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17
428 Frua Forum / Home again
« on: September 20, 2014, 17:28:46 »
Back on the U.K. roads again, after a long period in the U.S., here is the old works demonstrator CF7. A great pleasure to see such a gorgeous car and the icing on the cake is DVLA agreeing with the A.C.O.C. that she should have her old registration mark returned. A great credit to her new owner as the shipping, customs, recommissioning and the retrieving of the old registration was far from simple.
We are coming towards the end of the summer now, but perhaps CF7 will see some gentle shakedown exercise before it gets colder, darker and wetter.
We are coming towards the end of the summer now, but perhaps CF7 will see some gentle shakedown exercise before it gets colder, darker and wetter.
18
Cobra (Thames Ditton) Forum / Salisbury 4HU Diff.
« on: May 04, 2013, 16:14:12 »
Continuing from my note on the 'Rest and Be Thankful' report in the general forum, here is an update on my diff. failure.
Having found the failed splines and being wary of rebuilding with old shafts of uncertain heritage, I did a bit of research: Salisbury still exist in the form of Dana Axles U.K. Ltd., but have no more of the early two part output shafts. Moreover I took a close look at the surviving shaft -
As you can see the splines on the 'good' shaft are not far off being worn half way through.It follows that rebuilding with a second hand shaft on the failed side would only result in another spline failure, on the surviving shaft, in the near future.
Salisbury replaced these early two part shafts with a single piece shaft which is a stronger design. Not sure if any Cobras used them, but certainly Jaguar went over to them. I am not sure if the later shaft has stronger splines, but if you go this route they will at least start off as zero time new items. It seems that there is a U.K. based competition transmission specialist who replicate the later single piece drive shafts, but in a stronger materiel.
In any event, wherever the new style shafts come from, they will only fit the original Salisbury casing if it is machined to accept different bearings.
You can see where this is going: The replacement shafts dictate some machining and there is no point in doing this and using the old bearings and seals, LSD clutches or differential gears. The crown wheel and pinion may pass crack testing, or may not. Whatever there is a sizeable bill to be paid.
Given the years and abuse which older Cobras have endured this cost should be regarded in the context of half a century of service - leastways this makes it less painful.
I have decided to bite the bullet and use the upgraded competition shafts, with machining and all the replacement overhaul items. I'll report again when it is all back together.
Having found the failed splines and being wary of rebuilding with old shafts of uncertain heritage, I did a bit of research: Salisbury still exist in the form of Dana Axles U.K. Ltd., but have no more of the early two part output shafts. Moreover I took a close look at the surviving shaft -
As you can see the splines on the 'good' shaft are not far off being worn half way through.It follows that rebuilding with a second hand shaft on the failed side would only result in another spline failure, on the surviving shaft, in the near future.
Salisbury replaced these early two part shafts with a single piece shaft which is a stronger design. Not sure if any Cobras used them, but certainly Jaguar went over to them. I am not sure if the later shaft has stronger splines, but if you go this route they will at least start off as zero time new items. It seems that there is a U.K. based competition transmission specialist who replicate the later single piece drive shafts, but in a stronger materiel.
In any event, wherever the new style shafts come from, they will only fit the original Salisbury casing if it is machined to accept different bearings.
You can see where this is going: The replacement shafts dictate some machining and there is no point in doing this and using the old bearings and seals, LSD clutches or differential gears. The crown wheel and pinion may pass crack testing, or may not. Whatever there is a sizeable bill to be paid.
Given the years and abuse which older Cobras have endured this cost should be regarded in the context of half a century of service - leastways this makes it less painful.
I have decided to bite the bullet and use the upgraded competition shafts, with machining and all the replacement overhaul items. I'll report again when it is all back together.
