AC Owners Club Forum
AC Owners Club Forum => 428 Frua Forum => Topic started by: Emmanueld on February 10, 2007, 16:01:15
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Owners and past owners of 428 Fruas, please come on over and tell us your experience with the car, good or bad! [?]
Emmanuel
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Originally posted by Emmanueld
Owners and past owners of 428 Fruas, please come on over and tell us your experience with the car, good or bad! [?]
Emmanuel
Hello Emmanuel
I own CF 21. I love the car but it has ideosyncracies. I've replaced the sills and had a new rear bumper installed because of excessively mediocre steel used by Frua. The engine compartment is blazing hot on warm days, so the foot boxes become painful. I shall insulate them. Aerodynamics are obsolete, so speeds above 140 mph (indicated) in a crosswind make for a more interesting ride; the front end gets light, thus a subtle front airdam may be appropriate.
I have removed the original totally stock 428 and replaced it with a side-oiler 427 + tube headers which must be at least 150 lbs lighter than the 428 (427 has aluminum heads and intake). I am replacing the brass 4-row radiator with an aluminum 3-row design to save another 40 lbs. and increase cooling (with new elec. fans). Cooling is also helped by Cobra remote oil cooler and finned aluminum 7-qt sump pan.
Future plans are to replace 2.88 Hardy-Spicer differential with 3.56
and torsen limited slip. Andy Sheppard will see me coming...
Sincerely,
Mike Reed
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Mike,
You have done exactly what I am in the process of doing; By the way, I have installed a Torsen differential on my Kirkham 427 with a 3.31 rear, a TKO 600 with a .82 5th gear. The car had a 3.54 previously installed with a Tremec 3550 “Rock Crawler” box. It was way too short! I LOVE the Quaife Diff! The car has so much more traction and it is so smooth!!!!!!!. Handling is much more linear than before with much less over steer.
I am planning to do the same to the Frua! I am still debating in my head if I am going to install that Toploader that I just purchased or if I am going to install a TKO 600 with a .82 5th like my other car. both ar bolt on. With the TKO the 3.31 rear end is probably best, with the Toploader, the AC manual says 3.08 rear was standard. You know by the way, a manual box generates a lot less heat that an auto box. The Toploader is also half the weight of the C6 and a lot skinnier, maybe it will help the hot air escape.
Emmanuel [:)]
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Good luck with your engine modifications but how about my spherical bearings, surely some one out there has had to change these out in the past.
As the 428 is basically a Cobra does the Cobra use the same Trailing Link set up and if so where do you source the darn bearings.
I am putting an airconditioner in my Fastback and will be insulting the floors.
Englishman
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quote:
Originally posted by Englishman
Good luck with your engine modifications but how about my spherical bearings, surely some one out there has had to change these out in the past.
As the 428 is basically a Cobra does the Cobra use the same Trailing Link set up and if so where do you source the darn bearings.
I am putting an airconditioner in my Fastback and will be insulting the floors.
Englishman
No, I have not changed them as yet, but if you Email me the specs and a photo I am pretty sure I can find them over here! Sorry, I made a mistake the MK III has a heim joint. Looking at my car's rear, it looks different.
Emmanuel
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quote:
Originally posted by Englishman
..I will be insulting the floors.
Englishman
Yeah, you tell those floors. I hate them too! [:o)]
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As there is a lot of talk about heat being a problem in the 428 I thought a link to these two websites may be of interest. My car before the current MKIV was a TVR with a much modified 5 litre engine. The car/engine was hot before the mods and the changes made it even worse. My engine builder recommended ceramic coating applied to both the inside and outside of the exhaust manifolds (headers) and the downpipes, this made a significant difference to the under bonnet temperatures and efficiency of the engine. The coatings have now also also been applied to the manifolds of my MKIV. Camcoat is the company in the UK and I think their website gives a better explanation of the technology than the Techline site which is the US company.
