Messages

31

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Re: half shaft alignment

« on: March 29, 2022, 15:25:42 »

BE475 half shafts after I rebuilt them with new UJs.

Mine were also misaligned. There are certain instance of upright removal, where it's easier to simply disengage the sliding joing rather than unbolt the UJ. So it's possible this may be the cause of the misalignement. I also welded up a bespoke socket to gain access to the inner UJ bolts (x4), so they could be run up with a impact rather than spannering every one.

32

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Re: Ace flat alluminium panels - painted or left natural

« on: March 25, 2022, 14:55:14 »

Thanks both for your input. I'm probably getting closer to the idea of a bare finish, becuase it just looks so nice, particularly with older panels. Then one can always add a coating at a later date.

It has been incredibly hard work though, first I have had to use a blow torch to warm the old under-seal, to scrape it off. Then I've used petrol to get the remainder off. What is then left in parts has in some area been painted so I progress on to a paint stripper. After which I can be still left with a layer of corrosion which needs to be wet sanded off, or in the very worse cases disk sanded off. The plan is to then fine sand panels with 1000 grade and where they're cokpit interior surfaces to use 2500 grade and possibly a polish, we will see what time permits.

33

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Re: AE513 at Dore and Rees

« on: March 25, 2022, 14:34:26 »

Indeed start an 'AE513' thread and share some pics.

34

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Re: Aceca poor steering lock

« on: March 25, 2022, 14:32:17 »

I would sound a further note of caution, that unless you are good at drill and tapping out broken bolts, I would leave these adjusters alone.

First check the clearance of the inside (of corner) wheel where it will be getting close to the inside of the alluminium inner wing. Then only if you hace some space experiment with adjustment.

I have to confess that this is the only piece of hardware I didn't attempt to undo when I rebuilt my front suspension. Partly because I already had evidence of the tyre rubbing but secondly because I didn't want to lose the set position of the bolt and lock nut each side.

35

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Re: Ace 2.6 Engine Color

« on: March 18, 2022, 07:59:35 »

I just pulled this from my notes. I believe this is as accurate as possible;

Ally parts - unfinished. Including the cast ally bell housing forward cover piece. Mays heads always unpainted.
All pressed steel parts - black. The engine pictured appears to have crackle finish paint, which I doubt Ford would have used in production.
Block - green colour as shown and discussed. I presume an original iron head would also be this colour.
Crank pulley, water pump and thermostat take off - I'm unsure but black would of course work.

There's a fairly active forum, for which you'll need a log on; https://ukmk3zephyrzodiac.proboards.com/

James Eastwood

36

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Re: Ace flat alluminium panels - painted or left natural

« on: March 18, 2022, 07:47:21 »

Luke,

This is great detail and very helpful. I've found all those products you've mentioned.

Interesting to note that the original cars had a black underseal on the inside of the wheel arches, when as you say so many cars just now have a bare metal finish, particularly the cars prepared for competion. It looks good (in my opinion) to see through past the tyre to the alluminium, but it's not how they left the factory and if you fancy a quick spin on a dry winter's day, then go through a salty puddle, the ally will react immediately unless you hose off, and if you think you need to hose the car off then you probably never going to get it out!

Thanks again,

James

37

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Re: BE 646

« on: March 17, 2022, 20:08:03 »

Looking great as always. Are you coating the insides of the wings and inner wings with anything. Ref my question listed in the forum, I'm trying to understand what the correct finish is. Thanks.

38

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Re: Ace flat alluminium panels - painted or left natural

« on: March 17, 2022, 19:59:57 »

Anyone?

39

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Ace flat alluminium panels - painted or left natural

« on: March 07, 2022, 14:03:10 »

I have the floors and some of the inner wheel arch panels off BE475, whilst the car has gone to Nick Finburgh at Classic Autos for some body corrections.

All these panel are well worn, but are original Thames Ditton parts and will be cleaned up and refitted to the car. I've taken the underseal off the wheel sides of the arches, using a blow torch to soften, then a scraper. This then appears to leave some sort of paint, but it's hard to see exactly.

Can people help me with;
1) the original finish of the wheel side of inner wheel arches and underside of floors, when cars left the factory?

