The external
oil pump is one thing that sticks out on this block - literally! Did any of the 260 and 289 aluminum blocks have an external
oil pump? Maybe this is something for the GT40 experts?
What is clearly stated in several articles on the P70 is that Shelby supplied de Tomaso with the engines before he withdrew from the development, but not until after he had dispatched Pete Brock to Italy to work with Medardo Fantuzzi to rework the unsatisfactory first Italian attempt at translating the Brock design from paper into full scale aluminum.
Does anyone have any history on the 260 and early 289 aluminum blocks?