The Ford Barn

700rpm · 07-12-2010, 04:19 PM

I've looked for a long time for a good restorable Zenith carb for my Pickup. i finally found this one at a swap meet and it was only $75. The guy said he took it off a car that was running when it was parked. With a little work it should clean up really nicely.

2manycars · 07-12-2010, 04:23 PM

I did not realize the Titanic used a Zenith carb on it's pony engine.

MrTube · 07-12-2010, 04:39 PM

Holy cow. We just bought a brand new one from Bratton's for $360 I believe to replace one I felt was questionable and we wanted to have a *spare*.

That ones gonna be pretty tough to 'clean up'. I thought you were looking for a good carb to restore?
When was the car parked, 1938?

Dave in MN · 07-12-2010, 04:47 PM

Yes I bit on your lead...LOL! That's about as bad as they can get!
Dave in MN

Clem Clement · 07-12-2010, 04:48 PM

I have one just like that except different. I musta been on the same boat. Plus mine has the dissy togo with it.
clem

Tom Wesenberg · 07-12-2010, 04:51 PM

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That won't anchor much of a boat!

I had a distributor that looked just like that and it cleaned up to look like new. Sandblast and paint can do wonders, but that does look tough.

OK, really now, so how much did the guy pay you to take it off his hands?

Ron in Quincy · 07-12-2010, 05:32 PM

I can't believe you paid $ 75. for that carb.

Ron

Charles Reese · 07-12-2010, 05:39 PM

be sure and use the gasoline proof paint when you restore it!!

Brubaker · 07-12-2010, 05:41 PM

Okay, either tongue-(way!)in-cheek or an eternal optimist. Good line about the Titanic. All I had was U-boat commander.
Properly restored/painted(ready to go) should run $125-$150 from what I've seen.

29RPU · 07-12-2010, 05:42 PM

A little excavation going on I see. Did you make sure you had legal right to disturb it's final resting place?

Kevin in NJ · 07-12-2010, 05:59 PM

Seriously,

Try electrolytic rust removal with it.

It might clean up better than you might imagine.

700rpm · 07-12-2010, 07:53 PM

I think I'll try it as is first. I like that patina of age. Is it OK to use the new alcohol gas, do you think? I wouldn't want to damage anything inside.

Ron in Quincy · 07-12-2010, 08:13 PM

You best take it apart, the bowl could be full of rust, the float valve and float may be froze, the passages to the main jet and needle seat could also be full of rust, also in the bowl is the comp. jet., better check it out !!!!!!

Ron

Tom Wesenberg · 07-12-2010, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 700rpm

I've looked for a long time for a good restorable Zenith carb for my Pickup. i finally found this one at a swap meet and it was only $75. The guy said he took it off a car that was running when it was parked. With a little work it should clean up really nicely.

That's what happens when you store parts in buckets and have a leak in the roof.

700rpm · 07-12-2010, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron in Quincy

I can't believe you paid $ 75. for that carb.

Ron

I KNOW! Wasn't that a great deal? I'm chuffed!

Jerry Parr WI · 07-12-2010, 09:05 PM

Friend of mine had a relative with several rain barrels filled with Zenith carbs. Over the years he would part with them a few at a time. They tended to look just like that. Many of them restored to be great running carbs and the others yielded many great original parts. The friend gave them to me as they became available. Before you get to excited about finding the location that was in the 70's.

Gary WA · 07-12-2010, 09:32 PM

I think he meant 75 cents!!!

Tom Wesenberg · 07-12-2010, 11:00 PM

Soak it in molasses or use the electrolitic rust removal and see what you get. Things aren't always as bad as they look.

Dennis L Oberer · 07-13-2010, 12:03 AM

That rusty carb is about what I got at IOLA for $2...and yet with penetrating oil and patience I got it apart...including the venturi...and found the original zenith jets....and after bead blasting it will be a good as new unit.

Dennis L Oberer
Green Bay WI

peters180a/170b · 07-13-2010, 05:31 AM

Now we really know what was the problem with oil leak in the Gulf.

zzlegend · 07-13-2010, 07:35 AM

I think i saw you there at the swapmeet. Didnt you buy that from the old guy sitting on the apple box? Couldnt miss him. He had a patch on one eye and a wooden leg. His name was Rustie Geezer and he had his 2 dogs with him, Russ and Tee. Kinda funny to watch him drinking Jack Daniels out of an old distributor cap. Dont make em like him anymore.

700rpm · 07-13-2010, 10:06 AM

ZZ- I knew you saw him and had your eye on that carb. That's why I snapped it up!

zzlegend · 07-13-2010, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 700rpm

ZZ- I knew you saw him and had your eye on that carb. That's why I snapped it up!

you beat me out of that one. but i 'll get ya on the next one. you did good.

