[DeTomaso] Pantera Top Speeds

[gow2 at rc-tech.net]

It is certainly a lot easier when the car is disassembled and on it's
side. A lot harder when you try to make changes to a running car.



> 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
>
>
>