DeTomaso Mailing List: April 2001, Message #211

Hi All,

I'm depressed! After nearly two years off the road getting the body
redone, harness rewired for the Motec Engine Management System, new
fuel injection and , and ... and I won't go on ... BUT ... the engine
ran for about 1 minute and now we're rebuilding it. I am sooooooo
tempted to just turf this SVO 406, and put the simple good old reliable
original engine back in but ...... I am doing everything again with
a more reliable engine person, so we'll see. My question is:

What colour should the block be painted (yes .. engine is back out
and so is ZF transaxle). Anyone got any good pics for the original
engine colour for a 1985 GT5 #9365 - maybe even paint code??

As a second thought ..... while the ZF is out .... I've never been
happy about the 4.22 rear end ratio. I know you can get a 3.77
Le Mans ratio but I remember hearing people talk about a Butfoy
special 5th gear that gave a better overdrive. Is this a better
alternative? It would appear to me that I get to keep my launch
capability and still have the car "cruisy" (long distances
between places over here in Oz). Any info on what the latest
is on ZF gearing?

thanks all

geoffs :-)

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Geoff Swavley                       Email : geoffs@radx.net
UNIX Sys Admin                      Snail : Level 8, 10 Valentine Ave,
Support and Network Operations              Parramatta   NSW   2150
Dept of Land and Water Conservation         Sydney  Australia
                                            Phone : 61-2-98957125
http://www.radx.net/~geoffs                 Fax   : 61-2-98957086
Mobile: 61-425-224475 / 61-2-83004475       Home  : 61-2-83389510
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 "Never be afraid to try something new.  Remember that amateurs built
  the Ark and professionals built the Titanic." - anonymous.