Here is the latest update on
Graeme Rodgers (Greyboy) Mkll Zephyr in
Australia.
With a set budget Graeme has
given the engine bay a new life with a bit of chrome and paint and hard work.
The extractors, seals, and
gaskets came from Enford (NZ), with the rocker cover from Resto Spares (NZ).
Fellow Aussie Gary Dole supplied one of his well-made spin off oil filter
conversion kits. Also purchased were new vac and fuel kits from About Time Spares.
All the other parts have come from E- Bay, which includes a
complete gearbox, floor change unit, new clutch and pressure plate, alternator,
bucket seats, carpet, and the twin carb manifold and one extra carby. The
engine bay looks 100% better and really looks the part of a Zephyr in their
hey-day.
Basically the engine bay is finished with the
exception of refitting the original fuel filter on to the wheel arch area.
ABS brakes relined the brake
shoes and added a little more to the linings to compensate for possible
skimming of the drums, they also had no problems in supplying clutch, brake and
slave cylinder repair kits as well as re-sleeving the brake cylinders. Cool eh.
Graeme is now finishing the
trim inside with new wind lace; He’s decided to retain the original hood lining
and door trims to keep some original look to the interior. No money helps to
make these decisions! With the Alternator swap (on site), he has also changed
the polarity to negative earth.
The gearbox is a standard
gearbox he bought for $10 on E-Bay to suit a MK11 Zephyr.
The gear-change however is from a 1960 to 1965 Ford Falcon.
These were fitted with a 3 speed as well. Two companies made floor change
conversions to convert from column to floor shift, they were Speco -Thomas and
Impala. From Graeme’s work with Ford during that era he knew the boxes were
almost identical.
As a foot note to this, when
the first Falcons came out the clutch system was that bad that they started
fitting Zephyr pressure plates to stop the shudder so what equates to a Falcon
60-65 plate would fit a Zephyr. Falcon ones would also be easier to pick up
nowadays.
Graeme manufactured a simple
bracket to go over the extension housing then bolted the shift unit on, plus a
bit of weld and it all works perfectly, no adjustments or trips down to the
local auto shop for extras.
Thanks Graeme, we look forward to the next update!