AC Owners Club Forum
AC Owners Club Forum => Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum => Topic started by: SpqrEddie on November 02, 2022, 00:16:11
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Hello!
i would need to make the front wheel arches protector mesh and fixtures, as they are currently inexistant.
Wich would be the mesh type most similar to the orignial? what was the shape? it had a metal frame ? how it was fixed to the body and where?
anybody has a patter/model to be copied?
Thanks!
Eddie
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Hi Eddie, I started to look into this a while ago but not finished yet.... got a bit busy doing other things!
I do have some info which may help a bit and if you need a template I'm happy to draw round mine and post it to you.
Some dimensions which may help:
All made from Ally, frame diameter 4.5mm, mesh thickness 1.5mm, mesh hole size 5.0mm x 5.0mm.
I found a company online but never got any further , their details in attached image.
Let me know how you get on.
Kind regards Nick
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Thank you Nick!
this is so useful! thank you!!!
yes would be good to have a template, or even just some photos.
Currently i can only see only the old fixin points inside the wheel arches but nothing more. So i need to start from scratch!
All Ally, you mean that both the frame and the mesh are made of aluminium?
Thanks!
I would like to fit them as i am afraid even a small rock will be able to damage the aluminium skin and the dent will be visible from the top.
Thanks!
Eddie
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Eddie
Inner wing protection panels are available from ... Classic Autos Ltd Tel : 01923 62994
Kings Langley. Hertfordshire. WD4 8HB
Keith
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Thank you Keith!
Will call them on monday.
Edmondo
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FYI - Here’s a pic of a pair of OEM stone guards that my father obtained from the AC Works back in the early 80’s. To answer your question about construction both the mesh and the frame appear to be aluminum. Note that they also came with a bunch of aluminum fender washers to secure them in place. I’d get you some dimensions, but they have finally been installed in my car so they’re a bit hard to measure. Hopefully Keith’s source works out for you.
Best Regards,
John
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..
Edmondo .
They are still made and available from Classic Autos ... Malcolm Thorne bought a set for BE216 within the past 6 weeks. ;)
Keith
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FYI - Here’s a pic of a pair of OEM stone guards that my father obtained from the AC Works back in the early 80’s. To answer your question about construction both the mesh and the frame appear to be aluminum. Note that they also came with a bunch of aluminum fender washers to secure them in place. I’d get you some dimensions, but they have finally been installed in my car so they’re a bit hard to measure. Hopefully Keith’s source works out for you.
Best Regards,
John
Thank you! Very interesting.
I will call Classic Autos on monday.
And if somebody has the time to take a pictuire, i would be really interested in see how they are mounted under the wheel arches!
Thanks!
Edmondo
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Hello,
I have contacted Classic Autos, the panel they make are probably more suitable for Cobras and later models.
They are different from the original posted by John.
I will try to reproduce them by myself.
John, when you have time would be great if you could take some pictures and rought dimensions on how they are installed.
The fixture and the large washers seems to be still in place, so i should be able to use them.
I am not beeing able to find alloy wire mesh. If anybody know a source for 5x5 mm net, please share!
thanks,
Eddie
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Hi Eddie, did you manage to find a supplier for the ally mesh?
Kind regards Nick
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Hello Nick,
not yet.
They all seems to carry steel meshes in 0,5x0.5, but not alluminium. I have contacted many suppliers.
i am planning to call this company in the US: https://weavealloy.com/woven-wire-mesh/
They seems to be able to make them.
i will report as soon as done.
Eddie
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Hello,
it seems i have found a supplier, and in am about to order the mesh.
Nick, but mesh tickness 1.5mm you meant the tickness of the wire? or the mesh (two layers at the crossing of the whires)?
It seems there are two wire gauge avilable, for a woven alloy mesh with 1/4 pitch.
https://www.mcnichols.com/wire-mesh/square/aluminum-al-370447
Wire Diameter/Wire Gauge: 0.047" Thick (18 Gauge), 1.2mm
wich has the 0.2030" x 0.2030" (5mm) openings.
https://www.mcnichols.com/wire-mesh/square/aluminum-al-370463
Wire Diameter/Wire Gauge: 0.063" Thick (16 Gauge), 1.6 mm
opening size 0.1870" x 0.1870" ( 4.75 MM)
Wich one you think is more similar to the original?
