Winter Projects

Finished polish. My wife is going to detail the "DeMon" in black and yellow.

Next on my list was the Exhaust. Tired of looking at missing paint.

I started to prep them using a 3M pad for paint and rust. Found the pipes to be in really great shape! I have 2 questions, does anyone run these with out any coating? I'm thinking I can get them polished up pretty well.

Last question is, I notices that the tips are chrome under the black paint. Any thoughts on stripping that paint off and having more showing? If I do coat them, it will be powdercoating. I've got a local guy for that.

Thanks
George

George, whatever coatings you use on the mufflers & tips, be aware the exhaust system runs at around 500 degrees F- enough to melt lead solder! And the gasses coming out are even hotter. At least one Pantera with angled exhaust tips melted his tail light lenses during a full throttle open road blast of around 30 minutes...

George, I wouldn't leave those muffs and pipes bare metal. Like Jack says, they get so hot, they will rust up quickly. I bought a stainless steel exhaust set years ago, and even that will rust eventually. As for the chrome tips, you should be able to use chemical paint stripper get the black off back to where you want it. Part of the reason the paint is there, though, is to cover the transition from plated to unplated metal. If rust gets started on the unplated metal, it will work it's way under the plating and peel it off.

PS: nice job on the carb!

Guys,
Thanks for the helpful tips and complement on the carb. I knew the amount of heat these cars product out of the tips. Burnt my legs on them a couple of times after long hard drives. I'm refinishing them because most of the paint on the mufflers was already gone went I got the car a few years ago. My friend owns a Power Coating business here in town an he did some work for me before with my Shelby. He has some High Temp coating he used on the Shelby's headers which came out great. I guess it's time to warn him that I have parts from my Pantera coming his way .

I'll try to keep you all posted on my project.

George

George, There was an article (on the now down MangustaInternational, if am I not mistaken on exhaust tip restoration. You can also see great pic by OzGT5. Note red stripe. ANSA stickers available at our favorite suppliers

Here's an update of my new "Laundry List"

Larry W. has some wiring upgrades we're going to do now that my wife saw a picture of what he wants to do. More to come on that when we get going.

Here's a shot of my car at Larrys shop.

Engine bay less carb and valve covers.

Passenger side rear panel removed...before we start working on it.

Driver's side rear panel removed.

Valve covers at home for polishing.

planning on some paint details like the carb for the lettering and fins here.

Going to upgrade the breathers and PVC system also.

More to follow.

George

Any other suggestions or input is always appreciated.

It's beena while since my last post, so here is an update on mine an Larry's latest findings and addition to my Winter/Spring to do list.

I pulled the interior and motor cover to make the wiring upgrades easier for Larry.

Found out that my belt for my AC pump was loose enough that it didn't grab either pully well. I'm going to clean up the front of the motor as well. (Why???..just me I guess)

Larry was on his creeper underneath the car checking thing out when he looked at the A/C pump he noticed the large type fitting. I'll have to check the paperwork, but he guesses it's be upgraded. So 2 things more to do.

As Larry continued on his inspection of my car he said something with the right rear suspension "doesn't quite look right". I'm thinking lateral damage from my U-jint failure last fall. What do you guys think?

I'm guessing this is where the outer half shaft hit the shock and caused the damage.

I am so lucky to have found this group and meeting Larry. Guess what he had in his workshop downstairs?

He told me what he wanted for them and it didn't take me long to decide on this purchace. (Wife even agreed with me on this on after she saw the pictures)

I thought I'd set one in place to show her what they'll look like.

Lastly on this visit, I wanted to get the ZF prepped for cleaning. I took the spreader bar out to bring home for powder coating and removed the clutch slave to clean that up also. Now it looks like I have more to order.

I'm also going to upgrade the fluid line going to the slave and the vent tube for the ZF. Ordered a "Spare" U-joint, new half shaft bolts, new fluids for clutch and brakes.

And hopefully Larry doesn't add too much more to my "Short" to do like.

George

It won't be long now!

Just out of curiosity what is that big silver bolt looking thingy on your shift linkage?

Looks like a Zerk.

Looks like the pinch bolt for the shifter shaft u-joint. Bolt appears to be too long, with a stack of washers under the nut.

John

JB,
That is correct and also on my short list of things to correct.

Thanks guys for reminding me.

George

Welcome to April Fools day in Southern NH>

April 2nd. Going to Larry's to check on the progress and take out my defective Kenwood CD player. Here is Frosty the next morning.

Ii show up at the shop and Larry's not around due to a meeting to help plan this years N.E Exotic Car show. Working on a class that won't put Panteras against sub 100 mile Lambos.

This is what I found waiting for me when I arrived!

I think I'll keep them. (The original is on the left in case you couldn't tell)

Larry has been busy working the wiring issues out in the engine bay. He told me he thought this would be easier. He thought wrong.

Engine bay.

Larry did a nice job at cleaning up the fire wall area.

Before....

After clean up/out.

Here is the mounting panel that he's working up. I thniks it'll be good to have everything in one place and with relays.

State of the interior before I took out the Kenwood. (Going to work on that at home)

Larry noticed that i was missing the front "Wings" to deflect air in to the radiator. So he convinced me to get a set at a deal!
Side with deflector missing.

Other side with deflector installed.