[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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