[DeTomaso] Rookies & Pantera electrics

MikeLDrew at aol.com MikeLDrew at aol.com
Tue Aug 24 20:28:59 EDT 2010


In a message dated 8/24/10 12 04 13, JDeRyke at aol.com writes:


> 
> Throughout the car are many multipin wire connectors and those (from Lucas
> of England) also have unplated pin contacts. So if a device stops working,
> the very first thing one does is spray the closest multiconnector with 
> Radio
> Shack contact cleaner. It also works on OEM fuses. This will save time,
> money and frustration if you do this every year or two.
> 

>>>Excellent, excellent advice!   You'd be amazed how performance can 
improve by cleaning grounds (and according to Fred Terry, adding local grounds 
for the headlights), cleaning multipin connectors, and cleaning the fuses and 
fusebox contacts.

But Jack, please, PLEASE stop repeating the myth that the various 
components of the wiring system are from Lucas.   There were never, ever any Lucas 
wires or connectors anywhere in any Pantera.   The turn signal switch has a 
Ford part number but is, I believe, made by Lucas, and the wiper motor, and 
washer pump are Lucas too.   But other than the occasional component located 
way out at the end of a harness, that's it.

The entire electrical harness, to include the connectors, was made by a 
company called Costruzione Impianti Elettrici, located in Piacenza, Italy.   
I've got a stack of original Ford and original Vignale/De Tomaso documents 
(hundreds of pages) detailing all sorts of ongoing changes, improvements, 
findings etc. in the Pantera program, and it is spelled out quite clearly (in fact
, the vendor switched to color-coded junction blocks, insulated the 
connectors, used rubber grommets around connecting plugs, and sealed all parts of 
the wiring harness outside of the cabin, starting on 23 November 1972, 
according to one of these memos.)

(Costruzione Impianti Elettrici is actually not the full name of the 
company; it's how it's referred to in the documents, but that is a generic term 
that literally means "Electrical Construction Plant", and there are zillions 
of companies that have that in their name.   If you Google the term, you'll 
find a million different electrical construction manufacturers listed, such 
as "Costruzione Impianti   Elettrici Grestani" and "Costruzione Impianti 
Elettrici Meridionale" etc.).

Anyway, please, let's banish for once and for all the myth that our cars 
are let down by Lucas the Prince of Darkness.   Whatever electrical failings 
the Panteras have (and there are a few) are down to Italian spaghetti wiring, 
not Lucas....

...which might not make you feel any better when you're stranded in the 
dark, but at least you know who to blame. :>)

Mike



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