Lots of newbie questions about the RF kit.

[Rob00GT]

I've been reading over the factory literature on the RF kits (thanks for the prompt response Gordon!) and I have a few questions about the options.

1) I didn't see any pictures displaying the difference between the Mk1 and Mk2 body styles. Can someone post a pic or describe the difference to me?

2) How about comparison photos of the standard wheel flares vs. the optional "Gulf car" ones?

3) Does anyone have any pictures of the available "pin drive" wheels? Are they available in different colors and/or sizes?

4) Is the Gurney (sp) bubble available on left hand drive cars? Can it be ordered for both driver and passenger sides for tall drivers & passengers? I only ask because I'm 6'4" and on the far side of 280lbs and I'm anticipating a tight fit.

5) Will a 351W engine fit into the kit with it's slightly taller deck height? I'm concerned about clearance of the valve covers, intake manifold, and headers but may not be considering all the factors involved.

6) I understand the kit is designed to use an Audi transaxle, which one? Is there a web site I can look it over? I'm wondering about gear ratios, torque ratings, final drive ratios, etc.

7) Now this may be a really dumb question, but I've been scratching my head over it. The kit doesn't come with the transaxle but it does have an optional "limited slip" feature. Isn't this part of the transaxle or did I miss something? Do the half-shafts/axles connect to the transaxle or to a separate third member?

I'm sure I'll have a lot more questions before I order a kit, I just want to be an informed consumer.

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

[Rob00GT]

I knew I'd think of another one. Tell me about the optional "half" roll cage vs. the "full" roll cage. Do they interfere with the available headroom? Do they block ingress/egress from the vehicle (remember I'm a big guy)? Some pictures of them would also be helpful.

Thanks again.

[Robert Logan]

Rob,

I think the best way to answer this is as point as you asked:

1,2 please look at the gallery on our web pages, there are some pictures of both the MkI and MkII on there.

3 again please have a look at the web pages and on the owners gallery this time and there is a picture of Bob Lawrence's BRM wheel which he painted orange. The wheels are supplied in polished rims and bare casting finished center. They are typically painted to match car colour.

4 at 6'4" and 280 lbs you will need all of our enhansements to fit in. I would include a dropped floor and Gurney bubble.

5 a 351 Windsor will fin in to the car but I have never fitted one. The engines that Gordon Levy supplies to us are so good , I realy dont know if I would ever fit a 351. The rockers will fit and the headers will have to be made specially.

6 the Audi gearbox we use is from a 5000 series Audi from the 1980's. They are good for 400 hp but it realy depends on tyre selection etc. The LSD is supplied by us to be fitted during the reconditioning process.

Sup the half cage is ONLY behind your head while the full cage is both behind your head and infront around the windscreen frame. Our cars have been classed as open top sports cars here in Australia because the 'A' and 'C' pillars are not connected with bodywork (the doors cut in). The half cage is all that is required here in Australia to go racing. I will upgrade the gallery again soon and include some photographs but our company has a car on display at the Melbourne International Motor Show starting this Thursday for almost two weeks and the F1 is on the first week end of March.

I hope this answered your questions , please feel free to contact either Gordon Levy or myself if we can be of any more help.

Best wishes,

Robert

[Gordon Levy]

Rob, Just so you know. I am 6'3' and 240lbs. I fit in the car without the drop floor or gurney bubble. With the mods that Robert spoke about, you will have no problem at all fitting comfortably.
I would be happy to speak to you about engines. We build many types for these cars and we can get so much hp out of our 302 based engines that we haven't found the need for a 351.

[Hershal Byrd]

And he ain't kiddin' folks ! [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Hersh [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[Rob00GT]

Thanks for the replies guys. I know I've got lots of questions (I'm trying not to be too annoying about it) and I wanted to follow up on a couple for clarification. I'm still at least a year (maybe two) from ordering my kit, the wife and I are buiding a new house this summer with a nice big shop for me to play in, so there's no rush on the answers. To better illustrate my questions I've linked a few pictures from the Roaring Forties web site.

First the wheels. Here's a pic from your web site of one of the pin drive wheels.


Is this the BRM or Halibrand? Where can I find a picture of the other style? Are they available in 17" diameters?
I know the 15" sizes were original but I'm thinking of the style bonus of big vented brake rotors showing through the spokes of the wheels, so maybe 17x9 in front and 17x10 in back? Any problem fitting these with appropriate tire sizes without needing the wheel arches?

I'm working on getting one of the GT40 books that are described elsewhere on this web site but until it's delivered I'm still figuring out the differences between the Mk1 and Mk2 body styles.

If I'm not mistaken this is a Mk1.


And this is a Mk2.


Now did I get those backwards? Other than the additional scoops is there any internal differences in the kits? Are the scoops functional? If so, are they directed to the engine intake, brakes, etc.?

Again, thank you for your patience.

[Rob00GT]

I think I may have answered one of my own qustions, in the blue car pictured above... are those the Halibrand wheels?

[Ron Earp]

The orange wheels are BRMs and are 16" and will fit some large brakes - larger than you need for a GT40.

The blue car is a "pure" MKI.

The white care is a MKI as well, but with MKII periscopes.



This is a MKI and MKII side by side.

And this page at ERA shows the differences.

ERA MK II Page

MKIIs were made to take the 427 FE motors which are much heavier and larger than the Windsors. With modern Windsors there is no need to use the FE motors - you can get more from a Windsor anyhow.

The RF kit does not accept a FE engine, but the ERA kit will which makes it more realistic from that standpoint. No AC though.

Duct work can be functional without difficultly and was used for oil coolers, tranny coolers, and brakes depending on the setup.

Ron

[ February 22, 2002: Message edited by: Ron Earp ]

[Robert Logan]

Robert,

Unfortunately one of the only three original GT40's that was purchased in Australia was a MK I which had Mk II "periscopes" fitted. This car was purchased by a Melbournean called Colin Hymes and this car was featured very heavely in the motering press. The car was also extensively used by colin a local drag meetings and was also used as a daily driver. This car was very highly visable and all the impressionable young men and boys of the day (some now my customers) thought that this Mk I with the periscopes was the norm.

The white car was my first car and the owner insisted that it had periscopes.

The Mk II is as the black car in the picture shown obove with our red Mk I.

As regards the Hallibrands, the wheels on the white and blue cars are of our standard bolt on wheels and the pin drive Hallibrands are slightly different and I will try and get a photograph of them on this thread over the next week or so (Motor Show at present).

Hope this helps,

Best wishes,

Robert

[Rob00GT]

Thank you very much Ron and Robert. You have been very helpful.

My education continues!

[chiba_man]

As Rob was starting to talk about earlier, what is the largest size wheels/tires that fit in the standard wheel arches? The website has 205/55-16 and 255/50-16 listed in the partial kit section, are these the largest, or can you get at least some wider ones in front? Say maybe 235/...?

Thanks ahead.

[chiba_man]

Oops, nevermind, I found my answer in another topic.