Pantera parts ! (Page 47/75)
355Fiero JAN 02, 01:55 AM
David;

Any update on the Pantero? The chopped version is looking great.

I have been busy building my interior fo rthe 355 project so I can get it done and on to using GusHotRod's frame on the 288 GTO project. Also gathering parts right now for the GTO.

Cheers
Don
Austrian Import JAN 02, 02:28 AM
Suggestion: Use the side mirrors from the 2008 Camaro. (or inspired by. ) It would flow well with the lines..
opm2000 JAN 02, 11:09 AM
Austrian, these are the 2002 type, and don't look too bad. I can't really find replacement 2008 mirrors, but I think they look something like those on the Camaro prototype, pretty streamlined !





355Fiero, Keep up the good work, you must be really stoking the home fires, this time of year

Most of the recent progress has been with the yellow Pantera. The LT1 install is finished, and ready for the new tires to be mounted and a four wheel alignment done.

In gearing up for the Carslile show and the Detroit show, I recently purchased a nice pro-line car trailer from a local Fiero builder, and have been going thru my truck, getting it ready for the long hauls. Loads of fun.

I plan to sand & prep the yellow Pantera this winter and shoot a fresh paint job as soon as the weather breaks.

I am looking for one part, and maybe someone can help me out here. With the thm325 trans I'm running with the LT1, there is a long output shaft, or axle, which plugs into the differential and rides underneath the engine. There is a snapring or circlip in the splined end of this shaft, just like on our Fiero axles, which retains the shaft inside the differential. I need a snapring. The local dealerships tell me the part is no longer available, and searching thru numerous parts shops, I've not found a dead-on match. The snapring I'm using works, but I'm not sure for how long. Could get exciting, eh ?

Just this weekend I rolled the choptop Pantera back into the shop. All that remains is a bunch of wraping up the remaining details of assembly, and then the real fun of body prep begins. Again, the goal is to be ready to shoot paint as soon as the weather breaks.

I've been a bit distracted lately by the Bellanca. It has a 1700 hour TBO, and is within 200 hours of TBO time. After about 6 months of circulating mineral spirits thru the engine, it still wouldn't free up a stuck valve, and so wouldn't pass annual inspection. Base estimate on overhaul is $22,000. Oh well, it's only money, right ?

David Breeze
blackrams JAN 02, 12:08 PM
You can't take it with you Dave.

------------------
Ron

It's the Soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us the freedom of the press.
It's the Soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us the freedom of speech.
It's the Soldier, not the politicians
That ensures our right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
It's the Soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag.

madcurl JAN 02, 04:11 PM
Why not try the 350z mirrors and they might fit the front window corner.
THE BEAST JAN 12, 06:01 PM
David you have a new PM!

JG
Custom2M4 JAN 13, 12:52 AM
If you made that prototype kit, I would be very tempted to come get one.
SAFASTRO JAN 24, 11:14 AM
WOW........I wasn't really diggin the overall look of the car at the start, so I quit checking for updates........THEN........thought what the heck, lets take a looksy........that looks FREAKIN AWESOME with the chopped roof and the fender flares!!! It looks like a whole new car!!! Do you have any pics of the chop process? Is that the stock Fiero windshield? WOW!!!!!
Great job......now I'll be checking back for updates again!!

Edit......I found on page 7 the chop process. hehe

------------------
Order your Official Pennock's Forum decals in this thread. http://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum4/HTML/040445.html



2" Choptop
Shortened Front Bumper
Shortened Rear Bumper
10" Stretch
Dubs
350 V8 Conversion

[This message has been edited by SAFASTRO (edited 01-24-2008).]

opm2000 JAN 25, 06:38 AM
Wow! Yeah, that's exactly what I said the first time I rolled it out of the shop and could stand back a bit and really "see" it. I'd been working on it for over a year, but inside a shop with very tight working space, and just couldn't get a real good overall view.

I agree, the standard body looks great on a stock Fiero chassis. But the chop and flares completely change the character of it. I like it.

I guess the chop is as standard as they come. I did it a few years back, just to see how difficult it really was to chop a Fiero. Turns out it's fairly easy.

The next chop I do may have the basic cuts done a bit differently than those seen in this thread, but the overall deal is the same.

I call this a 4" chop, because I cut a 4" section out of the pillars on either side of the rear window. I arrived at that measurement by first lowering the seat rails and floor pan a bit, then removing the roof upholestry, and measuring how much excess head clearance I had when seated in my favorite position. I had measured something like 5" or 5 1/2" clearance was available, and so allowed for some replacement roof liner, and arrived at 4" available for the chop.

I did keep the back window board which was used to jig the roof during the process, and I guess measuring it's height would be as good a measure of "how much of a chop is it".

When it warms up a bit, I'll remeasure that and let you know. Right now it's so cold that even the Politicians have their hands in their own pockets around here.

BTW, that is the stock Fiero windshield.

The overall apearance should improve even more with the right size rims. I'm awaiting the arrival of some Axis Widetrack rims with 285x50's.

Come to Carslile or to Detroit 25th and get a ride.

David Breeze

[This message has been edited by opm2000 (edited 01-25-2008).]

motoracer838 JAN 25, 10:10 AM
Hey Dave, I've been looking at the pics for a while now, and was wondering what you thought about reworking the airdam and front flares for a soother transition. It just looks like this area is begging for a more flowing transition from one to the other.

Joe