Panoz Esperante GTS User manual

Panoz Esperante GTS
Panoz Esperante GTSPanoz Esperante GTS
RVP – Reliability / Value / Performance
The Power to Reduce Friction
Quaker State – Recommended fill for the GTS
Welcome to the Panoz family. We want to thank you for all of the time
that you have taken and for placing your trust in us by purchasing a Panoz
Esperante GTS Race Car. We look forward to working and playing with you
at the race track.
This manual is meant to assist you in the care, tuning and enjoyment of
your GTS. The information compiled in this book is from our own experience
and that of your fellow racers. This manual will be constantly updated as
components are upgraded and information is accumulated. We would also
appreciate your input for future revisions to this book.
This manual will not provide specific race set-ups and strategies. We will
explain how to tune your suspension but other than a neutral starting point
we won’t tell you how to set your suspension for individual events. For fur-
ther information about race strategies, suspension tuning, car set-ups and
driving techniques we recommend the following books:
• Tune to Win- Carroll Smith
• Drive to Win- Carroll Smith
• Prepare to Win- Carroll Smith
Taking Delivery
We have checked and double-checked the condition of the car. It should
be in good condition, however, we strongly suggest going through the car
with a torque wrench and a careful eye before you take it to the track. If
anything is wrong or out of place please let us know, we want to make sure
our system is working.
Please familiarize yourself with the basic layout of the car. Note the elec-
trical shut-off switch, fire extinguisher equipment and the fuel system safety
features. Pay attention to where the shipper tied the car down to the trailer.
There are many choices for tying down the car. The primary consideration is
for safety. Be sure to avoid damage to fuel lines, brake lines, suspension
parts and electrical wires when you tie it down to your own trailer.

Page 2
Panoz Esperante GTS
Panoz Esperante GTSPanoz Esperante GTS
RVP – Reliability / Value / Performance
IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE
WARNING Indicates a strong possibility
of severe personal injury or loss of life
if instructions are not followed.
CAUTION: Indicates a possibility of
personal injury or equipment damage
if instructions are not followed.
NOTE: Gives helpful information.
Detailed descriptions of standard workshop
procedures, safety principles and service
operations are NOT included. It is important
to note that this manual contains Some
warnings and cautions against some specific
service methods which could cause PER-
SONAL INJURY to service personnel or
could damage a vehicle or render it unsafe.
Please understand that those warnings
could not cover all conceivable ways in
which service, whether or not recommended
by Panoz, might be done or of the possibility
hazardous consequences of each conceivable
way, nor could Panoz investigate all such
ways. Anyone using service procedures or
tools, whether or not recommended by
Panoz, must satisfy himself thoroughly that
neither personal safety nor vehicle safety will
be jeopardized by the service methods or
tools selected.
WARNING:
1. THIS VEHICLE IS INTENDED FOR USE AS A HIGH
PERFORMANCE RACING VEHICLE. THERE ARE
SIGNIFICANT RISKS AND DANGERS ASSOCIATED
WITH THE OPERATION AND/OR RACING OF HIGH
SPEED AND HIGH PERFORMANCE VEHICLES
INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY OF SERIOUS
PHYSICAL INJURY OR DEATH.
2. THIS VEHICLE WILL NOT WITHSTAND ALL
FORESEEABLE IMPACTS WHICH MAY OCCUR
DURING IT’S NORMAL INTENDED USE AS A
RACING VEHICLE WITHOUT POSSIBLE INJURY
TO OR DEATH OF THE DRIVER OR DAMAGE
TO THE VEHICLE WHICH MAY EFFECT IT’S
PERFORMANCE AND SAFE USE.
