Zenith side bowl carburetor

[Tom Endy]

The photo is of a recently acquired Zenith side bowl carburetor. I have several, but this one has features I have never seen before. Note that instead of the top casting being dome shape it is flat with a support gusset. The idle mixture control is on the front instead of on the side. There is also three very different brass plugs installed around the passages to the idle port in the throat.

I am thinking this could be a top casting for a Zenith-3 made by Ford. The bottom casting is a Zenith-1, but they are easily switched around. The sketches in the judging standards are not clear. The sketches for the top casting of the -1, -2, and -3 all look the same.

Does anybody know what this is all about?

Tom Endy

 

[Purdy Swoft]

The top casting may be a Simmons. I have several Simmons carburetors, cast iron and a few alloy. They did make a cast iron side bowl version but I don't have a side bowl version for comparison.

 

[Fred]

That is a SIMMONS top & Zenith bottom.. Notice the two rivets on the top of bowl area where a Simmons brass tag should be...

 

[LukeDahlinger]

Here's a Simmons...... Note the tag.

 

[Tom Endy]

Thank you for the information and the photos.

Is Simmons good or bad?

Tom Endy

 

[Fred]

Some people say they it to go along with the POLICE type head they made..

 

[Pickupman]

Kinda interesting how some Simmons have the tag on the top like Lukes and some are tagless like Toms. I've seen both of the above Simmons Carbs. Wonder what's up with the tag attachment?

 

[Gary in MN]

Here is another side bowl with a tag. No name on the tag just pat'd #'s 1584759, 1815650. There is a "S" in the bottom 1/2 just above the GAV.
Gary in MN

 

[MikeK]

Kinda interesting how some Simmons have the tag on the top like Lukes and some are tagless like Toms. I've seen both of the above Simmons Carbs. Wonder what's up with the tag attachment?

Likely all tagged when new, then tags removed when they were turned in as cores and rebuilt/ resold? Tom's definitely shows the two rivet marks.

 

[Fred]

OR, Some one took it off & (tried) sold it as complete Zenith carb...

 

[Tom Endy]

Thanks to all of you folks who are knowledegable about a Simmons side bowl carburetors for the information and photos. I have two additional questions.

#1. There are two additional holes in the top casting. Both are next to the idle jet. One appears to have a brass fitting with a screwdriver slot. The other hole is covered up when it is attached to a bottom Zenith casting. This carburetor came off a running car. Does anybody know what the two holes are for?

#2. The inlet boss for the fuel line in the side attachment does not have a taper that a ferrule would snug into. What kind of a fuel line attachment was used.

Tom Endy

 

[Richard Lorenz]

From my memory, the complete Simmons has a power valve arrangement that is not too much different from the Zenith B carburetor.