Does anyone know when the floor pans were dropped on the Pantera? Being 6ft4 makes it kinda difficult when looking for a car. Thanks
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Hello none of the panteras have dropped floorpans.People are installing them from pantera vendors . 
I know none of the FORD Panteras were dropped, but I think the later factory production did have at least some with dropped pans.
Larry
Larry
quote:Originally posted by Deloreans and De Tomasos:
Does anyone know when the floor pans were dropped on the Pantera? Being 6ft4 makes it kinda difficult when looking for a car. Thanks
I did mine. They aren't difficult or expensive to do. Buy the car you like then have the pans done.
Incidentally they really don't give you more leg room, they give you more head room. I'm 6'2, 220.
I still need room for my right knee under the steering wheel. It is a LeCarra 13" wheel also.
I really need an adjustable steering column.
I haven't solved that one yet.
[/QUOTE]
Incidentally they really don't give you more leg room, they give you more head room. I'm 6'2, 220. I still need room for my right knee under the steering wheel. It is a LeCarra 13" wheel also. I really need an adjustable steering column. I haven't solved that one yet.[/QUOTE]
On my GT5S Byar Bros extended all the foot pedals, so you may want to try that.
Incidentally they really don't give you more leg room, they give you more head room. I'm 6'2, 220. I still need room for my right knee under the steering wheel. It is a LeCarra 13" wheel also. I really need an adjustable steering column. I haven't solved that one yet.[/QUOTE]
On my GT5S Byar Bros extended all the foot pedals, so you may want to try that.
On my GT5S Byar Bros extended all the foot pedals, so you may want to try that.[/QUOTE]
I can see relocating the pedals deeper into the footwell, or moving them all to the lft some. I don't know what you mean by extending them.
It is really the location of the wheel. It needs to be at least an inch to the left. That isn't difficult to do but it would be offcenter from the instruments.
Detomaso must have been a little twisted up guy. Was he a hunchback or something?
I can see relocating the pedals deeper into the footwell, or moving them all to the lft some. I don't know what you mean by extending them.
It is really the location of the wheel. It needs to be at least an inch to the left. That isn't difficult to do but it would be offcenter from the instruments.
Detomaso must have been a little twisted up guy. Was he a hunchback or something?
quote:Originally posted by Deloreans and De Tomasos:
Does anyone know when the floor pans were dropped on the Pantera? Being 6ft4 makes it kinda difficult when looking for a car. Thanks
D&DT, you're a big guy huh?
None of the Ford era cars had dropped floor pans. The deTomasos continued to use left over Ford era coaches (manufactured by Vignale) through 1976, through chassis number 7700 (approximate). So even the early Euro cars would not have dropped floor pans, unless the pans had been dropped by the owner.
When the supply of Vignale coaches was exhausted, deTomaso contracted with Carrozeria Maggiora to build coaches for them. This was during the years 1976 through 1977. Beginning with chassis number 9001. They were all GTS models. I've never read a report or seen any pictures of a Pantera with a Maggiora coach, I do not know if they had dropped floor pans, or the sharp edged rear wheels houses. Not too many Panteras were built with Maggiora coaches, I'm unsure of the count, but less than 100.
In 1978 deTomaso contracted Carrozeria Embo to build Pantera coaches, starting with chassis # 9101. These coaches had dropped floor pans & the sharp edged rear wheel houses. Embo coaches are available as GTS, GT5 and GT5-S models. These are the models that were gray marketed into the US during the '80s. As I am sure you are aware these models are valued in the US $10K to $20K more than a Ford era Pantrera.
So your chioices for Panteras with dropped floor pans boils down to a Ford era Pantera that has had its floor pans dropped by a previous owner, or a grey market GTS, GT5 or GT5-S with a chassis number greater than 9100.
your friend on the DTBB
quote:Originally posted by thewop:
Hello none of the panteras have dropped floorpans.People are installing them from pantera vendors .
Hello,
DeTomaso installed dropped floorpans as original equipment, most likely beginning in the late 70's. My '85 has dropped floorpans stock. I *think* I've seen an '82 that had dropped floorpans stock, so I'm guessing late 70's.
