[DeTomaso] Aftermarket Shocks - QA1

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

In a message dated 4/21/06 8:08:54 AM, julian_kift at hotmail.com writes:

<< DR5855P - Aluminum 12-way adjustable, 17" extended, 11.6" compressed.
HAL-12-XXX - 12" spring XXX signifies # rating. I was thinking 450# front & 
550# rear, how does that sound? >>

That will cause problems. It seems most non-Pantera speedshops are totally 
unfamiliar with the DeTomaso Pantera. The shocks specified will probably fit a 
Chevy but not a P-car. The stock extended length should be around 12-1/2", 
compressed length around 7". I suggest you call a few Pantera vendors for 
coil-overs that will fit the car without major problems. Vendors have already done the 
ground-work for picking what you really need and will likely help set them up 
to your driving style. Set-up is not trivial either: to start, you need a 
4-corner weighing setup and at least one full afternoon just to set the ride 
height & corner weights correctly, then re-align the tires since ride height is 
associated with toe-in. The damping adjustments may take several days & many 
trips around the block to sort out, depending on the tires you now own. Also keep 
in mind that adjustable-everything coil-overs give you exactly the same 
opportunities to get lost in the myriad possibilities as Weber carbs did in the 
'70s. And sticker-shock should not be a surprise: double-adjustable coil-overs 
with moveable spring-perches are full-competition units. A single Ohlins, Fox or 
Penske shock for a Yamaha superbike runs around $500, so $950-$1350 for 
complete assemblies for a Pantera is well in line with today's market. FWIW, speed 
shops often sell coil-overs without springs which tend to run around $50 a 
corner. 
For reference, on non-adjustable Konis, I run 410 lbs/in. in front, 350 
lbs/in. in the rear, on 11" or 11-3/4" free-length springs & 50-profile x 15" 
tires, and the ride on the street is comfortable but firm. If you can wait a while 
on your purchase, I'm in the midst of a whole series of Pantera handling 
articles for your POCA News: in May, cheaply corner-weighing a Pantera in your own 
garage. The June issue has details on corner-weight-adjusting non-adjustable 
coil-overs on a Pantera, and other adventures to come. Good luck, Julian- J 
DeRyke