Ok, I know everyone says a Ricardo Transaxle from a Ford GT won't fit in a Pantera without extensive mods (such as back-halfing the car like one member has done). However, I can't find anything stating where or what the specific interferences are. With rebuilt Ricardo's going in the low $6,000's now, if a Ricardo can be squeezed in it may be worth it.

So does anyone know where the specific interferences are? Does the transaxle impact the frame rails when you try to get the drive train low enough? Do you need to cut the back end of the chassis/body for correct fitment? Would the shifter linkage impact something, etc. Or is it all of the above?

Thanks,
Dave

Hi Dave,

I am the crazy nut having the Ricardo installed in my car, and to do it in a 351 or even a mod motor car is a challenge. Not that it cannot be done, but it does take some modifications. First off, the most obvious thing is that it is a wide transaxle, and longer than the ZF. Something has to be done to the frame rails so it does not hit them, and there is no kit to make this work. Then there is the issue of the transaxle mounts. It is held in place from above on the original setup, so either something totally new needs to be made up, or use the original setup and make something to fit in the Pantera. I know the bellhousing should fit up to a mod motor, but I do not know how it would work with the special clutch setup in the Ford GT/ Ricardo setup -- you are in unknown waters with that one. Steve Wilkinson would be the best resource for technical questions. He is installing the Ford GT engine and Ricardo into my car, and he is also installing a GT motor and ZF transaxle into another owners car -- so he has been dealing with "issues" longer than likely anyone else.

As far as the linkage goes, these are cable driven as on the Ford GT, and I do not know if you can route them under the intake manifold as on the Ford GT engine -- so placement of the cables may be an issue as well, unless they can be routed in a different area. There is also an issue with the output shafts of the Ricardo. They are very different than the ZF, so there would have to be a custom CV joint and an adapter at the wheel hub end to make it work properly. I am sure that anything can be done, but it is the same old answer -- time and money. I also do not know how the starter would be mounted in your particular instance. This is an issue with the Ricardo setups as well as the starter placement is just plain different -- again, Steve would be a good resource to see if he can help you at all.

I know the reason that I went this route is because of a light clutch feel and butter smooth accurate shifting. Otherwise I would have stayed with the ZF.

Best of luck with whatever you decide to do. But again, there is no one doing kits for this setup, so anything you do in this regard will be trail blazing; and that always means more time and $$$.

Cheers,

Mark

The only person I know who has done/is doing this is Steve Wilkinson - PanterasbyWilkinson.

Give him a call. (562) 634-3434

Larry

Mark,
You're not a nut by any means, the Ricardo has some advantadges over the ZF and it can be rather appealing. So I don't blame you for going that route, and I am quite interested to see your car when it has been completed.

The adapters to the engine and half shafts I'm not terribly concerned with. Niether am I over the mounting of the transaxle. All are time and money but not so much that I would consider them a deal breaker.

Thanks for the info on the shifter cables, I didnt know that they were routed under the intake on the GT. Same goes for the starter.

Do you know how far Steve had to move the frame rails on your car to get the ZF to fit? I am afraid I dont know the Input shaft to output shaft vertical distance on a Ricardo, so I dont really know how "low" the transaxle needs to sit in the car. Hopefully its not so great that a dry sump oiling system is required.

Thanks,
Dave

Hi Dave,

I do not know for sure, but my gut tells me that the dry sump issue is what will determine how it fits in the car; so your inference to the "height" of the engine in regards to the Ricardo is spot on. Steve would be the one to ask about the specific things that were done to my car.

So it seems to me if you are serious about going this route, you will need to know if a 351 or mod motor will be out because of dry sump requirements for the Ricardo -- Steve is your guy for that question. If you would like to PM me and send your e-mail, I would be happy to send you photos of what the Ricardo and GT motor look like in the car. I would have to say that the half shafts do look like they are in the stock location, and this is with the GT dry sump motor. I would be concerned with the height as well .......

Thanks,

Mark

Hello Mark,

Could you post the current pictures of your car in the car photo section? That way all of us could see. Last time I saw your car was the beginning of July with the headers fitted.

Thanks, David

Hi David,

Do you mean on the POCA site or this one?

Thanks,

Mark

Hi Mark,

I guess I was thinking this one, but either would probably do. I uploaded some pictures in bulk to the POCA site and some can't be seen. If I was planning the Ricardo install at other than Steve's shop, I would probably load it and the Pantera frame into a CAD program and play with it.

I think your engine sits lower than mine but I am not sure. Steve did a lot of bracing to my frame. I do know that Steve lowered my ZF about one and a half inches. The Ricardo is huge compared to the ZF.

Thanks, David

I have just posted photos of my car on the POCA site. Just look under the Mark Hoffman album -- you will see what has been done so far to the car to make the Ford GT and Ricardo fit. Long way to go, that's all I am going to say.

Enjoy,

Mark

quote:

you will see what has been done

Thanks Mark.

Nice to finally get a 'feel' for what Steve is doing.

Please post more, and I think there is more going on than just the modular/Ricardo swap, when available.

Larry