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

[Stephen Nelson]

This discussion reminds me of my second car a Renault R-16.  Very low
mileage, sumptuous interior, but, well, it had been rolled.  As in the top
had been caved down, the windshield frame canted in on both sides...  But, I
was young and it was inexpensive.

First order of business was to get the windshield frame bent back to where
it would take a windshield.  With 5 or 6 bottle jacks, and lots of pipes to
extend the pistons so they could jack against the appropriate parts of the
top I proceeded to jack out the top and the windshield frame.  I kept
working it until the frame matched the new windshield I had bought.  There
followed a massive amount of body work - but, hey, 16 years old, lots of
time, I got it back to the point where it was a great driving little car.
Put a lot of miles on it.  Loved that little car.

So, well, 1/4 more gap on one side?  All it takes is time and ingenuity.  Of
course, if you are paying to have it done, at $100 per hour, well, that
could get right real pricey.

Stephen

-----Original Message-----
From: DeTomaso [mailto:detomaso-bounces at server.detomasolist.com] On Behalf
Of Paul A Rimov
Sent: Monday, January 1, 2018 12:40 PM
To: Mike Drew <MikeLDrew at aol.com>
Cc: detomaso at server.detomasolist.com
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Re-starting my Pantera Restoration - Again!

I cannot imagine having a car that I started a restoration 20 or so years
ago still unfinished. Nor can I image trying to straighten one that even
Pantera specialists have viewed as pretty much unfixable. But I guess with
enough money, time and a committed craftsman it can be done and with prices
at  records highs a representative stock example could make it worth the
investment. Cheers 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Dec 31, 2017, at 10:45 PM, Mike Drew via DeTomaso
<detomaso at server.detomasolist.com> wrote:
> 
> 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
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