[DeTomaso] Aluminum Chassis Braces

[John Taphorn]

John

I did not employ the lower cross bracing in the rear.  I do have a stout removable cross member and frankly, I don't appreciate how the lower unit adds much rigidity. I perceive the flex to be caused by lack of support structure higher in the tub. 

In the early 90s my car's chassis enjoyed participation in a ground up restoration.  I snagged the opportunity at that time to stiffen the chassis both front and rear with thicker square tubing in the rear wheel arches and in the front of the chassis adjacent to the lower valence.  As their were rust issues in these locations, we also looked at ways to stiffen the chassis while we were there.

Unfortunately, this was prior to the info sharing on the internet and had I now the benefit of Goran's website, I would have incorporated a couple of his ideas.

JT
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: John Maffeo 
  To: John Taphorn ; detomaso at realbig.com 
  Sent: Friday, April 06, 2007 11:42 AM
  Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Aluminum Chassis Braces


  John,

  thank you for sharing this information!

  Did you put bracing in below the ZF? something similar to:
  http://www.panteraplace.com/Tech%20Info/McMullen%2073758%2007.jpg

  thanx,

  John Maffeo
  #2647

  John Taphorn <jtaphorn at kingwoodcable.com> wrote:
    Several list members have requested that I document the parts that I used 
    for the chassis braces on my Pantera. I apologize for the delay and 
    appreciate the gentle reminders that members of the list have sent me.

    I used JB weld to hold the mount brackets in place prior to welding.

    The trickiest part of the installation is the front 20" cross brace and 
    mount brackets along with the two 12" triangulating rods and their mount 
    brackets in the front trunk. As you try to optimize placement of the 20" 
    cross brace on the inner panel between the upper mounting ears of the two 
    front shock absorbers, you will potentially interfere with removal of the 
    brake booster and master.

    I am using a Ford brake booster from a Lincoln Continental with a master 
    cylinder of an '87 SVO Mustang so your experience may differ. In addition, 
    the direction of the mount brackets will determine your ability to 
    disassemble the
    triangulated assembly in the future. Thus, pay close attention to both 
    assembly and disassembly in your layout of the mount brackets.

    I had the benefit of the booster out of the car and was able to experiment 
    with different assembly combinations until I found the best solution for my 
    car. Most of my testing was to see how far back I could shift the cross 
    brace before I was blocked from removing and installing the booster/master 
    assembly. The closer you can get the cross brace to the booster/master the 
    better as that will move the bar between the shock mounts where the load 
    from the suspension compression forces are focused. The Hall kit, probably 
    in order to accommodate most cars, does not get the cross bar back far 
    enough between the two shock towers. If you look at the relatively thin 
    gauge of the tub metal, It is my hypothesis that nestling the cross bar 
    between the two the shock mounts should be to ones advantage. For those 
    engaging the project, I will send you detailed photos of how I aligned my 
    brackets and the necessary clearance I figured out.

    I broke the list into a front and rear section. These parts are available 
    through Speedway Motors www.speedwaymotors.com

    Parts for the three triangulated front braces that are located in the trunk.

    a) 910-34158-12 ( two 12" aluminum tie rod sleeves)
    b) 910-34158-20 ( one 20" aluminum tie rod sleeve)
    c) 917-21000 ( six weld on shock mounts with spacer)
    d) 117-0810L ( three aluminum rod ends LH Thread 5/8 shank .5 hole)
    e) 117-0810 ( three aluminum rod ends RH Thread 5/8 shank .5 hole)
    f) 315-9603 ( three aluminum jam nuts RH 5/8")
    g) 315-9604 ( three aluminum jam nuts LH 5/8")

    Parts for 2 rear cross braces that are above the ZF.

    a) 910-34158-21 ( one 21" aluminum tie rod sleeve)
    b) 910-34158-16 ( one 16" aluminum tie rod sleeve)
    c) 917-21000 ( two weld on shock mounts with spacer - the longer sleeve uses 
    the original mounting brackets)
    d) 117-0810L ( two aluminum rod ends LH Thread 5/8 shank .5 hole)
    e) 117-0810 ( two aluminum rod ends RH Thread 5/8 shank .5 hole)
    f) 315-9603 ( two aluminum jam nuts RH 5/8")
    g) 315-9604 ( two aluminum jam nuts LH 5/8")

    JT


    _______________________________________________

    Detomaso Forum Managed by POCA

    Archive Search Engine Now Available at http://www.realbig.com/detomaso/

    DeTomaso mailing list
    DeTomaso at list.realbig.com
    http://list.realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso





------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  TV dinner still cooling?
  Check out "Tonight's Picks" on Yahoo! TV.