[DeTomaso] ZF Trans Cooler

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

The original ZF cooling loop for the GT-40s involved two drillings in the 
ZF case side walls that terminate next to the right trans mount- the 
undrilled bosses show as dimples in a triangular boss. The drillings extended 
forward thru the cases to the area near the ring & pinion where a rectangular 
sheet steel funnel was positioned. The rotation of the ring gear threw enough 
lube up to provide a 'head' for pump-less lube flow. The funnel and connecting 
line are included on most stock Mangusta dash-1 ZFs and is shown in the 
dash-0 (GT-40) and dash-1(Mangusa) ZF Manuals. A small air-to-oil cooler was 
bracketted onto the side of the ZF for nice short flex lines. I've only seen 
one such real GT-40 diff cooler. Authority Lloyd Butfoy of RBT-Trans has more 
info on cooling ZFs.

You may be interested to read of the test I did a few years ago on our 
Pantera. We have many open desert areas where a Pantera can be driven as 
intended. I pulled our ZF, drilled & tapped the case up near the ring gear for a 
second oil temp sensor wired to the oil pan gauge thru a two-position selector 
switch, and reinstalled it in time for a run to Las Vegas. This was a 
450-mile trip in early Summer with 90+ degree temps. It took some 250 miles at 
90+ avg before the ZF oil temp finally crept up to 180 degrees, where it 
stayed for the remainder of the trip. Interestingly, parked in the shade of the 
host casino lot, it took nearly 3 hours before the lube DROPPED back to 
ambient temp... 

A couple of Silver State runners mentioned that their Pantera ZFs 'got too 
hot to touch' after averaging 150+ for less than 40 minutes, but no leaks 
nor burned-oil smells were noted. They had no in-board temp gauge nor an IR 
gun to actually check ZF temps, though. So short of Daytona, Sebring or 
LeMans, I suspect a Pantera trans cooler is simply more showy but useless weight 
to carry around. Our one real GR-4 that does run LeMans these days (Patrick 
Hals) has not found a ZF cooler necessary. If I was going to do such a thing, 
I'd use a tubular Laminova water-to-oil cooler: small, efficient & easy to 
mount without needing air directing scoops etc. I would also avoid rigging 
fittings hanging off the bottom of the ZF, to be knocked loose by road 
debris. Good luck- J DeRyke