We recently welcomed our 1959 Ford Zephyr into the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.
As it was going through its initial inspection and assessment, we couldn’t help but notice just how well it has been restored over the last few years.
Usually, when the workshop team get underneath a car, there’s a surprise or two waiting for them. In this case, though, it was a very pleasant surprise as even the underside of this stunning classic seems to be in pristine condition.
My good friend John had a 1955 Mk1 Zephyr 6 that had been left in his Grandfathers will. It had 38k miles on it when we went out searching for Anglias and minis to burn off at the lights. We were 17 in 1971 and the police assumed we had stolen it when they often pulled us over in their Minor Panda Cars! I remember the lovely exhaust note and how flexible the engine was. Would pull away from 30mph in top gear with no fuss.
My Uncle Alan had a Mk2 Zodiac Automatic which seemed so exotic to me in 1966 when my fathers car was still the old Triumph Renown 1949 model. I would love this Zephyr and the gorgeous note it produces when double declutching down to 2nd. Fingers and Toes crossed!
Is it column change? Yes, it definitely is and you’d better be good with the clutch getting it away on a hill, as the 3 speed box has quiet a high ratio 1st gear. Ha ha!
Jonn has fitted a new diaphragm to the heater valve on our 1964 Ford Zephyr 4 and reassembled it. He then fitted a new seal to the valve connection to the heater rad and fit the valve to the heater.
He rebuilt the heater box and refitted it to the car. After connecting the pipes and cables, Jonn tested its operation, and all was ok.
He went on to vacuum-fill the system but it wouldn’t hold a vacuum. He found a dash leak from the radiator matrix so the coolant was drained and the radiator was removed for repair.
In preparation for our 1964 Ford Zephyr 4 to be won through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions, Jonn has been making a few repairs. Here are his notes:
Attach vacuum cooling system filling tool but system won’t hold a vacuum. Check all hose clips but all old style clips won’t tighten. Remove hoses to fit new clips and found heater matrix blocked solid. Attempt to blow through but to no avail. Clean out all hoses, refit and fit new jubilee clips. Clean exhaust flanges and manifold clamp. Refit exhaust and secure. Attend to throttle linkage .
Cut rod to length and cut new thread on ends. Attach ball joints and fit. Grease balls and tighten ball sockets. Modify bulkhead drain pipe and refit. Remove nearside front quarter light window. Remove handle from new item and clean and fit to old window and refit. Strip and fit new brake pads to nearside front. Strip rear brakes.
Remove half shaft and hub assembly. Clean all parts to be reused. Rub down and Paint brake backplate. Press out bearing and fit new hub seal. Thoroughly grease bearing and refit. Refit backplate and hub. Fit new wheel cylinder and brake shoes and lubricate and refit hand brake mechanism. Adjust shoes and refit drum.
Repeat whole process for nearside rear. Clean all parts etc.
Reassemble offside rear hub and brake assembly.lubricate backplate and clean and lubricate handbrake linkage/mechanism. Fit new cylinder and re bolt handbrake to cylinder. Fit new shoes and adjust and fit drum. Refit dynamo and fit new regulator. Refit auxiliary belt and adjust. Refit wheels and get off ramp. Push forward to open both front doors and start stripping heater box for removal.
Continue to remove heater box.
Remove heater box from car. Strip heater box on bench.remove heater valve and foundmits he valve that is blocked solid. Strip heater valve and clean out.
Remove heater radiator from heater box. Flush out brown dirt from inside until water flows through ok. Fit new foam strip to top and bottom of radiator and refit to heater box.
Reassemble heater. Heater valve rubber seal split, so unable to refit heater box to car yet. Order repair kit for valve.
We have recently welcomed another car into the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. This time it is our 1964 Ford Zephyr 4, which will soon go live on the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website.
Jonn has been looking at our new arrival and here are his notes:
Top up gearbox and axle oils. Strip brakes and inspect. Remove offside front calliper.
Thoroughly degrease calliper and clean all components. Remove piston from calliper and found it badly pitted and unserviceable. Check rear brakes to find cylinders weeping, shoes contaminated and hub seals weeping. Order parts….. refit wheels and drums until parts arrive. Remove fuel tank sender. Strip and lubricate and free off. Refit and test, ok. Tidy wiring under bonnet.
Remove air filter and fixed throttle linkage. Cut small pieces of wood to use as battery security. Make small strap from alloy to hold down battery and cover in sticky back foam. Drill out inner wing and bolt up strap. Clean out washer bottle and top up and test. Adjust washer aim. Test dynamo charging. Remove dynamo and regulator to send for repair. Remove exhaust completely and take to Fab shop for repair. Suck out old fluid from both master cylinder reservoirs and top up with new.
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