[DeTomaso] Re-starting my Pantera Restoration - Again!

[Mike Drew]

Charles,

I'm sure Denny Finn can repair it easily. It might not be cheap, but it probably won't be as expensive as some might think. 

Mike

Sent from my iPhone

> On Dec 31, 2017, at 15:27, Charles Copeland <cwcopela at 1scom.net> wrote:
> 
>   Hey DeTomaso Listers!
> 
> 
>   First of all, Happy New Year!
> 
> 
>   Second, I'm thinking that 2018 should be the year to - once again - get
>   serious about restoring our '72 Pantera that I started restoring about
>   20 years ago or so.
> 
> 
>   Here's where I really need some help.  The thing that always brings the
>   project to a halt is the fact that, due to accident damage under
>   previous ownership, the unibody seems to have about 1/4 inch larger gap
>   in the passenger-side door opening and upper passenger side window
>   cavity compared to the driver's side.
> 
> 
>   Several body/frame shops, as well as at least one of our highly
>   esteemed Pantera Parts Vendors, have told me that it's not worth
>   fixing, can't be fixed, move on and get another car!
> 
> 
>   I'm finding it difficult to believe that this problem can't be fixed
>   but I don't know how and don't have the requisite skills.  But, from
>   stripping off the paint and bondo, it appears that the roof was brazed
>   on at the bottom of the front roof pillars and at the top of the rear
>   quarters.  So, I'm thinking perhaps the alignment of the roof/pillars
>   was just rushed by the body shop/backyard mechanic that repaired the
>   car post-accident.
> 
> 
>   Can you all weigh-in on whether or not this lopsided unibody can be
>   re-aligned so that the passenger-side door fits correctly and there is
>   no gap in the upper passenger-side windshield?  Or should I simply put
>   it back together crooked like it was before?  After all it drove
>   great!  I guess the car didn't know it was crooked!
> 
> 
>   Oh, I should mention, the frame/suspension aligns perfectly - no issues
>   there. Just poorly fitting passenger door and windshield.
> 
> 
>   Thanks,
> 
>   Charles Copeland
> _______________________________________________
> 
> 
> Detomaso Email List is not managed by POCA
> Posted emails must not exceed 1.5 Megabytes
> DeTomaso mailing list
> DeTomaso at server.detomasolist.com
> http://server.detomasolist.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso
> 
> To manage your subscription (change email address, unsubscribe, etc.) use the links above.
> 
> Members who post to this list grant license to the list to forward any message posted here to all past, current, or future members of the list. They also grant the list owner permission to maintain an archive or approve the archiving of list messages.