DnL6659

One of the items that received quite a bit of interest on the DeTomaso forum (The list server can be located at www.realbig.com/detomaso) was the fresh air supply feature. This consists of an opening in the front cowl on the right side, as seen in the first image. Examining the components behind the dash on the right side of the A/C assembly, you will notice a box with an open pipe.
See the close-up image. Just above this pipe is the wire loom, and above that can be seen the inside portion of the cowl vent. The elbow hose was removed to gain visibility. The front of the box has a flapper valve, seen in the closed position, which is activated by the typical A/C � Heater control levers.

While we are here behind the dash, I�ve included an image of the heater hoses that are often neglected during hose maintenance. These two are naturally hard to access, and are often ignored. This can lead to disastrous results, for when (not if) they rupture, either of these hoses will instantly fog the windshield, and likely scald either the driver�s or passenger�s feet.

I waited as long as I could, but with Rod not in attendance, it was up to me to finish the job. I donned the executioner�s hood (welding mask, but it felt accurate), fired up the cutting torch, and took one last look around the crowd. Many had to turn away. I saw Cal jump up and scurry off. Was he too emotional to see the demise ? Or something else ?
Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor, so I shut off the torch in hopes something, someone, would stay the execution. Some frantic phone calls were made, and I was told to stand at ease. What a relief. Cal worked a deal with Rod, and the car would stay at Roger�s until Cal could trailer it home. #6659 would live again ! Now Cal's side, in his own words......

I was busy punching out some of the old bushings from by front upper and lower A-arms, introducing the Fred Terry designed bushing tool to interested members when all of a sudden a pick-up truck with a crunched red Pantera backed in. Many members started coming over to take a look at the car. It was a 1974 L model Pantera, stripped pretty much down to the bone saved a few parts here and there. She had been wrecked on the driver's side. The sheet metal damage looked bad while the rear wheel bent in at a hideous angle. There were "cut here" marks (similar to the posters you find in the butcher's section in the grocery marking off areas where certain cuts of meat were taken off of cattle). The front clip, roof, and other parts were destined for someones torch. My heart ached! Another Pantera going down the tubes? This old girl was talking to me. You know the feeling (when your subconscious starts to nag you about a wrong thing about to happen). Folks started going away, shaking their heads with "yeah, but I don't have the time, etc". Other saying "I want that gas tank!" or "that rear transaxle support will go well in my car". That made me pretty mad. The more I took a look at the car, I just KNEW that it could be rebuilt fairly easily. After having had problems with #2428 (and having exorcised the majority of her rust demons), there was something that told me that #6659 (as I found her number later on) could be saved from the cutters torch. Besides, once a Pantera is gone, there is no turning back. Sure, one less of our number means that our cars will be that much greater in value, but is that really the point? I went back to my work, removing the old bushings, welding in supports, helping other welding projects, checking out other cars. Every time I went to use the press I had to go by that Pantera. There was that little voice that kept saying "Caaalll....save meeeeee...."