Actually now that I think about it, I would imagine that the dropped floorpan-as-stock modification probably happened at the same time as DeTomaso began fabricating their panels (square wheel well vs. stamped). When they used up all the Ford-era panels and had to make everything from scratch anyway, it would have been a logical time for them to have cut in this change.
It sounds like the Ford chassis should be the more desireable ones to me.
Is Halls Big Red the only car with an electric sunroof?
Is Halls Big Red the only car with an electric sunroof?
On my 9138 the floor pans are dropped and it has the square box style rather then stamped chassi system. for myself at 5-8 .. now I can actually now I can see myself driving a Pantera longer then an hour. Without the dropped floor pans its not too comfortable.
Ron
Ron
quote:The rear deck was made out of patchwork. The quality of the bodies varied from car to car on the level of Sambuca or Grappa the workers had intus or what reasons ever.
Roland funny you say this ?
I was joking with a friend observing the welds and its pretty clear there were two different people welding this car together on each side. One is perfect and the other a little patchy.
LOL
quote:Originally posted by george pence :
Embo coaches are available as GTS, GT5 and GT5-S models. These are the models that were gray marketed into the US during the '80s. As I am sure you are aware these models are valued in the US $10K to $20K more than a Ford era Pantera.
Interesting info, George. I thought they were worth a bit more.
Josh
quote:Originally posted by pantera874:
From #9001 up all Panteras where made from the same molds. DT owns the molds. First Maggiora used them and then EMBO. Maggiora used bad steel and too thin material in the chassis section. DT had a recall on those cars to strengt these sections on owners costs. All cars had dropped floorpans and thinner rockerpanels.
Roland thanks so much for filling in the gap in my knowledge regarding the Maggiora coaches.
thanks, your friend on the DTBB
quote:Originally posted by JK:
...Interesting info, George. I thought they were worth a bit more...
If top condition Ford era Panteras are fetching $45K maybe even $50K in todays market, are there factory GTS, GT5 or GT5-S fetching more than $65K to $70K? Can't judge by asking price, only sale price.
your friend on the DTBB
Heck George, I am 6'4" tall and weigh 250 pounds. But my wife told me if I couldn't fit in the car I couldn't buy it. So I make myself fit. Sure I have ridden in roomier cars, but I have also driven cars even more cramped. Hell one time I even rode in a Lotus Europa. What a bunch of girlie men, bitchin about room in a Pantera. Compared to a Triumph GT6 like I used to own it is as roomy as a Cadalac. Now I threw my back out for a week after a 10 hour drive in it and I was in my twenties, but if I want to dtive an exotic car, and I have been made by God to be freakishly large, then by golly I should just take my lumps and not complain. If someone gave me an original GT40 you think I would turn it down cause I didn't fit?? Hell I would chop my feet off and just get used to the pain.
Screw the pain, I want to DRIVE!!!
Screw the pain, I want to DRIVE!!!
You know this is what makes this group such a great place to be. Four pages of info from one small post like mine...thanks for all the help! I'm pretty much more inclined into loking for a mid eighties gt5s and yes I know I'll be looking for awhile but I'll be busy with some other hurdles involved with purchasing the car in the meantime.
quote:Originally posted by george pence:quote:Originally posted by JK:
...Interesting info, George. I thought they were worth a bit more...
If top condition Ford era Panteras are fetching $45K maybe even $50K in todays market, are there factory GTS, GT5 or GT5-S fetching more than $65K to $70K? Can't judge by asking price, only sale price.
your friend on the DTBB
Thanks George. I always thought the difference between the two groups was more than $10K-20K. Probably not... Now that I think about it, your reasoning makes sense.
Josh
Delorean and DeTomaso ....... dont give up I found what I was looking for right in our back yard. They are out there believe me. Some thing came to mind ? Are all the cars accounted for ? has everyone registered on the registry ? Thats one of the easiest ways to tell ?
Ron
Ron
quote:I'm pretty much more inclined into loking for a mid eighties gt5s
There was a yellow GT5S on the PI page a few months ago for around $50k. Never saw the "sold" sign on it. Did that car ever sell?
