Introduction

[John R Fitzpatrick, III]

Good evening all. This is my first thread. I inherited the first Lotus 47GT 01 prototype that was modified by Tony Kitchiner with a 1966 Ford GT40 engine (Serial Number C5 AE 6015 E) and a ZF 5DS-25 gearbox (Serial Number 1031 000 002 195). I am trying to find an electronic copy of a 1966 era GT40 Engine Manual to place in the binder I am creating for the vehicle. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Randy V]

Welcome to GT40’s, John!
Hopefully someone will be along with some helpful information!

 

[Jerry Irwin]

just, a what i hope, is a helpfull comment. If you change your title from INTRODUCTION to the cars name then may get more lookers and info ?

 

[John R Fitzpatrick, III]

just, a what i hope, is a helpfull comment. If you change your title from INTRODUCTION to the cars name then may get more lookers and info ?

Thanks Jerry

 

[Markus]

Good evening all. This is my first thread. I inherited the first Lotus 47GT 01 prototype that was modified by Tony Kitchiner with a 1966 Ford GT40 engine (Serial Number C5 AE 6015 E) and a ZF 5DS-25 gearbox (Serial Number 1031 000 002 195). I am trying to find an electronic copy of a 1966 era GT40 Engine Manual to place in the binder I am creating for the vehicle. Any help would be appreciated.

Hello John,
are you related by any chance to this John (Doug) Fitzpatrick?

https://www.gt40s.com/members/toy264.12841/

Regards,
Markus

T

Thread 'Automatic ZF?'

Dec 9, 2005

Being a wheel chair person, I drive a car with an automatic transmission. I know the Hall Chaparall utilized a two speed manual transmission with a torque converter, making it essentially an automatic. Is there any way to do that with the ZF 5 df/ SB ford combination?
Thanks,
John

• toy264
• Replies: 29
• Forum: GT40 Tech - Powertrain/Transaxles

T

Thread 'Help IDing this bellhousing.'

Apr 18, 2011

When I got my bell housing separated from the ZF and cleaned up, I noticed these casting IDs. It got me wondering what the "HDA" logo represented and if the 7-5307 was a road car part number. Anyone know?

• toy264
• Replies: 11
• Forum: GT40 Tech - Powertrain/Transaxles

T

Post in thread 'Lotus Transaxle'

Oct 3, 2011

You might want to consider using the same small block Ford and ZF5 speed setup that was used in the Mark I GT40 and the Pantera. However, even with wide wheels, the Europa's aerodynamics won't generate the downforce necessary to keep the car manageable at the speeds 4lbs/HP are capable of reaching.
You might consider a smaller engine making 250-300 HP. All things considered, 450 won't get you around corners any faster, and without extensive modifications done by a pro, straight line speeds over 150 mph will be unsafe. Your project is doable, but it needs to be thouroughly thought through.

• toy264

T

Thread 'Original '60s racing engine?'

Sep 24, 2005

Original \'60s racing engine?

I have an Ford 289 engine/transaxle that was removed from a Lotus 40 in 1968. I don’t know whether Lotus got their engines direct from Ford or from a third party, but I’m curious if it might have originally been a GT-40 spare.

What makes me think it might have been is the following:
The intake manifold is an aluminum FoMoCo for Weber 48 IDAs and the exhaust is a bundle of snakes tubular. The inside of the bell housing has “GT-40” cast lettering, the clutch is a twin plate Sheffield, the Shelby mods, such as brazing the oil pickup tube into the pump...

• toy264
• Replies: 6
• Forum: GT40 Tech - Engines/Induction/Exhaust

 

[John R Fitzpatrick, III]

Yes. Doug was my oldest brother. He passed away on December 12, 2024 in Magnolia, Texas. The email address you reference was his call sign in Vietnam when he was between his junior and senior year at the United States Air Force Academy. He left me with the Lotus and asked me to finish the restoration. I am creating a binder and history of the car from the time it won the Boxing Day Race on December 27, 1966 at Brands Hatch to December 12, 2024 when I inherited it and began my Lotus journey.

 

[Randy V]

Sorry to hear of your loss John…

 

[Markus]

Yes. Doug was my oldest brother. He passed away on December 12, 2024 in Magnolia, Texas. The email address you reference was his call sign in Vietnam when he was between his junior and senior year at the United States Air Force Academy. He left me with the Lotus and asked me to finish the restoration. I am creating a binder and history of the car from the time it won the Boxing Day Race on December 27, 1966 at Brands Hatch to December 12, 2024 when I inherited it and began my Lotus journey.

Also sorry for your loss.
I met Doug and Robbie back in 2010 when my familiy and I visited the US - he even invited us to stay at his house.....
Good luck on your Lotus Journey.

 

[John R Fitzpatrick, III]

Also sorry for your loss.
I met Doug and Robbie back in 2010 when my familiy and I visited the US - he even invited us to stay at his house.....
Good luck on your Lotus Journey.

Thank you for the reply. Doug was a very generous and open guy. We are going to the Lotus Owners Gathering 44 next weekend in Pittsburgh.

 

[John R Fitzpatrick, III]

Sorry to hear of your loss John…

Thank you.