19
General Forum / Rest and Be Thankful
« on: March 26, 2013, 13:59:17 »
We will be following in the tracks of Derek Hurlock and OPG192, the works 2 litre saloon, once again on April 21st 2013. There are full details on the News and Events Forum. Last years run involved a bit of off roading, but this year we will benefit from the authorities tarmacadam transformation and all will be as smooth as greased weasel whatsit. I wonder what improvement on their times would result were the ghosts of the past to have another crack at the hill without the bumps and loose patches ?
We will have a good turn out of Scottish A.C.s together with Howard Bryan's Yorkshire Raiding Party, but room for plenty more. Here are some reminders from last year.
Young William being grown up and responsible.
And Howard The Demon G'hound pilot about to burn rubber behind a Cobra.
This last shot gives you some idea of the challenge the racers of days gone by took on.
We will have a good turn out of Scottish A.C.s together with Howard Bryan's Yorkshire Raiding Party, but room for plenty more. Here are some reminders from last year.
Young William being grown up and responsible.
And Howard The Demon G'hound pilot about to burn rubber behind a Cobra.
This last shot gives you some idea of the challenge the racers of days gone by took on.
20
General Forum / Child seats and The Law
« on: December 03, 2012, 15:50:48 »
This topic is really for those who are having problems sleeping. Moreover I am sitting in The Study watching the snow flakes floating down past the window - so no chance of driving an A.C. and every excuse needed for avoiding an Arctic workshop, so it's The Forum instead:
Over the last couple of years The Grandchildren have become a significant factor in A.C. motoring. No doubt the same desire for a ride with Grandpa in The A.C. is to be found all over The World. I hope so.
However we live in societies beset by petty fogging officialdom and crass do-gooders. So the question is can children be legally carried in two seater A.C.s ?
First off let us forget the law, any law in any jurisdiction and just consider the common sense situation. Old cars are not designed to protect in a crash, as modern cars are designed to do and thereby there is a hazard to your child co-driver. On the other hand old cars, unlike modern cars, are far less likely to have an accident. So you make a judgement and may or may not permit a child in your old two seater. If you say 'no' then you will need to consider at what age you will say 'yes' - yet another question. I have chosen to allow the children into the cockpit.
However The Law in both Scotland and England and The U.K. has become too complicated for me and I hope there are some lawyers out there who can give us chapter and verse. Perhaps we might ask for the same guidance in other jurisdictions - A.C.s do tend to be International creatures after all.
If you start with our Highway Code and the various interpretations of it by everyone from 'The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents' through to 'Mumsnet' you will soon find that the advice does not cover the issue. See https://www.gov.uk/rules-drivers-motorcyclists-89-to-102/seat-belts-and-child-restraints-99-to-102.
At this stage you will also see that there are two paths through the legal jungle a) A car with seat belts and b) A car without seat belts. You will also find that there are three kinds of children: Small children - less than 12 years old and also less than 4' 5" (135cms.) Then there are Large children - these are less than 14 years, but not Small children i.e. they are over 12 or taller than 4' 5". Finally there are children of less than 3 years.
Where there are seat belts the situation is reasonably clear. A Small child must use an appropriate 'booster' with the seat belt and a Large child must use the seat belt. It does not however seem clear to me if Mother can carry a babe in arms, as she can on a Public Transport aircraft.
Without seat belts the situation is complicated. When referring to seat belts some provisions include the phrase 'where fitted' and others do not.
However the situation was covered by the 1993 Act which incorporated an Exemption for cars first used prior to 1st January 1965. Thus you could carry your child co-driver in accordance with: The Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts by Children in Front Seats)Regulations 1993. All happy then ? Well no because in 2006 a Brussels directive had to be complied with and this gave rise to: The Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts by Children in Front Seats) (Amendment) Regulations 2006. In this Act the exemption was removed. I doubt that a Brussels bureaucrat can spell A.C. let alone know what one is.
