[DeTomaso] Installing early front bumpers on smooth nose Pantera

[Ken Green]

 I'm not looking at the bumpers at the moment, but I think there are captive nuts?  I can just thread the studs into the nuts and tighten other nuts against them?
I think the captive nuts are in vertical slots so they slope and be adjusted?
Is this how you like the bumpers (my 73 has nearly identical paint):







    On Friday, March 15, 2019, 11:06:09 AM PDT, Garth Rodericks <garth_rodericks at yahoo.com> wrote:  
 
 Ken,
How are the studs affixed to the bumpers?  Welded/brazed on, or merely threaded into the bumper?  Can you double nut the studs and remove them?  
If you an remove the studs you'd be able to place the bumpers directly against the car in the exact position you want them and trace their outline onto the car with a pencil (or grease pencil). Then you could measure the location of the studs on the back of the bumper from the outside edges, and transfer the measurements to your outline on the body. Then you can see exactly where to drill with confidence that the bumpers will sit exactly where you want them to sit, not a best guess from holding them standing several inches off the body due to the mounting studs.
If the studs cannot be easily removed, another idea is merely put a dab of grease on the end of each stud, hold the bumper up to the car in the desired position (albeit standing off so the studs do not touch the body), then move the bumper straight back to gently touch the studs to the bumper and leave a grease spot exactly where you need to drill. After that, use a center punch to make your indents to drill.  That way, there's no risk of sharpened studs sliding and scratching the paint when you whack the bumper with a mallet.
And whatever you do, set the bumpers level like they're supposed to be. Do NOT angle them - nothing looks dumber on a Pantera than when the bumpers are angled - unless of course your going for an anime cartoon racecar look (see attached pics).  One of the dumbest things I've seen on a Pantera. I've attached a couple pic of what they should look like, along with the only color God and Alejandro DeTomaso intended for a Pantera.  :)
Cheers!Garth#4033
  
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   I'm not looking at the bumpers at the moment, but I think there are
   captive nuts?  I can just thread the studs into the nuts and tighten
   other nuts against them?
   I think the captive nuts are in vertical slots so they slope and be
   adjusted?
   Is this how you like the bumpers (my 73 has nearly identical paint):
   Inline image

   On Friday, March 15, 2019, 11:06:09 AM PDT, Garth Rodericks
   <garth_rodericks at yahoo.com> wrote:
   Ken,
   How are the studs affixed to the bumpers?  Welded/brazed on, or merely
   threaded into the bumper?  Can you double nut the studs and remove
   them?
   If you an remove the studs you'd be able to place the bumpers directly
   against the car in the exact position you want them and trace their
   outline onto the car with a pencil (or grease pencil). Then you could
   measure the location of the studs on the back of the bumper from the
   outside edges, and transfer the measurements to your outline on the
   body. Then you can see exactly where to drill with confidence that the
   bumpers will sit exactly where you want them to sit, not a best guess
   from holding them standing several inches off the body due to the
   mounting studs.
   If the studs cannot be easily removed, another idea is merely put a dab
   of grease on the end of each stud, hold the bumper up to the car in the
   desired position (albeit standing off so the studs do not touch the
   body), then move the bumper straight back to gently touch the studs to
   the bumper and leave a grease spot exactly where you need to drill.
   After that, use a center punch to make your indents to drill.  That
   way, there's no risk of sharpened studs sliding and scratching the
   paint when you whack the bumper with a mallet.
   And whatever you do, set the bumpers level like they're supposed to be.
   Do NOT angle them - nothing looks dumber on a Pantera than when the
   bumpers are angled - unless of course your going for an anime cartoon
   racecar look (see attached pics).  One of the dumbest things I've seen
   on a Pantera. I've attached a couple pic of what they should look like,
   along with the only color God and Alejandro DeTomaso intended for a
   Pantera.  :)
   Cheers!
   Garth
   #4033
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