The Ford Barn

TinCup · 03-19-2015, 05:36 PM

Well a rainy day at the Chickasha Pre War swap meet and I turned up this carb. If I understand it right the top is a Wizard aftermarket sidebowl top and the bottom is a standard Zenith2. The brass tag shows Wizard Improved and listed as it's from Western Auto. It appears the Wizard may be the same as a Simmons based on the pictures I have seen. Both pieces are in great shape and all passages are clear but they will not work together. I can always reuse the stock Zenith but without a matching Wizard bottom bowl it will just have to sit on the shelf until I can find one.

Big hammer · 03-19-2015, 06:06 PM

If the Wizard needs a good home PM me! My dad owned Wa store for 45 years and I got my start at wrenching their :-)

rogerkb1936 · 03-19-2015, 06:25 PM

i really miss western auto. great working man's store.

Joop · 03-19-2015, 06:25 PM

Can you post a clearer picture of the tag. Thanks

Joe K · 03-19-2015, 07:24 PM

Funny how Wizard/Simmons parts seem to attract/accumulate Zenith parts?

Was the name Wizard/Simmons that attractive at the time? And was there some reason to want to experiment and mix/match parts?

I myself gambled and bought from Ebay an aluminum base Wizard/simmons carb that had an "unknown" (and unrecognized) cast iron top to it. I considered that the top might have been yet another Simmons variant - or something else?

On winning the auction and delivery, I found that the top was a Zenith top with the idle adust screw broken off flush with the casting and covered with dirt (and thereby rendered invisible to the Ebay camera.)

I was not happy - fortunately I had paid less than market for the carb.

My wizard/simmons bottom is in the pot metal style. So it probably won't help you.

Meanwhile, your cast iron Zenith bottom MIGHT go onto my cast iron Zenith top?

Anyone need a pot metal Wizard/simmons bottom?

Joe K

ctlikon0712 · 03-19-2015, 08:20 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Great find! I hope to someday find a Simmons or Wizard side bowl carb for my late 31.

TinCup · 03-20-2015, 02:52 PM

Joop I took this in BW because the brass tag is so reflective that it was hard to get a decent pic. It reads:
Wizard Improved
Patent Pending......
Western Auto Supply Co.

Hopefully I can find a good bottom to go with the top. I wonder if it will be tagged like the top?

Joe K · 03-20-2015, 03:08 PM

A seller on Ebay is selling yet another simmon/zenith mis-match (I don't think I want to give it the status name of "hybrid.") See http://www.ebay.com/itm/Simmons-Ford...22854d&vxp=mtr

This lower casting is unusual to my eye because of the "extensions" where the throttle shaft should be located (it and the disk are missing) It does have the GAV location - although what is in the hole is a bit obscured. But it does have the cast in "S" indicating that it is Simmons.

Is the "S" found on a Wizard?

Still, it might work - the price is sort of reasonable, and might bring back a carburetor variant.

Joe K

TinCup · 03-20-2015, 03:11 PM

There is no S on the upper sidebowl unit. However the brass tag is in the same place. The Zenith 2 bottom that came with this unit is in good shape so maybe I can work a trade with someone.

TinCup · 03-29-2015, 11:11 AM

Update!

Well I found a Simmons bowl on Ebay and while it was in horrible shape I was able to clean it up. The bowl was severely rusted and took quite a while to clean up. The main jets were there and I was able to use other parts for the missing ones. There is no tag on the bowl as I have seen with other Simmons carbs but there is a "S" stamped on it. I was glad that the Zenith Venturi was a match. I will be putting it on a test motor in the morning and we will see how it runs. The Zenith parts look like they will make a good carb.

TinCup · 03-30-2015, 08:27 PM

Well I put it on the test engine this morning and it started right up. The float valve is still leaking so I will have to try and sort that out. I couldn't test as I wants as I was leaking too much. So Step 1 looks like a good start.
Running Wizard (Simmons) Carb

Bud on the Vineyard · 04-26-2015, 12:14 PM

Nice find TinCup. I recently bought a complete cast iron Simmons carb (not the side bowl version) on ebay. I am now looking for a complete Simmons cast iron carb with side bowl for my collection. If anyone has one for sale I'm interested. I have an extra Zenith-3 side bowl that I might consider trading for a Simmons sidebowl.