With the info at hand, probably the first type?
Thanks!
Edmondo
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Hello!
Photo from the very informative page ac2litre of Ian Strange.
I dont think that the factory used two different type of wire gauges on the saloon and the sports cars. Therefore i belive now that 0.047" Thick (18 Gauge), 1.2mm is the way to go.
Thanks!
Edmondo
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Hi Eddie,
I would probably go for the second option.
I've doubled checked the measurements on mine, the thickness of the wire ranges from 1.41mm to 1.53mm and the square opening at the smallest is 4.89mm.
However I also agree that it is unlikely that AC would have used different spec for different vehicles, unless perhaps they changed supplier during production?
In reality you'll probably be ok with either option.
Hope this helps a bit and really appreciate your efforts in tracking down a supplier, I'll order some for mine too!
Kind regards Nick
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Thank you Nick for having taken the time to measure again.
Probably at the factory the made the screens with what available at the time of production, who knows...
i know that some other 1959 cars had 0.047" Thick (18 Gauge), 1.2mm wire. So i think i would go for this dimension.
So the screen will be lighter and the car faster!
Eddie
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Got the mesh from the US, it looks nice.
i will try to make the guards now.
Eddie
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FYI - Here’s a pic of a pair of OEM stone guards that my father obtained from the AC Works back in the early 80’s. To answer your question about construction both the mesh and the frame appear to be aluminum. Note that they also came with a bunch of aluminum fender washers to secure them in place. I’d get you some dimensions, but they have finally been installed in my car so they’re a bit hard to measure. Hopefully Keith’s source works out for you.
Best Regards,
John
Hello John,
from your photo, it looks like they are "handed", in the sense that they are rolled over the frame from two different side.
If you look at them from top, it looks like the net is rolled over the edge from the top if you consider the longer side in the front with the longer edge pointing inward the car. can you confirm?
Despite the same shape this means that two type needs to be made. not a copy of the same.
As well could you or somebody let me know more about the frame? from your photo it looks bent on 3 corners and welded on the 4th corner.
I got the 4mm alloy rods and i will give it a go.
I cut a paper model on the measurement Nick provided here:
https://www.acownersclub.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1479.msg84064#msg84064
Can somebody confirm that there are two 90 deggres angles and it is not a truncated cone?
I did a test, and to me it seems it fit better with the longer side of the larger edge pointing inwards.
(Shape B in my scketch for the right side of the car).
Thanks!
Eddie
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Hi Eddie, I've also managed to get hold of the mesh now from the US and I'm going to make up a small batch of 4 sets, the cost of importing was massive and actually cost more than the mesh itself so it sort of made sense to get a bit more than I needed.
You are correct about the frame, it is welded on one corner and the other corners are a rounded 90 degrees. I'll try to post some photos tomorrow and I have got a pair of originals so I will also check to see if they are sided at the same time.
Hope this helps a bit.
Kind regards
Nick
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Dear Nick,
indeed the cost of shipping and customs cleareance was incredible! fortunately i had somebody coming from the US so it was taken as lagguage in the plane for me.
Looking forward to see the photos you will be able to make, and looking forward to get the confirmation of the shape. i prepared my paper model on the measurement you shared.
when you or somebody can, would be possible to let me know as well on wich corner there is the weleded angle?
Thanks!
Eddie
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Hi Eddie, please see attached for photo as promised, both are identical, ie they are not made differently for each side (unless of course mine is incorrect which is certainly possible! ).
The welded corner is marked with an arrow.
Hope this helps.
Kind regards Nick
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Nick & Eddie,
Glad you chaps are making progress on this quest for wheel arch protection. I would instance one consideration which will require your continued attention: The mounting of these stone guards is only as strong as the mesh which is clamped behind the alloy penny washers. The mesh, being fine aluminium, is vulnerable to corrosion and fatigue. On my Aceca, back in the happy days of the sixties, I experienced failure of a stone guard as it dropped on to a wheel and was ripped off and got mixed up with the hub, brake hose and sundry bits of suspension. Fortunately I was proceeding at a sensible pace - most unusual for me at that time. In any event it required quite a bit of disentangling at the roadside and the failure on the mesh around the penny washers was all too apparent. Needless to say I never fitted the guards again. So do keep an eye on the mountings at every service interval: 500 miles remember.....