Also, there was the "last GT5S ever made at the factory" with 700km. They were asking 60k Euros. It never met its reserve on ebay, so it's probably available with some wiggle room on the price, although it's located in Europe...
I've seen the best cars are usually sold quietly. So, they're out there, waiting for you.
Josh
There is one for sale advertised on PI. It is located in Colorado.
Josh the yellow one sold. It wasn't an original but a replica. I think the add is still on the page but it is marked as sold. THey have a black one now, that is ultra-cool. It is a real one that is highly modified. Not legal in California and bad to the bone.
http://www.pim.net/3242006BlkGT5S.html
http://www.pim.net/3242006BlkGT5S.html
yup it's got lowered floor pans
quote:Originally posted by Deloreans and De Tomasos:
...I know I'll be looking for awhile ...
quote:Originally posted by accobra:
...Are all the cars accounted for ?...
There were 7200 Panteras manufactured. Over 5500 shipped to the US alone. POCA membership is less than 1000 I believe. There are less than 3000 Panteras on the road world wide. The other 4200 Panteras were not all destroyed in collisions. They are collecting dust in hangers, warehouses, barns & garages. They are out there waiting to be found. Unlike Mustangs & musclecars, nobody is really looking for them.
your friend on the DTBB
quote:Originally posted by DeTom:
Josh the yellow one sold. It wasn't an original but a replica. I think the add is still on the page but it is marked as sold.
I was referring to a mid 80's GT5S. It was on the PI car for sale page several months ago. The ad disappeared as if the owner pulled it. It probably sold, but I never saw it marked sold on PI's website. You never know... That GT5S was listed for quite a while at about $50k.
quote:THey have a black one now, that is ultra-cool. It is a real one that is highly modified. Not legal in California and bad to the bone.
http://www.pim.net/3242006BlkGT5S.html
Actually that black car is an extreme show car and is not a real GT5S, but a conversion.
It's a great looking car with an extreme show car price to go with it.
Josh
One thing to consider is that in NY, NJ and CA cars that are 25 model years old or older are not subject to emmissions testing.
A 80's GT5 will be.
They are grey market cars, probably driven in from Canada. They have nothing that complies with US law. How are you going to put cats, air pumps and the likes on the car? You will never get it through the emissions test. That will never happen.
You may be better off with a converted early car just for that reason.
Also it sounds like they may in fact be better structurally then the 80's cars as well.
A 80's GT5 will be.
They are grey market cars, probably driven in from Canada. They have nothing that complies with US law. How are you going to put cats, air pumps and the likes on the car? You will never get it through the emissions test. That will never happen.
You may be better off with a converted early car just for that reason.
Also it sounds like they may in fact be better structurally then the 80's cars as well.
I know that it is meant to be in car shows Josh, but to be honest with you I don't like car shows that much anymore. You sit around all day in the hot sun. Some guy comes around to judge your car and nit pick it to death. I would rather just drive may car around than sit there and talk. SO if I had that car, I would drive it. At least unitil they throw me in jail for speeding all the time.
As far as emmisions testing, they don't do that here in Tennessee. So because I am a big hearted guy, I am offering all you guys in New York and California, a place to keep your cars. I will promise to drive them once in awhile and report any problems back to you that you need to fix. I know, no need to thank me, I am just a big hearted guy.
As far as emmisions testing, they don't do that here in Tennessee. So because I am a big hearted guy, I am offering all you guys in New York and California, a place to keep your cars. I will promise to drive them once in awhile and report any problems back to you that you need to fix. I know, no need to thank me, I am just a big hearted guy.
Ya'll all right DT.
quote:Originally posted by PanteraDoug:
...subject to emmissions testing. A 80's GT5 will be. They are grey market cars, probably driven in from Canada. They have nothing that complies with US law. How are you going to put cats, air pumps and the likes on the car? You will never get it through the emissions test. That will never happen...
