[DeTomaso] WTB Carbon Fiber for my 1971 Pantera

[Mikael]

Cutting the bubble can, unless done extremely well, easily result in
significantly more engine noise . I've tried to go the other way, it lowered
the noise and 2000 rpm "boom" considerably

Mikael

-----Oprindelig meddelelse-----
Fra: JDeRyke at aol.com [mailto:JDeRyke at aol.com] 
Sendt: 23. november 2012 05:57
Til: edducati at mac.com
Cc: detomaso at realbig.com
Emne: Re: [DeTomaso] WTB Carbon Fiber for my 1971 Pantera

Ed, a nice interior will always outsell a ratty one, stock or not. The 
wrinkled-leather look of the GT5-S   is available from several of the
Pantera 
vendors to be applied to your interior panels so things fit well. And
refinished seats are simply more comfortable to sit in, valve
notwithstanding. I'd say do it- you'll enjoy the car much more.
Before you get too far along in the interior, know that the upholstered
fiberglas firewall bubble over the protruding part of the engine can easily
be sawed loose from the rest of the bulkhead panel. The leatherette covering
the bubble is already separate and can be removed to preserve it before
sawing. Once the bubble is cut loose, the original upholstering can be
reapplied to it for a stock look. Then the bubble is attached to the steel
access fire door with velcro, making future removal for front-of-the-motor
maintenence far less of a hassle than stock. It's unnoticable when done
carefully. So if you decide to re-do things, cut the bubble first. The same
goes for redoing the trunks; many Panteras have had the battery dropped
below the front trunk floor for a little neater look up there and more
storage on trips. Some of the late cars came this way from the factory (as
well as the separate bubble), so one can look at such mods as 'factory-based
upgrades' rather than hot-rodifications. They both increase the value IMHO.
Good luck- J Deryke