WTB, engine cover, screen type for 1972

Good luck in finding an original. They are rare and often expensive. Seemingly everyone is looking for one.

I tried to make my own and you can if you will accept a mesh that does not match the original size and pattern.

THAT mesh is not normally in the North American supply. You would need to find a "euro steel mesh nerd" to tell you where it came from and if you can still find some in Europe somewhere. I couldn't.

The screen that is in your car is not the one it that left the factory with.  I can tell because it is too long and probably came from a 1973 or 1974 Pantera.  

The screen in the photo below was too long as well and fit the same way as yours before I shortened it.  If you find a good used screen it may or may not fit your car properly and may need to be modified.

@panteradoug, "euro steel mesh nerd" LOL!!!!!

@steve, that's the fit I'm looking for!

Steve, Brian‘s screen is an all-screen version without the raised air cleaner bubble. That pretty much guarantees it was not from a 1973 or 1974 car

I have two spare center screens and one is markedly longer than the other. Still trying to figure out what the longer version was installed on. The shorter version matches the one on 2511.  I am beginning to think the long one was from the very very early cars prior to VIN1285. Mine both attach with sheet metal screws, not the Dzus fasteners used on the lighter cars

before Brian started his thread I was trying to put together a full set of the three covers for a PCNC member lacking all three, as I already had the center and the Rh side cover. I have located a seller with the LH side cover so I think I have managed to find a complete set for that owner.

I have also been in discussions with an owner in Australia who is likewise missing all 3 of his factory screens. His car is prior to VIN 1285, so I am thinking the long screen may actually be correct for his car.

I am still unclear as to why Brian’s screen is not a correct match for his side covers. Either he has the long version of the screen or there is some side-cover fitment issue.

if you study the parts book you will find there are apparently five different versions of the engine cover assembly. But other than part numbers there is nothing physically describing the pieces or how they differ from each other. Note the two very small subsets marked with blue arrows.

I will be making a few vendor phone calls to see if any of them perhaps fully understand the characteristics of the five versions.

Doug‘s suggestion of fabricating a center  screen is not that difficult of an endeavor. Some half inch angle stock, screen and a TIG welder, along with some careful bending of the angle stock, doesn’t seem like too difficult a project.

A very quick Google search turned up some likely prospects, but not an OEM match. Not sure that is really a critical problem, as the screens are painted black, and very seldom have any direct sunlight that could highlight the differences. And how often would a fabricated screen be directly compared to an OEM screen?

if I learn anything of value from my phone calls I will be posting it in this thread.

Larry

@Larry, this is the kind of technical knowledge I've come to expect here. An excellent post, and perhaps having one made specific to my car might be the route to go...

"Steve, Brian‘s screen is an all-screen version without the raised air cleaner bubble. That pretty much guarantees it was not from a 1973 or 1974 car"

Thanks Larry, that makes sense.  Also, I have a damaged screen from a Pushbutton if you want to add it to your analysis.  Its mesh is aluminum.

Steve,

if you have access to that cover can you get and post some measurements?

Width?

using a flexible cloth, or thin 50 foot tape, can you measure the length of the screen side edges?

thanks

Larry

The Pushbutton screen is 34" wide.

The curved part measurements are in the photo below.

Here's what I posted in another forum, pics and measurements of the screen on my car...

OK, I think we are getting somewhere now.

thanks for the measurements Steve, and thanks for reposting your photos, Brian.

both my long and short screens are 34 inches wide, matching Steve and Brian‘s screen width.

my short screen side length is 18 inches, and my long screen is 19 inches.

there is also a very apparent difference in the curvature between my long and short screens, the long version having a much greater curve.

not quite clear but it looks like Brian‘s screen curvature may have been distorted to fit his side cover curvature.

If that is correct, steve’s push button screen, Brian‘s screen and my long screen all have the same, large curvature. Also the same 19” length.

It appears to me that Brian has the correct side covers, but his center screen is the early 19” screen. at 5811 his car would have come with the bubble center and used Dzus fasteners. .

I have learned that Wilkinson now has reproductions of the bubble Center, which might be the easiest solution for Brian.

Not sure anyone will ever decode and fully understand the five different systems, but we know more than when we started

Larry

All this research is keeping us off the streets at night. Our wives should be thankful...

I think Wilkinson's reproduction screen will be too long for Brian.  I showed my screen to Wilkinson prior to shortening it and he said that his reproductions would have the same issue with #2695, the car I was working on at that time.  He also explained how to go about shortening it.

To add to the mystery, I measured my early car (1744) panels.  The center screen is flat, mesh - 34" wide.  The side panels are 19" from front to back.  The driver's side panel has the gas filler cutout.  Even my center panel hangs "slightly over" the back of the side panels by about 1/4".  I never could understand why, but it does.  I highly doubt a PO replaced any of these on my car.

That said, Brian, Larry Stock shows that he has several center panels in his catalog.  Give him a call:  Pantera Parts Connection | 550 Mallory Way Carson City, NV 89701 | (800) 338-6627

Clarifying - the 19" is the total curved length of the side panel.  That is not the straight length measured from the firewall to the back edge of the panel.   That is only 16+ inches.  

I measured  mine with a cloth tape stretched over the curve to get the full effect...

Done the same way Brian.  19.0"

I've bookmarked the page in the Pantera Parts catalogue. I thought I might check in with a local fabricator and see what it would cost to make something new. I'll let you know what I find out if I decide to go that way. And to add on to what Larry posted earlier, the catalogue does not include any measurements in their parts description

Curiouser and curiouser...