DeTomaso Mailing List: September 2000, Message #223

Hi all,
    I can't compete with Cal for detail or frequency
of reports on the progress of my Pantera (#3644) but
a few things have happened lately.  I've cut up a 
spare set of upper rear control arms in order to make
them adjustable.  I have the rod end bungs and all so
those should be together pretty soon.  I've rebushed
the steering rack as per all the info provided by
Mike Drew.  I just took it out of the car and did it.
It was easy.  The boots were in excellent shape as
well as the tie rod ends.  I also cleaned and detailed
the area up behind it.  The only real interesting
part is the set of valve covers I found.  These came
from a friend who got out of his 70 Boss 302 Trans-Am
car project a while back.  He has no real info on them
and the person he got the car from couldn't say much
either. He thought they looked like something he had
seen on Nascar engines but thought the way the
breather tubes were oriented they looked like a road
race set up.   They are shaped like the regular Ford
aluminum covers we all know.  They are a little taller
and are not finned.  They have 2 brackets/supports on
the outside sides with Dzus fasteners.  Ignition wire
clips?  I'm thinking heat shields in a Pantera. On top
is a 90 degree elbow about 1" in diameter.  They are
opposite on each cover so that they both face the same
way when mounted.  They're are some small rectangular
bulges on the sides also. Valve train clearance?
No internal shields or baffles.  Finally, they are
cast very well.  Finish is really pretty smooth...
very nice work.  I'm sure they are aluminum, but are
dark and smooth enough to make me think magnesium at
times.  Anyway... there you are.  It's slow going
here in San Antonio.  111 degrees this week.
Michael
RED3644

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail - Free email you can access from anywhere!
http://mail.yahoo.com/