The Cam Jammers’ 1935 Ford 5-Window Coupe.
Photos: Studio 413, Story: Jerry Zero, Model: Andrea DePalma
“Witchdoctor” was built in memory of Jerry Zero Sr. who was one of the founding members and President of the “Cam Jammers” out of Conshohocken PA in the mid 50’s. This was at a time when aftermarket rod parts were virtually non existent. Good friends, ingenuity in building/modifying parts was key into making hot rods go faster. Cool times to be a hot rodder.
Witchdoctor was created the old school way. No money out of personal or business accounts all done by great friends donating parts, bartering, horse trading, scraping, building whatever was needed. Way cool when fellow rodders helping out the plain old fashioned way.
The body was donated by a friend of 45 yrs. Dave Lotier, who’s wife had enough of the much needed to be restored ’35 and it had to go. We got together and figured out which way to go with it. Left unchopped but a major 13in. were sectioned off the body and channeled over the frame. A lot of the original black paint is still on the car.
Originally started out with a 502 caddy motor, but came into possession of a late 1954 Chrysler New Yorker which the Hemi was immediately yanked out. A new tyranny & motor mounts fabricated and then transplanted into the ’35.
The wishbones (split), front axle, most of front springs (except main), grill, wheels, steering column, tie rods were all used from the original.
2×4 & 2×3 frame full roll cage front axle – 35 Ford suicide spring.
Spindles – 37 ford
juice brakes – 39 ford
F-100 steering box
Rear: Dana 60 ¾ ton truck
3.73 gears
Ladder bars/air ride tech, shocks on rear
Tranny: BOP th 400
Shift kit
Manual shift valve body
Converted to short tail shaft
Motor: Late 1954 331 Chrysler firepower
Crank – stock
Cam – Schneider custom grind blower cam (solid)
Flat tappet
Hardened adjustable push rods
King bearings
Rods hardened
Springs, Schneider
Rockers – stock (hardened)
Intake – classic speed
Induction – (2) original rebuilt edelbrock comp 500 series
Scoop – mailbox
Timing – double roller
Timing cover – hot heads
Water pump – sbc
Ignition – old vertex magneto
Wires – solid core
Exhaust – zoomies (open)
Cooling:
Original 1954 radiator been with motor all its life
Lettering & graphics – done in house
Tires – front firestone 6.00x 16” wide rear radir dragster 9.00 x 16” wide whites gauges – all original 50’s & 60’s SW
Build crew:
Jerry “Zee” Zero Fab & design
“Diamond Dave” Lotier Mechanics & engine
“Cool Ken” Kull – engine and speed parts
Ralph “Sparky” O’Neill – fabrication genius
Ralph “Bushwacker” Almhouse – wiring
Ricky “Ditz” Ditzsler 39 juice brakes plus, plus
Mike “Big Block” Monaco – Blower man
“Revving Evan” Menditto – builder & future keeper of the rod