My new 4.6

that's a classy looking interior. Nice work. Are those steel GR4 flairs?

They are steel flairs. They have gone thru a few changes over the years. When I made them years ago I couldn't afford to buy steel flairs so I decided to make them myself. I used VW bug fenders and remodled them into these GR4 flairs.

quote:

Originally posted by tajon:
that's a classy looking interior. Nice work. Are those steel GR4 flairs?

Beautiful work -- the interior and what you have done to the console is top notch. You've got a great car -- I would love to be able to have a look someday. Enjoy this car, it is a beauty! Crazy good......

Your center console is stunning. That is how it should have been done in the first place.

Nicely done!

John

Beautiful car. All around great stuff. Where are you located?

quote:

Originally posted by David B:
Beautiful car. All around great stuff. Where are you located?

David I'm in Denver, Colorado.

Stunning, abolutely stunning. You're quite the craftsman.

Hmmm... a little too far. I was ready to drive over and compare notes.

I just enlarged and studied those pics. Where did you run all those wires?

I re routed them to the front of the engine. Most of them went away since they were for a mustang wiring harness. The plug and coil wires were just pulled back and extended to come out of the back of the coil cover plates. Since I had just rewired the whole car it wasn't too bad. A friend from the Denver club who owns his own garage (Wheatridge Auto) helped me figure out all the computer wires. once i knew what they were it was pretty easy to put them where i wanted them. It did take 2 weeks for me to re work each wire though.

Rick,
you sir are an artist.

So did you do any work to the 4.6? Torque ranges are quite different in both engines. How does that compare? What are the taillights from?
Amazing car.

I put in a Sean Hyland 4.6 DOHC supercharged crate engine. I just had it on the dyno a couple of weeks ago and it has 572rwhp @ 6500 rpm and a max torque of 532. Since I bought it complete as a crate engine I don't remember the details. I talked to him over the phone about a year ago and I was convinced he was building a good engine. I didn't get a spec sheet with it and I never got around to asking him for one. I'm driving it now and it's amazing.
The taillights are from a 92 Acura Legend 2 door. I had to rebuild the whole area around the lights to make them work but I think they make the car a little sleeker looking. I also removed the bumper and with the supertrapps exhaust It all seemed to fit together.

quote:

Originally posted by Denis C:
So did you do any work to the 4.6? Torque ranges are quite different in both engines. How does that compare? What are the taillights from?
Amazing car.

Rick,
I wish I had your talent. Absolutely a magnificent job. The car is gorgeous. If Alejandro was building a Pantera today this should be it!
Jeff

Okay, after viewing the added photos I get the air cleaner system. Thanks.

Now, how about some info on the hood/cowl/wiper changes?

AND, what did you use for your HVAC control panel?

And what is the VIN of your car? Early looking chassis but single pod dash...?

Larry

Thanks for all the kind words. My car # is 2300. As for the dash it is out of a 74. When I first got my car I really liked the 74 dash better so I just bought one and used it instead. I've never been a purest. When I got the car originally it was in pieces. The previous owner had the car dipped to remove rust but he said only half of the car came back out of the tank. He bought all new sheetmetal panels but got tired of working on it and bought one without any rust. All the exterior sheetmetal was off including the roof, fenders, rockers. front end and everything in the backend from the firewall except the 2 frame rails. The good thing about it is that I know my car has no rust and is very solid. Along the way I kept getting ideas for modifying stuff and i guess this is where i ended up (so far).
The hood/cowl was an idea i got a few years ago from our audi 5000. The hood on it was the same width as the Pantera and it had a curve that matched the windshield so I bought one from a salvage yard and started hacking. I removed the old grill/vent sheet metal from the Pantera and fit the old audi hood to the Pantera hood. the audi is one piece full width accross so I had to slice it at the pantera hood/fender seperation and weld in some side edging. Blending in the 2 fenders to the audi hood was the toughest but really not too bad.
The new HVAC system and panel is all from Vintage Air. They make alot of systems for hot rods. They say that Ford even came to them for the Ford GT system.
I looked at the photos of your car. Beautiful color, very sleek looking. I noticed some Pantera performance parts on your car. Dennis is a great guy and has given me alot of advice.

Rick,
Just UNBELIEVEABLE what you've done to your car!! I'll second all the comments from the other guys! I'm not that far away from Denver that I couldn't come see this piece of art in person & I may just consider doing that some weekend as an enjoyable roadtrip. You truely are an artist! Congratulations on your project turning out so GREAT!

Bob

Rick, real piece of art...were did you get your mirors?
Serge

quote:

All the exterior sheetmetal was off including the roof, fenders, rockers. front end and everything in the backend from the firewall except the 2 frame rails.

quote:

so I bought one from a salvage yard and started hacking.

My gawd, man! The more you write, the more awestruck I get. Would love to see it in person....Reno, 2009?

quote:

I noticed some Pantera performance parts on your car.

Yup, a P.O. had a full bare metal restoration done by Dennis. 3 1/2 years and mucho $$$$$. I bought it about seven years after completion, with less than 5,000 miles on the odometer, for about half price. Color is Porsche titanium metallic and from years of comments, is THE most admired feature of the car.

Larry

THIS IS AWESOME!!! All the more so because you rescued a rusty Pantera and made it an object of incredible beutey. Rick, I now have a new hero. Rick is THE man!!!

The only thing I would add is to have the Pantera & Detomaso scipt back on the back of the car.
Someone looking would have no idea the make & model of the car from looking at the exterior.
Tom

Great looking car! There sure was a lot of work there and it turned out great. i bet its a real thrill to drive.

