DRB GT40 #44

Thought you would like to see how some Aussies specify their GT40's. Very different to being a replica of the original, very basic Ford GT40 "Race Car", but looking fantastic anyway.

We have just delivered a Turnkey DRB GT40 #44, built to suit the customer's specification, which is a bit different to the original Ford GT40. (see photos)

It is fitted with central locking, electric mirrors, A/C, cruise control, CD sound system and Mustang "Cobra" 4.6 litre Quad Cam motor (262 HP at wheels) and G50 Porsche transaxle fitted with a 3.100:1 CWP and 0.75 5th gear, giving a tall 2.325:1 overall ratio (1900 RPM @ 100 kph or 63 mph) and has averaged 28 mpg on a long trip. The motor is controlled with an Autronic SMC computer and CDI unit and runs very smooth at idle and to the 6,800 rpm limit. It pulls strong from 3,500 rpm and revs very freely, due to the 4 valve heads.

We have now built 2 GT40's and 4 Cobra's fitted with the Mustang "Cobra" hand built motor and have orders for a further 6 cars fitted with this motor, bulky in size, but only weighs 150 kg. The supercharged version of this motor will be available in a couple of months, with 290 kW (390 HP) out of the crate. From our experience, by fitting an extractor exhaust system and cold air-box induction system, we achieve an increase of at least 30 HP, providing an easy 420 HP (310kW).

We will let you know how the first Cobra we build with this motor performs, fitted with a 6 speed Tremec.

Regards

Peter

(Posted on Peter's behalf)
For full size pics please click on links under the images

http://www.drbsportscars.com/images/drbgt40-44/001.jpg

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Very nice post and nice car. The 4.6L "Cobra" 4V motors are a little weak on output for the size and complexity, but are very smooth as you guys have found out and are good runners.

Now the blown one you are thinking about is fantastic. If you are willing to increase the boost with a pulley swap you'll see 420 hp at the wheels fairly easily, not just 420hp at the crank. I'll be interested to see how you make out on the packaging. The Eaton M112 unit on top of the motor is pretty tall, but it does fit under a Mustang hood and from the pictures it looks like you got that 4.6L motor low in the chassis - nice job!

R

Excellent pictures Des. By the way how is your car coming along?
All the best.

Beautiful car and the finish both inside and out is first class. A tribute to Peter Ransom and his staff at GT40 Australia. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Very nice. I really like the wheels.

[ QUOTE ]
Very nice post and nice car. The 4.6L "Cobra" 4V motors are a little weak on output for the size and complexity, but are very smooth as you guys have found out and are good runners.

Now the blown one you are thinking about is fantastic. If you are willing to increase the boost with a pulley swap you'll see 420 hp at the wheels fairly easily, not just 420hp at the crank. I'll be interested to see how you make out on the packaging. The Eaton M112 unit on top of the motor is pretty tall, but it does fit under a Mustang hood and from the pictures it looks like you got that 4.6L motor low in the chassis - nice job!

R

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420 at the rear wheels? Heck, the factory SVT Cobra was underrated at 390 hp. In Dyno tests, the supercharged Cobra has seen 440 at the crank, stock.

Now Ford's offering a supercharger upgrade that includes a Whipple Twin Screw Intercooled Supercharger. It runs at 8 to 12 psi, with capability to run 25 psi, and adds 80 hp out of the box.

Ford even built an SVT Cobra putting 601 hp and 529 ft-lb of torque AT THE REAR WHEELS. All using street legal, emmissions compliant parts from their catalog. Here's a link to the article on the car from edmunds.com

Horse Power: Ford's 690 hp SVT Mustang Cobra

Imagine putting something like that behind your GT40. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif "2005 Ford GT? I don't need no stinking 2005 Ford GT!"

Very nice, It is always great to see somthing different. Are those wheels 18s?!

Joe, the figures I am posting are wheel hp numbers, sigfinicantly different from crankshaft hp numbers that you are quoting. Typically, around 420 at the wheel works out around 483 to 504hp at the crank depending on what loss factor you chose to work with.

Still, all of these numbers and figures are obtainable using good old pushrod motors just as well.

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Very nice, It is always great to see somthing different. Are those wheels 18s?!

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They are 17". Simmons FR17 3 piece wheels with polished centres. They would be 17x8/9 on front and 17x12" on rear. Nice wheels, very popular fitment on cars from GT40 Australia.

Craig,
What are the dimensions of the tires and the offset. I want to fill up my wheelwell as well. I am having issues with the 10" wheels and the wider tires. It looks like the 15s are out unless I go to Hoosier pro street or something like that. Not many wheel choices either for something bigger than 295.

Bill

Bill, I'm pretty sure it's close to the book values. 17x8" front with 130mm backspace, 17x12" rear with either 140mm backspace or the newer backspace of 130mm. They tend to push rear wheels 10mm further out these days. Note this GT40 has the wider Gulf Guards fitted.

On cars with narrower(standard) guards, backspacing is the same except they run 10" wide rim on the rear.

Tyres are Pirelli PZero 245/40ZR17(or it could have 225's, can't remember) & 335/35ZR17 on rear.

My car ran narrow guards with 16x8 & 16x10" Simmons wheels. They have been stored until I get around to selling them. I'll measure backspace on them as it will be interesting to see whether it was same as book values as give you a better idea as I know how well they fitted.

Just checked backspace on my old rear wheels, 16x10" and it's 140mm. I reckon this is the maximum backspace you would want to run. You get really close to handbrake cables and there is not much space for tyre to hang over edge of rim. With this backspace you could run wider rim under standard width guards, maybe 11", as my car had a fair bit of space between outside edge of tyre and inside lip of guard.

My front backspace was 130mm on 16x8". The limiting factor with fronts is clearance to front vertical wall of footwells when wheels are nearly full lock. Most tyres people run are around 530mm diameter, go much bigger than that and you will start to run risk of fowling.

My new front wheels are going to be 18x8" with 560mm diameter tyres(225/45ZR18) and 120mm backspace, I will have to fix the fowling. Rears are going to be 18x12" with 120mm backspace, I have custom made Gulf flairs. This should give me 10mm clearance front & back to inside lip of guards.

All fun and games.

Oops...530mm & 560mm tyre diameter measurements, should be 630mm & 660mm respectively.

Craig,
Probably a better measurement would be the distance from the inside of the left wheel well to the inside of the right. Also the measurement from the left inside edge, of the outer fender to the right inside edge. That will let me know if there have been any changes in the Gulf flares since they built mine some 4 years ago under Dennis Bedford's leadership. I'm pretty sure they have not changed the molds, but would rather be safe than sorry. Might help some of the others as well. If you have the Corvette uprights, the measurement from the axel facing(facing where the studs are mounted) to axel facing. Pic would make sure we are on the same page.

Bill