Pantera # 4656: New project with BMW V8 power

Been sitting for 30 years

Here is the new engine fitted Bmw M5 S62B50

I had to raise the firewall 60mm to get it to fit and a larger hatch

Saab 900 clutch slave cylinder, I have the same on my other Pantera and it works great!

And gearbox adapter plate

Here are some new made parts for the floor.

Media blaster at work.

Bondo must be cheap in Sweden

I have owned a paint and body shop for 25 years now and never seen something like this!!?

New lowered floor almost done

Here are some pics of my engine air intake system.

Rear fender air box

Starting to make intake stacks

Done

Air box with stacks inside

new hood vents made

And outer b-post

This weekend i have made new center and outer sill

Outer sill

Today i got a little done. filled in some holes in the engine bay

And this

And a little different in the back

Here is a pic from underside almost done

Here is 2 pic`s of the air grills. it is strange how the rear fender looks wider with the open grills !

And original

This weekend i have made a new front crossbeam and radiator supports and started on new light buckets.

wheel house

This is the old one very poor done and only 0,6mm thick. and no paint or rust protection on the inside!

light buckets

Underside radiator

I have also worked at the rear wheel wells. and there is same problem,they have tried to repair it.

Re done

Here is rear crossbeam done in 3mm thick! so now it is a good place to lift! later i bolt on a 20mm thick plastic plate!

My spray booth drying robot was good to dry all the water after pressure washing

Sandblasted

epoxy layer

more pics

And now i have started on the exhaust system. it is going to be 180 degree system in stainless steel.
Here is what i got from the tube bending company.

Started on first side

More

And the collector

This weekend i have worked on the exhaust system

Collector with not so nice welds! to get a nice tig weld in stainless need lot of practice and steady hand witch i don't have

I have to visit the tube bending company again. Need 4 more 90 degree bends

I started to drill 5mm holes in the muffler part of the tube! but my nerves don't hold up for it! so tomorrow i pay a visit to the local laser cutting company to see if they can help.

Its been some time since last post. i have done the exhaust now. With stamped De Tomaso logo on the muffler

And test fitted to the car

More

And this

The new light buckets.

In place

Here is a pic of the end pipe

I have also modified the back. Now without exhaust opening and 50mm lower

I think it`s going to look better like this from the side. Now it is same hight as the rocker panel

I have also moved the filler cap to get room for air filter

I had to make it my self, because the outer ring is attached to the rear hatch. And all the models they are selling is one pice

Now in place

There it is

And filler tube with rear hatch open

One more

Here is a pic of the lamp motor, i used a volvo power window motor. Pretty easy to fit and power full i am going to use same type for windows

Now i got my new wheels.

They are special made by image wheels in UK.
I just gave them a design model and then they
made a computer model of it, And it turned out
very nice!

Now i can start to make fenders

The back wheels are more concave than front so the lip is almost the same.

I think it would be best to leave a small triangle i the front for mirror and without it i believe its impossible to get the glass in.

I have been in contact again with the auto glass company about the prices depending on how many i order and they promised to let me know soon!

The company is a very big car glass manufacturer here in Finland they are very professional so no need to worry about that.

Mark i have not looked in to it so much yet but i think it would be a pretty easy project. when you look at the picture you see that the window opening mechanism is becoming almost centered on the new glass! so i see no need to change that.
But then there is the metal strip under the quarter glass that's need some trimming and the front guides. If i do this i take lot of photos and make a tread.

Its so early in this project so i have not thought about every small detail yet.
If someone have any good idea about this let us know

Its always someone that already have invented your good idea

I tried to contact Rick R but no answer?
I will let you all know when i know some more!

Now i have polished the exhaust silencer

And started to make the fenders

Right side

Fresh air

Left side

More work to do

Started on front fenders

Its starts to taking shape

Merry Christmas All from Santa Claus home land

Thank you all for the nice comments!
I use english wheel and shrinker-stretcher and the bead roller. With those 3 tools you can make any shape.I make a paper template first. I Tig weld all seams, Mig welds are to hard to process in the English wheel they crack

Here is the die i use the most in the bead roller. it is possible to make a curved break with it. so i have used it to make the fender edges

The curved seam here is also made with the same die

Here is what i start with. It is possible to make it in one pice to, But it take much longer then! with the seam it is faster and i think it stresses the steel less when i don't need to stretch it so much.

Here i have the form pretty close. I use Cleco to keep all in place.

Here it is spot welded. i take it off the car for the final seam weld. and then i grind down the weld and smooth it out in the english wheel

Now started on the front fenders. I use the steel bar that are curved around the wheel as guide, Its exactly were the fender opening will be. The sheet metal is slightly bigger i trim it off when its done

I turn the material around the edge just the same way as original when every thing fits and are welded. I make both sides at same time in that way they become identical.

Here its welded just over the body line