Axle Bolt / Starter / Sensor Question! LS7 GTM with Ford GT Transaxle


B

Bspeed

New member
Jan 6, 2008
2
Hey guys,

I am new to the forum. I have a few questions, but first let me tell you why I am asking them. I am building a Factory Five GTM with a 565hp LS7 and a Ford GT transaxle.

The transaxle I bought is used, 1000 miles. It has an axle bolt broken off in the outputshaft, I think when it was removed. So here is my list of questions any help you can lend would be helpful.

1) What is the easiest way to get the broken bolt out? Tap it and reverse it? Or is it loose enough to heat up and back out?

2) My trans has a damaged sensor on the driver side rear of the box. What is this for? Reverse? Speed? (you can see the damaged sensor in the third pic)

3) I need a starter for my box? Is this a common Ford PN? I called NAPA...they were of course no help. Havent tried Ford yet, but I bet the piece will be expensive.

4) I am missed several bolts, see pics, around the housing? Would they be common Ford bolts?

5) Maybe most important.... What is the recommended axle bolt replacement. I have read that Ford is updating bolts....but can I purchase them? Or is it worth while to go to Accufab? $200 for 4 bolts seems extreme.

6) I have read lots about what oil to run.... Can I get a list of approved oils? Or atleast recommended ones?

7) What is the torque/installation proceedure for the axle bolts? Locktite?

8) I want to run an aftermarket cooler like Setrab. Happen to know wht the threads are on the cooler line ouputs? Are they AN?

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Any help you can lend would be appreciated!
 
GOD BLESS YOU MY FRIEND!!!!!Man 10 years ago and 10 years younger that was my dream. Im old now and payed $167,000 , NOT TO GO THROUGH WHAT YOUR DOING:eek:thumbsup:biggrin. Man by the time your done , that beauty is going to cost WELL:biggrin......, ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GTJOEY 1314, P.S CALL THE GTGUYS, THEYE HAVE ALL THAT DETAIL STUFF:thumbsup
 
I'll take a shot...

1. The broken bolt should be relatively easy to remove. At worst it has some mild thread lock on it. It won't be a problem.

2. I can tell you what the sensor is later tonight if someone hasn't answered by then.

3. Can't help you on the starter... I agree that it is likely not inexpensive.

4. I don't know what bolts you are referring to. Maybe you are talking about the threaded holes on the back of the transaxle? If so, these are used to secure a stamped metal piece that supports the factory exhaust. None of the holes are through-drilled so you can leave them out. If you want something in there, the factory ones are M8 x ~30mm.

5. I'd recommend the Accufab kit. Kit is comprised of 4 special-made (smaller shouldered) ARP bolts and two large, heat treated washers. Also included is the 6 (per side) flange bolts. $200 is inexpensive for the fix and piece of mind.

6. Only one oil for this tranaxle - source it through Ford. It's a full sythetic but blended uniquely for this transaxle. List is something like $32/qt.

7. Buy the Accufab and all of the torque procedures and specs are included.

8. Setrab cooler is the way to go (I sell a kit for the GT). Lines are standard -8 AN.
 
The sensor is for the backup light. You probably don't need it for a track car.

What did you have to do to mate it up with the Chevy?
 
Cool project. One of the bolts broke during removal on mine and heat alone wouldn't work. Had to weld on a tiny bit of metal to it and then back it out.

Good luck, looks like it will be a killer car for the track.
 
BlackICE said:
What did you have to do to mate it up with the Chevy?
Click to expand...


+1
 
Fran of RCR makes the adapter plate for his Superlite cars. It's a really nice piece CNC'd out of 1" aluminum. You can see it in between the trans and the engine.
 
Often the broken bolts come out with your fingers. Many seem not to have had any locktite on them.
 
Starter is MOTORCRAFT Part # SA918
O.E. Starter Eligible for Bumper to Bumper Motorcraft Warranties; 4G7V-11000AC Starter Original

I found that info at rockauto.com. They seemed to have the best price a while back. Prices I have seen range from $700-$850.
 
gtjoey said:
GOD BLESS YOU MY FRIEND!!!!!Man 10 years ago and 10 years younger that was my dream. Im old now and payed $167,000 , NOT TO GO THROUGH WHAT YOUR DOING:eek:thumbsup:biggrin. Man by the time your done , that beauty is going to cost WELL:biggrin......, ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GTJOEY 1314, P.S CALL THE GTGUYS, THEYE HAVE ALL THAT DETAIL STUFF:thumbsup
Click to expand...

BINGO! Same here. :cheers
 
BlackICE said:
The sensor is for the backup light. You probably don't need it for a track car.

What did you have to do to mate it up with the Chevy?
Click to expand...

Sorry, but I believe the sensor is the speedometer pulse sending unit. The unit is available from Ford for around $20.00. You can also buy the wire harness plug kit that matches to the sensor plug from Ford. Its around $30.00. The sensor is a magnetic pulse sensing unit. I don't know, however, how you'd match/calibrate to whatever computer you are using to generate the proper speed signal to feed the speedometer you select. Perhaps a tuner with a dyno can assist with this process and help you calibrate the sensor output to the engine management computer system. Or, a direct read kit may come with the speedometer assembly, and make calibration simple with only a few adjustments to the speedometer driving device.
 
Killer project, good luck with it. I hope you keep us informed with your progress.

For those that don't know what a Factory Five GTM is, here's a photo:

DSC01478.jpg
 
Is that one your's, Chris? Curious minds want to know!:eek
 
FlorIdaho Chris said:
For those that don't know what a Factory Five GTM is, here's a photo:
Click to expand...


I didn't!

That thing is just plain sweet no matter how you look at it! :eek :cheers :thumbsup
 
dbtgt said:
Is that one your's, Chris? Curious minds want to know!:eek
Click to expand...

I wish... :frown
 
Great project. I've been thinking about building one ever since I saw it at SEMA last year. Just curious why you didn't go with the FFR recommended Porsche transaxle? I think that one may have been a 5 spd...were there durability issues with LS7 level power?

That car is going to be insane, weighing under 2500 lbs with a modded LS7 powering it.
 
I toured the plant about five years ago. I built a kit car earlier in life so I kndof know what you don't want. This place was awsome. Everything is designed on computer. The sheetmetal is laser cut and interchangeable with any other part on the pile. I was going to build a Daytona until they mentioned a supercar project they were getting ready to announce. I waited and emailed the company about two to three times a year to see when the car would be available.

Then they made the announcement that a 100% Ford shop was going to base the car on non Ford components. Oh well I wrote a check for a GT. The best kit car ever built.
 
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