Recent content by John Fitzpatrick

I've got an early ZF 5DS-25-2 transaxle and would like to trace it's origin. Is there a register somewhere that would list who the original purchaser was? I'll have to check when I get home, but I think the SN is 0002 Thanks, John

Russ- The transaxle is a ZF 5DS 25-2 and the engine is a 289hp, roughly 400 BHP- don't know how close to the edge that is. I'm restoring the car, but since I won't be able to drive it, I can't be sure how it will be used once it's done and sold. As a vintage race car, I'd expect medium...

I'm going to assume this was one of those dumb questions that everyone but me knows the answer to. Sadly, it wouldn't be the first time! Perhaps someone could provide a link to a site that goes into the advantages of monitoring water vs oil temps? I'll post a question on whether monitoring...

Is discharge temp really a reliable indicator of proper lubrication at the bearings? If a rise in discharge temp occurred, how could you isolate the cause or distinguish it from anything else downstream?

Well, some of them do manage with EFI, but the Daytona was something of a girlie-man's car....... Photo from Factory Five

The original Lotus 47GTs used a Lucas (The Prince of Darkness) mechanical injection set up. After the inital successful outing, the cars seemed not to finish, and I believe the team switched to Webers. I think I'd shy away from a Lucas system simply from a reliability standpoint. I think the...

The add reade the part is for a "Tiger", I surmise a Sunbeam Tiger. The Tiger had a 289ci engine, and whether a 302 windage tray will fit is problematic. I installed a Boss 302 windage tray in my 289 and had to cut some sheet metal to gain clearance with the counterweights. Easy fix but be...

I have an early Weber manifold which has two bosses on it, raised about 3/4". Casting letters say "FoMoCo". PN is C6AE0425-A, but I don't know if that's the one used by the GTs. John

If one regarded the prospect of children with the same jaundiced eye, the race Homo Sapiens would disappear, for they are financial black holes the like of which render the most extravagant of builder’s ledger sheets a pale reflection. Yet who among us would be so so craven as to deprive our...

Nick- I don't have a feel for the availability of Ford parts in the UK. I would start off with a complete engine though rather than just a block. The one I started with back in the 70s had well over 100K miles on it and the block needed a lot of work-- vatting, boring .030, new cam bearings...

If time isn't too much an issue, I'd suggest building your own. Start off with a "seasoned" motor from a salvage yard, tear it down and rebuild it to your own desired performance level. There is no better way to learn your way around a SBF, and when you're done you'll know exactly what you've...

I came across this on cartalk.com while doing some research. Pretty funny if it weren't for the fact that I actually owned one of these (I ain't saying which!). Anyone else? http://www.cartalk.com/content/features/Worst-Cars/results1.html

Ron- Depending on your definition of a fortune, there are usually several aircraft oil coolers on eBay at any one time. Much better quality (and efficiency) than the usual fin-and-tube. Listed in category: eBay Motors > Parts & Accessories > Aviation Parts > Parts There's one from a...

For those interested, this is a very nicely illustrated article on overhauling/refurbishing 48 IDAs. http://www.aircooled.net/gnrlsite/resource/articles/48idarebuild.htm

Ron- My apologies --I didn't intend to take the thread off-topic, and certainly not to belittle the importance of getting the most useable horsepower from your engine. Learning is a big part of the enjoyment of this, and someday it might be critical to know how to get that last 1%. My thought...