[DeTomaso] Vented front rotors on early 1971

[MikeLDrew at aol.com]

In a message dated 5/23/12 16 48 52, knottsj at galstar.com writes:


> Messing with the new toy today and fount that the stock brakes have solid
> rotors on the front. 
> 
>>>Yes indeedy!


> > Is there a set of vented available that will fit the
> stock calipers.
> 
>>>That's been a topic of much conversation lately.   Several people have 
had success adapting 1965-67 Mustang vented front rotors to the front of the 
Pantera.   Original Mustang rotors were a two-piece affair, with the disc 
separate from the hub, as on the Pantera.   The Mustang disc would bolt 
straight up to the Pantera hub, and the diameter was close, although not perfect.

For many years those rotors have not been available, and the only other 
option was a modern 1965-67 replacement rotor, which incorporates the front hub 
and disc as a single casting.   Among other things, this requires you to 
switch to standard (as opposed to metric) lug nuts in the front, and you also 
need Mustang bearing dust covers.

Lately people have been trying or talking about all sorts of things, 
including a proposal (mine) to experiment by buying a one-piece Mustang rotor and 
then cutting away the hub, leaving just the disc.   That would be a job for 
a machinist of course.

A more reasonable, although expensive option is to buy the vented front 
rotors from Pantera Parts Connection.   They use Brembo rotors for a Porsche 
and machine and re-drill them to fit the Pantera.

Pantera Performance Center sells Wilwood discs and hubs that would bolt 
straight up to your car as well; although normally sold in conjunction with 
Wilwood calipers, they will sell you just the hub and narrow front rotor for 
use with stock calipers, I presume.

And finally, now that we can again easily buy discs from De Tomaso, those 
guys have original vented rotors available; the last price I saw advertised 
(a couple of years ago) was only 80 Euros each, which may well be the best 
bargain out there, even including not-insubstantial shipping charges.   
www.rscorse.com is their (incomplete, in-progress) website.

By way of comparison, Wilkinson's website lists the same rotor for 
$$561.72....

Be honest with yourself about how you intend to use the car though.   
Vented rotors are a very good idea if you are going to be subjecting your car to 
extended periods of heavy braking, i.e. track use or aggressive driving on 
mountain roads.   But for normal street use, you'd never notice the 
difference from behind the wheel.

Mike