The O’Hara Families 1957 V8 Mkll
Zephyr
Alan
and Sheree brought this car seven years ago in Dunedin while living in Hampden
in the lower South Island of New Zealand. The car was empty of running gear and
had suffered frontal damage. After fixing this up, a 6 cylinder motor and Mklll
4 speed gear box was installed.
After
3 years, the car was sold to a Gore person only for Alan to regret the decision
and spend the next 6 months getting it back before using it for a while and
then parking it up as rust was getting to be a problem and money was low, as
happens to all of us.
A
better job meant better money for a 289 V8 and shift kitted C4 trans from a
Mustang with radiator and extractors from the same car. Alan’s two sons at this
stage were employed in the automotive trade. Gareth as a mechanic and other son
Craig as a panel beater and painter.
The
V8 and trans was trial fitted with various versions of engine mounts mocked up
before the final ones were made. Plans were for the Mkll radiator to be used,
however it would have had to be 30mm further forward and it would have been too
high, so the Mustang radiator was installed.
A
Mklll Steering box is fitted here as it was installed before to go with the
Mklll
gear
box behind the previous six cylinder engine.
Interestingly
the Mklll steering box gives more room in a Mkll for the exhaust
manifold
or custom headers as the standard Mkll box is 15mm wider!
The above is the Mkll gear box
cross member mount brought forward with the C4 rubber insert.
The
battery was shifted to the boot because this better suited the fitment of the
remote booster (VH44 with 7/8 bore). New lines were made up for the brakes with
Jag brake hoses leading to MklV callipers and Mklll discs (Alan’s brake swap
designed by a good friend of his.
A
1984 Ford Telstar throttle cable leads to a 2 barrel carburettor and bug
catcher. Ford also donated a 1988 Fairlane brake pedal.
A
Ford Cortina shifter was installed inside with matching Commodore bucket seats.
Twin pipes and the donor extractors were fitted in as well.
Paint
was a bright blue metallic, similar to the late model range of Ford Falcons.
The body was not modified or cut for the V8 apart from the bug catcher through
the bonnet which was a finishing touch to the car.
In
total the car has taken 5 months on and off with help from all the family and
close friends and help from the Galeforce site.
Later
plans will be a diff with a ratio more suitable for the open road and uprated
rear suspension. The engine may also see a different cam grind and porting. A 4
barrel and alloy intake is also on the cards at a later date. Alan feels the
car may benefit with later model front suspension with power steering, however
this is not a must have. Alan and Sheree have had offers on the car and may
trade sometime in the future, but present plans are to enjoy the car and get
some miles under its tyres.