Topics

16

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Bristol up-rated clutches

« on: April 10, 2019, 12:57:44 »

My Bristol clutch is slipping and to my knowledge has never been replaced in our family ownership (47 years!).

Having done a search I have found I need these parts;

MG Heavy duty 8.5" diaphragm
AP racing Clutch plate CP5352/1 , 
Borg & Beck Carbon Thrust release part # 3301

1) My budget may not run to the AP racing plate I may have to use a standard MG item - comments?

2) I'm also tempted to use the MG roller bearing because it comes inexpensively as part of the heavy duty clutch kit - thoughts?

3) I've learnt from one of Keith's posts that the AC clutch slave needs to be shimmed, I assume this means an lengthening of the push road to adapt for a slightly different diaphragm depth - Keith/gents - can some one give me an idea of how much shimming is required, in the order of 100 thou or half inch or what?

4) Do I need to machine a new set of dowel and bolt holes, or will the MG fit the Bristol pattern.

Thank you!

17

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Bleeding brakes and rear spring bolts

« on: April 09, 2019, 13:06:24 »

The long process of rebuilding all the steering, suspension, brakes and drive shafts on BE475 is now complete and I've test driven the car to work several times 

I have a couple of things I need help with;

1) Bleeding the brakes; they're 'ok' but wouldn't win any competitions for firmness. I note that the rear brake cylinders have the bleed lower-most on the cylinder, can others confirm this is correct and are there any tricks to bleeding this arrangement?

2) I'd like to replace the rear spring bolts to fit longer items, in order to fit a small lowering block. How do I dissemble these bolts, as they appear to be captive within the differential casing?

Many thanks.
James Eastwood

18

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Ace brake and fuel line routing under car

« on: December 17, 2018, 10:58:46 »

Happy Christmas everybody.

I'm in the process of renewing my brake line down the length of the car and had these questions concerning the brake and the fuel lines routing. I know the factory may have changed these through the production years, so people may have different routings, but any guidance is helpful. (We have a '58 RHD, Bristol car).

1) Brake line; my line is held to the outside of the chassis tube with the little hair-clip type spring retainers, but around the battery tray there has been some sort of a repair and the routing does not look correct. Should the brake line pass over or under the battery tray and over/under/inside the chassis rail? Should I have another clip(s) between there and the bronze 4-way union at the front sub frame?

2) Fuel line - I have what looks to be a factory original plastic line, but it goes down the transmission tunnel, in a slightly haphazard way, is this correct or should it also go up the outside of the chassis tube. In either case what should retain it? Current it's retained with period-looking aluminium strap bands.

3) Auxiliary fuel line - not fitted reinstated yet, but the car was originally fitted with the aux SU pump. Where should the aux line go typically, parallel to the main fuel line perhaps?

I have a raft of Ace technical pictures collected from the internet, but none unfortunately show this level of detail.

Many thanks,
James
BE475

19

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Brake pipe clips

« on: July 17, 2018, 21:43:50 »

Gents,

I'm missing some of these brake pipe retaining clips, I wouldn't expect they were unique to AC. Does anyone know where I can get some as I've looked at the usual on line suppliers and can't find them.

Thank you, James

20

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Ace Track Rod Ends & help getting hold of Club spares co-ordinator

« on: July 11, 2018, 10:01:45 »

Gents,

Looking through the November ACOC magasine there were a list of spares available including Ace track rod ends which I'm after. Stephen Hall was listed as the contact for the spares and I emailed in June, then again twice in July, without receiving a response or an 'out of office' reply.

Is anyone able to help me with contact details for Stephen or an alternative route to a store coordinator? They are one of the few things left on my 'buy list' before I put the suspension back on the car.

Many thanks James
BE475
Membership #6401

21

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Ace Brake Caliper anti rattle shims/springs

« on: July 02, 2018, 14:27:47 »

Hi there gents.

My brakes had these components in them, two anti rattle spring things, with mounting pieces and one larger aluminium cover over the whole assembly. Pic attached.

What do other owners use in this area and where do you get the replacement parts please? Is the aluminium cover a racing part for additional pad retension or a factory part?

