DeTomaso Mailing List: October 99, Message #54

In a message dated 9/24/99 9:49:05 PM, ZackZ6667@aol.com writes:
snip.....
<< Bud Green was telling me about a solution to the stress cracks that occur 
just behind/below the "gills".......  >>

Agreed; that very highly stressed area is the overlap of two big sheets of 
metal, spot-welded together. On some cars (like mine) there are gaps of over 
1/4" in some areas, glued together with lead & "factory" bondo. Welding 
doublers in there and seam-welding the spot-weld areas will add much to the 
chassis stiffness. Big job, though, and will probably screw up the paint in 
that area unless you get an expert TIG welder to do it. Cheers- J DeRyke