1
428 Frua Forum / AC428 update
« on: July 26, 2020, 17:44:27 »
AC 428 forum, what happened to this board, seems dead! Let’s revive it! I was away for a while, but these are wonderful cars and we must really keep this alive! Emmanuel
News:
SMF - installed December 2017.
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2
428 Frua Forum / This board is kind of dead or sleeping!
« on: March 20, 2015, 03:44:54 »
Very few posts, whats going on are the AC428 owners dying off? We have to make an effort and go on more often.
Emmanuel[
]
Emmanuel[
]
3
428 Frua Forum / Stub axle carrying nut needed urgently
« on: January 06, 2014, 16:53:17 »
Hi guys, does anybody know where I could locate a stub axle carrying nut for the Frua rear differential? It's pretty worn out.
Stub axle retaining nuts Salisbury.
Id 33.36 mm. 1.31 std
Thick 7.12 mm. .280 std
Nut 1.861 std 47.27mm
Here are 2 pictures, one of the axle and nut and one of the nut alone.
[/URL]
[/URL]
Thank you,
Emmanuel [
]
Stub axle retaining nuts Salisbury.
Id 33.36 mm. 1.31 std
Thick 7.12 mm. .280 std
Nut 1.861 std 47.27mm
Here are 2 pictures, one of the axle and nut and one of the nut alone.
[/URL][/URL]Thank you,
Emmanuel [
]
4
428 Frua Forum / CFX22 for sale!
« on: October 08, 2011, 14:45:49 »
CFX22 is here in California, came from Holland I believe. Nice clean unmolested original left hand drive car, gold colour. Some corrosion in the rocker panels, does not seem too serious. Car is currently for sale, overall a nice original car with original Minilite wheels, a factory option. Original paint, Car has been sitting in a nice and dry Southern California garage since 1985. Mechanical work has been performed at very reputable shops. Car has never been licensed in California. If anybody is interested please contact me! I believe this is a nice car!
Interior needs a good cleanup but is serviceable:
A cold ait intake has been added:
Original paint is serviceable:
Emmanuel[]
Interior needs a good cleanup but is serviceable:
A cold ait intake has been added:
Original paint is serviceable:
Emmanuel[
]
5
Cobra (Thames Ditton) Forum / Cammer AC Cobra
« on: September 16, 2011, 02:19:02 »
CSX3305 Wonderful car, I think the 700HP is a bit optimistic!
http://www.colinsclassicauto.com/detail.php?car=196
Emmanuel[]
http://www.colinsclassicauto.com/detail.php?car=196
Emmanuel[
]
6
428 Frua Forum / New oil pressure and temperature gauge
« on: September 08, 2011, 03:14:12 »
This will replace the electric oil pressure gauge. I had the face modified to add the Smiths logo.
It's a high quality mechanical racing Racetech gauge which combine oil pressure and oil temperature. Smiths never made combinations oil/oil, they made combinations oil/water only. The bezel below is the original rounded Smiths piece.
I think this is a must for the Frua which always runs high oil temperature. The wiring for the original gauge will remain in case someone in the future wants to reinstall the original gauge. This way no other hole is drilled anywhere.
Emmanuel[]
It's a high quality mechanical racing Racetech gauge which combine oil pressure and oil temperature. Smiths never made combinations oil/oil, they made combinations oil/water only. The bezel below is the original rounded Smiths piece.
I think this is a must for the Frua which always runs high oil temperature. The wiring for the original gauge will remain in case someone in the future wants to reinstall the original gauge. This way no other hole is drilled anywhere.
Emmanuel[
]
7
428 Frua Forum / Learning about the Ford FE engine.
« on: August 31, 2011, 17:33:57 »
Hi guys, for those who want to learn more about the Ford FE engine, from 352 to 428 cubes.
http://www.network54.com/Forum/74182/
This is a very good forum with tons of info about the beloved and unusual Ford big/medium block installed in our Cobras and AC Fruas.
I think it's quite interesting for those who want to learn more about this iconic engine! Over the years, they had dyno testing of various intake manifolds, cams, etc. I think its called "Intake Manifold Shootout" if one does a search there.. In brief, tons of info. I will post various interesting sites about the FE on this thread. The good thing about the FE is that one can build a very strong motor with mostly factory parts and keep the engine looking original.
Emmanuel[]
http://www.network54.com/Forum/74182/
This is a very good forum with tons of info about the beloved and unusual Ford big/medium block installed in our Cobras and AC Fruas.
