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Thread: Project "The Engine is WHERE??"
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03-20-2011 #1
Project "The Engine is WHERE??" '73 DeTomaso Pantera Build
After three years of ownership, and a year and a half of the car sitting in pieces in two garages, I finally have the space and time to do my semi-resto on the Pantera. This car had competed in the Silver State Classic for many years, but was forced into early retirement and has been sitting dormant for the last few years. It's now time to give it what it needs to stretch it's legs once again.
The car looks good from a distance, but has numerous issues that need to be addressed before I can take it back to the track. Multiple wiring issues being at the top of the list. This lead me to the decision to restore and upgrade many aspects of the car.
Restoration will include:
• Removal and replacement of ALL wiring with an 18-circuit Painless harness
• Removal of A/C system, including all lines and components
• Removal and restoration of interior, dash, gauges, switches, etc.
• Inspection and repair of any rust areas discovered
• Replacement of most weatherstripping
• Full maintenance check-up
It's not a full resto by any means. However, the items outlined above will bring the car up to a level of reliability and soundness that it hasn't been at for many, many years. More importantly, it'll allow me to finally get this car out of my garage this coming season and onto the track where it belongs.
In the next couple of posts, I'll bring you up to date on the progress so far, and then post updates as I work on the car. I'm hoping to finish the mechanical within the next month or so, and get the car out racing. After that, I'll focus on aesthetics like paint, dent repairs, and whatnot. The monocoque design of this car will make rust repair and wire routing a challenge, but it'll get done one way or another!Project KushVair - 1967 Corvair Street/Track Build
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03-20-2011 #2
Alright, let's start with the "before" shots. This is prior to the tear-down:
The car had been pretty extensively modified for the open road rally before I took ownership. The list includes upgraded drivetrain and suspension components, roll cage, wheels/tires, etc. Those modifications will remain, and I'll be adding further chassis bracing, a brake upgrade among other items to make it well-rounded for closed-track racing.Project KushVair - 1967 Corvair Street/Track Build
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03-20-2011 #3
I wish I took more pics of the tear-down, but I'll post what I have.
The first thing I did was to begin tearing down the interior.
I started with the dash, as I wanted to strip it and re-cover it as a mini-project to get the ball rolling:
The years of sun had not been kind:
I removed the gauges/vents, and an aluminum filler plate that someone had installed years ago:
The purists will cringe, but the next step was to strip the factory foam that had begun to disintegrate:
Following that, I began to re-cover the skeleton with a thin suede material:
Before it goes back in, I'll be adding another layer of suede to reduce some of the sharp edges, and installing gauges and switches.
Next up, the rest of the interior tear-down, wiring removal and the start of putting the new harness in.Project KushVair - 1967 Corvair Street/Track Build
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03-20-2011 #4Registered User
- Join Date
- Dec 2010
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- Apex, NC
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