3. OTHER RACE PARTICIPANTS, THEIR AUTO-
MOBILES, TRACK CONDITIONS AND OTHER
FACTORS BEYOND THE CONTROL OF THE
VEHICLE DESIGNER, MANUFACTURER,
DISTRIBUTOR AND SELLER MAY CONTRIBUTE
TO THE ABOVE DANGERS AND RISKS. THE
OWNER AND DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE HERE
BY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE MAY BE
OTHER RISKS AND DANGERS WHICH ARE NOT
REASONABLY FORESEEABLE TO THE VEHICLE
DESIGNER, MANUFACTURER, DISTRIBUTOR
AND SELLER.
4. THE OWNER AND DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE
HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE
READ THE WARNING STATED HEREIN AND
THAT THEY VOLUNTARILY ACCEPT AND
ASSUME ALL SUCH RISKS AND DANGERS,
INCLUDING SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY OR
DEATH AND ANY AND ALL RELATED DAMAGES,
HOWEVER CAUSED AND WHETHER CAUSED IN
WHOLE OR IN PART BY THE NEGLIGENCE OR
FAULT OF THE VEHICLE DESIGNER, MANUFAC-
TURER, DISTRIBUTOR OR SELLER.
5. DO NOT OPERATE THIS VEHICLE IF YOU ARE
NOT FULLY TRAINED AND EXPERIENCED WITH
SKILLS NECESSARY TO OPERATE A HIGH
SPEED AND HIGH PERFORMANCE RACING
VEHICLE OF THIS TYPE.
,

Panoz Esperante GTS
Panoz Esperante GTSPanoz Esperante GTS
RVP – Reliability / Value / Performance
GENERAL SAFETY
CARBON MONOXIDE
If the engine must be running to do some work,
make sure the area is well ventilated. Never run the
engine in an enclosed area.
The exhaust contains poisonous carbon
monoxide gas that can cause loss of con-
sciousness and may lead to death
Run the engine in an open area or with an exhaust
evacuation system in an enclosed area
GASOLINE
Work in a well ventilated area, keep cigarettes,
flames or sparks away from work area or where gaso-
line is stored.
Gasoline is extremely flammable and is
explosive under certain conditions.
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN!
HOT COMPONENTS
Engine and exhaust systems parts become very hot
and remain hot for some time after the engine is run.
Wear insulated gloves or wait until the engine and
exhaust system have cooled before handling
these parts.
USED ENGINE OIL
Used engine oil may cause skin cancer if repeatedly
left in contact with the skin for prolonged periods.
Although this is unlikely unless you handle used oil on
a daily basis, it is still advisable to thoroughly wash
your hands with soap and water as soon as possible
after handling used oil. KEEP OUT OF REACH
OF CHILDREN!
BRAKE DUST
Wear a dust mask when dealing with brake assem-
blies or cleaning the rotors to minimize the hazard
caused by airborne asbestos fibers.
BRAKE FLUID
CAUTION:
Spilling fluid on painted, plastic or rubber parts will
damage them.
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN!
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Page 4
Panoz Esperante GTS
Panoz Esperante GTSPanoz Esperante GTS
RVP – Reliability / Value / Performance
GET TO KNOW YOUR PANOZ GTS
Driver’s seat
We did not install the driver’s seat. This allows you to
position the seat as you see fit. All of the hardware is
included. Installation instructions are on page 11.
Seat Belts
Seat belts have a shelf life of approximately 2 years.
Take note of the date printed on the tag of your seat
belts and plan to replace them every 2 years from the
date printed on the tag.
Jetting/Tuning
Your car is delivered with the following jets:
76 Fronts
81 Rears
This refers to the jetting guide (110 leaded racing gas).
The jetting guide is to be used as a reference only. In
most cases this is a good safe starting point. It is your
responsibility to read the spark plugs and tailpipe
color. Colder ambient temperatures require more fuel.
It is a good idea to fit the the car with exhaust gas
temperature (EGT) probes. The ignition timing is set
to 36° total advance (rpm over 3000). We do not rec-
ommend advancing the timing further than that. You
will not gain any more horsepower, and you could
put the motor into a detonation condition. Detonation
usually occurs at peak torque around 4000 RPMs.
