The Pantera Doctor's Review: Mike Dailey

If you want to know everything about a pantera, go visit Mike Dailey's site Pantera Place. If you want an expert to look at your car, it is nice to find out that Mike lives in the same city as you! Mike is such a great guy. Doesn't know me from squat and offers to come over and give the car a good look over. I was nervous as to what he might find since this car was from Omaha (rust belt) and sitting for a good number of years. All in all his prognosis was that the car is in fine shape with just a few projects to combat the impacts of time. Here is his list:
Engine Compartment:
- Tighten engine compartment brace on passenger side
- Get a new plastic inspection cover for bell housing
- Use some Lubraplate inside of the shift linkage boot
- On the ZF transmission, put a little RTV sealant on each bolt being careful to torque correctly (bolts are nitorious for leaking oil through the threads).
- General cleaning...filthy in there
- remove the leaves by the back window
- Check for header leak or crack on left bank of motor
- have rear exhaust jet hot coated since they are in good shape!

Suspension:
- Remove US spec spacer on coilovers to lower the car to Euro spec height...no more 4X4 stance!
- Trim suspension mount points with cut off wheel where rubbing against shock body in rear

Hoses:
-Replace vacuum line for brakes

Brakes:
As I stated before, the brakes are frozen on 3 of 4 wheels.
- Remove and dismantle brake caliper for inspection for candidacy for a rebuild
- If good, rebuild caliper with rebuild kit

Body:
- Most dents can be removed by good dent company
- Drain Rails-take screw driver and scrape out BOTH sides of holes
- Window-clips on driver side cat whisker are loose
- Rubber seal for driver side door.

Steering
- Some play in steering rack; check out and tighten tie rod ends
- Leaking boots, clean it up and put 90W lube

Preferred Part Suppliers:
1. Pantera Performance in Colorado
2. Pantera East
3. PIM

Here is a picture of Mike after the inspection-