[DeTomaso] Different Transaxle

[Julian Kift]

I personally don't believe the RBT 6 sped offers any great advantage for the cost, especially as a tall 5th upgrade to your existing ZF achieves the same thing, as 6th in the 6 speed is that same gearing, just one more shift to get there. I upgraded to a tall 5th and the rpm drop from 4th to 5th is not excessive, considering 5th is an overdrive for cruising. I'd invest my money in a 3.77 ring & pinion long before I considered a 6 speed.
 
As alternatives to the ZF you can turn to the mid engine kit car guys for inspiration. Many use an inverted Porsche transaxle with the G50 considered one of the best, but to build it to withstand 600HP takes money (the G50 I have in the Ultima came in at close to $15K all in). The ZFQ was seen as a cheaper alternative to the ZF (and came about when there was a boom in the GT40 kit car market and a shortage of ZF's). There are reports of ZFQ units having suffered catastrophic failure when used in anger.
 
The Ricardo is a good transaxle, but doesn't fit in a Pantera without major modifications and is no longer supported so spares are becoming rare. Ricardo's were selling for $6500 at one point, you'd be challenged to find anything under $10K currently I think.
 
Most of the other transaxles available are pure race car stuff, very expensive and short design life spans.
 
In short the ZF really takes some beating, in both senses.
 
Julian
 
To: coreyjprice at gmail.com; detomaso at poca.com
From: jderyke at aol.com
Date: Tue, 14 Jan 2014 14:42:28 -0500
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Different Transaxle

Cory, the one and only reason I can see to change tranaxles is for an overdrive 6th gear for fuel mileage savings on long trips. If I could afford it, I'd use RBT's 6-speed upgrade for the ZF which I know fits everything.  The powerful 351-C doesn't need a close ratio 6, 7 or 8 speed gear cluster, and zero other transaxles fit a Pantera without major work.... then you have the shifter & halfshaft adaptions and maybe useless electronic do-dads on 'modern' units to contend with. 

 






 






 






-----Original Message-----


From: Corey Price <coreyjprice at gmail.com>


To: De Tomaso List <detomaso at poca.com>


Sent: Tue, Jan 14, 2014 10:48 am


Subject: [DeTomaso] Different Transaxle












If there was a modern, smooth, non-ZF transaxle available for the Pantera that 
fit without major rework would anyone consider switching?  What would be the 
biggest reason, if there are reasons?  Are you satisfied largely with the ZF 
transaxle in your car(s)?

Corey
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