Messages

16

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Re: AC Ace steering box?

« on: November 21, 2022, 10:10:16 »

Dear Michael,

Again thanks for your valued input concerning the steering of our beloved Ace’s and Aceca’s. The first snow has fallen in southern Sweden so I fear any more driving, and testing will have to wait until spring is here.

I think that you in a very clear and systematic way put light on the importance of being thorough and meticulous when trying to find out a mechanical problem. I will certainly start over from “scratch” when the temperature allows.

To answer some of your questions I have carried out a number of the procedures that you suggest and the results have all seemed satisfactory. But since I’m taking the track rods off the car soon for repainting, I will have the opportunity to go about this in a precise way when reassembling again.

I haven’t tried or tested the column/cam for axial birthday lay since the box was restored by a professional, but I will do this as soon as have time and I will post my findings.

On a slightly different note I would argue that Napoleon did loose big time at the battle of Leipzig in 1813. Important as a Swede since this was the last time Sweden was at war on the continent, but Napoleon did indeed have a battle plan!

Thanks again from at the moment a white Copenhagen.

Jonas

17

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Re: Ac ace Bristol rear wheel bearing

« on: November 17, 2022, 07:43:41 »

I spoke to vintage bearings and they could possibly make a remanufactured version of the LDJ 40 bearing in smaller batches, say 10-20. However they estimated the cost for each bearing to be in the region of £300-400.

If there is sufficient interest I can go ahead and ask for a quote.

I look forward to see if there is any interest. Please post here or send me an email to:

jonas (at) jonaslindvall (.) com

Jonas

18

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Re: Ac ace Bristol rear wheel bearing

« on: November 15, 2022, 16:55:58 »

Hi,

Thanks but I have ordered these twice from from Quality Bearings in recent years. Really good company to deal with but unfortunately they haven’t delivered any original specification bearings, so far. What they have sent me have been the SKF equivalent which again has fewer balls per row and a plastic cage.

There are a couple of trading companies online that list R & M LDJ 40 bearings. My experience is that there aren’t any original spec bearings available with,
 at least European/ UK based companies. I have heard a rumour that there are some floating around in the US, maybe one of our overseas members knows anything about the truth to this rumour?

Jonas

19

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Re: Ac ace Bristol rear wheel bearing

« on: November 14, 2022, 11:20:55 »

Good idea. I will contact Vintage Bearings about this. Does anybody else know of any companies that could undertake such a project?

20

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Re: Period photographs

« on: November 13, 2022, 19:06:42 »

John,

Thanks for the link. I have indeed seen this and it has been very helpful when trying to get some details correct on my car, AEX 31.

There are for instance some pictures from 1954 and 1955 of show chassis that I guess could contain interesting information if available in high resolution.

Does anybody know if the club has any images in the archives?

Jonas

21

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Re: Ac ace Bristol rear wheel bearing

« on: November 13, 2022, 19:01:26 »

Michael,

Thanks for the info. I have spoken with Vintage Bearings over the years and so far they haven’t been able to find any LDJ 40 bearings. I actually spoke to them the other week and it also now seems like the possibility to have old bearings restored have become the incredibly expensive. The indication I got was that it would be a number of houndreds of pounds per bearing, if at all possible…

I do believe that it would be great if the club could get involved to try to have a strong bearing manufactured.

Jonas

22

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Re: Ac Aceca Battery type?

« on: November 13, 2022, 18:55:09 »

Barrie,

Thanks for your reply and information.

Jonas

23

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Period photographs

« on: November 09, 2022, 16:22:07 »

Dear all,

Every now and then I come across interesting period photos from the AC factory or from other sources that hold valuable information. So my question is if the club or any individuals have any images that could possibly be shared in one way or another. It could be a valuable resource for anybody restoring their cars. It would obviously be beneficial if the images could be scanned to a high resolution and then be made available one way or another?

I realise that my question is somewhat vague but I suspect that there are some great images lying hidden in drawers that could help us interested in keeping our cars as original as possible.

So if anybody has any images that they could consider sharing or selling or if the club has any please let me know.

Kind regards Jonas

24

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Re: AC Ace steering box?

