done.

My main problem with that is with the rigidity of the car being comprised.
Cutting away all of that sheetmetal has to have a huge effect. Not totally convinced that bonding the CF parts back would add enough back.
Do you think you could provide me with his contact info so that I could discuss it with him?
Or have him contact me? rfmccall@comcast.net

Thanks,
Ron

This is a good looking clone (the MM is just not me):

http://www.patsauto.com/images/pantera52006.jpg

If I'm not mistaken whats in PATS site is an SI ... the 5S is what Michael has and his is a Targa ..I would agree its a beauty.

Ron I think I'm stating the obvious that the car would be mounted prior to cutting anything on a frame machine to hold it in place ? I have to admit I bonded my rear 1/2 of my deck lid hinges to the CF deck lid and they are on there for good ... personally I think it could be done bonding the CF panels ... but I would have to state that I think some rigidity would have to be added to the frame and might offset the weight savings of a CF body.

quote:

If I'm not mistaken whats in PATS site is an SI ... the 5S is what Michael has and his is a Targa ..I would agree its a beauty.

I cant remember if Pats car started out as a L or Pre L. Was converted to a 5S, then to a Si.

quote:

Originally posted by OSOFAST:

quote:

If I'm not mistaken whats in PATS site is an SI ... the 5S is what Michael has and his is a Targa ..I would agree its a beauty.

I cant remember if Pats car started out as a L or Pre L. Was converted to a 5S, then to a Si.

I think it was a "L", then it was a GT-5, then it was made into a SI

If I remember right, I think, (when the car was in Vegas) it had a BMW dash of some kind in it?

..... my point is the end result should be a picture of a 5S not a SI ? Why make ref to Pats SI ... ?

quote:

Originally posted by r mccall:
My main problem with that is with the rigidity of the car being comprised.
Cutting away all of that sheetmetal has to have a huge effect. Not totally convinced that bonding the CF parts back would add enough back.

But doesn't the car ride on the frame and not fenders? Here is some extre rigidity: http://www.poca.com/index.php/...g2_imageViewsIndex=1

.... did you notice in that picture the box steel welded in to add rigidity to the frame ... I thought the Pantera utilized a elaborate unibody construction called Monocoque construction which is a technique that supports structural load by using the external skin ?

.... did you notice in that picture the box steel welded in to add rigidity to the frame ...

and the clever drive shafts