The grey market cars were made EPA compliant with a system designed & installed by Kirk Evans. Not just the cars he imported (the Amerisports) but all the cars. It included exhaust gas recirc, an evaporative emissions box for the carb, a smog pump and dual catalytic converter/muffler units. The trick will be to find a car that hasn't had that equipment removed. The visual inspection will be a headache though because the test station jockey won't know if what he's looking at is the legal emissions system.
your friend on the DTBB
Considering the costs of the cars, if you bought one and had a nightmare with emissions on the car, a little info could have avoided that.
I know that my '73 was made an exception to having an air pump as required equipment for '73 California. That was for Ford's benefit, not mine.
However, that didn't make it an exception to have to pass the test.
There is no way the car would pass the test without the air pump under the CA numbers.
I know a guy that runs a "service" for private owners to get the owners cars through CT emissions.
His base fee is $5000.
I'm just trying to forewarn a new buyer.
In NY, there is no way an imported Pantera subject to emissions testing will get through.
This is essentially limited to the lower 5 counties in NY. We use the California test, numbers, and equipment requirements.
Save yourself the heartache. Don't buy a car that is subject to the testing.
Do what you please but remember that I warned you.
I know that my '73 was made an exception to having an air pump as required equipment for '73 California. That was for Ford's benefit, not mine.
However, that didn't make it an exception to have to pass the test.
There is no way the car would pass the test without the air pump under the CA numbers.
I know a guy that runs a "service" for private owners to get the owners cars through CT emissions.
His base fee is $5000.
I'm just trying to forewarn a new buyer.
In NY, there is no way an imported Pantera subject to emissions testing will get through.
This is essentially limited to the lower 5 counties in NY. We use the California test, numbers, and equipment requirements.
Save yourself the heartache. Don't buy a car that is subject to the testing.
Do what you please but remember that I warned you.
quote:Originally posted by PanteraDoug:
... my '73 was made an exception to having an air pump as required equipment for '73 California. ...
Thermactor air pumps were not installed on California cars either, through '74. Beyond that my memory gets cloudy, but I don't believe the 351M or 400 motors ever had air pumps installed, through the end of production ('82).
I've sat in a later car with factory dropped floor pans and the seats fitted
to that car used up all the drop and more. I'm 6'5" and 255 lbs and drove my
'74 L with the stock flat seats for several years but finally decided to
install dropped floor pans. I installed the pans from Marino Perna. As I
understand it these were designed by Kirk Evans and he makes them in a couple
of diffrent drops. Mine were the larger drop (about 3 inches at the rear and
maybe half that at the front). You can see the angle of pans here:
http://www.bacomatic.org/gallery/album03/pantera_at_bodyshop_005
These are the big pans that cut into both the fore-and-aft and side-to-side
floor pan reinforcements. This allows for larger seats and permits the seats
to slide fore-and-aft, unlike the drop pans that stay within the boundaries of
the original pan reinforcements. The pans are flanged on two sides. After
removing the carpet, we made a tape line around the perimeter to use as a
guide. A cut-off wheel was used to get started then we switched to a Sawzall.
After cutting out the floor with the Sawzall, we had to trim it in a couple of
spots then the pans dropped right in place. I cleaned all the areas to be
welded with a die grinder and rotary wire brush wheel to ensure a clean weld.
After a bit of hammering, we welded along the entire perimeter of the pan.
You'll need a helper to hold the pan edge flush with the surrounding floor.
The front edge of the pan is shaped so it can be welded to cap off the (now
open) forward section of the longitudinal brace. We capped that off, peened
the leading edge over to form a better welding surface and made filler pieces
(patterned off of cardboard templates) to close off the various gaps (there's
a sizable one around the emergency brake handle and several smaller ones both
inside the passenger compartment and underneath)). On the bottom side, we
made pieces that tie the pan directly to the fore-and-aft and side-to-side
frame rails. Oddly, the aft portion of pan wasn't formed by a metal brake.
Instead, it was a separate piece of metal tack welded to the main pan. Under
load, that portion off the pan deflected so we welded along the entire length
and it became very rigid. Marino provides a pair (per side) of very stiff
U-channels that are welded to the floor of the pans, stiffening the pan
bottoms and providing a place to bolt the seats to. Without these stiffeners,
the pans would "oil can" under a heavy load but with them in every thing is
quite stiff. The pans themselves are of a heavier guage metal than the
original floor. With every seam welded and the pans tied into the original
frame stiffeners, it doesn't look like I've lost much, if anything, in the
way of rigidity. Jacking the car on one corner will lift it off the ground
on 3 corners with no sag so it seems stiff.