I think it's quite interesting for those who want to learn more about this iconic engine! Over the years, they had dyno testing of various intake manifolds, cams, etc. I think its called "Intake Manifold Shootout" if one does a search there.. In brief, tons of info. I will post various interesting sites about the FE on this thread. The good thing about the FE is that one can build a very strong motor with mostly factory parts and keep the engine looking original.
Emmanuel[
]
8
428 Frua Forum / Frua Registry
« on: August 06, 2011, 18:34:22 »
I am posting this new thread because I think we need to start a very elaborate registry with the club. The AC 428 Frua is a great classic car. It's got everything, It's very rare, it has racing history, it has great part availability (at least for the drive-train), it's very reliable but it's not well known.
As Jeffrey mentioned before, Paul's (Classicus) registry is a good start and should probably be moved to the member part of the club. If he agrees of course. Then the history of the cars could be updated by each owner with sales receipts for service, repairs, restorations, modifications Etc. Even photographs to document what was done to each car and when. This of course would greatly benefit owners who were forthcoming with information and penalize cars not listed.
I think a detailed registry will greatly benefit the Frua market. People are reluctant to spend big money in a car about which they know nothing. Just like the one on E-Bay at present, I know enough about these cars by now that there probably is quite a bit of corrosion, it would surely take more than $50,000 to make this car a show winner and most of it in bodywork. (I am very conservative here) $20,000 just for a new leather interior.
I believe the Shelby Cobra Registry has been a great help in the Cobra market. No one in their right mind will spend big money in a Cobra or even a Shelby Mustang if it's not listed. For these cars, it's just too easy to spend big money and find out later on you got scammed with a fake.
For the Frua, it's more a question of condition, where the car has lived, if corrosion repairs were performed, were they done properly or was the car just filled with lead or Bondo. Are there photos of a restoration for example. If a full and detailed history is available to an eventual purchaser, he will feel much better about spending big money. Also a car which has lived in a dry climate and has been cared for meticulously should benefit as well.
The word is TRANSPARENCY, I have met a lot of Cobra guys who would love a 428 but the lack of information and knowledge about the cars scares them. We have gone a long way already to inform people on our cars and it has worked, I think this is why prices are rising, I think we need to do more and create a very good registry.
Please give you opinion on this matter.
Emmanuel[]
As Jeffrey mentioned before, Paul's (Classicus) registry is a good start and should probably be moved to the member part of the club. If he agrees of course. Then the history of the cars could be updated by each owner with sales receipts for service, repairs, restorations, modifications Etc. Even photographs to document what was done to each car and when. This of course would greatly benefit owners who were forthcoming with information and penalize cars not listed.
I think a detailed registry will greatly benefit the Frua market. People are reluctant to spend big money in a car about which they know nothing. Just like the one on E-Bay at present, I know enough about these cars by now that there probably is quite a bit of corrosion, it would surely take more than $50,000 to make this car a show winner and most of it in bodywork. (I am very conservative here) $20,000 just for a new leather interior.
I believe the Shelby Cobra Registry has been a great help in the Cobra market. No one in their right mind will spend big money in a Cobra or even a Shelby Mustang if it's not listed. For these cars, it's just too easy to spend big money and find out later on you got scammed with a fake.
For the Frua, it's more a question of condition, where the car has lived, if corrosion repairs were performed, were they done properly or was the car just filled with lead or Bondo. Are there photos of a restoration for example. If a full and detailed history is available to an eventual purchaser, he will feel much better about spending big money. Also a car which has lived in a dry climate and has been cared for meticulously should benefit as well.
The word is TRANSPARENCY, I have met a lot of Cobra guys who would love a 428 but the lack of information and knowledge about the cars scares them. We have gone a long way already to inform people on our cars and it has worked, I think this is why prices are rising, I think we need to do more and create a very good registry.
Please give you opinion on this matter.
Emmanuel[
]
9
428 Frua Forum / Frua roadster boot layout
« on: August 02, 2011, 17:57:04 »
Hi guys, I was wondering if any of you guys with roadsters could post pics of the boot interior? I have seen some cars where the boot is carpeted all the way to the wings like mine and some others with carpeted wood panels. I am not sure what is the correct way to dress up the boot. Any help appreciated. Thank you.