Thus I find myself totally defeated by the details of these provisions. I am told that some local councils have taken it upon themselves, at taxpayers expense, to employ inspectors to roam the streets looking for infringements of these complicated provisions. I have some confidence in saying that these numpties will have little idea of the legal provisions affecting a child in a 1958 A.C. Ace and absolute confidence in expecting them to report the driver for a prosecution. It may be that after some trouble and expense you will be found Not Guilty, but a better course of action would be to know the answer first. As it stands I fear that next Summer our youngsters will be banned from the A.C.s unless we can get a lawyer, or maybe the FBHVC, to explain how we stay within the law. What a shame.
Over the last couple of years The Grandchildren have become a significant factor in A.C. motoring. No doubt the same desire for a ride with Grandpa in The A.C. is to be found all over The World. I hope so.
However we live in societies beset by petty fogging officialdom and crass do-gooders. So the question is can children be legally carried in two seater A.C.s ?
First off let us forget the law, any law in any jurisdiction and just consider the common sense situation. Old cars are not designed to protect in a crash, as modern cars are designed to do and thereby there is a hazard to your child co-driver. On the other hand old cars, unlike modern cars, are far less likely to have an accident. So you make a judgement and may or may not permit a child in your old two seater. If you say 'no' then you will need to consider at what age you will say 'yes' - yet another question. I have chosen to allow the children into the cockpit.
However The Law in both Scotland and England and The U.K. has become too complicated for me and I hope there are some lawyers out there who can give us chapter and verse. Perhaps we might ask for the same guidance in other jurisdictions - A.C.s do tend to be International creatures after all.
If you start with our Highway Code and the various interpretations of it by everyone from 'The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents' through to 'Mumsnet' you will soon find that the advice does not cover the issue. See https://www.gov.uk/rules-drivers-motorcyclists-89-to-102/seat-belts-and-child-restraints-99-to-102.
At this stage you will also see that there are two paths through the legal jungle a) A car with seat belts and b) A car without seat belts. You will also find that there are three kinds of children: Small children - less than 12 years old and also less than 4' 5" (135cms.) Then there are Large children - these are less than 14 years, but not Small children i.e. they are over 12 or taller than 4' 5". Finally there are children of less than 3 years.
Where there are seat belts the situation is reasonably clear. A Small child must use an appropriate 'booster' with the seat belt and a Large child must use the seat belt. It does not however seem clear to me if Mother can carry a babe in arms, as she can on a Public Transport aircraft.
Without seat belts the situation is complicated. When referring to seat belts some provisions include the phrase 'where fitted' and others do not.
However the situation was covered by the 1993 Act which incorporated an Exemption for cars first used prior to 1st January 1965. Thus you could carry your child co-driver in accordance with: The Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts by Children in Front Seats)Regulations 1993. All happy then ? Well no because in 2006 a Brussels directive had to be complied with and this gave rise to: The Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts by Children in Front Seats) (Amendment) Regulations 2006. In this Act the exemption was removed. I doubt that a Brussels bureaucrat can spell A.C. let alone know what one is.
Thus I find myself totally defeated by the details of these provisions. I am told that some local councils have taken it upon themselves, at taxpayers expense, to employ inspectors to roam the streets looking for infringements of these complicated provisions. I have some confidence in saying that these numpties will have little idea of the legal provisions affecting a child in a 1958 A.C. Ace and absolute confidence in expecting them to report the driver for a prosecution. It may be that after some trouble and expense you will be found Not Guilty, but a better course of action would be to know the answer first. As it stands I fear that next Summer our youngsters will be banned from the A.C.s unless we can get a lawyer, or maybe the FBHVC, to explain how we stay within the law. What a shame.
21
Cobra (Thames Ditton) Forum / 1964 Oil Cooler
« on: October 15, 2012, 23:57:57 »
Probably of no interest to any other members, but I thought I should mention it just in case some poor soul is on a quest: The original oil cooler on A98 (the one from the works spares kit that came back from le Mans, the other one, on the car, did not survive the crash) sprang a leak recently and is back with Serck, who made them in 1964. The leaks simply needed some new solder to unite the core with the the end tanks, but I have asked them, whilst they have it there, to make an exact copy so that there is a spare with the car again.
