[DeTomaso] Spring rates

Thu Jan 24 10:52:24 EST 2013

I can also add that my experience is very similar, my car has all the
bracing mods available
in both the front and back underneath, in the engine bay and in the front
boot, no cracking issues
with the paint at all.  I've also had the privilege to ride in a half dozen
other Panteras and none of them feel
as "secure/one big solid piece" as mine does.  It just feels like one of my
old tube frame or monologue race cars.
I have Alden shocks ( unsure of spring rates, I'll pull those invoices and
look for them ) and 1" solid sway bars,
 front and rear with 17" wheels, 335/35/17 on 17 x 11 and 245/40/17 on 17 x
8.
My only complaint with my car is the sound that the urethane bushing make
when I pull into a drive way or
pavement change of elevation, it sounds like the car is old and rusty with
the noise they make.

Michael Shortt

On Thu, Jan 24, 2013 at 10:41 AM, <cengles at cox.net> wrote:

>
> Dear Dick,
>
>               Well, I can start that discussion with the anecdotal case
> report.
>
>               Pantera 1 has the beefier steel "spreader" bar and an
> auxiliary smaller brace below and behind it over the ZF.  It also has
> the "lesser" springs + Konis.  The springs are, IIRC,  about 375/ 500
> (I think).
>
>               Pantera 2 has the stock "spreader" bar and no auxiliary
> bracing.  It has the "heavier" springs + Konis.   Springs are, IIRC,
> 425/ 600.
>
>               Please note that both Panteras are late '74s.  VINs are
> very close: 7171 and 7191.  In my opinion neither have any rust issues
> nor evidence of previous collisions. Pantera 1 was repainted once about
> 10 years ago.  Pantera 2 was originally orange, then silver and in 1988,
> finally, yellow.   Both Panteras are shod with the same size 17 inch
> wheels and tires.
> Oh, and Pantera 1 has the 485 hp engine, while Pantera 2 has the 385 HP
> engine.
>
>               Guess which car has more paint cracking?   Pantera 2 with
> less bracing and more spring rate and less torque---and more repaints.
> I am suspicious that the difference is the bracing.   Finally, I can't
> tell any difference in their ride and handling, both are perfectly fine
> by my seat-of-the-pants-o-meter.
>
>
>                             Warmest regards,  Chuck Engles
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, Jan 24, 2013 at 8:51 AM, Dick Koch wrote:
>
>   Charles and others, it would be       interesting to find out from
> folks that went to higher spring       rates and the effect that had, if
> any, on the body shell, i. e.       cracking at the known weak points of
> the body shell.
>
> When I ever get around to it, I plan to install new "heavier"
> springs that I bought a while back.  I would like to get input
> from anyone that has gone to stiffer springs, and has not
> installed additional chassis stiffeners.
>
> Dick Koch - Atlanta
>
> On 1/23/2013 8:31 PM, Charles Engles       wrote:
>
> Dear Bill,
>
>             You wrote:
>
>
>
> "I am quite amazed at the spring rates being used  on cars which are
> reported to be very nice riding on the  street.
>
>   BTW, my  car, with 200/350 springs rides like a heavy duty truck."
>
>          You've hit upon a Pantera phenomenon, I think.   When I changed
> my
> first Pantera from stock to heavier springs, I thought I would be
> cautious
> and scale it back a bit from the recommendations of PPC.  After the
> Konis
> and springs, it felt like a new car. The ride was fine, but pleasantly
> firmer than stock.
>
>          Then several years later, I changed the suspension on my second
> Pantera.  I was confident enough to go a bit higher than the
> recommendations
> of PPC.  After the new Konis and springs, the second Pantera rode and
> handled as well as the first one.   I much prefer the suspension upgrade
> to
> the stock suspension.
>
>         It is interesting that a large number of Pantera owners find no
> detriment to the ride comfort with multiples of stock spring rates.  I
> don't
> think that we're all deluding ourselves.  I would say the phenomenon is
> there.  I *think* that it is there due some excellent design
> characteristics
> of the suspension which obviously tolerates a wide range of higher
> spring
> rates without a wide range of unhappy owners and drivers.  FWIW.
>
>                Warmest regards, Chuck Engles
>
>
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-- 

Michael L. Shortt
Savannah, Georgia
www.michaelshortt.com
michael at michaelshortt.com
912-232-9390

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