[DeTomaso] [detomaso]Pantera weight savings ideas

[Tomas Gunnarsson]

Regarding the drilling of holes to lighten the car, yes they remove
weight but not as much as some people seem to think. If you drill 1000
holes with a dia of 50 mm (roughly 2") through 1 mm steel you lose
around 15 kg.
 
Tomas

<-----Ursprungligt Meddelande----->
From: MikeLDrew at aol.com [MikeLDrew at aol.com]
Sent: 18/11/2012 9:10:40 PM
To: theemonkey at yahoo.com; detomaso at realbig.com
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] [detomaso]Pantera weight savings ideas

In a message dated 11/18/12 11 34 5, theemonkey at yahoo.com writes:


> I have a 1973 L that i want to put on a diet.It currently weighs 2945 
> pounds with a 1/2 tank of gas with street tires.2901 pounds with the
racing 
> slicks.My goal is to get the car to 2500 pounds with sound deadener
still in 
> it.The goal might not be realistic,but it is a goal.
> 
>>>It's realistic *if* you have an unlimited budget.

> >I have already removed all of the air conditioning parts except the 
> under dash heater/evaporator box,the bumpers and bumper shocks.Car has
QA1 
> aluminum shocks with 2.5 inch springs,Wilwood brakes including
rotors,aluminum 
> front hubs,
> 
>>>The stock cast iron hub carriers (in the rear) weigh a ton; Hall and 
Byars offer billet aluminum replacements, and Pat Mical has a magnesium
(!) 
version available!

Bring money!

> >Windsor engine with aluminum heads and intake.I am probably
forgetting 
> some of the things i have done,but you get a rough idea.
> 
>>>An aluminum block would offer a significant weight savings, with
equally 
significant cost.


> >On my to do list is carbon fiber deck lid(current steel deck lid has 
> heavy delta wing,so guessing a 80 lb. weight savings),Lexan rear
window,cable 
> window motor conversion,
> 
>>>Ted Mitchell's window system is very effective and only a fraction of
the weight of the stock setup--again, with some not-insignificant cost.

> >remove radio,speakers,power antenna,aluminum radiator,
> 
>>>I vote for keeping a radiator. :>)

> >remove pop up headlights and convert to fixed projection lights(i
have 
> heard various weight savings between
> 100 to 125 lbs.).
> 
>>>Bleah. The aesthetics of fixed lights on a Pantera are dubious at 
best. The Gr4 cars came with aluminum headlight buckets (something I
just 
learned from Les Gray the other day) and some of those *might* be
available from 
RS Corse? Or, do away with the stock mechanism and revert to an 
independent system where each light raises/lowers independently--that
would shed the 
weight of the bar between the buckets, at least?. Look to Miatas in the 
junkard for the necessary hardware.


> >Maybe remove heater box(hot rod box is only 6 pounds,and i have used
the 
> defroster maybe 3 times since i bought the car in 1996)
> 
>>>The stock setup is extremely heavy.


> > and make light weight motor mounts like the Group 4 cars.Hollow sway
> bars.I am guessing with what i have decided to do so far
conservatively will 
> remove 350 pounds.
> 
>>>Racing seats are very light--I know you have aftermarket seats, but 
can't remember if they are 'racing' seats.

There is a lot of weight to be gained by drilling holes liberally 
throughout the car. The Gr4 cars had special panels with holes pressed
into them, 
which were radiused for strength. I don't know if you could achieve that
after the fact, but there are lots of places (door frames for instance)
where 
smaller holes could be drilled with no loss in strength.


> >By the way,before some people get upset that i am ruining the car,let
me 
> mention that this car had a hard life with the previous owner.An
example 
> is using a jigsaw to enlarge  the sheet metal around the wheel
openings when 
> converting to GTS flares.Car now has GT5 flares and is pretty decent 
> looking even with a 12 year old paint job that his been on the track a
few times 
> : )
> 
>>>And *off* the track just as many times! :>)

> >So any other ideas for weight savings?Who like to keep the car drive 
> able as the car is street driven although not as often as i like.Thank
> you,RichardPS,no idea will offend me,If i do not like it,i just wont
use it.
> 
>>>Don't forget that lightweight 15-inch wheels make a notable 
difference--those 18-inch monsters are just huge flywheels....

Mike
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