DeTomaso Mailing List: March 1997, Message #160
     



From: MikeLDrew@aol.com

Subject: Re: Fill 'er up (KABOOM!)

Date: Thu, 20 Mar 1997 21:51:30 -0500 (EST)



Andy,



Hardly any early Panteras are still running around with the stock gas filler

like yours.  You're right, in the best of circumstances it's a pain in the

butt to fill the tank.  You've got to remove the cap, fish it out from under

the sheet metal covering the gas tank (hoping you don't accidently drop it

and have it slide forward, wedged between the top of the tank and the

sheetmetal cover near the back window, don't ask me how I know about this),

then contort the fuel hose into that hole and attempt to fill the tank,

without spilling any fuel.



Think about this:  the fuel tank lies mere inches away from your red-hot

exhaust system.  One mis-step could have fuel pouring down the outside of the

gas tank shield, touching the headers, and then FOOM!  Instant Pantera

Flambe!



All Pantera vendors sell an adaptor that will fix this problem FOREVER!  It's

simply a cast aluminum pipe which bolts to the top of the gas tank in the

stock fuel filler's location, and has a threaded cap with a nice DeTomaso

logo (gearshift emblem, actually.)  It points straight back towards the rear

of the car, with the opening tilted up at about a 45 degree angle.  Fueling

is even easier than with an L-model, in my opinion.  Just open the decklid,

shove the fuel hose in far enough to compress the EPA boot, and start

pumping.  When the tank is full it will slosh up the filler neck and cause

the nozzle to stop pumping.



This is the absolute first thing I ever bought for my Pantera.  I filled the

tank three times with the stock setup, hated it lots (even before my

misadventure with the stock gas cap), then spent 10 minutes bolting this

sucker on and lived happily ever after.  It cost me $89 back in 1990, I think

they're something like $120 or so now, plus a few bucks for a new gasket if

you're inclined to do a quality job.  A VERY good investment; get one

immediately!



(Oh, by the way, it is still possible to have the new screw-on lid fall

between the gas tank and sheet metal cover, requiring you to not only remove

the sheet metal, but the new gooseneck extension as well.  Also don't ask me

how I know this!)



Hall Pantera sells a neat spring-loaded plunge-o-matic that threads onto this

gooseneck.  Never have to fool with a gas cap again; you just open the deck

lid, press the fuel nozzle against the spring-loaded plunger, and pump away.

When done, withdraw the fuel nozzle and the gas tank is sealed by the

plunger.  Very slick.  Only thing, it doesn't have a cool DeTomaso logo.



One last thing:  As part of the restoration of my car, I replaced my

rusted-out gas tank with a period hand-made aluminum tank, from the early or

middle '70's.  Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the tank maker

didn't bother to orient the four gas cap bolt holes exactly the same as the

DeTomaso tank (since there was no particular need.)  As a result, my cool gas

filler is now angled about 30 degrees off, and hits the inside of the

decklid.  In order to fix it, I'll have to remove it, weld (okay, J-B weld)

the existing holes, and drill four new holes.



This is a perfect metaphor for the ENTIRE restoration of my #$*&%*! Pantera!

Kids, don't try this at home!



If you insist on keeping the stock setup, then the best way to pump gas is to

use the motorcyclist technique; hold the nozzle in your right hand, and use

your left hand to compress the boot which allows the fuel to flow.  Big pain

in the butt, though.



Oh, one more last thing.  I got into the habit of ALWAYS driving the car with

the rear decklid UNLOCKED!  Imagine you're cruising down the highway and

suddenly see a small puff of smoke and a small flame licking from the engine

bay.  You whip over to the side of the road, grab your fire extinguisher (you

all DO have an edtinguisher, don't you?), leap out of the car, run to the

back...



...and discover your deck lid is locked, and your engine screen completely

covers the engine.  Flames can lick out, but fire extinguisher goo can't get

in.  Now you're flailing about, trying to get the keys out of the ignition,

find the trunk key, get it in the hole correctly, let's see, is that teeth up

or teeth down?  Turn to the left to unlock, or to the



KABOOM!!!!!



So just form a habit pattern; approach the car, unlock the back, unlock the

door, and drive away.  Park the car, lock the door, lock the back and walk

away.  Makes for much peace of mind.



And if you think engine fires are unlikely, think again.  A guy in  northern

California just had his car go up in flames when an old fuel hose was

attacked and destroyed by the new crap gas.  He managed to get the fire out

quickly, but it did quite a number on the engine bay, and roasted the roof

too.



So there's a plug for new fuel lines; if yours were made before 1992 or so,

they're NOT COMPATIBLE with the new MTBE gas used in California and many

other states.  If you're not ABSOLUTELY SURE you've got new fuel line

installed, put a crowbar in your wallet, cough up the $5.00 or so for a few

feet of brand-new, high-quality hose, and spend the 15 minutes necessary to

swap it out.  Again, peace of mind doesn't come much cheaper than that...



Mike