« on: November 07, 2022, 20:49:18 »

Michael,

Sorry for the delay in replying, I celebrated Bonfire Night in England! Thanks for your comments. The steering on 31 is another step closer to being as good as it can, I think!

I haven’t owned 31 since new but I have owned “the mistress”, as my wife calls her, for 23 years now. I did drive her a lot the first 6 years, and as far as I remember the steering box wasn’t touched at all in those 6 years. So I guess some previous owner or mechanic did indeed find that sweet spot or the perfect adjustment of the peg if you like.

I have used up a lot of courage this year when trying to find the exact spot where slightest drag and free play are in harmony. I have always adjusted the steering with the front wheels jacked up but I’ve also done very slight, road side adjustments which I believe has been helping me get closer to a good balance. I very much agree with you that the setting is very, very sensitive and that the difference in between a good and bad setting is very slight. I also have to say that after having adjusted “en route” to satisfactory result, checking afterwards with the front wheels up gives me more than a feeling of slightest drag…

Jonas

25

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Re: Ac Aceca Battery type?

« on: November 07, 2022, 20:23:47 »

Barrie,

Sorry for my late reply, I went to the UK last week. Interesting that 22 and 31 are identical in this respect as well. The front wheel boxes on 31 were pop-riveted to the frame when I bought the car, I do suspect that they might have been screwed with some self tapping screws originally. Could I ask how they are attached on 22?

I did get some nickel plated screws with 31 when I bought the car, I strongly suspect they were used for this application.

I guess that AC  didn’t spend too much time to develop the first LHD Ace they manufactured, since the battery is in a rather awkward position. Before I changed to screws I had to dismantle both the steering box as well as the carburettors to get the battery out,  or a 5 minute job exactly!

Finally I think it would be very interesting to gather some early cars and compare different solutions and maybe to some extent get a grip of when the factory did change certain details?

Jonas

26

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Re: Ac Aceca Battery type?

« on: November 04, 2022, 11:46:11 »

Dear all,

On behalf of Keith Lessiter I’m posting some images that hopefully can help in showing the battery tray.
They depict  BEX1000 whilst being restored in 2015. ( Photos Credit Colin
Read in Australia)

Regards Jonas

27

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Re: Ac Aceca Battery type?

« on: October 30, 2022, 19:13:36 »

Barrie,

The image is from a later car, I think 1957-58. I haven’t got a good image of the battery tray on 31, but it is aligned like you say, if i understand you correctly, ie the longest side of the battery runs parallel with the large chassis tubes. I’ve enclosed an image that shows a little part of  the tray on 31, this is a full tray if you like. Is that the same on 22?

Jonas

28

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Re: Ac ace Bristol rear wheel bearing

« on: October 30, 2022, 09:35:28 »

Hi again,

I’ve been searching for years trying to find LDJ 40 bearings and they are very difficult
to get ahold of.

So maybe this could be a project that the club could get involved in? I would guess that sooner
or later anybody that uses their cars will have a problem.. If I’m not misstaken this is also the
bearing on at least the earlier Cobras no?

So potentially hundreds of owners will probably need a set.

Any thoughts on the matter?

Kind regards

Jonas

29

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Re: Ac ace Bristol rear wheel bearing

« on: October 29, 2022, 16:48:32 »

Hi,

I have had some recent experience regarding rear wheel bearings.

I bought a new spines rear hub set from JSW that came with a NSK
replacement for the original R & M LDJ 40 bearings.

They lasted something like 500 km,really not up to task at all.

I would advice you to try and get ahold of some original bearings,
Although very difficult to get ahold of I think it will be worth the effort.

The problem with the NSK replacement is that it only has 11 balls per row,
the original ones have 15. Koyo makes a replacement that I haven’t tried,
it has more balls per row but all of the 4 ones I have acquired have a slight
play in them.

Enclosed image shows a not up to the task NSK, a Koyo and an original
Randsome and Marles original type.

Hope that helps.

Jonas

30

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Re: Ac Aceca Battery type?

« on: October 28, 2022, 09:50:36 »

Hi,

A friend of mine sent me this image of a tray that should be correct. I believe that the triangular
Reinforcements are not original, but helps to keep the tray from not bending…

On 31 there are just two rods, 1/4 inch that holds the two sides together.

Jonas