One other thing to note. If you have your headliner in (mine is out), the
welder would likely leave smoke stains unless you cover it. We covered the
doors and dash and disconnected a few wires to the gauge console to swing
it out of the way while welding. Also, on the bottom side of the welds,
you'll need to fill in some gaps with seam sealer.
The engine and transaxle are still out of the car so I'm not sure what the
final ground clearance hit will be but I needed all the drop I could get.
I think the ground clearance on the road will be acceptable but putting the
car on a trailer could be tricky. I sat in the car to steer and brake when
we rolled the car off the trailer and was told there wasn't much clearance.
With the engine and transaxle back in, it will likely be low enough to
scrape. The ramps on that particular trailer are fairly short and I think
my buddy Eric's trailer has longer ramps plus he keeps a set of boards to
make the approach angle even shallower so hopefully I'll be okay there.
Part of the reason I went to the drop pans was to fit more comfortable
seats since I take the Pantera on long trips so I ordered a set of Gary
Herrig's seats. I wasn't sure I would fit well in the Corvette seats so
I found a local Corvette to sit in and found I fit fairly well. Whether
or not you fit in a particular seat is as dependent upon your shape as the
shape of the seat. The 'vette seats aren't prefect for me but the edges
of the seats are soft enough that I felt fairly comfortable in them,
at least in the 'vette. I ran into a problem with them in the Pantera,
however. The 'vette seats have a fixed headrest that's at an angle relative
to the seat. In the 'vette, the seats recline so the headrest is vertical.
In the Pantera, with the seats slid all the way aft, the headrest pokes me
in the upper back. I have to slide the seat forward several clicks to get
the back reclined enough that the headrest is vertical. The seats use up
much of the headroom gained by the dropped pans but removing the spring
support under the cushion coupled with a reclined position gets some of that
back. I'll have to wait until I drive the car awhile before I decide if the
position is comfortable enough. I did sit in a 2005 Ford GT and those seats
fit me very well but I bet those are very expensive.
BTW, I wasn't aware that Gary's seats use parts off the Pantera seats.
This caused me some grief when I went to install the new seats as my
old seats were in storage 400 miles away. I drove a 350 mile round trip
to borrow the parts from another Pantera owner only to learn that two
different length seat rails were used on early Panteras. Mine were the
long ones but the ones I borrowed were the short ones. The passenger side
seat looks like it would hit the emergency brake handle so I trimmed that
area. I've also got one of Kirk Evans bulkhead reduction kits on order
to allow the passenger seat to slide all the way back.
Dan Jones
to that car used up all the drop and more. I'm 6'5" and 255 lbs and drove my
'74 L with the stock flat seats for several years but finally decided to
install dropped floor pans. I installed the pans from Marino Perna. As I
understand it these were designed by Kirk Evans and he makes them in a couple
of diffrent drops. Mine were the larger drop (about 3 inches at the rear and
maybe half that at the front). You can see the angle of pans here:
http://www.bacomatic.org/gallery/album03/pantera_at_bodyshop_005
These are the big pans that cut into both the fore-and-aft and side-to-side
floor pan reinforcements. This allows for larger seats and permits the seats
to slide fore-and-aft, unlike the drop pans that stay within the boundaries of
the original pan reinforcements. The pans are flanged on two sides. After
removing the carpet, we made a tape line around the perimeter to use as a
guide. A cut-off wheel was used to get started then we switched to a Sawzall.
After cutting out the floor with the Sawzall, we had to trim it in a couple of
spots then the pans dropped right in place. I cleaned all the areas to be
welded with a die grinder and rotary wire brush wheel to ensure a clean weld.
After a bit of hammering, we welded along the entire perimeter of the pan.
You'll need a helper to hold the pan edge flush with the surrounding floor.
