[DeTomaso] ZF Cooling

[Ken Green]

I think the GT40 switched to a 4 speed transaxle built using components from a Ford 4 speed because they couldn't make the ZFs last 24 hours.  Here is some info:
   
  http://www.gt40s.com/faq/engines_and_transaxles_toner.html
   
  I'm not sure of the sequence of events, but I thought Ford ended up using the 427 with the 4 speed to win?  Kinda funny, it sounds like the NASCAR engine and gears beat Ferrari?  Good ole pushrod V8, LOL  Can anyone comment on what was the winning combination(s) at LeMans?
   
  Ken
  

Charles McCall <charlesmccall at gmail.com> wrote:
  Hi Patrick,

Have fun at Spa! I can't answer your question with any practical
suggestions, but I would offer the following thoughts. Remember that
thoughts are free and are sometimes worth exactly that - little!

I would question the need for a ZF cooler based on the following:

I don't know of any ORR people running zf coolers, and am not aware of any
zf-related failures. I discount Junior Wilson getting airborne at 180mph and
snapping a shaft - an oil cooler won't help you there!

In Le Mans in the 70s, neither of your cars ran zf coolers, yet their
retirements were not due to gearbox failures. Their engines weren't the
beasts that you have fitted now, but the ZF lasted many hours of all-out
racing and held up well. 

The only Pantera I have heard of that has broken gearboxes repeatedly is
Greg Esakoffs. He truly has a beast of a motor, but I understand that his
failures are more due to his driving style (Mike Drew describes it as one
like "Animal", from the muppets). Doubtful that a cooler would help him. 

ZF's aren't cheap and you are correct to be worried about yours. But I
wonder if the ultimate solution will end up costing a similar amount, add
complexity and possible failure points, and in the end, solve a problem that
didn't exist? 

If you decide to go ahead, then you have the same problem that is faced by
those wishing to mount an engine oil cooling radiator - where? The most
effective place is up front, with the associated oil lines and distance.
Less of an issue for dry-sump cars. But the only area in the back with any
exposure is where the A/C condensor is mounted in stock cars. And you will
have limited airflow there at speed unless supplemented by a fan. 

Cory Gehling of Collector's Choice once told me that he mounted some engine
oil cooler radiators parallel to the ground, next to the carb, sort of
between the stock gas tank location and the intake/carb thing. He told me
that some Ferrari's mounted oil coolers there, and rely 100% on fans to
generate air movement. He said it wasn't a great solution, due to the
temperature of air you were driving through the thing, but was the best
solution he could find. 

Just food for thought - I'd question if you really need one, and if you
decide that you do, then mount it in one of those locations with a
thermostatically controlled fan, or a thermostat to keep cold oil from being
cooled. There's a lot of anecdotal evidence that the ZF really is one tough
puppy and will live up to racing conditions just fine. 

One last thought - the GT40s used a ZF... what did they do? Anyone know?

Good luck, and yes we want photos! ;-)

Charles McCall
1985 DeTomaso Pantera GT5-S #9375
"Raising Pantera Awareness across Europe"
http://members.aol.com/PanteraGT5S1985/
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