07-12-2010, 04:23 PM	#2
2manycars Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eastern CT Posts: 2,732	Re: Finally found an original carb! I did not realize the Titanic used a Zenith carb on it's pony engine.

07-12-2010, 04:39 PM	#3
MrTube Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,471	Re: Finally found an original carb! Holy cow. We just bought a brand new one from Bratton's for $360 I believe to replace one I felt was questionable and we wanted to have a spare. That ones gonna be pretty tough to 'clean up'. I thought you were looking for a good carb to restore? When was the car parked, 1938?

07-12-2010, 04:47 PM	#4
Dave in MN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Jordan, MN Posts: 1,411	Re: Finally found an original carb! Yes I bit on your lead...LOL! That's about as bad as they can get! Dave in MN

07-12-2010, 04:48 PM	#5
Clem Clement Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 3,393	Re: Finally found an original carb! I have one just like that except different. I musta been on the same boat. Plus mine has the dissy togo with it. clem

07-12-2010, 04:51 PM	#6
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Finally found an original carb! Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) That won't anchor much of a boat! I had a distributor that looked just like that and it cleaned up to look like new. Sandblast and paint can do wonders, but that does look tough. OK, really now, so how much did the guy pay you to take it off his hands?

07-12-2010, 05:32 PM	#7
Ron in Quincy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Quincy, CA. Posts: 1,708	Re: Finally found an original carb! I can't believe you paid $ 75. for that carb. Ron

07-12-2010, 05:39 PM	#8
Charles Reese Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 882	Re: Finally found an original carb! be sure and use the gasoline proof paint when you restore it!!

07-12-2010, 05:41 PM	#9
Brubaker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northern California Posts: 765	Re: Finally found an original carb! Okay, either tongue-(way!)in-cheek or an eternal optimist. Good line about the Titanic. All I had was U-boat commander. Properly restored/painted(ready to go) should run $125-$150 from what I've seen.

07-12-2010, 05:42 PM	#10
29RPU Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Visalia, California Posts: 246	Re: Finally found an original carb! A little excavation going on I see. Did you make sure you had legal right to disturb it's final resting place?

07-12-2010, 05:59 PM	#11
Kevin in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South East NJ Posts: 3,398	Re: Finally found an original carb! Seriously, Try electrolytic rust removal with it. It might clean up better than you might imagine.

07-12-2010, 07:53 PM	#12
700rpm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 5,902	Re: Finally found an original carb! I think I'll try it as is first. I like that patina of age. Is it OK to use the new alcohol gas, do you think? I wouldn't want to damage anything inside.

07-12-2010, 08:13 PM	#13
Ron in Quincy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Quincy, CA. Posts: 1,708	Re: Finally found an original carb! You best take it apart, the bowl could be full of rust, the float valve and float may be froze, the passages to the main jet and needle seat could also be full of rust, also in the bowl is the comp. jet., better check it out !!!!!! Ron

07-12-2010, 09:05 PM	#16
Jerry Parr WI Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 619	Re: Finally found an original carb! Friend of mine had a relative with several rain barrels filled with Zenith carbs. Over the years he would part with them a few at a time. They tended to look just like that. Many of them restored to be great running carbs and the others yielded many great original parts. The friend gave them to me as they became available. Before you get to excited about finding the location that was in the 70's.

07-12-2010, 09:32 PM	#17
Gary WA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Clinton,WA/Whidbey Island Posts: 4,098	Re: Finally found an original carb! I think he meant 75 cents!!!

07-12-2010, 11:00 PM	#18
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Finally found an original carb! Soak it in molasses or use the electrolitic rust removal and see what you get. Things aren't always as bad as they look.

07-13-2010, 12:03 AM	#19
Dennis L Oberer Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Green Bay WI Posts: 179	Re: Finally found an original carb! That rusty carb is about what I got at IOLA for $2...and yet with penetrating oil and patience I got it apart...including the venturi...and found the original zenith jets....and after bead blasting it will be a good as new unit. Dennis L Oberer Green Bay WI

07-13-2010, 05:31 AM	#20
peters180a/170b Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Putnam Valley N.Y. Posts: 2,151	Re: Finally found an original carb! Now we really know what was the problem with oil leak in the Gulf.

07-13-2010, 07:35 AM	#21
zzlegend Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Reseda, Calif. Posts: 2,188	Re: Finally found an original carb! I think i saw you there at the swapmeet. Didnt you buy that from the old guy sitting on the apple box? Couldnt miss him. He had a patch on one eye and a wooden leg. His name was Rustie Geezer and he had his 2 dogs with him, Russ and Tee. Kinda funny to watch him drinking Jack Daniels out of an old distributor cap. Dont make em like him anymore.

07-13-2010, 10:06 AM	#22
700rpm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 5,902	Re: Finally found an original carb! ZZ- I knew you saw him and had your eye on that carb. That's why I snapped it up!

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