[DeTomaso] Shock tower crossmember measurement

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

All the 'experts' say to NOT use the bar preload capability to re-zero your 
chassis, but it worked for me on uor '72L when done as I described. Hall 
Pantera- an innovater of such things that were copied by other vendors (or 
maybe simply resold by them) also has/had a second varient of the square-steel 
bar. This more elaborate brace has two short pipes that extend down at a 45 
degree angle to contact a second adjustable brace-bar mounted between the 
lower portion of the inner fenders, just clearing the ZF. This apparently was 
intended to brace up the lower subframe rails too, but with Gary Hall 
deceased, there's really no one to verify. 
Two problems with this: the short connecting pipes must be cut to size for 
your car and welded in place between the upper and lower ajdustable square 
braces, and the provided plates that attach to the inner fenders -welding is 
advised here too- are flat while the panels are curved. Some have bolted the 
plates in, bearing down on gr-8 bolts and distorting the thin fender 
panels. A few have at great trouble, contoured the thick steel plates to fit the 
fenders. And no one seems to know whether these things actually do anything 
or just add weight. 
My ultimate fix to the lack of rear stiffness is to have the entire rear 
body/frame seam-welded along with the stock spot-welds. The few guys that have 
done this (mostly racers) say the resulting Pantera is totally rigid and 
has much, much improved handling. But it requires almost complete repainting 
which makes it expensive for a street car. Good luck- J Deryke