good day! im new here! and a proud owner of a 72 pantera. the front radiator grill is off and cant it back on. im probably doing something wrong. can someone give me tips?
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Long distance troubleshooting is difficult at best, nearly impossible without at least some details of your situation.
is your grill too big, is it too small, does your grill have studs or is it mounted with nuts and bolts, are the holes in the valance not lining up with the holes in your grill....... I think you get the idea.
help us out with details and then maybe we can help you out with a solution.
Larry
From the photo it would appear you have a rubber trim on the valance panel? There is no rubber seal in this area, the grill either (later models) has screws through he frame or (early models) studs with nuts and screws directly to the valance.
is there a specific topic where i can introduce myself? and another quick question. any ideas on how to install the front radiator grill? since the screws are on the other side
Where the heck are the cooling fans and mounting brackets?
Ahhh dumb. Fluidyne with sucker fans . Very smooth.
@TimoTs posted:is there a specific topic where i can introduce myself? and another quick question. any ideas on how to install the front radiator grill? since the screws are on the other side
Nothing formally. You can introduce yourself in the Alessandro's Neighborhood Pub or in the Specific De Tomaso Information topics.
Your options are limited to coming from underneath since your radiator mounting has been altered from stock.
Radiateur er uithalen is de enige mogenlijkheid in jou geval .
origineel stond de radiateur meer recht op .
de latere modellen ( zwarte grill) hebben schroeven van buiten af.
gr,
Simon
Dankje! Heb je misschien een persoonlijk nummer of iets dergelijks waar ik je vragen over de auto op kan stellen?
Timo
simonvels@kpnmail.nl
0620038262
Tim, there were two different rad grille mounting methods, due to the rapid time between conception and production of the Pantera, it was belatedly found that because the front trunk was a sealed space, if the bowden cable that opens the hood breaks or becomes disconnected, the hood cannot be opened without cutting your way in. So on later examples, bolts & nuts were used that allows removal of the radiator grille and thus (difficult but possible) access up to the hood release mechanism. Think of this when you install the grille on your car.
Later still, with the release of 'L' models in Sept.1972, an official TSB (Tech Service Bulletin 9, article 64) was released that recommended installing a second short aux. hood release cable that attaches to the hood release mechanism, and goes thru a grommeted hole drilled at a certain spot in the toe box from the front trunk, so it hangs above the accelerator pedal. Thus in the event cited, the hood can be released much easier than removing the rad grille (or worst case, cutting). An 8-1/2 X 11" 98-pg illustrated book of all the Ford-issued TSBs for the Pantera is available from the U.S vendors, or can be found in the POCA Archives as a downloadable PDF file for POCA members.
Owners also found that if the hole you must drill for the aux. release cable is made about 1" or larger OD instead of only 5/16" as mentioned in the TSB, it makes a convenient outside access for removing one of the tiny circlips that retain the clutch master cylinder actuating rod pivot pin (to release the clutch master cylinder for service), which is otherwise often a difficult job due to very limited access & visibility up under the dashboard. If necessary, a plastic cap-plug of a size that fits your big drilled hole (with a small hole in the plug for the aux. release cable), will block the small amount of warm radiator air leaking through the large drilling. Plastic cap-plugs in std sizes are available from hardware stores, or the vendors. Welcome aboard.