Pantera job

[idrivejunk]

I sure can make a novel out of one fender dent, can't I?

[jaybee]

When you look at what's under the skin of these things "handcrafted Italian" comes out looking a lot like "designed on the fly in someone's garage."

Not that there's anything wrong with cool things built in someone's garage.    You just sort of expect a manufacturer to put together something more...professional looking.

[idrivejunk]

Its a bit on the primitive side, yep. But I think the main purpose was to be a track nuisance and from what I've heard they were pesky little numbers. Are they really "handcrafted Italian"? I thought they were like between five and ten grand new but I don't know.

My Mom makes great meatballs but she is from Kansas.

I don't mean to take any shots at Italian anything, really. Since I have that L67 stashed behind my toolbox, I am guilty of having swap thoughts.

An OHC6 from a Tempest Sprint would act great in there and sound even better... in my daydreams.  With 3 side draft Webers.

This is along the same lines, but actually more my style-

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dReW8_Ugd_M

[jaybee]

They were cheap for an italian exotic, that's very true.

[Charlie Chops 1940]

I laid hands on a few Italian exotic cars back in the early 80's. One was an Italia, one was a Lambo Muira and the other was a "59 250PF Ferrari coupe. The first two were rocker boxes and misc rust. Had to fabricate everything from scratch...it was a good time for skills enhancement. The Ferrari coupe was a full body restoration, stripped to bare metal and brought back. I was astounded at how roughly that car was put together. Very crude fit and welding. Ferrari had a vat upstairs and they literally troweled whatever kind of filler they used all over the car and blocked it out. I'm not saying they were all that way but is was common enough that I've heard it elsewhere.

I had absolutely no idea what I was getting into, the only good part was it was time and material. I'm sorry to say but I ran the owner out of money. He took it back ready for final blocking and it sat for a couple years before he could afford to get back at it. His brother told me a few years ago that it won a number of awards in the 90's. The owner finally was able to go visit the Ferrari factory some years ago and died of a heart attack on the plane back to the states.

Every time I see some vintage 50's or 60's Italian sports car I have vision of what they might look like under the paint.

Looks like you're doing a great job.

[idrivejunk]

Thank you, sir.  There was one extremely stinky layer over the whole car, deep down.

[idrivejunk]

[idrivejunk]

Did not use yesterday's scrap, made a patch with the foldover in it and trimmed a quarter inch from the valance. Just welded the split on the fender.







I patched this but forgot to upload the done pic.



Dug out brazing, welded pull rod holes. Left fender.



Messed up new front bumper

[idrivejunk]

[idrivejunk]

[idrivejunk]

This was the before, re-posting it. Trimming bumper and bumping mount areas in didn't close up the gap so I had to add.

[idrivejunk]

Well, that's that.  Back to the Cat and Model A.

Pantera is in Longhair's area and mission briefing is complete. My involvement with the job stops here and it is in able hands.

Will keep you posted on how it goes.

[idrivejunk]

[kb426]

Is there a reason your shop uses black instead of gray epoxy? I'm guessing it shows more?

[chimp koose]

better base color for metalflake!