Gearbox

"SHELBYS' REVENGE" A PANTERA GTS BUILT BACK IN THE EIGHTIES HAD A TURBOCHARGED CHRYSLER 340 WEDGE BOLTED TO THE ZF!! THEY WERE SURPRISED WHEN IT LIVED AFTER MANY RUNS AT WELL OVER 900 HORSEPOWER! YES I SAID OVER 900 HP. AT 575 FOOT/POUNDS OF TORQUE! BELIEVE IT OR DON'T. I JUST FOUND THE ARTICLE! IT WAS WRITTEN UP IN "HOT ROD" MAGIZINE IN MAY OF 1986. THE ENGINE WAS A CHRYSLER 340 C.I. WEDGE WITH TWIN TURBOS, INTER-COOLER, AND WATER COOLED TURBO HOUSINGS THAT CIRCULATED THROUGH AN AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER. WITH THE WASTE GATES CLOSED IT PRODUCED 920 HORSEPOWER!! 8 MPG AND 123 MPH AT THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE. IT COULD HAVE BEEN FASTER, BUT ALL THE TURBOS ALSO BOOSTED THE WEIGHT TO 3580 POUNDS. MARLIN.

[This message has been edited by MARLIN JACK (edited 08-01-2002).]

[This message has been edited by MARLIN JACK (edited 08-01-2002).]

[This message has been edited by MARLIN JACK (edited 08-01-2002).]

[This message has been edited by MARLIN JACK (edited 08-01-2002).]

THe ZF transaxle used in the Pantera will handle at least 800 horses. Thats what Jr Wilson's well-known Silver State racer with a 527 cubic inch Boss 429 put out to drive the machine to 265 mph in the late '90s. His only failure was the clutch input shaft which snapped when he hit a bump at 230 mph that sent the car airborn for 100 ft or so. The shock of landing snapped the shaft cleanly. This car made many runs with no other ZF problems (it did eat rear tires, though).