ZF connected to ?

[PaulGT40]

I am hoping someone recognizes these valve covers, bought from a friend who started this sandrail back in the 70's which is when
he bought the ZF 5 speed brand new and then the engine brand new, neither has ever had oil put in. Good thing it's Arizona and
been in dry storage. As you can see the steel on the rail does not have even a fleck of rust. I have searched the net and can't find anything like these Valve Covers
Paul

 

[Eric A.]

The link to your photos doesn'twork for me. ???

 

[Eric A.]

When I returned to the post the photo was there. They look like late model 5.0 valve covers.

 

[PaulGT40]

Rear view of my buy, I am building a GT40 wanna be for my son. Starting his car with a Valkyrie

 

[chuck smith]

cast aluminum 5.0 ford, standard fare on early 90's efi motors

 

[PaulGT40]

Full view of what I bought paid $12,000 any opinions if I did OK. I just wanted the transaxle, the engine may be a bonus, it has roller rockers and never had oil. The assembly oil still inside.

 

[Rick Muck- Mark IV]

Yes,
Standard 80's issue 5.0 EFI valve covers. They are shallow so they do not work with many aftermarket roller rockers or other stuff taller than stock. I have seen these with engraved/milled graphics etc. done on the surface.

Looks like a good deal, keep the ZF, sell the engine and chassis and lower our basis cost!

Rick

 

[Eric A.]

Might be a good idea to use the Ford motor for a "GT40" replica rather than the Chevy.

 

[PaulGT40]

The pics I posted was to show what I was starting with, the chevy came with the Valkyrie never said I was using it. I guess I will buy a 351C

 

[Rob]

Paul,
Agree with above. They appear to be standard issue 80s / early 90s 5.0 EFI.

Why not just run that set up in the 40? You had mentioned attempting a "cost optimized" build. This is not supported by the idea to build a 351C. There is nothing cheap about building a Cleveland. That set up is exactly what you want for a budget build.... IMHO.

 

[PaulGT40]

Cost optimized, yes but I really want to provide the best I can for him in the mechanicals. My son is going to build the frame and suspension ground up after
he designs it in Autodesk Inventor. I am VP of technology at www.lasercutting.com One thing for sure it will have a lot of laser cut parts when done. He worked for me in programing for a year and 2 years in the industrial fab shop.
I bought him Inventor years back instead of sending him to collage. Sorry for all the info and gab, just really excited for him to have anything like a GT40.
At least with him building it he will know his car and had to work for it. It's beginning to look like there is nothing cheap about doing this. I have already spent $18,000
and just have a pile of parts and a Valkyrie needing everything.

 

[Jac Mac]

I would investigate that motor a little closer, while they may be later rocker covers, that is an early autolite distributor and the front left corner intake bolt appears to have the thread exposed where it enters the cylinder head. If this is the case the motor /or heads may be 289- you never know ,it could be a Hi Po 289 in which case you will have struck the jackpot. Take closer pics of- front damper-valve springs- pushrods areas of cyl head- along with that corner manifold bolt- count number of bolts on damper pulley along with cast number on block in behind & above starter. Spark plugs should be large 18mm thread, taper seat items.
Believe me if you have an early 289 you have a head start for a GT40 replica.

PS, Ditch the 351c idea & the chebbie one, neither will enhance the ultimate value of the car.

 

[Mike Drew]

I second Jac Mac's suggestion--there is NO good reason to run a 351C. Besides the fact that the GT40 originally came with a 289/302, the simple fact is that the 351C isn't a very good engine (which sounds sacrilegious from a lifelong Pantera guy, but it's quite true). Add to that the fact that you already have a 289/302 right there in your hands, and it becomes a no-brainer.

Have the gearbox converted to GT40 orientation, get yourself a GT40 bellhousing, and away you go.

You will need to think about final drive options--driveshafts or CV-joint shafts? Although there are adapters available to let you bolt a CV joint to the stock Pantera output flange, if you're having the gearbox rebuilt AND you plan to use CV joint shafts, you can kill two birds with one stone and have the output on the ZF changed to CV-joint style, as used on the BMW M1.

It just shows that you need to think the whole plan through from stem to stern before you start spending any more money--and then plan on spending a LOT of money no matter what you do!

 

[Frank]

The heads look like they have three bars on them = GT-40 Irons. Which would be Fox Mustang/Lightning/Early Exploder heads.

 

[PaulGT40]

That aint no autolite distributor Its a MSD 8352 Distributor Pro-Billet Ready-to-Run Magnetic P And your right it is a HP 289/302
Never considered using the chebbe that would be an outright crime

 

[John P]

You can do allot with the factory valve covers. They are cast much thicker than almost any aftermarket valve cover and can be easily modified. I'm using Comp Cams stainless roller rockers, and the only thing I had to do was remove the baffle. It wasn't needed, as I changed the configuration. I have "several" hours of polishing in these.

 

[PaulGT40]

Very nice, I am a believer, very nice job. I have a CNC four axis at home, I think I will machine something on them.

 

[Frank]

Those look great John.

I have an extra set of stock covers like those, if anyone wants to pay shipping for them.

 

[John Fitzpatrick]

If you have a brand new 289 HiPo that's never been run, that's probably the barn-find of the year!