DeTomaso Mailing List: May 2001, Message #85

Mike,

>1. What experience do the list server members have with body cracking?

My car was restored 16 years ago and I had no cracks until I started 
running on the track. I then soon developed cracks in the following 
locations:

  - at the bottom of the windshield pillar on the left side (right side OK)

  - in the lower outside corner of the taillight opening (right side the worst)

  - just behind the right rear tire on the quarter panel. I attribute this to
    the vibration that you mentioned.

  - Near the right front headlight opening... This is a weird one. I've never
    seen another car with a crack in this area.

The windshield and rear light opening cracks got worse over time 
until I installed Hall's complete chassis kit. Since then, they've 
remained static. Of course, you could argue that they had cracked as 
far as they were going to go anyway, but the kit did make the car 
handle better. No question.

>2. What works best?   Apparently the back body brace is not the 
>complete answer.

Any stiffening you do to the car if you're driving it hard will help. 
It's a case of how much do you want to spend?

>3. What about the complete back, lower and front brace kit?

See above. I recommend it personally. YMMV.

>4. Do roll bars help?

Dunno... Don't have one. But I've read that good ones do stiffen the 
car up. Gary Hall told me that he feels the cabin of the car is 
pretty stiff. It's the remainder of the car that needs help. Hence, 
his kit.

>5. Are certain cars more prone to cracking?  I've seen some original
>un-restored cars with no cracks.  How can this be?

I'm sure some cars are built better than others. You've seen the 
variation in cars (especially the early ones), I'm sure. I don't have 
any cracks at the corners near the roof (and never did have prior to 
the restoration), but then PPC added their strengthening piece there 
when the car was restored. I also have no problem with the rear deck 
corners hitting. Never have...

>6. If you weld the crack on the window pillar what keeps it from cracking
>next to the weld?

Dunno...

>7. If you were starting completely from scratch what would you do to stop
>cracking?

Further strengthen the areas that are still cracking by adding more 
metal welded into the area, add the chassis kit, and add later model 
rear deck latch that helps stop the side to side movement.

A _much_ cheaper alternative would be to drive like a little old lady!

:-)))))

FWIW,

Kirby