Carburetor question ...

[Benson]

I found a Zenith with a "Z" on back of upper housing above the rear vent hole ... I do not remember ever seeing one like this.

See photo:

Anyone have any information on this?

Thanks.

[DougVieyra]

The answer is in the MAFCA / MARC "Model A Restoration Guidelines", in their Carburetor section (page 1-8). Did you look there ?

Many questions posted here are quickly and easily found within the pages of this excellent reference work. Sadly, it is under-utilized. If you do not have this immensely important and extremely helpful resource tool, you are putting yourself and your understanding of your Ford Model A at a distinct disadvantage. It will answer hundreds (no exaggeration) of questions you might have about your Model A.

And for those who do already have this great RESTORER'S MANUAL and seldom refer to it, pass it on the one of your Model A friends who you think WILL benefit from it's vast knowledge.

P.S. - to help encourage you to look for your answer in the RESTORATION GUIDELINES, I am not going to tell you that the answer to your question is , 'Z' equals Zenith Manufacture. There were two other manufacturers (Holley & Ford) of this 'Zenith' carburetor. Both are covered in the RESTORATION GUIDELINES, along with a plethora of other information about the 'Zenith' carburetor.

[30ccpickup]

Originally Posted by DougVieyra

The answer is in the MAFCA / MARC "Model A Restoration Guidelines", in their Carburetor section. Did you look there ?

Many questions posted here are quickly and easily found within the pages of this excellent reference work. Sadly, it is under-utilized.

I agree, but if he does not ask it here, I will never know the question or see the answer.

[DougVieyra]

30ccPickup - Post #3:

If your name is 'Paul', I want to congratulate you on such a wonderful website: MODEL A BASICS. You have done an outstanding job of helping us better realize (I need a 'visual' to help me understand things) how the Zenith Carburetor works. Thank you for your time and effort to help others better understand the mechanical workings of the Ford Model A.

And IF your are NOT Paul - then please pass on my comments to him.

For those of you who are not so mechanically inclined, I highly recommend that you look at Paul's website MODEL A BASICS.com.

[99ZoomR]

If I'm reading my restoration guidelines right that would be an early A Zenith carburetor made between October of 1927 until February of 1928...

[99ZoomR]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I agree Doug! Paul's website is excellent...

[Ron in Quincy]

Benson,

The upper housing is the first Double Venturi housing made by Zenith; the lower housing does not match the upper housing ,it is a later housing, the boss on the back side is not drilled for retaining the double venture, there is no doubt a boss on the front side that is drilled and a pin installed for retaining the double venture.

Ron

[30ccpickup]

Thanks gentleman, a good 90 percent of the my website is what I have learned from you guys.

[29spcoupe]

Just went to http://MODELABASICS.com/ . Fantastic web site.

[Benson]

Originally Posted by Ron in Quincy

Benson,

The upper housing is the first Double Venturi housing made by Zenith; the lower housing does not match the upper housing ,it is a later housing, the boss on the back side is not drilled for retaining the double venture, there is no doubt a boss on the front side that is drilled and a pin installed for retaining the double venture.

Ron

Thanks Ron,

I will check the lower casting tomorrow to see if it has the drilled boss and pin.

But I am pretty sure that this one is not drilled and also I think this one has the cap and main jets offset making it a single venturi casting, unlike the double venturi ones that have the jets inline.

Off topic: If the early upper casting is paired with a single venturi lower casting what problems could I expect?

[Benson]

Originally Posted by 99ZoomR

If I'm reading my restoration guidelines right that would be an early A Zenith carburetor made between October of 1927 until February of 1928...

Are you looking at:

1. The 1994 version of page 1-8 with the table? ( Page 1-8 of 2011 version is sediment bowl info)

2. Or some where in the 2011 version?


3. Or Some other version of the Restoration Guidelines?


Thanks

[DougVieyra]

Benson, Post #11: " Are you looking at:
1. The 1994 version of page 1-8 with the table? ( Page 1-8 of 2011 version is sediment bowl info)
2. Or some where in the 2011 version?
3. Or Some other version of the Judging Standards? "
__________________________________________________ _

As a hunter, I can tell you that it is sometimes quite difficult to hit a moving target. And as with hunting, finding a fact can sometimes be difficult, as the 'facts' keep moving.

In looking up info./documentation on Model A questions, I also wonder: "Is this the latest information, or do I have out-of-date info.?" What is, will soon be, What was.

[Ron in Quincy]

Benson,

You might make the early housing available to someone that has a need for the housing. If your upper original complete throttle shaft was in the housing the lever may be forged steel and a difficult item to find. The choke lever for the early carb is also a steel forging with no bottom leg.

If the lower housing is the later type, off set main and cap jets, you should have no problem coming up with a upper housing with "Z" on the front throat. This would make you a correct matched upper and lower housings.

Ron

[Carb Guy]

This early top with the Z on the engine side has to be matched with a Zenith bottom with just Zenith on it , no 1, and it is has a domed boss only on the engine side . Very hard to find. I have been looking for one for years.

[Carb Guy]

Benson.In your picture the carburetor has the wrong bottom on it, no boss on the hood side and only a domed boss on the engine side, this bottom has a flat boss on the engine side and that is wrong. Yes the correct bottom is a double venturi good late 27 thru Jan. of 28. I have built just one of these for a late 27 early 28 show car.

[Benson]

Originally Posted by Carb Guy

This early top with the Z on the engine side has to be matched with a Zenith bottom with just Zenith on it , no 1, and it is has a domed boss only on the engine side . Very hard to find. I have been looking for one for years.

Do you perhaps have a photo of the domed boss on the lower casting or a photo of a later casting with a marking so that I know where to look?

I remember seeing a number of lower castings with Zenith and no "1".

[Ron in Quincy]

Benson,

Attached is several photos of a matched "Zenith" double venture carb with forged throttle and choke levers.
The last 3 photos are pictures of a "Holley" double venture.

Ron

[Benson]

Is the "Domed Boss" the boss with the hole for the Venturi alignment pin??

Thanks

[Carb Guy]

Benson

Yes. I will see if I have some bottoms out in the shop that I can take some pictures of. I will do some checking on Ron's second picture, the boss looks flat and not domed.

[Benson]

Thanks to everyone for all the info and help.

I was quite sure that this upper casting was not just an ordinary piece.