Witch Doctor

The Cam Jammers’ 1935 Ford 5-Window Coupe.

WitchDoctor_FI

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