Emmanuel[]
Emmanuel[
]
10
428 Frua Forum / Aluminum radiator for cobras and 428 on EBay
« on: June 27, 2011, 15:41:32 »
There is a Fluidyne aluminum radiator listed currently on EBay. This is an exact reproduction of the original AC Cobra radiator which fits both small block and big block Cobras and 428 Fruas. With 3X1 inch tubes, it provides substantially more cooling capacity than the original brass radiator. Jeffrey has been running one on his car for years and I just bought one as well. Fluidyne radiators are very well made and this listing is at a reasonable price and is negotiable. If anybody needs a new radiator, you will like it. It may even fit the MK IV but I am not 100% positive.
FLUIDYNE Aluminum RADIATOR 62-68 Shelby AC Cobra 63 64
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FLUIDYNE-Aluminum-RADIATOR-62-68-Shelby-AC-Cobra-63-64_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33602QQitemZ350370888166
I received my new radiator last week. Compared to the original, it's quite a bit thicker and quite a bit lighter. 1/2" to 3/4" thicker. Weight is less than 1/3. This is their new and improved 5 row radiator, so a good fan will be needed. I spoke to Fluidyne tech service and they told me the five row is a new core design based on their Nascar radiator with ultra high cooling efficiency. They said the air flow is similar to the old three row core, we will see when it's back on the car! I also bought a 16" extreme performance pulling Spal fan with matching heavy duty wiring and relay, very nicely made with very heavy gage wiring and 60 amps fuse. It also has modern waterproof connectors, really good stuff it seems! This will connect directly to the original wiring and take the load off the original fuse box. I was planning on installing twin 11" fans but they won't fit, the radiator is just too narrow! When we replaced the tiny original pusher fan, we connected the new one to the original wiring and it was too much for the old system despite the AC recommended Lucas 50 Amps fuse. Now the fan will have it's own dedicated loom and the 50 Amps Lucas fuse in the main fuse box will be replaced by a 15 Amps more in line with the original wire gage. In the Southern California hot climate and our traffic, the fan run 90% of the time and the original wiring was not designed for such extreme conditions.
http://www.spalusa.com/store/main.aspx?p=itemdetail&item=30102803
The big fan is good for about 3200 CFM at zero pressure and looses very little with back pressure, it also comes with a rubber gasket to make a seal with the radiator fins. I should be enough to move a lot of air through this big radiator. The big question is, will the whole thing fit in front of the steering rack? I may need to use a slim fan. They have a much slimmer and even more powerful fan which is used by NASCAR, however they do not recommend it for street use as it is not made to last and is much noisier. We will see.
Emmanuel[]
FLUIDYNE Aluminum RADIATOR 62-68 Shelby AC Cobra 63 64
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FLUIDYNE-Aluminum-RADIATOR-62-68-Shelby-AC-Cobra-63-64_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33602QQitemZ350370888166
I received my new radiator last week. Compared to the original, it's quite a bit thicker and quite a bit lighter. 1/2" to 3/4" thicker. Weight is less than 1/3. This is their new and improved 5 row radiator, so a good fan will be needed. I spoke to Fluidyne tech service and they told me the five row is a new core design based on their Nascar radiator with ultra high cooling efficiency. They said the air flow is similar to the old three row core, we will see when it's back on the car! I also bought a 16" extreme performance pulling Spal fan with matching heavy duty wiring and relay, very nicely made with very heavy gage wiring and 60 amps fuse. It also has modern waterproof connectors, really good stuff it seems! This will connect directly to the original wiring and take the load off the original fuse box. I was planning on installing twin 11" fans but they won't fit, the radiator is just too narrow! When we replaced the tiny original pusher fan, we connected the new one to the original wiring and it was too much for the old system despite the AC recommended Lucas 50 Amps fuse. Now the fan will have it's own dedicated loom and the 50 Amps Lucas fuse in the main fuse box will be replaced by a 15 Amps more in line with the original wire gage. In the Southern California hot climate and our traffic, the fan run 90% of the time and the original wiring was not designed for such extreme conditions.
http://www.spalusa.com/store/main.aspx?p=itemdetail&item=30102803
The big fan is good for about 3200 CFM at zero pressure and looses very little with back pressure, it also comes with a rubber gasket to make a seal with the radiator fins. I should be enough to move a lot of air through this big radiator. The big question is, will the whole thing fit in front of the steering rack? I may need to use a slim fan. They have a much slimmer and even more powerful fan which is used by NASCAR, however they do not recommend it for street use as it is not made to last and is much noisier. We will see.
