72 Panterta, In case youre interested!

[LubeDude]

Id really rather be fishing!<br /><br />So the Cluch problem is fixed. so on to other things!<br /><br />Checked the front suspension and found NO cotter pins anywhere, (NICE)!! Fixed that!!<br /><br />Then it overheats every time I get into town! I bring it into the shop and start checking everthing out! Fan comes on OK, Blead the cooling system, everything seems ok! I take it out and it overheats! Check everything again, take it out and it overheats in town! Bring back to the shop and pull the fan sending unit and test it in boiling water, Its fine, it comes on at 170! Oh, but wait, IT GOES OFF AT 180!! (NICE), glad I left it in the water a little longer!<br /><br />Cant get the updated sender unless you buy an aluminum radiator, $600.00 + $50.00 for new sender + Mounting kit $50.00! The original is LUCAS and isnt known to be very dependable I find out! So off to NAPA I go and find a sender that will work if I make an adapter! Then to the metal store to get a peice of 1/2" Aluminum to make the adapter! One hour later I have it made and the rest of the day putting everything back together! Just fired it up and it appears everything is ok! If the weather holds, Ill drive it tomorrow! <br /><br />I wonder what next??<br /><br />sorry, wrong forum!! Oh well!!

 

[JB]

Re: 72 Panterta, In case youre interested!

I'll move it for you, LD.

 

[KennyKenCan]

Re: 72 Panterta, In case youre interested!

LubeDude,<br /><br />Aren't them exotics fun to work on?<br /><br />I seriously think that they must hire midgets to do their production work for them over there in Europe.<br /><br />They never planned on the maintanence when they designed them.<br /><br />And you got love them Lucas Electronics, works today, don't work tommorrow, works again the day after that, then don't work until your order from Europe comes in to replace them parts, and then it don't break down again until you return them parts.<br /><br />Ahhhhh, European cars.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: 72 Panterta, In case youre interested!

Boy, you hit it on the head about lucas, Ive always heard that it was bad, but never had a oportunity to work on anything with lucas electronics! Fortunatly the charging system is Ford!<br /><br />Now we have decided to install an electronic ignition do to the fact that the distributor is so hard to get at! It now has dual point Ford, seems the distributor of choice for the pantera is MSD!<br /><br />Been busy on other projects too! Transmission out of 65 Corvette, Actually looking for an oil leak and a vibration! Vibration is a tailshaft and yolk issue! Have trans appart, (VERY dirty inside) and will rebuild it completly as it would be dumb not to at this point! Havnt got far enough in to see what the oil leak is yet!

 

[KennyKenCan]

Re: 72 Panterta, In case youre interested!

Is that Pantera stock or has it been modified.<br /><br />If you have plans of modifying it, go with the MSD Magneto system.<br /><br />If not modifying, go with the MSD Elecrtronic unit.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: 72 Panterta, In case youre interested!

We are going with the electronic unit! Engine is a 351 Clevland with a light cam, intake and carburator upgrades! Never been dynoed, but somewhere between 350-400HP! Very quick car due to power to weight ratio! Next time I go for a drive Im going to have it weighed! Im getting to like it better all the time, Its like a go-Kart! Wouldnt want to take it for a very long trip though!

 

[KennyKenCan]

Re: 72 Panterta, In case youre interested!

Hey Lube,<br /><br />I have a freind who has a DeLorean that he installed the drive train, from a wrecked Pantera.<br /><br />I don't know what year that Pantera was, but that engine was put on the dyno after it was morfed into the DeLorean, and it was pumping out 485 HP.<br /><br />To the best of our knowledge, the motor was never touched.<br /><br />Too bad Ford backed out of the original DeLorean deal, because my freinds car is a raped animal!<br /><br />I'd put that car against almost anything out there.

 

[jinx]

Re: 72 Panterta, In case youre interested!

Of course you've heard the old saw about why the English drink warm beer. Because they have Lucas refridgerators!<br /><br />I remember back in 1971 when the Pantera arrived in the U.S. that it brought all the heartaches of trying to maintain an Italian exotic to the masses. List price in '71 and '72 was $9995, if I remember correctly.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: 72 Panterta, In case youre interested!

Yes, thats about what they sold for! The price is about $25,000 up now!<br /><br />I must explain again for those who do not already know, that these cars I talk about are not mine, I only maintain the collection! Thats part of my job! I guess youd call me a Property Manager!<br />I do not want to misslead anyone into thinking something that is not true!

 

[Link]

Re: 72 Panterta, In case youre interested!

Hey Lube<br />I saw this before it was moved but had nothing to offer. You hadn't fessed up that it wasn't yours <br />Our Radio club set up field day operations on one of LeMays (sp) properties for a couple years before he passed away.. he had some of the coolest cars. I heard they were going to put his whole collection together some where??<br /><br />KKC mentioned the DeLorean. In 1982 while in the advance course (army for E-6-7's) at FT Gordon GA one of the guys had picked up one on his way to the course. Him and his dad had went 50/50 on it and the plan was to drive it back to his fathers place and put it in storage on blocks. As a investment. I had picked up a 74 Spitfire 1500 in perfect condition for the same reasons for $2500.00 (yes I stole it at that price) buts that would be a post by it's self.<br />I have often wondered if they had done the right thing with the DeLorean??<br /><br />So my two questions would be<br />A: Do you know about LeMays collection and<br />B: What was the price of the DeLorean in 82 and what do they sell for now??<br /><br />Link<br />And yes I got to ride in it several times..

 

[JB]

Re: 72 Panterta, In case youre interested!

Ah, the Lucas nightmare! <br /><br />When my girls were teens we had two Spridgets in the family at once. Before long I had the wiring diagrams memorized.<br /><br />They thought it was funny and had a sign made that they hung over the garage door.<br /><br /> JB's Sunday Morning Garage <br /><br />U-joints, brakes and electrics; not to mention twin SU carbs. Had them both fitted for a quick disconnect towbar.<br /><br />Really makes me appreciate modern vehicles that go tens of thousands of miles without breakdowns.

 

[jinx]

Re: 72 Panterta, In case youre interested!

I understand the old SU fuel pumps were a real nightmare....complete with points!!<br /><br />By-the-way, I heard that SU stood for Skinners Union because of the leather bellows used in the fuel pumps.<br /><br />Jinx

 

[Peter J Fraser]

Re: 72 Panterta, In case youre interested!

Another common name for Lucas electrics is <br />"Lucas - Prince of Darkness"<br />Thank goodness the modern electrics are much improved.<br /><br />Peter