I did do a search but  nothing came up, possibly the parts are known by different names.

James
BE475

22

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Ace - Hub Puller

« on: December 11, 2017, 16:30:39 »

Hi there chaps. I'm rebuilding all the running gear on BE475, and have struggled to get the rear hubs separated, I've tried drifting the axle out without success. I would sincerely appreciate borrowing a hub puller from some one who lives not too far away from me. I'm based in Brentwood (UK) which is essentially the M25-A12 Junction 28.
   
   Many thanks James Eastwood

23

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Ace King pins

« on: November 25, 2017, 23:06:03 »

Hi chaps I've put BE475 up on axle stands for the winter to restore all the running gear. I've stripped the King's pins this evening (cotter pins - phew!) and they have quite a bit of play. Is there a bush kit available or a company that can correct then for me?
   
   I also have play in a rear hub lower pin joint on one side. It's not  yet apart, but is this a common problem and what is the approach to fix Please?
   
   Many thanks
   James Eastwood
   200 GPD  /  BE475

24

ACOC News and Events / AC Factory 'Bible'

« on: September 13, 2017, 14:49:11 »

Perhaps someone can help. I'm under the impression the 'Bible' will have the factory data for the car build, i.e. build date, car specification, options fitted, engine/g-box/chassis numbers, colours etc.. Is this correct?
   
   I understand that the Bible was available to be viewed at the Brooklands Museum gathering on New Years Day. Is it available at any other times or has the information been transcribed into a record which I or another, can gain access to?
   
   I'd love to have all the original history. For example my car has the factory oil temperature gauge fitted. However the demist duct on the drivers side has been removed to facilitate the fitting of it. Suggesting that the demister was original equipment from the factory then some time later the car was returned for the oil temp gauge fitting.
   
   I'm hoping by viewing the factory fitted options list I can work this all out.
   
   James Eastwood
   BE475 / 200GPD

25

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / AC Ace Grab Handle

« on: August 31, 2017, 12:33:53 »

I took my Ace to it's first ACOC outing for many years since my father last used the car. I met Andy Shepard and Keith Lessiter (again), plus Pater Jaye, Brian Horwood and John Goose. Many thanks for words of encouragement for my owner-restorer on-going renovation.
   
   One thing I'd like advice for (or a part from some one!) is the Grab Handle. I presume mine was dispensed with at some point in it's racing career, I have just the holes in the body.
   
   I have found that 'Ashwater' classic car parts make them although I need to order one later this year.
   
   Is there a club stock or another AC supplier I could try or does indeed some one have perfectly patina'd 2nd hand part I could purchase?
   
   Plus might some one be able to advise on the correct fixing hardware, are the bolts self tappers or threaded bolts which go through into something? And who might supply?
   
   Many thanks,
   
   James Eastwood, 200GPD, BE475.

26

General Forum / AC valuation for insurance

« on: August 16, 2017, 09:49:27 »

Gents,
   
   My father has asked me to get a valuation of our Ace to share with our insurance company. I had suggested using Haggerty guide on line, but that leaves the condition and any valuation of the history up for debate.
   
   How do you chaps do this task? (To be clear I'm NOT looking to spark a debate on car values, it's the process I'm after.) Would it be something I ask the Registrar to help determine 'condition' .
   
   Many thanks. James Eastwood

27

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / 200 GPD Ace Bristol

« on: December 05, 2016, 16:35:43 »

Hello ACOC Forum,
   
   My name is James Eastwood,and I am putting our Ace Bristol 200GPD (ex Bill Shaw 1961) back into a reliable road going state, having been out of use for several years. We've owned the car since the 1970's, it was used by my father in the 70s and 80s, but was only seldom MOT'd in later years as other Vintage car projects too priority.
   
   I am undertaking the majority of the work myself and have a background preparing a Healey Sprite for Sprint and Hill Climb, whilst also working at Ford Motor Company. As I move forward I'm going to have a raft of historical and technical AC Ace Bristol questions to ask, so firstly am I in the right forum for these questions ??
   
   Many thanks indeed for your help, James