I just added a few pictures to the album. Larry i am hoping to go to Reno next year if things work out. Years ago I went to Vegas a couple of times.
The mirrors I used are 93? Testarosa side mirrors. Kinda expensive but I think they fit the car well. I would like to put the Detomaso emblem back on the tail end but with the new lights being bigger it just dosen't fit anymore. Most people don't know what it is. I do get asked alot.
Bob if you ever do decide to come to Denver I'd love to meet you. Call me and we can set something up next spring or summer. 303-435-5427
Rick

Fantastic pictures ...

Can we have MORE?

Do you have engine covers for your car (stock or otherwise)? Or, do you leave it exposed as in your pictures?

Early car with the late front bumbers? Like you, I like the look of later bumpers on the car. I changed the original one to a fibreglass copy to save weight however.

I have been looking at ideas to provide a fresh air intake for my 4.6. I have the stock fuel door in the left gill. What you have done to your left gill gives me ideas for a right side Fresh air intake. What did you make your modified gill out of? How much sheet metal did you cut? etc.

Where did you mount your engine management computer? My concern is heat - computer components need to be kept ventilated for longevity.

Are your wheels BBS, Kenisis, Kodiak or ....?

Thanks

B.G.

I don't have any other covers for the engine. I think it's so beautiful I didn't want to hide it. In fact I even cut my rear decklid opening larger so I could see it better. The computer is behind the drivers seat. Since I made new tanks and they were not slanted like the original I had some extra room. I cut in a recessed firewall to give more room for computer. I also mounted the engine fuse & relay panel bach there close to the engine for simplicity. My wheels ars Kenisis. I got them from Dennis at Pantera Performance.

quote:

Originally posted by andriyko:
Fantastic pictures ...

Can we have MORE?

Do you have engine covers for your car (stock or otherwise)? Or, do you leave it exposed as in your pictures?

Early car with the late front bumbers? Like you, I like the look of later bumpers on the car. I changed the original one to a fibreglass copy to save weight however.

I have been looking at ideas to provide a fresh air intake for my 4.6. I have the stock fuel door in the left gill. What you have done to your left gill gives me ideas for a right side Fresh air intake. What did you make your modified gill out of? How much sheet metal did you cut? etc.

Where did you mount your engine management computer? My concern is heat - computer components need to be kept ventilated for longevity.

Are your wheels BBS, Kenisis, Kodiak or ....?

Thanks

B.G.

Here is a picture of my first try at the side scoop. I was trying to keep it more like the original louvered look. After spending several days making this first one I decided to start over. If you are planning on putting a scoop only on one side maybe you could slot out the back side of the existing piece and put a screen on it. Just need to cut out the sheet metal under it and decide how you want to direct it. Then it would look stock but be active.

Thanks for the ideas and photos.

Like you, I think the 4.6 looks beautiful. Your work is certainly an inspiration to finish my install ...

B.G.

B.G.
Are you putting a 4.6 in your car?
Rick

Yes, I am installing the DeTomaso/Wilkinson homologated 4.6 DOHC Teksid engine in my '74. I may install the Kenny Bell supercharger kit down the road.

I really think you have done a masterful job on your car. You have given me some great ideas as well.

B.G. http://pantera.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/7650045562/m/8620035385/p/4

P.S. I have black leather Recaros in my car as well - they do much better with a flat firewall.

Rick R,

Where is the air intake for the A/C, heater unit? I know you modified the windshield wiper, but I cannot see where you installed the air intake for the heater, A/C matrix for the passenger compartment. Any info would be appreciated concerning this gorgeous cat.

Also, what year Audi did you get the parts from?

You know i gotta tell you i never thought about having a fresh air intake. I know it takes in air from the passenger compartment. I'll call Vintage air and ask them about that. The hood I used at the windshield was off a mid to late 80's Audi 5000 (not a quatro). I don't remember the exact year. I have a 3 ring binder full of info, details and receipts about the parts and work i've done but it amazes me how many details aren't there.
Rick

Rick,

You have done a fantastic job! I really like the panels either side of the engine - very original.
I also like the functional side scoops. Did you make them from aluminium?

Johnny

Johnny
I did make them from aluminum. It took a couple of tries to get them the way i wanted.
Rick

Rick,
Thanks for the phone#. Hopefully, I'll be able to cruise out your way next year & see that KILLER Cat in person. Looking forward to it!

Bob #5042

Awesome job Rick. Truly beautiful work. I am amazed at how clean and wire free you were able to make that engine bay. Kudos on your fab work.

Blaine

Great Job Man!
Definately lots of work there. I love it!
Very tidy looking. Nice work hiding the wires.
Now what are you going to do with all your spare time?

quote:

Originally posted by Pantera 4134:
Rick,
I wish I had your talent. Absolutely a magnificent job. The car is gorgeous. If Alejandro was building a Pantera today this should be it!
Jeff

I couldn't agree more! Alejandro may not be building Panteras anymore but a few of the vendors are. I hope they're seeing this.

I'm particulary impressed with the wide cut rear deck lid showing off the blown mod 4.6 ... similar to the the Ford GT's blown 5.4 display. An amazingly clean (non-bling) engine bay that means business and transports the Pantera to the 21st century.

Incredible work!

Very nice modifications. And Bug fenders, who would a thought? Rick did!

Rick,

The fresh air intake from the front (windshield valance) grills was available on early cars (roughly under s/n 2000) and late cars (roughly above s/n 6500). There was no fresh air intake for the mid S/N numbered cars (roughly 4000 vehicles).

HTH

B.G.

I mean, ALL the car is well done, but the side scoops got my attention. They appear 'right' for the car, adherent to the original design philosophy, but made elegant and functional. Well done.

Great job on the interior as well.