DeTomaso Mailing List: May 2000, Message #35

Tony wrote:

>My
Pre-L obviously doesn't have the pretty little rear ZF mounts that the L's
have.  

>>>Actually, most Pre-L cars have the side mounts too.  Center-only mounts 
are normally found on cars equipped with a Dash-1 gearbox.  As many '71 cars 
had their Dash-1 box replaced under warrenty with a Dash-2 box (mostly for no 
damn good reason that I can see), yours may fall into this catagory.

>I'm starting to put some serious torque throught it and am conserned
about loads on the aft of the trans and bodywork.  

>>>As you should be...

>I am aware of several
options and am seeking opinions and/or experience with them.  Also, if
anyone has any related hardware they want to sell, let me know that too.

>Option 1- Factory cast alluminum type rear mounts.

>>>Requires cutting the car.  The cars with a tail-mount gearbox have two 
extra chassis members that interfere with the installation of the later-style 
mounts.

>Option 2 - Aftermarket steel tubing reproductions of factory mounts.

>>>I've seen Hall's kit, and it looks pretty stout.

>Option 3 - PPC? sheetmetal thing with what might be rubber snubbers that
impinge on the frame rail.

>>>Don't know about impingement.  However PPC (Colorado) does sell a 
side-mount kit that's made of heavy-gauge steel (not just sheetmetal.)  It 
looks kind of flimsy, but it probably works just great, especially in 
conjunction with the stock tail mount.  The transaxle sidemount kit basically 
bolts to the car using the two studs for the center mounts for the rear sway 
bar.

>Option 4 - Pantera East? Something in their catalog described as including
reinforcing for the rear swaybar mounts.

>>>Too bad there's no photo, eh?  Get on the stick, Marino! {Grin!]

FWIW, I think the Byars Brothers are starting to market a bunch of Pantera 
East's super-trick stuff (it's about time this stuff became better-known.)  
They were handing out a great catalog in Las Vegas that had photos of this 
stuff--looks like it could be a great (although expensive) option!

Mike