Messages

181

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Weather etc. protection

« on: June 05, 2014, 13:37:16 »

The Terotex should  stick well enough to bare ali, even better if  degreased and roughened up with scothbrite or similar first. Although personally I would use an epoxy primer (can be applied with a small roller) on the bare metal first.
   
   Regards Luke.

182

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Brake parts availability and interchangeability

« on: April 02, 2014, 08:25:24 »

I'm surprised that no one has pointed out that a brake bleeding tool was included in the original tool kit with these cars. It's exactly as you have described a tubular box spanner with a handle and you can find a photo of it in this thread.
   http://www.acownersclub.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1158&SearchTerms=aceca,tools
   
   Regards Luke.

183

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Aceca doors

« on: March 25, 2014, 12:57:00 »

Hello Chris,
   
   Congratulations on your restoration work and the car looks great in that colour.
   I posted some information about repairing the wear in the door lock mechanism on this earlier thread. http://www.acownersclub.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2629
   
   If you read down to my post you will find a link to a web album detailing some of the process.
   The slight wear in the locks could be enough to cause the problem you are experiencing with the new  door seals.
   
   I don't have any info about AE501 but it's sister car AE503 now lives with me here in Austria.
   
   Regards Luke.

184

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Brake parts availability and interchangeability

« on: March 25, 2014, 06:32:58 »

The position of the brake shoes in jp's photo is correct. If you compare each pair of shoes you will notice that the lining on the upper shoe is the shorter of the two, this is the leading or primary shoe. The correct positioning of this shoe is very important for the correct functioning of the brakes. Without going into too much detail the initial movement of the leading shoe causes a self servo/ self energising action to take place in the trailing shoe, leading to increased brake performance.
   
   Rather confusingly the information on shoe position given in the Girling service manual, is contradictory to that given in the Ace owners handbook.
   
   Another area not to be overlooked in the Ace/Aceca rear brake system is that the wheel cylinders must be allowed some float on the backplate so that the shoes self centre and do not jam on.
   
   Regards Luke.

185

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Ace/Aceca seat runners

« on: March 18, 2014, 19:11:42 »

He only makes these replica AC runners I'm afraid.
   
   Regards Luke.

186

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Aceca (/Ace) Bristol Tool Tray Content

« on: March 11, 2014, 08:11:18 »

Whilst not strictly to do with the tool tray, I do have a question regarding the Aceca tool kit.
   The panel in the photos below is the rear of the number plate panel from an Aceca. I know that the black metal rod in the upper sleeve is the "T" bar from the jack handle but what was retained by the lower strap with the lift dot fastener, perhaps a mallet? Any suggestions will be much appreciated.[]
   
   Regards Luke.
   
   [/URL]
   [/URL]/img]

187

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Front uprights

« on: February 07, 2014, 06:11:15 »

Hi Paul,
   
   The nut should be on the rear face of the upright. In any case if you insert the kingpin into the upright the top of the pin must lean backward to give the correct castor (trail) angle.
   Regards Luke.

188

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Stuck hub on Ace

« on: January 26, 2014, 08:14:42 »

Try  fully slackening the brake adjuster on the back-plate (wound out as far as possible), then with the brake drum nuts and washers removed or loosened hold a piece of wood on the outer face (wheel face) of the drum close to the outer edge but not on the fins. Proceed to hit the wood with a mallet or hammer as if trying to force the drum on further, work your way around the drum. The slight rocking motion of the  drum caused by the hammering is usually enough to jar the shoes free of the drum.
   
   Regards Luke.

189

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / knock-offs - where to buy?

« on: January 21, 2014, 07:47:50 »

Hi,
   Below are some photos of original Ace and Aceca spinners.
   The one on the left is from a 1955 Aceca and the one on the right is from a 1957 Ace,
   as you can see they differ! Both arrows have no flights but different head styles. Also
   somewhat harder to make out is that the spacing of the lettering is approx 1mm larger
   on the 1957 version.
   
   More wheels within wheels.[]
   
   Regards Luke.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

190

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / BE 646

« on: January 16, 2014, 19:44:42 »

Hi Peter
   
   The main chassis tubes on Aceca's were made from 12 swg (2.8mm) thick steel the same gauge
   as that of the 289 cobras, so unless you have serious corrosion you should be OK with your new power plant.
   
   The Ace used 14swg (2.6mm) tube hence their more flexible nature.
   Also all the AC's with twin tube chassis tend to have a downward bow, due to the amount of
   welds that were made on only the top of the chassis tubes. Although the chassis would have been held in a jig
    for welding the arc welding originally used has very fast heating and rapid
    cooling which causes the weld area to shrink and pull considerably.
   
   I've found on several Aces that I've had in for repair that the chassis has quite a large bow
   end to end, yet the doors are still in perfect alignment with no closing of the door gaps.
   Therefor the main chassis tubes must have been bowed before the body subframe was
   completed. When I've tried to remove the bowing the door gaps open considerably and the
   door locks no longer align.
   
   Regards Luke.

191

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / BEX 366 discovered

« on: December 07, 2013, 19:54:47 »

The car has was for many years parked up on stands inside the garage shown in the first photo. The owner told me he originally took it off the road when the exhaust silencer started blowing and he couldn't source a replacement. Up until this time he had always serviced the car himself and no longer felt physically able to carry out any repairs.

192

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / BEX 366 discovered

« on: December 07, 2013, 08:36:34 »

Hello Keith,
   
   The new owner is an ACOC member and he will be in contact with Tim Isles about the car.
   I believe that there is also some old correspondence between Mr Klöpfer and Thames Ditton regarding the purchase of spares and a hard top for the car.
   
   Unfortunately the first owner died a few years ago but the present owner has been in contact with Count Hoyos and plans to reunite him with the car when it's back on the road.
   
   I will be helping with some of the recommissioning and and also sorting out the paintwork.
   I'm not sure if the car will be ready for next summer given my current work load but I'll try to post some updates as things progress.
   
   Regards Luke.

193

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / History of AEX542

« on: October 18, 2013, 07:06:25 »

The Ace/Aceca discs were AC specific and not TR3 as the studs and diameter are different.
   New disc are manufactured  by BG Developments.
   http://[/urlhttp://www.bgdevelopments.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=69&Itemid=82 TR3 (one piece or split) calipers will fit but have a slightly reduced clearance on the diameter when compared to the original units. Caliper carriers are available from various sources but some are remanufactured by Croswaite & Gardner.[url][/urlhttp://www.crosthwaiteandgardiner.com/parts/ac-parts-list Crosswaite also make new brake drums and they are also available from Typecast Ltd. [url]http://www.typecastltd.co.uk
   
   The Rear brake linings were again AC specific but are available through the club, as are new front linings.
   
   Hope this of help.
   Regards Luke.

194

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / History of AEX542

« on: October 14, 2013, 07:44:57 »

Hello Austin,
   
   Great photos and good to see the rapid progress you've made on AEX542.
   Just one question, has the car lost it's roof gutters at some point or did it never have any fitted?
   
   Regards
   Luke.

195

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Aceca Tool Tray Queries

« on: October 08, 2013, 13:33:29 »

There were at least two variations of the Aceca tool tray. The Bristol version differed in having the cranked spanner for tappet adjustment.
   
   I can't help with the original sizes but from the two sets I have seen the spanner make was Garringtons.
   
   Regards
   Luke.