[DeTomaso] Decklid/Fender Problem

[MikeLDrew at aol.com]

In a message dated 4/27/10 18 16 57, artstephens at verizon.net writes:


> What I'm concerned about is whether or not I am missing something here as 
> to the cause of the chewed up fenders?  Has anyone seen one beat up this 
> bad before?
> 

Sure, that's pretty standard in fact, for the 1971 cars that didn't have a 
proper decklid catch.   The later cars had a stamped steel catch that had 
'ears' on it that captured the sides of the latch (on the body), which largely 
prevented side-to-side movement, but the early cars just had a simple bar 
on the decklid, which was useless.

There were two different styles of bar used.   On the later 'bar-cars', you 
can just unbolt the bar (un-nut it actually) and attach the new catch over 
the same studs.   On the earlier cars, the bar is shaped differently, the 
studs are in a different place, and you'll have to drill holes and use 
nutserts to install new studs for the new catch to attach to the decklid.

The good news is that the new catch is widely available from the Pantera 
vendors for $25, and often less when it goes on sale.

Mike