John.
http://www.camcoat.u-net.com/
http://www.techlinecoatings.com/articles/Coating_Exhaust_Manifolds_Article.htm
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John, This ceramic coating looks very interesting, ME's and especially ME Turbos get very hot and driving in slow moving city traffic is something you avoid. I've had a look at the web site you mentioned, which coating have you chosen?
Terry
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I'm very impressed with the ceramic coated stainless steel headers/exhaust manifolds supplied by Ford Racing. They look like chrome, but have neither discoloured nor rusted and definately radiate less heat - well worth the extra cost.
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Hi Terry,
I have spoken with Peter Carter of Camcoat this morning and suggested he contribute his view to this topic. I have met Peter a couple of times at the Stoneliegh historic car show, this year called Race Retro ( www.historicmotorsportshow.com ), Peter is very approachable and I suggest you call him and talk through what they can do for you Tel: 01925 445688. The company has a new website at www.camcoat.com or go straight to the right page at
http://www.camcoat.com/1.Thermal%20Barriers/Thermal_barriers.html
I had three coating applied to my manifolds, one inside and two external. On my TVR I had the black satin finish and on the MKIV I had the Cermakrome external finish. The finish is like a dull chrome or aluminium. It's been on for two years now and has not cracked, flaked, chipped or stained.
Cheers - John.
NB: If you think this sounds like an advert, I have no connection with the company other than as a happy client.
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After his appreciated entry re ceramic coating exhausts and a phone call from Cobham Cobra I have taken up John's kind offer to contribute to your thread. The ceramic coating treatment we carry out at Camcoat is to first of all sandblast all surfaces back to bare metal using controlled processes. We then apply a smooth, hard ceramic called TLHB to the insides of manifolds, pipes and repackable silencers (obviously not to catalytic converters). On the outside we apply a base ceramic(HHBK) followed by either Black Satin (for competition cars and maximum thermal insulation)or Cermakrome (a highly polished finish which has excellent anti-corrosion properties). It has taken several years to develop these coating processes which provide excellent insulation,stay looking good and do not damage the components. We have a new website www.camcoat.com on which you can see details of the whole range of coatings and still link to the earlier site. Please feel free to post any questions or contact me (Peter Carter) directly.
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Did anyone check out Jet hot ceramic coating? and regarding parts to fit a regular 427 how about cobra restorers?
Gus
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Yes Gus, My headers are Jet Hot Coated inside and out! Emmanuel
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I have cf80 a few years and following a cracked manifold are now rebuilding and have all the parts apart from the bonnet badge which I will need to copy and have made up. A photo with dimensions is all I seek or a spare but I suspect this does not exist. The car is great with the removal of a huge amount of weight having converted to unleaded with a new aluminium head and manual gearbox which should help the spring issue.
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You want a photo of the small vertical badge in front or the one above it?
Emmanuel
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It is the round badge which has an AC set on a gold mesh over red leather surrounded by a chrome ring. Hopes this makes sense. Any help with dimensions would be much appreciated.
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I will post a photo with dimensions sometime today!
Sorry, I have been busy, I will get to it by next weekend!
Emmanuel
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Hello Emmanuel:
Thank you for a most informative response; my 427 does have a 428 CJ crank = 454 c.i. Compression is 9.5/1 so pump gas is no problem.
To aid cooling I have elected to wrap the headers with so-called header tape. Radiant heat is eliminated and cost is significantly less than high-tech coatings. Of course, hood louvers would make a substantial improvement... but I kinda hate to put holes in Pietro's pretty bonnet, y'know?
By the way, the surge tank is primarily brass so if you remove the black paint it can be polished to a very satisfying shine.
