retrofitting a merlyn body onto a Zink- can it be done?

[FlyingBrian]

So....anyone know how difficult it would be to retrofit a nice cigar shaped body like a Merlyn 11A onto a Zink MK10 chassis?

I'm having a hard time finding body-off pictures of both chassis to compare them.

[provamo]

why! why? why! why? why! why?

that Zink was sorta a break through AMERICAN design not some clone cigar car (did someone say Autodynamics D 9?)

more of them around North America than a Merlyn Mk 11 i bet

please consider rebody-ing your racer to its original configuration

please

[Brian]

if you feel like trying a body for fit, David at Britain West has one.

brian

[Stan Clayton]

I have a Zink Z-10 and I say "go for it!". IMO Ed Zink ran out of inspiration when it cam to the bodywork. It looks to me like he folded some flat panels of cardboard over the chassis and laid up fiberglass over it...

Here is what I dream about my Zink looking like...

[provamo]

Stan, i dunno...i ran those cigar looking fords: Alexis, Lola, Crossle, Hawke and i always lusted for a chisel nose and side radiators because i knew they made the car faster LOL

[Stan Clayton]

Yeah wedgies!!!

(Shamelessly hotlinked from the ICP website... )

[Stan Clayton]

So ugly ya gotta love 'em!

[FlyingBrian]

I have a Zink Z-10 and I say "go for it!". IMO Ed Zink ran out of inspiration when it cam to the bodywork. It looks to me like he folded some flat panels of cardboard over the chassis and laid up fiberglass over it...

Here is what I dream about my Zink looking like...

Stan, what car is this? Is that an Eagle (Dan Gurney) F1 car? It's absolutely GORGEOUS and is what I'd like to make the Zink look like as well.

[Stan Clayton]

Stan, what car is this? Is that an Eagle (Dan Gurney) F1 car? It's absolutely GORGEOUS and is what I'd like to make the Zink look like as well.

Yes, it is the Gurney Westlake Eagle F1 car. Drop-dead sexy, don't you think?

[Stan Clayton]

Dan Gurney designed and built some Formula Fords, but unfortunately his design sense abandoned him in favor of a slab-sided Zink look-alike...

[Rene Gimenez]

It had a similar nose to the Eagle T1G. I think it was the McNamara.

Stan- The picture you posted above I think is of a LeGrand. The Eagle FF was a roundish long wheel-based design with inboard front suspension. Kind of like a piece of PVC pipe with wheels.

In reference to the original question- Having owned a Merlyn Mk11, I would think that the Zink's frame would be a lot wider than the Merlyn's. In addition, the nose and cockpit surround on the Merlyn was one piece, and that would have to clear the inboard front suspension of the Z10. I would also think that the length of the Zink's frame from the front of the car to the roll bar is longer. I guess with enough effort you can make anything fit anything, but it might look like a person wearing a shirt two sizes too small.

[provamo]

that white ford (ADF wannabe) is a LeGrand, although they did build cigar cars too!

additionally, that #31 Eagle is an Indy racer featuring a DOHC Ford

[Stan Clayton]

Yeah, the FF is a LeGrand. Sorry about that! Does anyone have a photo of a Gurney FF?

[Gary Jarlson]

The Eagle pictured is a Champ Car. Ford DOHC powered by the look of things.

[Stan Clayton]

D'oh! My bad again...

Here's photo of a real Gurney Formula Ford...yeah, in my dreams!

[DanW]

This car was Bill Kincaid's in SF Region, driven by James Hakewill at the time..

[provamo]

Stan thanks for posting that Eagle flying at the ring

[Mark Walthew]

I always felt the Z-10 looked like a McLaren M23 without wings.

[Mike Allison]

Stan, I tried to make mine look like the Eagle. Is it close?

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I have a Zink Z-10 and I say "go for it!". IMO Ed Zink ran out of inspiration when it cam to the bodywork. It looks to me like he folded some flat panels of cardboard over the chassis and laid up fiberglass over it...

Here is what I dream about my Zink looking like...

[Stan Clayton]

That is one fine looking Z-10, Mike!

[Mike Allison]

for the compliment, Stan.

I hate to give it up, but my doctor refuses to sign any more medicals and the wife says it's time. So it and everything else (RV, trailer, parts,tools) are up for sale elsewhere in the forum.

Mike