[DeTomaso] AC Compressor - Which Toyota Celica unit works

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

In a message dated 3/20/10 5:30:36 PM, b.hower3400 at yahoo.com writes:

>  I felt that the cause for bent/bowed rails was due to no support between 
> mounting points. The full length flat strap tacked to the lower slide plus 
> full length support will keep the rail from bowing again. I cut the carpet 
> out the full length and the 1 1/2 width so flat strap fits next to floor 
> pan without pad nor carpet.
> 

FWIW, I agree, Bud. DeTomaso apparently put those spacers under the front & 
rear ends of the seats slide-rails to tilt the seats back for a little more 
confort and "bucket-ness". As an example, I found the seats in my stock 
Fiero to be quite uncomfortable simply because their seat base was flat with no 
backward tilt. I always felt like I was falling off the front of the seat- 
and I drove the little bucket pretty hard, commuting to work and winning a 
C/Stock autocross championship in N.CA with it one year. 
Of course when you lift the Pantera rails up by the ends with the small 
stock spacers, over time they're gonna bend with American butts loading them 
down. Removing the spacers & bolting the stock rails down tight through the 
1-1/2" OD carpet holes for the spacers doesn't work either, 'cause the carpet 
between the holes causes seat-rail bending when you tighten up the bolts on 
the ends- exactly the same effect. Cutting the carpet away completely under 
the seat rails as you did DOES work if you bolt the rails flat, once the 
bent rails are straightened. Reinforcing the rails against bending is a good 
idea if you're going to use seat-tilt spacers and not bolt them flat to the 
floor. Cheers- J DeRyke