DeTomaso Mailing List: June 2000, Message #245

Hi All:
After having the A-arms come back from the powder coater (and myself
grabbing a handful of s/s grade 5 bolts and hardware), I started on getting
the suspension system back into restoration mode. So far, one a-arm has been
rebushed with rubber bushings (not poly-urethane but I'll get into that
later). I pressed the bushings in using a neighbor's large vice, a block of
wood, and a 28mm socket from his socket wrench set. I'll continue with the
rest today. Having seen that the A-arms will be ready for the bushings, I
started on derusting the surface rust from the tops of my ball joints I
pressed out a few months ago. After that, the usual POR treatment followed
by a yellow-gold paint on the tacked POR will follow. I'll put the new boots
and grease before they get reinstalled. I'm probably going to put some
Loctite on the ball joint mating surface to the a-arm to stave any attempts
that it might pop out (although I haven't heard of this happening). The big
thing (for me) will be to refinish the Koni shocks I'm buying from Mike
Dailey and sticking them on my car. I plan on a POR silver coat before they
go on. Think about it as the "budget" version of Rick Moseley's restoration
on his 74. However, it looks to be real good. The driver's side rear quarter
panel is done with the POR coat. It looks good as is. With the silver POR
powdercoat and s/s bolts with the red Koni shock, and chrome outlay of the
7/8" swaybar I got at last years P-car swapmeet, the wheelhouse of my
Pantera will look like a work of art!!! I have to admit, it's exciting to
get this far. This weekend looks to be the time that this will all come
together at the rear.  

FYI, I was greatly influenced by a previous post several months back about
another owner who went rubber bushings all around. To be honest, I don't
think it will cost me that much to do my suspension (he spent about $2k) but
hopefully the results will be similar. I'm still taking pictures and trying
to get access to a digital camera or scanner. Mike, do you have a spot at
the Pantera Place for my pix? ;^). Cal. #2428.