We recommend running leaded race fuel. Unleaded
fuels are too difficult to tune (DO NOT USE). Reading
a spark plug burning unleaded gas is very difficult.
Detailed information can be found in the Engine tuning
section on page17.
Brakes
Your car is delivered with new brake rotors and pads.
Your front rotors come pre-bedded. The rear rotors
are not. Brembo has not found it necessary to pre-bed
the rear rotors. They will get bedded when you bed
your pads. You should bed the pads using the follow-
ing procedure.
1. Drive the vehicle in an aggressive Sunday drive
fashion (no threshold braking), for 3-4 laps.
2. return to the pits and let the brakes cool to the
touch.
IMPORTANT
The brakes require heat in them before they work to
maximum performance. Drag the brakes on your
warm up lap to add heat into the system.
Fuel Cell
Your fuel cell should be serviced at least once a year.
The fuel pick up screens should be replaced, the
check valves should checked for proper operation and
the fuel cell gaskets and gas cap gasket should be
replaced. Most importantly, the bladder should be
inspected for any fuel leaks or blistering. Any damage
or broken components should be replaced before use.
Your fuel cell has a build date printed on a label locat-
ed on the right side of the tank. You can see it through
the right rear wheel well. Take note of the date and
expect to test or replace the fuel cell after 3 years or
if a leak is detected.
Aircraft Rubber Manufacturing, Inc.
250 SE Timber Ave.
Redmond, Oregon 97756
[phone] / [phone]
FAX [phone]
www.fuelsafe.com
www.aircraftrubber.com
Fire Bottles
Be sure to pull the pins and check the gauges of
your fire bottles to ensure that they are full before and
during each event.
Fluids
• Check fluid levels after each time on the track.
Engine oil is Quaker State Full Synthetic 5w50 or
5w40 (9 quarts total fill)
• Transmission Fluid is 2.5 quarts Quaker State Full
Synthetic 75W-90 GL-4
• Differential is Quaker State Full Synthetic GL-5
(3 quarts total fill).
• Water is Red Line Water Wetter (one bottle)
• Brake Fluid (bleed after each race weekend/event)
Brembo Racing LCF600 (Brembo does not recom-
mend mixing brake fluids, if you are planning to
use a different fluid you should flush the system
completely).
Hydraulic Clutch uses Quaker State DOT 3
(550°F).

Panoz Esperante GTS
Panoz Esperante GTSPanoz Esperante GTS
RVP – Reliability / Value / Performance
VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions
Wheelbase: 107.6 in.(2690 mm)
Track (f/r) 63.0/65.8 in.(1575/1645 mm)
Overall Length: 170.0 in. (4250mm.)
Overall Width: 78.0 in.(1950mm.)
Overall Height: 51.0 in.(1275mm.)
Curb Weight: 2685 lbs.(1217kg.
Fuel Capacity: 32.0 gal.(121.6L)
Body and Chassis
• BODY: Lightweight, damage-resistant ABS plastic with
acrylic exterior layer 15 easily replaceable panel with
standardized mounting points. Safety glass windshield;
clear acrylic rear window.
• CHASSIS: 1.75(43.75mm) x 1.75, .090(2.25 mm) wall,
mild steel space frame 1.75x .095 DOM 8-point roll
cage w/triple tube side protection 18-gauge interior
panels, welded in. Meets all SCCA tech and safety
requirements
Engine/Drivetrain
Layout: Front mid-engine, rear drive
Engine: Ford Motorsports 5.8-liter,
16-valve V-8
Compression Ratio: 10.5:1
Horsepower@RPM: 430bhp @ 5,850
Torque @ RPM: 435 lb/ft @ 4,500
Cylinder Heads: Edelbrock Performer
Carburetion: Holley 4bbl., 750cfm Double
Pump carburetor
Ignition: MSD 6ALN Ignition Control
Transmission: Tremec 5-speed manual
Gear Ratios: 1st=2.87:1, 2nd=1.89:1,
3rd=1.28:1, 4th=1.00:1, 5th=0.82:1
Final Drive: 3.89:1, Ford 9-inch w/ TruTrac
(.350:1 optional)
Differential cooler w/integrated pump
Clutch: QuarterMaster V-Extreme 8.5” alu-
minum flywheel and clutch assembly
Exhaust: Hedman Headers, Magnaflow
Mufflers
Suspension, Brakes, Wheels, Steering
• SUSPENSION (F/R): Unequal length A Arm Penske
single adjustable coil-over shock absorbers
Two-position adjustable sway bar, 1.25” dia.
