Roger Zimmermann

The last detail to the block was added today. With the obvious exception of missing holes for the oil pan and engine supports, the block is ready. I don't know yet what is coming next: either water pump or the heads.

Not to forget that the '50s were not better! I'm afraid that your question will stay without answer!

Doing the basic shape of the engine was rather quick. Now, like a Christmas tree, the block must be dressed. Not with the same items, but, for a model, it's like for a tree: the dressing is making it nicer. Thanks to good pictures I got, I could do most of the small details which are added to the naked block. This morning, I added the last piece brazed on the form; the intense heat it letting melting the terminated joints which is not desirable. For this reason, the remaining small fittings will be soft soldered. The rework will be also more easy; however, the diamond tools I bought recently will not be used with the soft soldering; I will use my worn steel milling cutters. The holes, threaded or not, will be done later. The "decorative" ones will be done when the block is completely finished; the ones used to attach the various accessories will be done when the accessories (fuel pump, brackets for the generator, etc.) will be ready.

Lou, I was lucky: mines were chrome and were available! It is, however, a long time ago. Yours are very nice, even if I don't especially like the gold grille/sabre wheels/hubcaps.

It's no surprise: the Lark frame is, with the exception of a few details, the same as the one of the Avanti. Glad you solved this problem!

I suppose you have the shop manual; it says: "The (front) supports are always mounted in the rear set of holes in the braket" According to one of your pictures, the shop manual is wrong as the holes are not front/rear located, but sidewise... While doing my Avanti model, I noticed that the space between the booster and LH stud for the valve cover is a tight fit. As it is a model, I could "arrange" the situation. For a real car, you may be forced to remove or loose the booster to install the valve cover. When I was doing the Avanti model, I had many difficulties to find decent pictures from the engine bay or other details. Now, the model is completed since 8 months and I find plenty of Avantis under restoration! I'm building now a Continental Mark II; even if I have the possibility to look at cars not far away from home, they are dirty and assembled, hiding many details. I'm sure, when I will be ready some years from now, I will see many Mark II under restoration!

Bob, this is one of many surprises in the life! I forgot to add that LH & RH are identical.

Interesting, Dan! Well, they are looking very similar to the ones I had. The man who got them has more space than I do; he got them for free, so it's not a big deal. I had them for 20 years; he may keep them as long as I did!

This is a '69-70 Cadillac rear door molding for models 68249, 68349 and 68369 (Calais and de Ville). I have the parts books for 1950 to 1983 Cadillacs.

Last Friday, I gave the pair lower ball joints to the man owning some Mark II He said they may be from a Lincoln, anyway, a Ford product. I just hope he can use/sell them!

Last Friday, I could go to the man owning some Mark II. He lifted one of the Mark II at the front suspension/bumper and let rest the back of the car on the rear bumper, allowing me to go under the vehicle. A picture is showing the set-up. I could measure mostly what I was missing; I should have work now for one year! Even if building the frame right now is tempting because in a few hours there is a lot done, I continue for the moment with the engine. I could almost finish the transition between the front cover and the block. The cover is mainained with real screws, some are in front of the engine. The diameter is .8 mm (about .032"); I buy them in Germany.

No, no! I don't do it myself! All the Avanti and Toronado parts were plated in a small company not far away from home. They do work for the watch industry, therefore they are not afraid with small parts. Thank you for your comments; I'm looking at your progress too!

With the excitation of new parts to do, I forget easely the ones which are ready, for example the wheel covers. They are still unplated, this has to be corrected. Now, all 6 covers are on a frame ready for plating. The 2 thin moldings on the picture are for the Avanti, I forgot to let plate them. The valve covers will be media blasted and chromed. This is the reason they are not on the same tree as the wheelcovers.

When the rear is done (more or less) well, the efforts have to be directed at the front of the engine. The front cover is a real nice part, an easy one in my mind. So easy? not quite! I had many hours invested in that tiny brass part. I began on the wrong side as I should have done the flange of the water pump first. I did more mistakes, all corrected since (brass is a very nice material to work with). What next? Between the cover and the block, there is a cast part doing the bridge and on which the cover/water pump is installed. That will be the next part. The bores for the screws will be done all together. I have nice .8 mm screws for that job!<!-- google_ad_section_end -->

The engine is slowly taking shape. I'm spending almost more time to study the various documents I have than the constuction itself! Anyway, I think I'm on the right way; details of the sides of the engine are still confuse; maybe I will find someday the right pictures The attached pictures are showing the block from behind. No, there will be no pistons; the holes are just for fun! The hole for the lifter valley is not yet done; I still cannot determine it's length.