2) If surfaces were left bare, what is the best way to stop then slowly corroding? I've heard of folks polishing, then rubbing in WD40, but perhaps there are better methods nowadays?

3) Can anyone recommend a product which replicates the square section foam seal that fitted onto the edges of panel to seal then.

Many thanks,
James

40

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Re: BE 646

« on: March 07, 2022, 12:42:39 »

All coming on nicely.

Yes I see you have the cast ally bell housing cover. I saw via the '150 PH' thread, this Zephyr engined car had a further gear box option, being the original Zephyr 4 speed (ilo Moss box) using the 3-rods-down-the-side of the box type shifter, which I haven't seen in an Ace before. This then appeared to necessitate a wider(?) transmission tunnel using a square section I note from the 150 PH photos. No overdrive on this particular set up, but Ford did make an OD for this box.

I'd go under the dash in a central area for the Hazard where it won't upset the aethetics but where both driver and passenger can quickly access. I have seen poeple put them in the glove box, which is neater, but less emergency ready!

41

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Re: 100D2 engine oil leak at rear

« on: March 07, 2022, 12:15:40 »

The rear seal will be above the oil level so I wouldn't expect it to leak when parked, unless the oil is draining out of the bell housing. Just make sure your analysis of where the oil is actually coming from is correct, remember windage across the engine can blow oil down the engine is some instances.

I would check the breather, before you start dissembling things.
1) Are blow by gases execessive? i.e. do you have a ring or valve stem seal problem.
2) Is the breather free and working, i.e. is there only a little gas coming out of the breather, but then what may appear to be more when you open the oil filler cap? You might need to ingratiate yourself to your neighbours and give it a rev up.

42

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Re: AC Ace project

« on: March 07, 2022, 11:50:41 »

More photos (127) on the auction site https://www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/lot-81---1963-ac-ace-26/?lot=55484&so=0&st=&sto=0&au=511&ef=&et=&ic=False&sd=0&pp=48&pn=2&g=1

There's no mention of this car in Tony Bancroft's Ace Bristol Racing book. The vendor perhaps should have done some research into it's Hill Climbing history before selling because it could make a significant difference. I assume that if the registration hasn't been recorded as scrapped or written off then it would be straight forward to have this renewed?

I loooked through the auction pics, the car is/was incredibly original complete with original interior leather/carpet and it's side window bag etc..

In terms of putting it together, once a new chassis and body have been made by professionals, the task isn't that much more involved than a normal restoration (imho), after all if you're getting parts sand blasted and painted, how rusty they are to begin with doesn't make a huge difference to the task.

Will be interesting to track the sale.

43

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Re: AC Ace Side Screen Envelope

« on: January 27, 2022, 15:41:25 »

56_Ace - ..as my father would say, that looks perfectly usable! Seriously though I imagine you are not the first person to try to recreate these bags, a search through the archives might be fruitful. I'd certainly like a copy of the patterns if it gets that far. I know a company that could reproduce these in Romford London, which made my Ace hood, let me know if you'd like more details shared, they are cost effective, but you'll need to brief them face to face.

I don't have the Rinsey Mills book with me now, but I think the picture of the original hood bag would suggest it's got a bit more form to the large sides (i.e. not just the oval ends), almost box like, I wonder if there is supposed to be more form inside.

BEX316 - nice bags, do you have any idea what the two loops with lift-dot fasteners are designed to secure to?

44

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Re: BE 646

« on: January 02, 2022, 01:54:34 »

DPK,

During my own research into the Ford Zephyr engine, I found that Ford fitted an aluminium flywheel cover to the engine side of the lower bell housing. You may know this already (!) but if not, then here's a picture. I managed to buy one from eBay, to sit on my shelf with some other Zephyr parts I've begun collecting, including a Mk3 Mays Head.

James

45

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Re: Early AC Ace Door Strap - Stitched or Riveted?

« on: January 02, 2022, 01:37:21 »

Mine were stitched at both ends. The forward end was a longer loop which went through the side screen bracket, then back through itself. The rearward end was a smaller loop which pressed over the turned round part of the door catch handle. Both sides broke some time ago but I still have them to use as patterns. They should be colour coded to match the leather interior colour.