Best Regards,
Mike Reed ("Rheinubung")
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My early experience with CFX54 was mixed. From the first day I brought it home I had some mechanical problems, nothing major but things which were the results of poor previous maintenance or the use of inappropriate parts. The car was super smooth, handling was pretty good but way too soft and the brakes were the best I have experience with a car of this vintage. The main problem was that the car's road clearance was too low. The heat inside the cabin was unbearable here in southern California. The shifter got so hot almost to the point of burning the skin. I drove the car for about a year before I started doing modifications. After installing the manual transmission and stiffer suspensions, the cars personality changed completely from a soft touring car to a more Cobra like drive. Still, the ride is not uncomfortable but the driving pleasure has been greatly enhanced. I have owned my Frua since 04 and it is the car I have kept the longest. I am planning to keep it a lot longer since for me it combines both a vintage car look, rarity, performance and reliability that only a big US V8 can provide in a vintage automobile.
Emmanuel [:)]
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I've owned my car since 2003 (?), and have been making (reversable) modifications along the way to address the concerns common to these cars.
I've kept the original engine, but it's been losing weight. Police interceptor aluminum Intake, Edelbrock heads, Aluminum radiator, electric fan, remote oil filter, oil cooler (repurposed from tranmission oil cooler), aluminum water pump, new starter, MSD ignition, Ceramic coated headers to replace the cast iron exhaust. Ceramic coated exhaust system. Re-wound alternator, upgraded to 100 Amps.
I replaced the C6 transmission with a TKO 5-speed, changed the diff gears to 3.31.
New shocks and springs. Adjustable upper control arms.
Re-routing the "fresh air" intakes out of the engine compartment, to the later position in the fenderwells.
Removing the heater, and replacing it with heat and Air Conditioning, using the original ducting.
Fabricating and installing a (removeable) front spoiler.
New stainless steel bumpers.
New gas (petrol) tanks, now in welded aluminum (as opposed to the braised and soldered steel originals). We took the old ones apart and reproduced them as per original.
Upgraded lighting, including Lucas "square 8" driving lights.
I've identified the rubber bits, and am replacing everything. Window felts, channel guides, vent window seals, fuel neck grommets, etc.
I've saved practically everything that came off the car, except the original radiator, which I foolishly threw out in a fit of cleaning up my garage.
There is still much to do, but the car is SO much better now. It does not overheat, the oil temp is under control, it's quicker and handles better. No squeeks or rattles, it feels taut and "youthful" now.
I am so lucky to be living in Southern California where the original Shelby guys are still at it. George Petreus, Mike McCluskey (who builds airplanes and cars for C. Shelby), Dennis Cann and others who know these cars well. It's as good or better than having the AC factory still in existance.
Paul (Classicus) - are you still there? Haven't heard from you for a while. I hope you're well.
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Hi Jeff yes fine thanks. I'll still be around from time to time however I have to catch up with long overdue family interests and clan gatherings nowadays much to my better half's immense satisfaction ! Sometimes out of sheer boredom when everyone's droning on, I've taken to imagining what might happen if we both turned up at the next outdoor frilly party in a fully restored rumbling fastback. Be great ! [:D]
Great pics Emmanuel very impressive effort all round, look forward to reading the new road test's comparisons with the old one day.
Paul [;)]
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Hi Emmanuel
I have just logged on for the first time and would like to let you know that CF27, the ex Wolfgang Rudolf car, is alive and very well and living in Ireland. More details later.
Vincent O Reilly
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Hi Vincent, good to hear CF 27 is well. Is it the one in the pic below ?
If it is I'd been wondering about it for ages !! [8D]
Click on the link beneath for more info.
http://acfrua428.activeboard.com/t19535676/unknown-cars/
(http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p273/classicus/Unknown14Irishplates.jpg)
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Yes. That is my car. We were on our way to the Plymouth Santander Ferry to take part in that years Euroclassic. I have taken it on the last 4 or 5 Euroclassics. Brilliant.
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Great thanks ! [8D]
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quote:
Originally posted by VOReilly
Hi Emmanuel
I have just logged on for the first time and would like to let you know that CF27, the ex Wolfgang Rudolf car, is alive and very well and living in Ireland. More details later.
Vincent O Reilly
Hi Vincent, great car, the silver colour suits it very well. can you tell us more about your car?
Emmanuel[:)]