The front edge of the pan is shaped so it can be welded to cap off the (now
open) forward section of the longitudinal brace. We capped that off, peened
the leading edge over to form a better welding surface and made filler pieces
(patterned off of cardboard templates) to close off the various gaps (there's
a sizable one around the emergency brake handle and several smaller ones both
inside the passenger compartment and underneath)). On the bottom side, we
made pieces that tie the pan directly to the fore-and-aft and side-to-side
frame rails. Oddly, the aft portion of pan wasn't formed by a metal brake.
Instead, it was a separate piece of metal tack welded to the main pan. Under
load, that portion off the pan deflected so we welded along the entire length
and it became very rigid. Marino provides a pair (per side) of very stiff
U-channels that are welded to the floor of the pans, stiffening the pan
bottoms and providing a place to bolt the seats to. Without these stiffeners,
the pans would "oil can" under a heavy load but with them in every thing is
quite stiff. The pans themselves are of a heavier guage metal than the
original floor. With every seam welded and the pans tied into the original
frame stiffeners, it doesn't look like I've lost much, if anything, in the
way of rigidity. Jacking the car on one corner will lift it off the ground
on 3 corners with no sag so it seems stiff.
One other thing to note. If you have your headliner in (mine is out), the
welder would likely leave smoke stains unless you cover it. We covered the
doors and dash and disconnected a few wires to the gauge console to swing
it out of the way while welding. Also, on the bottom side of the welds,
you'll need to fill in some gaps with seam sealer.
The engine and transaxle are still out of the car so I'm not sure what the
final ground clearance hit will be but I needed all the drop I could get.
I think the ground clearance on the road will be acceptable but putting the
car on a trailer could be tricky. I sat in the car to steer and brake when
we rolled the car off the trailer and was told there wasn't much clearance.
With the engine and transaxle back in, it will likely be low enough to
scrape. The ramps on that particular trailer are fairly short and I think
my buddy Eric's trailer has longer ramps plus he keeps a set of boards to
make the approach angle even shallower so hopefully I'll be okay there.
Part of the reason I went to the drop pans was to fit more comfortable
seats since I take the Pantera on long trips so I ordered a set of Gary
Herrig's seats. I wasn't sure I would fit well in the Corvette seats so
I found a local Corvette to sit in and found I fit fairly well. Whether
or not you fit in a particular seat is as dependent upon your shape as the
shape of the seat. The 'vette seats aren't prefect for me but the edges
of the seats are soft enough that I felt fairly comfortable in them,
at least in the 'vette. I ran into a problem with them in the Pantera,
however. The 'vette seats have a fixed headrest that's at an angle relative
to the seat. In the 'vette, the seats recline so the headrest is vertical.
In the Pantera, with the seats slid all the way aft, the headrest pokes me
in the upper back. I have to slide the seat forward several clicks to get
the back reclined enough that the headrest is vertical. The seats use up
much of the headroom gained by the dropped pans but removing the spring
support under the cushion coupled with a reclined position gets some of that
back. I'll have to wait until I drive the car awhile before I decide if the
position is comfortable enough. I did sit in a 2005 Ford GT and those seats
fit me very well but I bet those are very expensive.
BTW, I wasn't aware that Gary's seats use parts off the Pantera seats.
This caused me some grief when I went to install the new seats as my
old seats were in storage 400 miles away. I drove a 350 mile round trip
to borrow the parts from another Pantera owner only to learn that two
different length seat rails were used on early Panteras. Mine were the
long ones but the ones I borrowed were the short ones. The passenger side
seat looks like it would hit the emergency brake handle so I trimmed that
area. I've also got one of Kirk Evans bulkhead reduction kits on order
to allow the passenger seat to slide all the way back.
Dan Jones
The new smog number for NY is around 490 for hydrocarbons for all subject cars, including the Pantera newer the 25 model years.
You can't get that without a pump or a cat or both.
My car with the Webers is cleaner then the Holley. The Holley was about 850. The Webers about 790.
Been there done that.
I am intentionally not mentioning the other tests here CO and NOX, no point to it.
If you can get clean enough then you are blessed George. We use the CA numbers and test as far as I know.
We used to do it by getting the car to idle on the mains at 1100, when it was just an idle test.