03-19-2015, 06:06 PM	#2
Big hammer Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Land of Lincoln Posts: 3,131	Re: Western Auto Wizard Side Bowl If the Wizard needs a good home PM me! My dad owned Wa store for 45 years and I got my start at wrenching their :-)

03-19-2015, 06:25 PM	#3
rogerkb1936 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 825	Re: Western Auto Wizard Side Bowl i really miss western auto. great working man's store.

03-19-2015, 06:25 PM	#4
Joop Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 2,952	Re: Western Auto Wizard Side Bowl Can you post a clearer picture of the tag. Thanks

03-19-2015, 07:24 PM	#5
Joe K Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cow Hampshire Posts: 4,188	Re: Western Auto Wizard Side Bowl Funny how Wizard/Simmons parts seem to attract/accumulate Zenith parts? Was the name Wizard/Simmons that attractive at the time? And was there some reason to want to experiment and mix/match parts? I myself gambled and bought from Ebay an aluminum base Wizard/simmons carb that had an "unknown" (and unrecognized) cast iron top to it. I considered that the top might have been yet another Simmons variant - or something else? On winning the auction and delivery, I found that the top was a Zenith top with the idle adust screw broken off flush with the casting and covered with dirt (and thereby rendered invisible to the Ebay camera.) I was not happy - fortunately I had paid less than market for the carb. My wizard/simmons bottom is in the pot metal style. So it probably won't help you. Meanwhile, your cast iron Zenith bottom MIGHT go onto my cast iron Zenith top? Anyone need a pot metal Wizard/simmons bottom? Joe K __________________ Shudda kept the horse.

03-19-2015, 08:20 PM	#6
ctlikon0712 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Cocoa, Florida Posts: 1,609	Re: Western Auto Wizard Side Bowl Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Great find! I hope to someday find a Simmons or Wizard side bowl carb for my late 31. __________________ Wanted: Simmons Super Power Head Craig Likon 1931 150B

03-20-2015, 03:08 PM	#8
Joe K Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cow Hampshire Posts: 4,188	Re: Western Auto Wizard Side Bowl A seller on Ebay is selling yet another simmon/zenith mis-match (I don't think I want to give it the status name of "hybrid.") See http://www.ebay.com/itm/Simmons-Ford...22854d&vxp=mtr This lower casting is unusual to my eye because of the "extensions" where the throttle shaft should be located (it and the disk are missing) It does have the GAV location - although what is in the hole is a bit obscured. But it does have the cast in "S" indicating that it is Simmons. Is the "S" found on a Wizard? Still, it might work - the price is sort of reasonable, and might bring back a carburetor variant. Joe K __________________ Shudda kept the horse.

03-20-2015, 03:11 PM	#9
TinCup Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: OKC / Tonkawa, Ok. Posts: 1,977	Re: Western Auto Wizard Side Bowl There is no S on the upper sidebowl unit. However the brass tag is in the same place. The Zenith 2 bottom that came with this unit is in good shape so maybe I can work a trade with someone. __________________ Oklahoma City Model A Restorers Group.

03-30-2015, 08:27 PM	#11
TinCup Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: OKC / Tonkawa, Ok. Posts: 1,977	Re: Western Auto Wizard Side Bowl Well I put it on the test engine this morning and it started right up. The float valve is still leaking so I will have to try and sort that out. I couldn't test as I wants as I was leaking too much. So Step 1 looks like a good start. Running Wizard (Simmons) Carb __________________ Oklahoma City Model A Restorers Group.

04-26-2015, 12:14 PM	#12
Bud on the Vineyard Junior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 12	Re: Western Auto Wizard Side Bowl Nice find TinCup. I recently bought a complete cast iron Simmons carb (not the side bowl version) on ebay. I am now looking for a complete Simmons cast iron carb with side bowl for my collection. If anyone has one for sale I'm interested. I have an extra Zenith-3 side bowl that I might consider trading for a Simmons sidebowl. Last edited by Bud on the Vineyard; 04-26-2015 at 05:43 PM.