I had to put the air cleaner on side for the moment as it can only be finished when the engine is ready, because of the tight fit of the air intake. As the Swiss man who owns several Mark II has no time for the moment, I cannot measure a frame from one of his cars. Therefore, I'm beginning the engine. With the number of illustrations found in the shop manual (sorry, the technical data book), plus the pictures I took in June as well as the dimensions I measured on a real engine, I had the impression that it would be an easy task to establish the basic dimensions. It is not: either my measures are not correct or the drawings in the technical data are inconsistent. The chase to details is also not an easy task: there is no picture of the engine block from the RH front or LH rear! My pictures are also mostly useless: most details are hidden behind the dirt of the removed engines I could photograph. Anyhow, I began the fundamental work: the 4 sides plus bottom, see the pictures. Does not look like a Lincoln or Continetal engine? Wait a little bit! I can add some details wich will improve greatly that first step. By the way, if somebody has good pictures from a '56/57 Lincoln engine block or knows that a friend did some pictures while overhauling his engine, please let me know.

Not yet done! Tell you wife that she is welcome if she wants to supply it!

You are welcome! Just a little update. I soldered the letters yesterday; while doing this, I lost the "N" while holding it with tweezers. Of course, I search almost everywhere: in my hair (still have sthem), on clothes, on the floor, on the desk, no N. I decided to solder the backing part (letters are done that way: a piece of .3mm brass is soldered on another piece of 1mm, the assembly is milled entirely). Suddenly, something was shining on the desk: the N! From where it came from? Those damn things have sometimes their own life. I did also the bottom part of the air cleaner as shown on the pictures. Is the air cleaner ready? Not quite: I have to install the air duct guide as well as the recesses for the thermostat housing and A/C fast idle speed-up control. The definitive form will be done once the engine is ready.

For $ 1700 a complete new paint? Looks probably like a quick paint job to sell a car; don't look at it after 3 months! Even $5000 is not that expensive. You should come in Switzerland to understand prices, even if the quality is not better!

Many years ago, Kanter sent me wrong parts (no, I don't tell here what I'm thinking of Kanter) I had and still have no idea for what vehicles they are good. This pair of lower ball joints are looking very similar to the ones of the '56-57 Continental Mark II/Lincoln models and totally different at what GM had at this time. Therefore, I'm thinking these parts could fit a later than 1957 Lincoln or Ford product. On the picture, it's a bit difficult to read the wording on the part; it's: 26-13; on the second line: C4 Has somebody an idea?

The top part of the air cleaner is done (in 2 pieces) and I could do the FRONT letters. Boy they are small! Some are good, others, like the "O" will need some rework when soldered on the top of the air cleaner. Anyway, as they are not constantly under the nose of the viewer, they could be acceptable as they are. I have to solder the letters before I'm loosing them!

On the air cleaner, there is the word "FRONT" embossed on top of the cleaner body. I intend to add this detail to my air cleaner so I began today with some milling (see the picture). You don't see a lot? Me neither, the letters are really tiny: 1.3 mm high. I'm not yet sure if I can succeed; the answer in a few days!

The video is coming from Germany, but the car is in Switzerland, according to the number plates!

Try to clean the contact points. Sometimes cars do not start because the points have a little bit oil on them.

No! the empty slot will get the LAST vane! Yes, the wheelcovers are ready! At the time you will read this, the holes for the tire valve are done. I intended to solder a valve from the back of the wheelcover but I will attach the valve after the plating is done. Most of my nails are either broken or sanded; the polishing of the last vanes was rather difficult... The next task? It will be the air cleaner. Just ONE piece, rather easy to do. I would prefer to begin the frame, but the Swiss man who has some Mark II is very busy; maybe I can go to his place in November to measure a frame.