The new test shuts the machine off at 999rpm idle.
It isn't just an idle test either. The enrichment system is tested as well. No dp's need apply here and forget about a Holley all together.
You may as well put in your electronic fuel injection system for $5000 or 6 or whatever.
As far as the floor pans go, yep I think they aren't that tough to do.
Mine are 2" front and back. I can put a full fist under them and the ground. (kinky)
I bought Halls leather, recovered seats and found that with the dropped pans they were really too low. I'm 6'2", 220 when I'm skinny. Gotta look good in my Speedos ya know. They really should be called Speeddon'ts.
I got tired of fitzin with everything and got a set of power tracks from a '92 Taurus SHO and modified them to fit.
Now the seats have power lumbar and about 20 way adjustable and go all the way back.
The tracks required 1-1/2" of room so I'm back to about 1/2" lower then stock but this is fine because now I can pitch the seat cushion up in the front to get a better sitting angle and thigh support and I can see over the dash (very important).
I would highly recommend the effort of the power seats to all Pantera owners.
It sounds like a silly frivolous thing but once you have them you will kick youself for not having done them years ago.
I'd make a statement here as to why the factory never did them but what's the point, why didn't they do a lotta things?
ciao
You can't get that without a pump or a cat or both.
My car with the Webers is cleaner then the Holley. The Holley was about 850. The Webers about 790.
Been there done that.
I am intentionally not mentioning the other tests here CO and NOX, no point to it.
If you can get clean enough then you are blessed George. We use the CA numbers and test as far as I know.
We used to do it by getting the car to idle on the mains at 1100, when it was just an idle test.
The new test shuts the machine off at 999rpm idle.
It isn't just an idle test either. The enrichment system is tested as well. No dp's need apply here and forget about a Holley all together.
You may as well put in your electronic fuel injection system for $5000 or 6 or whatever.
As far as the floor pans go, yep I think they aren't that tough to do.
Mine are 2" front and back. I can put a full fist under them and the ground. (kinky)
I bought Halls leather, recovered seats and found that with the dropped pans they were really too low. I'm 6'2", 220 when I'm skinny. Gotta look good in my Speedos ya know. They really should be called Speeddon'ts.
I got tired of fitzin with everything and got a set of power tracks from a '92 Taurus SHO and modified them to fit.
Now the seats have power lumbar and about 20 way adjustable and go all the way back.
The tracks required 1-1/2" of room so I'm back to about 1/2" lower then stock but this is fine because now I can pitch the seat cushion up in the front to get a better sitting angle and thigh support and I can see over the dash (very important).
I would highly recommend the effort of the power seats to all Pantera owners.
It sounds like a silly frivolous thing but once you have them you will kick youself for not having done them years ago.
I'd make a statement here as to why the factory never did them but what's the point, why didn't they do a lotta things?
ciao
I can almost drive my car with no seat in it at all. Has anyone else tried that?? Just sitting right on the floor without a seat???
OK, no one is as dumb as me. But I still am thinking of just making my own seat to make it sit low enough.
Here is something to think about though. The Pantera seems kinda cramped front to back. So the other night I looked and discovered a way to make it nice and roomy without making it any longer.
All the latest cars at the new car shows have no overhang. The Pantera has bunches of overhang. So to make your car look way more modern and cutting edge and stylish, all you gotta do is move your front wheels forward a full foot and the back wheels toward the back by six inches. Theat will let you get rid of the hump between you and the passenger and let you have a flat panel firewall, and it gives you a ton of leg room to streatch out and with enough left over you could put a reclining seat in and have room enough behind the seat for storage of important things. Maybe even a gun rack. So someone do that tonight and let me know how it goes. I would do it to mine except I am going for the retro look right now and don't want to make it look too modern or high tech.
OK, no one is as dumb as me. But I still am thinking of just making my own seat to make it sit low enough.
Here is something to think about though. The Pantera seems kinda cramped front to back. So the other night I looked and discovered a way to make it nice and roomy without making it any longer.
