GT40s.com - View Single Post - Fitting a ZF Transaxle into Roaring 40s chassis

Ross Nicol · 07-25-03, 09:53 AM

If your lucky enough to get your hands on a ZF and you have an RF car to put it in, my experiences here may help. I was told when I proposed to do this that "It won't fit" and my answer was I'll make it fit!
I decided to use an ERA bell housing and bolted it to the ZF then assembled the transaxle and motor.

Chassis Prep
------------
Removed engine mounts from chassis
Removed inboard suspension top link support

Clamped board to chassis under side and sat motor/transaxle
onto this board.The ERA bell housing has a flat bottom and sat flat parallel with the bottom of chassis.I decided this was as low as you can go.

Now for the fore and aft setting.I found the bell housing just cleared the crossmember nicely when the drive shaft angle was nice and shallow and where I wanted it.
I next bolted the engine mounts together and welded them back into the chassis.Finally I made brackets for mounting the rear and top of the transaxle. I removed the support board from under the chassis and there it was a ZF in an RF with minimal work .I have to say this work was carried out with no sump fitted as I had the dry sump fabricated to clear the front crossmember later.The motor was now lower (good for handling) and further forward (good for driveshaft angle).My goal was to achieve minimum chassis alteration and I achieved this goal to my surprise, It did fit didn't it Robert.

Regards Ross

07-25-03, 09:53 AM	#1 (permalink)
Ross Nicol ross nicol 10 tenths Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: melbourne austr Posts: 1,088 Rep Power: 21	Fitting a ZF Transaxle into Roaring 40s chassis If your lucky enough to get your hands on a ZF and you have an RF car to put it in, my experiences here may help. I was told when I proposed to do this that "It won't fit" and my answer was I'll make it fit! I decided to use an ERA bell housing and bolted it to the ZF then assembled the transaxle and motor. Chassis Prep ------------ Removed engine mounts from chassis Removed inboard suspension top link support Clamped board to chassis under side and sat motor/transaxle onto this board.The ERA bell housing has a flat bottom and sat flat parallel with the bottom of chassis.I decided this was as low as you can go. Now for the fore and aft setting.I found the bell housing just cleared the crossmember nicely when the drive shaft angle was nice and shallow and where I wanted it. I next bolted the engine mounts together and welded them back into the chassis.Finally I made brackets for mounting the rear and top of the transaxle. I removed the support board from under the chassis and there it was a ZF in an RF with minimal work .I have to say this work was carried out with no sump fitted as I had the dry sump fabricated to clear the front crossmember later.The motor was now lower (good for handling) and further forward (good for driveshaft angle).My goal was to achieve minimum chassis alteration and I achieved this goal to my surprise, It did fit didn't it Robert. Regards Ross