Barrie
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Thanks for the tip Barrie, I'll certainly keep it in mind.
Much appreciated.
Kind regards Nick
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Thanks everyone for your various inputs on this interesting topic. I understand that these were a standard equipment on Acecas, but were these ever fitted to Aces as well? I believe not but I guess they would make for a worthwhile add-on?
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Hi Eddie, please see attached for photo as promised, both are identical, ie they are not made differently for each side (unless of course mine is incorrect which is certainly possible! ).
The welded corner is marked with an arrow.
Hope this helps.
Kind regards Nick
Thank you Nick.
Well noted! and thank you for the pictures.
It looks one of the two is mounted differently.
The left one has the longer front part pointing inward. The right one has it pointing outwards. so they were not mounted the same way
You can work it out how they were positioned by looking at the sings the braket left on your screens.
I can see the longer front part by looking at the extra mesh squares protruding from one side or the other.
Nick & Eddie,
Glad you chaps are making progress on this quest for wheel arch protection. I would instance one consideration which will require your continued attention: The mounting of these stone guards is only as strong as the mesh which is clamped behind the alloy penny washers. The mesh, being fine aluminium, is vulnerable to corrosion and fatigue. On my Aceca, back in the happy days of the sixties, I experienced failure of a stone guard as it dropped on to a wheel and was ripped off and got mixed up with the hub, brake hose and sundry bits of suspension. Fortunately I was proceeding at a sensible pace - most unusual for me at that time. In any event it required quite a bit of disentangling at the roadside and the failure on the mesh around the penny washers was all too apparent. Needless to say I never fitted the guards again. So do keep an eye on the mountings at every service interval: 500 miles remember.....
Barrie
Thank you Barrie for sharing this!
The car seems to have still the original brackets and bolts and washers. So I was planning to use the same mounting points. May be instead of washers I ill use a piece of flat aluminum bar, so that the holding surface is larger.
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https://www.e-metal.it/prodotti/barra-tonda-alluminio-4-mm/
The bar i am using.
Eddie
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Hi
Just a quick update on the Aceca inner wheel arch stone guards. I've made up a very small batch of just 4 pairs. These are made to be exactly the same as the original ones from my Aceca, ie with the correct thickness and style of mesh and the correct dimensions for the frame. All made from aluminium as per original. If anyone is in need of a set just let me know, a few photos are attached.
To overcome the corrosion issue Barrie mentioned previously, I've got some stepped plastic washers on on the way which I'm hoping will overcome this problem. I'll post some pictures when they arrive.
Regards Nick
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Photo 2
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Photo 3
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Very good job!
I am away, will post the photos of my result too. Not in the garage in these days.
Edmondo
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The stepped plastic washer option didn't look that great as it meant I had to use a much smaller diameter bolt, so I've gone for plan B, this option uses a 6mm plastic slotted head bolt, nut and washer, 2x 2.0mm thick rubber washers and 2x stainless steel penny washers. This prevents any ally to steel contact and should stop the corrosion issue completely. I've painted the screw head and washer with aluminium silver so it all blends in nicely.
Does anybody know how many bolts / screws the Aceca should have?
Many thanks.
Nick
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Nice bolt set up.
It should have 4 bolts in total each side.
Two for fixing directly on the wheel arch towards the back of the car, and two for fixing the mesh to a bracket in the front.
How are you going to orientate it? whit the longer bit at front pointing inwards or outwards?
Edmondo
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Hi Eddie, thanks for the info.
Not sure about orientation yet, the car is still in the bodyshop so I'll do a trial fit next time I'm
there. Will post a Photo once I've worked it out.
Many thanks
Nick
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Dear Nick,
here it is how believe the original fixture is.
Best,
Eddie
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Hi Eddie.
Thanks for the info.
Very much appreciated.
Kind regards Nick