All the latest cars at the new car shows have no overhang. The Pantera has bunches of overhang. So to make your car look way more modern and cutting edge and stylish, all you gotta do is move your front wheels forward a full foot and the back wheels toward the back by six inches. Theat will let you get rid of the hump between you and the passenger and let you have a flat panel firewall, and it gives you a ton of leg room to streatch out and with enough left over you could put a reclining seat in and have room enough behind the seat for storage of important things. Maybe even a gun rack. So someone do that tonight and let me know how it goes. I would do it to mine except I am going for the retro look right now and don't want to make it look too modern or high tech.
Who you calling a hump?
To the best of my knowledge, no, I have never driven your car with or without a seat in it.
If you look at the depth of the foot well it is big enough for just about anyone.
It helps if you have small feet DT. Size 22 shoes won't work.
It really is the location of the pedals both left to right and front to back that cause a lot of the issue.
Of course having the inner fender wheel well at about your left knee doesn't help much either.
Your wife was right DT. Have youself surgically altered to fit the car if you like it so much. It may be the simplest solution.
I eliminated the bulkhead hump. My panel is flat now.
To the best of my knowledge, no, I have never driven your car with or without a seat in it.
If you look at the depth of the foot well it is big enough for just about anyone.
It helps if you have small feet DT. Size 22 shoes won't work.
It really is the location of the pedals both left to right and front to back that cause a lot of the issue.
Of course having the inner fender wheel well at about your left knee doesn't help much either.
Your wife was right DT. Have youself surgically altered to fit the car if you like it so much. It may be the simplest solution.
I eliminated the bulkhead hump. My panel is flat now.
Yeah Doug, I am pretty lucky that I have dainty little feet for my size. My twelves fit under there just fine. And I don't mind feeling the headliner on my head, that is what it is there for after all.
You know if you are worried about your panel being flat they make medicine for that now. They even sponsered Ricki Martins NASCAR team.
You know if you are worried about your panel being flat they make medicine for that now. They even sponsered Ricki Martins NASCAR team.
quote:Originally posted by DeTom:
...back wheels toward the back by six inches...
DeTom, we only have room for an 8 inch long muffler as it is, now you want to move the tires 6 inches further back. Do they make a 2 inch long Ansa?
Detom,
I say we put you in the dryer and shrink you it may be easier. For me at 5-8 185 this car 9138 is like riding in a limo only problem I have wide feet so have to wear thin shoes otherwise the car was made for short Italians ... hey maybe I'm on to something here. LOL
Ron
I say we put you in the dryer and shrink you it may be easier. For me at 5-8 185 this car 9138 is like riding in a limo only problem I have wide feet so have to wear thin shoes otherwise the car was made for short Italians ... hey maybe I'm on to something here. LOL
Ron
George, DT is into this size stuff, go figure?
I'm not worried DT. I have medicine for that too.
DT, maybe all you need is one of those cushions like they have at the racetracks to sit on? It will save weight too. Heck, you're wedged in there so tight you don't even need belts.
Can you close the drivers door without the passenger door popping open?
Way back when, the Ford GT race team pop riveted a bubble into the roof of his car for his head.
I can lend you the tin snips, the pop rivet gun some stainless poprivets so they won't rust and you can cut the top off of my old motorcycle helmet and rivet that on. That should help.
I'm not worried DT. I have medicine for that too.
DT, maybe all you need is one of those cushions like they have at the racetracks to sit on? It will save weight too. Heck, you're wedged in there so tight you don't even need belts.
Can you close the drivers door without the passenger door popping open?
Way back when, the Ford GT race team pop riveted a bubble into the roof of his car for his head.
I can lend you the tin snips, the pop rivet gun some stainless poprivets so they won't rust and you can cut the top off of my old motorcycle helmet and rivet that on. That should help.
quote:DeTom, we only have room for an 8 inch long muffler as it is, now you want to move the tires 6 inches further back. Do they make a 2 inch long Ansa?
Mufflers are for keeping your ears warm when its cold outside. Panteras don't need no stinking mufflers.
quote:only problem I have wide feet so have to wear thin shoes otherwise the car was made for short Italians ..
Ron what I do is turn my foot sideways so you can make sure you only hit one pedal at a time.