[DeTomaso] Pantera Design Question

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

In a message dated 8/27/07 8:42:21 PM, pantera at pobox.com writes:

<<...Ford told Detomaso to make it handle worse to keep people safe.  They 
figured that sliding at slower speeds was safer. My question is what did they 
change to hamper the handling.... >>

Not sure it was diabolically intentional by anyone, Dave, and I've never met 
Dr Dallara, but If I ever do, I'll ask him about the following simple things 
that are well known to each improve the Pantera's handling:

A- add a 7/8" GTS solid rear swaybar (or a 1" hollow unit) while leaving the 
stock front size alone.
B- Lower the steering rack with spacers about 5/16" to correct bump-steer.
C- increase stock caster from a max of 2.7 to at least 4.7 for more high 
speed stability and quicker self-correction. A 2 degree nose-down rake helps too.
D- remove the front and rear spring spacers added to U.S cars to raise the 
car for DOT headlight height requirements (since rescinded).
E- add 1" of negative offset to the front wheels to reduce tire scrub in 
turns. This is easily done by adding another pair of stock 8" Campys to the front 
and scrap the stock 7" Campys. Easier steering & less tire wear results.

All these except the caster change were done at the factory to Euro-only Gr-3 
street-legal Panteras- such as Mats Gorski's daily driver, and most were 
included in post-Ford-era Panteras; none require aftermarket parts (except the 
hollow swaybars). All the above mods tend to make the Pantera more neutral 
handling, while I believe Ford felt that an understeering car like a Galaxie sedan 
was safer on the street for the general U.S public. A neutral or oversteering 
car, especially with a powerful engine, is far less forgiving for a tired or 
inattentive driver.  My 2¢- J DeRyke
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