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GTS clone rebuild

kirkevanskirkevansAmeriSport GT5-S builder Pantera Parts Vendor
Here is a Michigan car that was purchased by a customer (pictured below) from the wife of a former owner that passed years ago. I new the previous owner since 1980. I met the current owner shortly after he purchased the car and had a clutch issue.

The story behind this car is painfully interesting and has taught me that the only cars I will ever recommend, are the ones that I have personally inspected. You will understand after this rebuild story is told.

Here is a shot of the car from several years ago. It was well kept and still looked the same just before the distributor gear ate the cam. The engine is rebuilt waiting for the fresh engine compartment re-finish. This Pantera has been rebuilt top to bottom and is quite nice.

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kirkevanskirkevansAmeriSport GT5-S builder Pantera Parts Vendor
The pressure plate and flywheel were dynamically balanced to the engine and there were obvious fresh balance marks on both. That said, I chose to resurface the flywheel and rebuild the pressure plate to maintain the internal balance weight details. Here is a shot of the resurfaced flywheel re-installed.

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kirkevanskirkevansAmeriSport GT5-S builder Pantera Parts Vendor
One of the many surprises found during the clutch repair. The fuel line was run under the frame rail. I am happy no one hit a pot hole or speed bump that could have caused sparks and a line shearing. She would have looked like the 13 Hours Bengasi movie when the Mercedes was on fire and heading back to the CIA safe house.

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Last edited by kirkevans
kirkevanskirkevansAmeriSport GT5-S builder Pantera Parts Vendor
New pans just going in. Because the original pans were cut to far forward, I had to build new one off custom pans and add in the cross member and seat rail supports to fit the repair. The laser cut pans are easy to install compared to starting from scratch but it all worked out fine. My customer has never Fred Flintstone'd his feet.

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kirkevanskirkevansAmeriSport GT5-S builder Pantera Parts Vendor
quote:
Originally posted by forestg:
That rear A arm mount looks pretty flaky also.


There were many issues through out this one but she is good now. Lots of nasty details that needed attention. How about the front sway bar mount. The shock broke on the other side and ripped the sway bar mount apart from carrying the load.

PM sent

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garth66garth66"When speed is the only thing that counts"
quote:
quote:
Originally posted by Kirk Evans:
Wiring issues to numerous to show. Here was just one.

Don't hit a bump or the alternator will explode.

quote:
quote:
Originally posted by Simon:
Mouses ?

Nope! That looks like chafing against the hole in the bulkhead since there's no grommet to protect the wiring.
kirkevanskirkevansAmeriSport GT5-S builder Pantera Parts Vendor
The new owner told me the engine dyno sheet showed over 600 HP numbers. The pan was stock so he decided to install a 8qt-er. I am not a fan of doing a pan change with the engine installed but with the trans our, it was not as bad. Pulled the old pan and found this. Looks good on the bottom---custom cut pistons, H beam rods, 4 bolt mains, windage work, Cloyes full roller, and a nice steel crank.

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kirkevanskirkevansAmeriSport GT5-S builder Pantera Parts Vendor
The owner did not have a rear trunk insert that would fit because of the NOS lines. He asked if I could modify the front of the tub to make it fit but I suggested that he have the lines modified so the tub would fit as is. Here is a shot before the changes. The lines, gauges and solenoids intruded into the tub area 3" plus.

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kirkevanskirkevansAmeriSport GT5-S builder Pantera Parts Vendor
You can lift the engine a bit and pull it or cut out the cross member and install a removable one. I simply do not like working up-side-down on an engine. On a dirty car contamination is possible but making sure the gasket, seals and corner goop doesn't slide as you putting in the bolts can be difficult with only one person.

I install long allen set screws in every other 2 holes to keep the gaskets aligned and help position the pan while the bolts are being installed. Then remove the set screws and replace them with pan bolts---makes it easer to keep everything straight.
kirkevanskirkevansAmeriSport GT5-S builder Pantera Parts Vendor
Found some rust repair that made more rust that it repaired.

"Beat it low and fill it with dough" don't you know. But first lap on more metal over the top of the old rusty rocker.

Anyway found some more surprises so here is the first shot of the outer crappy repair skin being found and cut off.

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kirkevanskirkevansAmeriSport GT5-S builder Pantera Parts Vendor
Open and cleaned inside. The upper rocker underside needs a bit of handy blasting work and the area to the right of the post where the door jamb transitions into the rocker gets removed and rebuilt without the water and dust catch in the transition. This is a bad design and should be repaired on every Pantera rocker.

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