Mk II transaxles - Weismann Top Loader 4 speed

[Lynn Larsen]

I ran across this website while researching transaxles called Traction Products, Inc. & Weismann Marine, LLC.. On their home page they have a link to sports cars with Weismann transmission which includes the GT40 where they say that all the MK IIs had Weismann transaxles. Apparently Pete Weismann worked for Karcraft and it is claimed that the MkII was designed by Michele Albert, who was hired away from Ferrari, and Weismann, but that "Pete was never given credit for the design because he wasn't a 'Ford Engineer'."

This is the first that I had heard of this claim. There are also a couple of interesting anecdotes about the McLaren/Amon win in '66 and about the Gurney/Foyt win in '67. This later story makes me suspicious because is says that Gurney and Foyt were trying to break the car because they didn't want to race all night long, but since the car didn't break, they broke all sorts of records. This goes against all that I had heard about how Gurney, being the experienced track general he was, kept Foyt in check enough to make sure the car lasted the whole 24 hours.

Regards,
Lynn

 

I am a very lucky man because my company does work for AAR and I have the opportunity to talk with my boy hoodhero, Mr Gurney, about racing from time to time.
This very story he told a few weeks ago. (The short version)
He stated that after a short time of testing the only real weakness in the MKIV's were the breaks. He and AJ could kill a set of breaks in less than four laps if not careful. Due to the cars being faster but heavier than the Ferraris, they could pull away and then drive hard into the turns setting record laps times but the pads would not last. He and AJ talked at lenght about how to run the race due to AJ having virtually no experience in endurance racing. They decided to go hard and all out but make the breaks last. This was done by always letting off a little early befor the turns. I asked if it was true that Ford made them the Rabbit, I got no answer, but a smile. AJ some what changed his "all out" stile of driving for the race, the car lived and the rest is glorious history.
This (the breaks and letting off early) also lead to why Gurney pulled over in the middle of the race to let the Ferrari by.
On a side note he said the motor was pulled after the race and put on a dyno. It had lost less than 5hp after the 24 hrs!

 

[Jim Glickenhaus]

They did make the "Locker" part of T 44. They recently made some for Lee Holman.

 

[John W]

Really great info this.

I've seen a post elsewhere of a company selling T44 casting sets.
Could I drop in a standard top loader gear set & diff, or are they different ?

And in order to use the 'locker', what else would need changing ?

The company that makes/sells the casting sets will sell a complete box, but
at close on 20k USD its a bit rich for me, so I'm looking at other ways to build a T44.

Cheers,
John.