Emmanuel[
]
11
428 Frua Forum / CF66 Short Wheelbase Frua?
« on: June 22, 2011, 01:06:57 »
http://www.coachbuild.com/index.php?option=com_gallery2&Itemid=50&g2_itemId=46767
CF66 photos, The front wings are very short, optical effect? probably.
In subsequent photos, with the hood open, the radiator looks very close to the engine, very strange. Still probably an optical distortion.
What do you think?
Emmanuel []
CF66 photos, The front wings are very short, optical effect? probably.
In subsequent photos, with the hood open, the radiator looks very close to the engine, very strange. Still probably an optical distortion.
What do you think?
Emmanuel [
]
12
428 Frua Forum / AC Frua vs. Maserati Mistral
« on: May 21, 2011, 18:00:18 »
I found a photo on the net of a Maserati Mistral Spider under carriage. When compared to the 428 it looks really antiquated and thin! The chassis is composed of what appears to be 2" square tubing triangulated and the solid axle at the rear is pure 1950's. Up front, are very short control arms in a pure 1950's tradition as well. Of course, the engine is based on Maserati's 1950s Grand Prix car made so famous by Juan Manuel Fangio. In other words, no comparison with the 428. It makes it obvious the two cars are not in the same league performance wise! It does not mean the Mistral is a bad car, a properly designed solid axle rear suspension is often better than a poorly designed independent one, specially on smooth roads or on a race track. The Jaguar rear end for example with all it's praise for strength and smooth ride was a poor performer in racing in stock form because of it's lack of an upper control arm. The mistral chassis is probably very rigid laterally with the substructure for the aluminum skin providing vertical rigidity. Fine for the coupe but probably not optimum for the roadster. The AC on the other hand has it's massive 4" tube chassis reenforced by three 4" cross members. There are two square tubing cages, one to reenforce the cowl (windshield area) and one around the rear end area. 2" triangulated square tubes run from the chassis to the sills which are massive as well with a 1/4" L shaped rail running the length of the sills. All this steel is welded to the body panels and provides for a very stout structure, much like a modern unibody design. This is not the lightest design but it provides a very strong structure to make a very good handling automobile providing suspensions are properly set up. The Mistral is likely a lighter car but does not have to tame a huge cast iron American V8 engine with massive power and torque. Unlike big block Corvettes C2 and C3s ' which are not very good drivers, the 428 is a very good handling automobile with positive and light steering (no power steering required or offered) and does not feel in anyway over engined like the Corvette does. Also, it does not feel loose on the road like most US cars of the era. In other words, it feels like a sporty European car but with massive power and torque that only a big block US engine can provide.
Mistral:
428:
Interestingly, you can see the Mistral is not symmetrical either. Everything is moved to the right, engine, drive-shaft and the left floor pans are wider than the right.
Emmanuel []
Mistral:
428:
Interestingly, you can see the Mistral is not symmetrical either. Everything is moved to the right, engine, drive-shaft and the left floor pans are wider than the right.
Emmanuel [
]
14
428 Frua Forum / AC Frua Restoration, Engine and drivetrain!
« on: April 08, 2011, 02:41:34 »
I will start with photos of the original 428 engine which I still have. We replaced crank and rods bearings, installed Edelbrock aluminium heads, Special Police Aluminium intake and a period correct matching number Holley 735 four barrel carb as on 1967-68 Mustang Shelby GT500 cars. I still have the motor and its in storage. This engine has a very strong hydraulic Crower cam and does probably low to mid 400HPs. It was not dynoed. But a very good engine nevertheless. Pulled strongly to about 5500RPM with massive torque.
Now the new Side-Oiler stroked to 454 cubes:
Emmanuel []
Now the new Side-Oiler stroked to 454 cubes:
Emmanuel [
]
15
428 Frua Forum / AC Frua Restoration Part 1
« on: March 31, 2011, 06:30:14 »
Here is a recap of the previous rust repairs done to the bottom and the sills of the car. (These pictures are not in order):
Car just been delivered, looks OK:
It really is like that:
One gets an idea of the extent of the repairs. Any more common car would have ended up sold for parts.
Emmanuel [
]
Car just been delivered, looks OK:
It really is like that:
One gets an idea of the extent of the repairs. Any more common car would have ended up sold for parts.
Emmanuel [
]