[DeTomaso] Converting Pantera L Bumpers

Thu Jun 30 11:54:49 EDT 2016

Larry, yes I forgot…..the body shop owner also said it’s WAY better for corrosion protection which is all good with an old Pantera!

Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows 10

From: Larry - Ohio Time<mailto:Larry at ohiotimecorp.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2016 8:50 AM
To: 'Mike Reilly'<mailto:reillyms at live.com>; detomaso at server.detomasolist.com<mailto:detomaso at server.detomasolist.com>
Subject: RE: [DeTomaso] Converting Pantera L Bumpers

<< decided to go with bonding the metal>>

Mike,

Most new cars are assembled with bonding (glues) on there body panels. I
like the process.

Living in the some what Great White Salty North, I fight rust all the time.
Placing two sheet metal panels together and zapping it with a spot welder is
just opening the door for rust to form.

If you think your good looking welds are water tight, just try welding on an
air tank, like I just did, to see how poorly your good looking welds can be.
EEEKKKKK!!!!

Larry (glue me baby) - Cleveland

-----Original Message-----
From: DeTomaso [mailto:detomaso-bounces at server.detomasolist.com] On Behalf
Of Mike Reilly
Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2016 11:34 AM
To: detomaso at server.detomasolist.com
Subject: [DeTomaso] Converting Pantera L Bumpers

This topic has been covered extensively on this mail list and the PI Forum
as well.  PanteraPlace.com also has good info in a tech article.  Anyway,
after 25 years of owning my mostly stock 74 L I have decided to remove the L
bumpers and fill in the holes from their mounting points both front and
rear.  I found a good body shop to match my original factory red paint using
a single stage application.  I did all the disassembly so all they have to
do is fill in the holes and paint.  It's still in the shop and in
discussions with the shop owner we decided to go with bonding the metal
patches (where the old bumper shocks went through the body) rather than
welding them in.  He uses this approach with many high end cars in his shop
and from what I've read on the PI Forum some folks have found the modern
bonding materials end up being stronger than the surrounding metal.  He felt
welding may warp and damage some of the surrounding metal.  I was good with
this approach as this is purely a cosmetic patch and not structural.

As far as bumpers to replace the L bumpers I went with the versions that Bob
Byers sells which are the smaller "euro" blades front and rear.  I had to do
some filing for the fronts to fit flush against the body and the backs fit
just fine as they came from Bob.  I'm happy with their quality (all steel).
I really like the look of the car in this configuration : ).   I get it back
from the shop on 13 July and then I'll reassemble everything.  Yes, I kept
every part that came off the car incase some crazy investor type ends up
with my car (only if I die!) and wants to put the federalized bumpers back
on the car.  I think it does look fine with the L bumper but simply wanted a
new look and decided to go with what I see many of the European folks doing
with the L cars they buy and bring back to Europe.

I'll post some pics here and on the PI Forum (and the POCA forum) once it's
done.  I guess I'll also update my pics on the PROVAMO registry.

If you're thinking of doing this with your L I'm happy to discuss it further
: )

Mike

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

-------------- next part --------------
   Larry, yes I forgot.....the body shop owner also said it's WAY better
   for corrosion protection which is all good with an old Pantera!

   Sent from [1]Mail for Windows 10

   From: [2]Larry - Ohio Time
   Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2016 8:50 AM
   To: [3]'Mike Reilly'; [4]detomaso at server.detomasolist.com
   Subject: RE: [DeTomaso] Converting Pantera L Bumpers

   << decided to go with bonding the metal>>
   Mike,
   Most new cars are assembled with bonding (glues) on there body panels.
   I
   like the process.
   Living in the some what Great White Salty North, I fight rust all the
   time.
   Placing two sheet metal panels together and zapping it with a spot
   welder is
   just opening the door for rust to form.
   If you think your good looking welds are water tight, just try welding
   on an
   air tank, like I just did, to see how poorly your good looking welds
   can be.
   EEEKKKKK!!!!
   Larry (glue me baby) - Cleveland
   -----Original Message-----
   From: DeTomaso [[5]mailto:detomaso-bounces at server.detomasolist.com] On
   Behalf
   Of Mike Reilly
   Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2016 11:34 AM
   To: detomaso at server.detomasolist.com
   Subject: [DeTomaso] Converting Pantera L Bumpers
   This topic has been covered extensively on this mail list and the PI
   Forum
   as well.  PanteraPlace.com also has good info in a tech article.
   Anyway,
   after 25 years of owning my mostly stock 74 L I have decided to remove
   the L
   bumpers and fill in the holes from their mounting points both front and
   rear.  I found a good body shop to match my original factory red paint
   using
   a single stage application.  I did all the disassembly so all they have
   to
   do is fill in the holes and paint.  It's still in the shop and in
   discussions with the shop owner we decided to go with bonding the metal
   patches (where the old bumper shocks went through the body) rather than
   welding them in.  He uses this approach with many high end cars in his
   shop
   and from what I've read on the PI Forum some folks have found the
   modern
   bonding materials end up being stronger than the surrounding metal.  He
   felt
   welding may warp and damage some of the surrounding metal.  I was good
   with
   this approach as this is purely a cosmetic patch and not structural.
   As far as bumpers to replace the L bumpers I went with the versions
   that Bob
   Byers sells which are the smaller "euro" blades front and rear.  I had
   to do
   some filing for the fronts to fit flush against the body and the backs
   fit
   just fine as they came from Bob.  I'm happy with their quality (all
   steel).
   I really like the look of the car in this configuration : ).   I get it
   back
   from the shop on 13 July and then I'll reassemble everything.  Yes, I
   kept
   every part that came off the car incase some crazy investor type ends
   up
   with my car (only if I die!) and wants to put the federalized bumpers
   back
   on the car.  I think it does look fine with the L bumper but simply
   wanted a
   new look and decided to go with what I see many of the European folks
   doing
   with the L cars they buy and bring back to Europe.
   I'll post some pics here and on the PI Forum (and the POCA forum) once
   it's
   done.  I guess I'll also update my pics on the PROVAMO registry.
   If you're thinking of doing this with your L I'm happy to discuss it
   further
   : )
   Mike
   Sent from Mail for Windows 10

References

   1. https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986
   2. mailto:Larry at ohiotimecorp.com
   3. mailto:reillyms at live.com
   4. mailto:detomaso at server.detomasolist.com
   5. mailto:detomaso-bounces at server.detomasolist.com