[DeTomaso] FW: GUMBALL PANTERA BREAKS DOWN OVER WEEKEND

[Tony DiGiovanna]

Could be many things, but it sounds familiar:  There is a terminal block
under the dash, above the steering column that connects the ignition key
assembly to the dash wire harness.  I have seen many Panteras suffer similar
symptoms because the terminal block connections get loose, heat up, oxidize,
and get resistive, leading to loss of power to the ignition coil circuit.
The terminal block can be replaced with similar modern item with tin
plating, or replaced with crimp barrel connectors, or solder joints, etc.
After a fit of dead-stick events like yours, I literally threw my old
terminal block as far as I could.I think it is still in orbit.

 

From: LEVITT1946 at aol.com [mailto:LEVITT1946 at aol.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2011 4:13 PM
To: detomaso at list.realbig.com; bmalter2 at yahoo.com; steveblum2 at msn.com;
boyd411 at gmail.com; bretbobo at aol.com; mauryzb at gmail.com; jcdc1969 at aol.com;
dennis617 at aol.com; jcdivilio at aol.com; eric.tolnes at verizon.net;
forestmajors at comcast.net; glynch1951 at aol.com; harvstrspantera at aol.com;
justingreisberg at hotmail.com; kbritton at optonline.net; lkligman at nyc.rr.com;
lumpydavis at aol.com; MirrilM at earthlink.net; pantera_4220 at yahoo.com;
Panteratime at aol.com; pilotsdoit at aol.com; gofast54 at optonline.net;
pound4lb at optonline.net; edlebby at yahoo.com; EDLEBBY at YAHOO.COM;
SVNT4PANTERA at aol.com; nicoletolnes at mac.com; tonydigi at optonline.net;
lplug56 at hotmail.com; CZSEVC at TELSOURCE.COM
Subject: GUMBALL PANTERA BREAKS DOWN OVER WEEKEND

 

Hello Friends ,

 

I thought compelled  to tell the group what transpired over this past
weekend with the Gumball Pantera . 

 

Just before the Gumball in May of 2009 I made the following improvements in
the engine compartment.

 

New Spark Plug Wires MSD PART #31199

 

NEW HOLLEY 650 DP

 

NEW MALLORY COIL

NEW MALLORY BALLAST RESISTER 

 

NEW ROTOR  AND CAP FOR MY MALLORY UNILITE DISTRIBUTOR

 

NEW AUTOLITE SPARK PLUGS PLUGS   

 

I set out this past Sunday for a 2.5 Hr ride to Lime Rock Raceway in
Connecticut. The car was humming like it usually does for the first 100
miles and then while moving at about 60 mph the car shut off and I rolled
into the nearby gas station. I thought it was a stuck float in my holley 650
so i tapped the adjusting screw and the car started right up and then shut
off. 

 

I removed the float adjusting rod and put all back together. Still the car
would not run. I decided to try and limp to Lime Rock since there were
mechanics on hand . I got 1/2 mile and the car shut off again. 

 

I called a flat bed and was taken to the track . Mechanics at the track
replaced the coil and the ballast resister .

 

The car fired right up and I thought this was the end to my  nightmare. I
also noticed that the fuel pressure was very high at 9.5 to 10.The mechanics
said that the carb could handle that pressure..So I believed .

 

At 4:30 I got  back into my car followed by a 1973 Pantera Buddy from the
Long Island Pantera Club.

 

One hour later the car was down for the count again. Thinking this was a
dirt in the carb fuel issue I removed the carb turned it over and dumped out
all the fuel in the carb. She started up, but this time I noticed that the
tachometer was flying all over the place. Now I knew this was not a fuel
issue but something wrong in the ignition/electrical system . I was stuck in
the middle of nowhere .

 

After waiting 4 1/2 hrs  for a flatbed to arrive we loaded the car once
again and I took the car to Danbury CT. to a friend that loves to fix
electrical issues.

 

The first thing my friend said after reading the Mallory Unilite instruction
manual was WRONG WIRES ON THE CAR !

 

He said I will bet the Module in the mallory distributor is fried .

 

I spoke with Mallory today and confirmed that the MSD wires used are in fact
the culprit. Over time the wires will break down the Distributor module and
it will eventually  cease to work. 

 

I am telling you all this because if anyone is running a similar setup,GET
RID OF THE WIRES AT ONCE.

 

Mallory recommended the foilowing  :

 

Unilite Distributor with  #30450 COIL 

 

Carbon or Graphite Core Wire ONLY (SIDEWINDER PART # 931)

 

If the system is reading 1.4 ohms or less you need the ballast resister .If
above 1.4 ohms there is no need for the ballast resister.

 

Now I also  spoke to  Holley and they said the fuel pump pressure is way to
high and that the fuel pump should be replaced as well with Holley part #
12-854. This mechanical pump will be 80 gph compared to the 30gph that I had
on the car . The fuel pressure will only put out a max of 7.5. Fuel pressure
of 10 will blow the seals of the carb.

 

Any suggestions or comments  would be greatly appreciated.  

 

Best Regards,

Bob Levitt

Team Pantera Racing #3196

Gumball3000 #56