[DeTomaso] Pantera Top Speeds

[Darryl Johnson]

Looks like you've got the answer and are setting up to easily add the pan when you're ready. I've done some research on this and talked to a couple of fabricators on how to get started but it appears to be a difficult process that will take some capital to solve. My research shows that some of the new technology is to add a real light weight aluminum pan that has lots of little dimpled indentations for better flow and less drag. Kind of like a golf ball surface. Feels counter-intuitive to me but NASCAR and a few slick designers are swearing by it. Shaping the pan and using twist-lock fasteners is the plan (you know what they say about plans). However, given the cost right now it's a ways off.

Darryl

-----Original Message-----
From: gow2 at rc-tech.net [mailto:gow2 at rc-tech.net] 
Sent: Friday, November 23, 2012 5:10 PM
To: Darryl Johnson
Cc: 'David in Durango'; 'panteras'
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Pantera Top Speeds

Some of the changes I made to my car included a bolt on belly pan. As I did repairs I included welded nuts in many locations as well as adding
tabs:

http://www.rc-tech.net/pantera1/frame/frame2.jpg

http://www.rc-tech.net/pantera1/valance/val31.jpg

http://www.rc-tech.net/pantera1/valance/val33.jpg

http://www.rc-tech.net/cars2/panttransam/bp/bp4.jpg

http://www.rc-tech.net/cars2/panttransam/bp/bp7.jpg

The belly pan extends to the engine compartment. More to add if/when I get to a point.

The air through the front of the car exits under the car. I closed off all the air under the car and it exits the hood. Front wheel wells vented:

http://www.rc-tech.net/pantera1/InPrimmer.jpg

http://www.rc-tech.net/pantera1/paint1/hood2.jpg

Gary

> Aero for my car is not good. While the Pantera's frontal image from an 
> aero perspective is quite good (small w/low drag co-efficient) I have 
> a widened car (10 in. in the back) with a wing, front chin spoiler and 
> side scoops.
> Bottom line is that the car is dirty from an aero viewpoint. If I get 
> serious or near 200 MPH I'll remove the wing and scoops. The chin 
> spoiler is in steel and molded into the front. At top speed the car 
> was stable as a rock and needed no effort or special handling to go 
> straight down the track at high speed. Very calm and stable. Next 
> stage or step is working to find a reasonable way to "belly pan" the 
> car and build a rear diffuser. Problem is the Pantera is real dirty 
> underneath w/stuff handing down or unevenly placed, etc especially 
> mine with front and rear cross bracing being the lowest points.
>
> Darryl Johnson