Live axle located by trailing arms and Watts Link
Penske single adjustable coil-over shock absorbers
Three-position adjustable sway bar, 0.75” dia.
• BRAKES (F/R): Brembo 4-piston 40/44mm 328 mm
slotted & vented, floating rotors (pre-bedded). Pads:
Hawk HT-10 (black) or Performance Frictions 97
Brembo 4-piston 36/40 hydraulic calipers. 320 mm
slotted & vented, floating rotors. Pads: Hawk HT-10
(front) and Hawk 9012 (rear) or Performance
Frictions 97
• WHEELS: BBS RX 18”x10” (457x254mm) aluminum
• TIRES: 285/640x18 Pirelli P-Zero Slicks
• STEERING: Rack and pinion 3 turns lock-to-
lock,15:1 steering ratio
Equipment & Controls
Steel braided fuel and oil lines, Front brake cooling
ducts, Aluminum high support one piece racing seat
of various widths, Fittipaldi 3-spoke steering wheel
with quick release, Autometer 2-5/8” Ultra Lite gauges
and lighted 10k rpm Monster Tach with memory,
Stack Dash Loggers (optional), Pi Research System2
digital instruments (optional), Wilwood brake bias
control system (cockpit adjustable), Fuel Safe fuel cell
with bladder located within chassis rails, 3-inch 5-Point
safety harness, Driver’s side window net, Manual
Halon fire extinguisher system; driver and remote
operated, Driver and remote battery kill key, Illuminating
tail lights and brake lights, Remote battery boost
connector, Left and right side mirrors (electric remote
optional), Single electric wiper, Opening doors.
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Panoz Esperante GTS
Panoz Esperante GTSPanoz Esperante GTS
RVP – Reliability / Value / Performance

Panoz Esperante GTS
Panoz Esperante GTSPanoz Esperante GTS
RVP – Reliability / Value / Performance
Page 7

Panoz Esperante GTS
Panoz Esperante GTSPanoz Esperante GTS
RVP – Reliability / Value / Performance
The Power to Reduce Friction
Quaker State – Recommended fill for the GTS
At The Track
Fuel Mileage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
After On-Track Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Trailer Tie Down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Torque Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Seat Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Even though we checked the torques, you should continue to check things while
waiting for track time. Be sure to check all torques, specifically:
• Header bolts 3/8” 12 point wrench, must check after first 4 sessions.
This should happen anytime that you change the engine.
• Header collector nuts and bolts - after every other session.
• Body bolts - check after each event.
• Use anti-seize on spark plugs (gap set to 0.045)
This list does not include everything,just the items that are a little out of the ordinary.
Please see the GTS Torque Specification check list in this section.
Page 8

Panoz Esperante GTS
Panoz Esperante GTSPanoz Esperante GTS
RVP – Reliability / Value / Performance
Fuel Mileage
Typically the Panoz GTS cars get 4 miles per gallon.
Panoz GTS cars have 32-gallon fuel cells. When
measuring fuel; 7/8” equals 2 gallons. Panoz recom-
mends using 110 octane, leaded racing fuel. If you
are using a different fuel, be sure to jet the carburetor
accordingly. Using the leaded fuel allows you to
”read” the spark plugs and tail pipe much easier.
HINT: Purchase a wooden dowel rod and scribe it in
7/8” increments. This will allow you to measure your
fuel level accurately.
