DeTomaso Mailing List: June 98, Message #437

Paul wrote:

>Has anyone had
experience on changing the hoses, or the evaporator? 

>>>Early '71 cars route the hoses through the right side rocker panel; 
later cars route them along the center of the chassis, beneath the 
center console.

>Do you have to pull the
dash out in both cases?  

>>>I would expect so.  I installed my evaporator box with the dash not 
in place; I can't imagine doing it WITH a dash.

>Should I install a new expansion valve and drier? 

>>>Absolutely.  Driers are cheap, and plugged expansion valves and 
screens are one of the leading causes of A/C failure in the Pantera.

>Is
this best farmed out to a repair shop? 

>>>Depends on whether you plan to just R&R the components, or attempt to 
modify/repair them.  Also depends on your personal mechanical abilities.

>Can evaporators be repaired, or is a
new one required? 

>>>Depends on the nature and location of the damage.  I would expect a 
good radiator and/or A/C shop could work on it if it was simple.  But 
remember, it IS 25 years old, and if it failed on one side and they 
repair it, what's to say it won't then fail on the other side a year 
later?  If you have to pull the whole damn interior to wrestle the thing 
in and out, it's a job you will NOT want to repeat!

>Anyone have any idea as to how much one would cost?

>>>Surf on over to the Pantera Parts Connection website, 
http:\\www.panteraparts.com, and check their on-line catalog and price 
list.  That's ONE vendor's price; others may vary.

>     I know I am asking a lot of questions, but I would like to get it 
taken
care of all at once, so I can be COOL again!

>>>Good luck, let us know what happened, and keep us posted!

FWIW, Larry Stock told me he had an A/C system let go on a Pantera he 
recently bought because MICE had built a nest in the front of the cabin 
and had eaten through one of the hoses!  It could simply be that your 
old rubber hoses let go and your evaporator is fine. Fingers crossed! 
Don't only replace one hose; if one is that bad, the others aren't far 
behind.  Might as well do 'em all at once.  

Mike

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