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Projects 37 Zephyr build thread

Discussion in 'Traditional Customs' started by Wensum Valley Rods, Jul 28, 2012.

  1. WWinIL
    Joined: Mar 1, 2012
    Posts: 194

    WWinIL
    Member

    Paul,
    I've enjoyed this thread. Great job on your work and taking the time to take pic's and show your progress. FYI, the March 2014 Rod & Custom has an article on Pendine Sands and there's a pic of your Zephyr on P. 50, as well as on P.52 (In the far background,center right pic).

    Keep up the great work !
     
  2. birdman1
    Joined: Dec 6, 2012
    Posts: 1,591

    birdman1
    Member

    I saw a Model T Ford conversion that used a cast-link chain running from the rear axle hub to 2 axles, one ahead and one behind the drive axle. soo it had a tandem axle, very slow moving, as all the trucks were in the teens and twenty's. just a thought also, the Case farm tractors actually used a chain drive until the early 70's. it was inside the rear-end housing, ran in 90w grease, and had asjusters to take up the slack. very reliable.
     
  3. Is it out already?! Wonder if our man Ratty could grab a couple of copies...?
     
  4. Wensum Valley Rods
    Joined: Oct 13, 2008
    Posts: 289

    Wensum Valley Rods
    Member
    from England

    Now there's a plan Phil.
     
  5. WWinIL
    Joined: Mar 1, 2012
    Posts: 194

    WWinIL
    Member

    Mine was in the mail yesterday (12-20). Not the best of images on my part. Here's what it looks like:

    Enjoy,
    Walt

    [​IMG][/URL][/IMG]

    [​IMG][/URL][/IMG]

    [​IMG][/URL][/IMG]
     
  6. Wensum Valley Rods
    Joined: Oct 13, 2008
    Posts: 289

    Wensum Valley Rods
    Member
    from England

    Cheers Walt, looks like a good feature.

    Paul.
     
  7. Flat Ernie
    Joined: Jun 5, 2002
    Posts: 8,406

    Flat Ernie
    Tech Editor

    Just read it (my dad get's R&C, I don't take any mags anymore) - good article. Wish I had been there....
     
  8. Jersey Joe 67
    Joined: Jun 12, 2008
    Posts: 427

    Jersey Joe 67
    Member
    from J Town

    Incredible build, wow.
     
  9. TinWolf
    Joined: Sep 12, 2006
    Posts: 197

    TinWolf
    Member
    from Sweden

    Hi Paul !
    Incredible , resurrect bits and pieces to a lovely era perfect ArtDeco ride , you need some kind of price for this achivement , I read about a lorry they hoisted out of a Swedich lake that had been laying in mud for 50 years and restored it , thats the only other project that can compete with your car . Simply fantastic !!!
    One thing I read of the deaching the spring , I remember someone told me that they needed to be heat treated to work in its new shape and found this explanation of the process :
    http://www.eatonsprings.com/rearching.htm
    Spring steel are tuff stuff , I been riding my -51 Merc with 2 of the seven leafs flipped for the last 20 years , I dont think its the right way but it has worked without problem ... !
    Wolf
     
  10. Wensum Valley Rods
    Joined: Oct 13, 2008
    Posts: 289

    Wensum Valley Rods
    Member
    from England

    Hey Wolf, coming from you that is one mighty fine compliment. I have seen the work you produce and it's damn cool.
    Interesting about the springs, Mine has been fine and I have read and know of lots that have been done this way I did it from way back when and it works well.

    Paul.
     
  11. tommyflathead
    Joined: Apr 18, 2011
    Posts: 460

    tommyflathead
    Member

  12. Silverado85
    Joined: Mar 29, 2009
    Posts: 211

    Silverado85
    Member

    Awesome build. Love the hand craft design on your bumper brackets. Best ever!
     
  13. Puli-Song
    Joined: Dec 20, 2012
    Posts: 8

    Puli-Song
    Member
    from Finland

    Just awesome! This story give more power to my own ´36 Zephyr project.
     
  14. Whats been going on over at the Wensum Valley Rod shop???


    Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
     
  15. I just re-read this entire thread because it is one of my all time favorites! Here's a bump to the top and a "Cheers" to you Paul!
     
