[DeTomaso] Dear Boyd - was Rookie needs help

[fastgrandma at aol.com]

Maybe your sign off reflects your knowledge.


Mke







-----Original Message-----
From: MikeLDrew at aol.com
To: fresnofinches at aol.com; detomaso at realbig.com
Sent: Tue, Aug 24, 2010 6:30 pm
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Dear Boyd - was Rookie needs help



In a message dated 8/24/10 9 56 27, fresnofinches at aol.com writes:


> Agreed, Mike is a bit biased to the more stock looking car. His choice. 
> And mine.
> 
>>>In my column however, you'll see that while I note that 
Ferrari/Porsche/etc. purists look down on modified Panteras, I specifically said 
that *I* 
don't, and in fact I appreciate the breadth and depth of the Pantera; it's 
what makes it completely unique.

My criticisms about certain Panteras don't involve aesthetic 
considerations, but rather low-class "There, I fixed it" mechanical hackery.   
For 
instance, when I bought my car, it was rusted to shreds on the right side 
wheelhouse.  You know the little hole where the parking brake cable passes 
through 
the sheetmetal between the inside of the car, and the caliper?   My wheelhouse 
had a crack completely through it, that started at that hole and ran all 
the way up to the turn signal bucket!   The car was literally splitting apart 
there.   So Jethro 'fixed' it by getting a piece of sheetmetal about the 
size of the playing card, drilling four holes in it, then bolting it on either 
side of the crack about halfway up!

The wheelhouse tubes were completely gone for the bottom two inches or so; 
Jethro 'fixed' it by getting a piece of steel strap, about 2 inches wide, 
drilling a couple of holes, and running it between the upper A-arm mounting 
bolt and the lower A-arm mounting bolt!

The radiator fans were evidently acting up on him, so he 'fixed' it by 
bypassing the relays, and wiring each fan directly to its own 1-amp (!) switch 
mounted in the bottom opening on the instrument panel.   But hey, they were 
illuminated!   When I took it apart (the day after taking possession of the 
car), I found the wires burned and the switches melted.

THIS is the kind of hackery that I object to.   Boyd, you can criticize me 
all you want for my stance on this particular topic, but I think most will 
agree that there are some lines, particularly mechanical lines, that 
shouldn't be crossed.

Aesthetics are a much more subjective thing, but I would be hard-pressed to 
find anybody who believes that putting fake sidepipes from the front 
fenders, shag carpeting (to include the headliner), and an avocado green vinyl 
top 
on a Pantera is an appropriate thing to do.   Again, Boyd, if you choose to 
go that route, knock yourself out. :>)
> 
> >But the gist of his column was, as usual, worthy of endorsement.
> 
>>>I'm glad you agree.   I did receive numerous private e-mails from 
various people when that column first appeared, all of which said variations of 
"Amen brother!"   Boyd is the first person I know of who expresses a contrary 
view and defends those sorts of actions.   But it takes all kinds, I 
guess....

Mke
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