After On-Track Session
NUT & BOLT CAR
A: Place car on jack stands.
B: Remove hood and rear deck lids.
C: Grab each wheel and tire, shaking and pulling it;
checking for anything that may feel loose or worn
out (wheel bearings, heims, etc); they should be
very little, if any, play.
D: Remove wheels and tires and check over all sus-
pension parts. You are checking for anything that
may have loosened up, cracked or broken during
the track session.
E: Re-Tighten all body fasteners after every race
weekend (snug fasteners, do not over tighten).
F: Always look for not only loose fasteners, but any
leaks or anything that looks out of place or not
right (plug wires, electrical connections fluid levels,
etc.).
G: Check brake pads for thickness and wear charac-
teristics. Check the rotors for heat cracks - heat
check cracks on the surface of the rotor are normal.
They should extend over the top of the rotor or
away from from any of the mounting locations.
Also check the calipers.
H: This is also a good time to bleed the brake and
clutch systems since the car is off the ground.
I: Bleed brakes at least once during and after each
race/track event. For maximum performance,
bleed brakes after each all out driving session.
The brake pedal should not get soft during any
track event. If a soft pedal condition occurs bleed
brakes more frequently
Trailer Tie Down
When taking delivery of your Panoz GTS note where
the shipper tied the car down. You can use the tow
strap to winch your GTS onto the trailer.
* DO NOT TIE THE GTS DOWN USING THE FRONT
TOW STRAP OR REAR TOW HOOK.
• DO NOT TIE DOWN OVER THE REAR TRAILING
(RADIUS) ARMS. Below you will see where we tie
ours down. After tying the car down take the car out
of gear to save on driveline wear. When figuring the
wear on your shock absorbers remember that they
are working while the car is in transit.
Note: Be careful that your tie down straps don’t
pinch or rub on the brake lines, fuel lines and electri-
cal wires during transit.
Page 9
Rear
Front

Page 10
Panoz Esperante GTS
Panoz Esperante GTSPanoz Esperante GTS
RVP – Reliability / Value / Performance
GTS Torque Specifications (CHECK BEFORE EACH RACE)
Vehicle
Part Description Torque LBS. Quantity
Brake strut bar, rear 45 2 __________
Brake strut bar, rear 45 2 __________
Brake strut bar, front 23 2 __________
Brake strut bar jamb-nuts 45 4 __________
Spindle mounting bolt, top 45 2 __________
Spindle mounting bolt,inside top 45 2 __________
Spindle mounting bolt, inside bottom 90 2 __________
Spindle mounting bolt, bottom 45 2 __________
Shock mounting bolt 45 8 __________
Caliper braket to spindal, front 50 4 __________
Front Caliper Mounting Nut & Stud 25 4 __________
Rear Caliper Mounting Nut & Stud 12 4 __________
Caliper hardware bolts 10 8 __________
Rotor Disc to Rotor Hat (Brembo) 60 in. lbs. 10/wheel __________
Rotor Hat to Hub (Brembo) 25 20 __________
Sway bar arm, front 45 2 __________
Sway bar arm, rear 23 2 __________
Steering shaft jamb-nuts 15 6 __________
Upper control arm mounting bolts 110 4 __________
Tie-rod jamb nuts 25 4 __________
Motor mount nuts 90 2 __________
Transmission mount nuts 35 2 __________
Transmission mount bolts 50 2 __________
Transmission crossmember bolts 35 2 __________
Front cross brace support 90 2 __________
Crush box bolts,upper & lower 45 4 __________
Swaybar heimjoint jamb-nut, front 35 4 __________
Trailing arms, rear 120 4 __________
Watts link arm bolts, inner & outer 80 4 __________
Brake rotor mounting bolts (Coleman/AP) 20 32 __________
Drive shaft U bolts 35 2 __________
Diff. Chunk mounting nuts 35 10 __________
Wheel lug nuts 90 20 __________
See maintenance section for torque specifications according to bolt grade.