  16. adam401
    Joined: Dec 27, 2007
    Posts: 2,856

    adam401
    Member

    I just read this whole thread this morning as well. Super hero level save on this. Its one thing to do it in the USA. That would be impressive enough but to ship it overseas then take on a project like that is amazing. I love the dedication and the end result is phenomenal!
     
    Wensum Valley Rods likes this.
  17. Wensum Valley Rods
    Joined: Oct 13, 2008
    Posts: 289

    Wensum Valley Rods
    Member
    from England

    Ha ha cheers guys. I've now been using the Zephyr quite regularly for the last three years. It's been to Pendine beach races every time so far as well as doing a couple of laps on the Brands Hatch track.
    I had several teething problems to start with, the main one being persistent overheating of the engine. After lots of trial and error and a complete recore of the rad it turned out to be that somebody had removed the baffle in the radiator header and that resulted in water being thrown out of the overflow everytime I went round a right hand bend . I installed a pressure cap and neck and cured the problem.
    I have also had and still got quite violent clutch judder. I cured it for a while but after around 100 miles it returned. Whilst trying to trace the problem I removed the transmission cover and the speedo drive and tried to let the clutch up slowly with my foot on the brake and noticed the prop is bouncing inside the torque tube. It would appear that the torque tube bearing sleeve is badly worn ( I changed the bearing and packed it with grease and it again cured the problem for several miles until I guess the grease spread out.
    I have left it for now as a 5 speed gearbox is a very high possibility in the near future.
    I also quickly came to the conclusion that the old flathead from my old 27 was very worn and was using as much oil as it was petrol. I cured that by buying a complete Simca Marmon army truck and removed its engine for the Zephyr.
    Still got lots to do to and have some more plans for the old girl yet but I am having fun in it and it's getting used like it was meant to be.
    Here's a few pics of our adventures so far. Zephyr on  Brands Hatch 2015.jpg
     
  18. Wensum Valley Rods
    Joined: Oct 13, 2008
    Posts: 289

    Wensum Valley Rods
    Member
    from England

    The pic above is me on Brands Hatch track. This was a really good event for me as it gave me a chance to give the Zephyr some hard driving. It always seemed to want to go straight on the road and you had to slow down and really work it on the bends. I had it sideways and howling those whitewalls round the hairpins and soon realised it will go round you just have to force it a bit. :)

    Beverly getting ready for one of her runs down Pendine beach. She was only around 1mph slower than me. In my defence the fuel pump stopped delivering at full rpm so a touch under 75 was all we could manage.

    Pendine 2015.jpg

    Helping out my mate Clark who had gearbox issues on the beach and despite a very good effort to fix it the tide coming was beating us. The only and safest option was to tow him with the Zephyr.

    Pendine 2016 8.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2017
  19. Fantastic! I'm still in awe of what you have done to resurrect this beauty!
     
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  20. mgtstumpy
    Joined: Jul 20, 2006
    Posts: 9,214

    mgtstumpy
    Member

    WOW, GREAT SAVE.:D
     
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  21. Bandit Billy
    Joined: Sep 16, 2014
    Posts: 12,286

    Bandit Billy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Beautiful car! Too bad Beverly wasn't enjoying herself. :D:)
     
  22. Very cool. Don't leave us all hanging another 2 years for the next update!


    Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  23. They're horrible!!!! Please don't do it.
     
  24. Just found this thread and read the whole lot in one go. VERY inspirational to me, so thank you.
     
  25. topher5150
    Joined: Feb 10, 2017
    Posts: 3,338

    topher5150
    Member

    Hokey Pete's!!!!!! This makes me feel a lot better about my little project compared to yours
     
    Last edited: Feb 22, 2017
  26. siouxindian
    Joined: Nov 29, 2012
    Posts: 27

    siouxindian
    Member

    you are a very good car repair man . i want to thank you for sharing this repair. dencie
     
    Wensum Valley Rods likes this.
  27. siouxindian
    Joined: Nov 29, 2012
    Posts: 27

    siouxindian
    Member

    yes he is very talented! he makes it look easy.
     
  28. siouxindian
    Joined: Nov 29, 2012
    Posts: 27

    siouxindian
    Member

    you could not have not did that without your wife.
     
  29. siouxindian
    Joined: Nov 29, 2012
    Posts: 27

    siouxindian
    Member

    yes. they were put on because of water. just like building a building it is not always a sunny day. snow load.
     

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