DeTomaso Mailing List: June 98, Message #206

Brent wrote:

Mike,
could you give us overall dimensions of the box as well as trunk 
location
dimensions..... 

>>>Okay, the box on MY car is somewhat wasteful, 'cause the cutout was
initially made in the wrong place!

The general dimensions you want are 6.5 inches wide (front to back) by 10
inches long (side to side), and since the floor of the trunk slopes upward
towards the base of the windshield, it's 8 inches deep in front, 10 inches in
back.  (My box is 13.5 inches wide, with 3.5 inches being essentially unused
space.)  The back of the box is 5.5 inches from the back wall (where the floor
turns up and goes vertical) and 6.5 inches from the passenger side to the side
of the box.

But really, you can't just take these measurements and start hacking you your
car.  You need to closely inspect the car from the underside to see where
things fit.  In fact, at least one, perhaps two of the four walls of the box
can be formed using the existing Pantera structure.  Just crawl underneath,
check it out!  

Also, measure some batteries before you come up with a final plan; it would
REALLY suck to go through all the work of making a box only to discover that
the battery is 1/2 inch wider than your new box!!!! :>)

>I'm also seeking advice regarding a hinged lid...hemmed 
or
not, relief in trunk for lid or not. 

>>>I haven't tackled the trunk lid issue yet, but I intend to fabricate a
simple PLASTIC lid (so it won't short out if it hits the top of the battery),
with a common piano-style hinge at the rear, and probably some sort of velcro
thing happening at the front.  Glue some carpet on top, it will essentially be
invisible.

Mike