The spare will be approximately £250 and I can ask for more to be made should anyone else be concerned with originality. The construction is brass. Very similar to the Delaney Gallay oil radiators Thames Ditton supplied for the competition Ace. The modern aluminium radiators are, maybe, superior, but the old A98 brass item has lasted 48 years and the oil runs at no more than 80°C so it cannot be that bad. Come to that the Delaney Gallay oil radiator on LM5000 is now 54 years old and I'm not sure an aluminium item would outlast that....
There were other styles of hose unions used in period and I believe Gerry Hawkridge has reproduced these.
In any event should anyone want a 1964 le Mans style oil radiator let me know.
The spare will be approximately £250 and I can ask for more to be made should anyone else be concerned with originality. The construction is brass. Very similar to the Delaney Gallay oil radiators Thames Ditton supplied for the competition Ace. The modern aluminium radiators are, maybe, superior, but the old A98 brass item has lasted 48 years and the oil runs at no more than 80°C so it cannot be that bad. Come to that the Delaney Gallay oil radiator on LM5000 is now 54 years old and I'm not sure an aluminium item would outlast that....
There were other styles of hose unions used in period and I believe Gerry Hawkridge has reproduced these.
In any event should anyone want a 1964 le Mans style oil radiator let me know.
22
Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Let There Be Light
« on: July 02, 2012, 11:54:07 »
Pleased to say that I have now used my recreated le Mans bulbs in anger. Albeit on the 1st of July at noon. Talk about High Summer.....
Thanks due to CEAG in Yorkshire who went to all the trouble of building small batches of the headlamp and foglamp bulbs for me, using the old tungsten technology. They do work rather well.
Picture is from Speedfest at Alford.
[imghttp://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w363/BPBird/GrampianTransportMuseum2012.jpg][/img]
Thanks due to CEAG in Yorkshire who went to all the trouble of building small batches of the headlamp and foglamp bulbs for me, using the old tungsten technology. They do work rather well.
Picture is from Speedfest at Alford.
[imghttp://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w363/BPBird/GrampianTransportMuseum2012.jpg][/img]
23
3000ME Forum / ME Factory Build Instructions
« on: May 21, 2012, 11:34:09 »
Whilst delving about for an A.C. part, I'm sure I have somewhere dammit, I came across a set of works build instructions for the ME which I was given years ago. Very useful for the ME community, perhaps these are in circulation already ? In any event they cover chassis and gearbox build up and were issued as an aid memoire to the chaps at Thames Ditton and Twentieth Century Works who were erecting The ME. Rather than entrust them to the post (there are too many pages for a scan) I can bring them down to The International (sorry not going to make the visit to the former A.C. Scotland Works on Tuesday) maybe Brian Moseley could carry them South for circulation?
24
3000ME Forum / 3000ME Heated Windscreens
« on: April 26, 2012, 22:45:55 »
I still have these heated screens for 3000ME and can bring them to Dunkeld in June if anyone wishes to take them south. They are of course foc within A.C.O.C. You will get them in a large estate car, but a bit heavy and bulky for our sporting machines
25
General Forum / le Mans Headlamps
« on: March 22, 2012, 19:43:34 »
I wonder if there are any members still in possession of, or still using any original le Mans headlamps? I ask because my carefully hoarded stock of original Mazda le Mans bulbs, from Thames Ditton, is coming to an end and I have, perforce, had to look at having another batch made. To my astonishment there is a company in Yorkshire called CEAG who can still produce tungsten bulbs, as fitted to A.C.s in the fifties and sixties, before the halogen revolution took place. Of course most members will have converted to more modern lights or converted their old lights to modern bulbs, however there may be someone out there determined, like me, to keep things original. The le Mans bulbs are very special with 100 watt filaments and a 2" glass envelope which in turn needs the special le Mans reflector with a big enough aperture to get this large bulb mounted. The other bulbs available are a normal size headlamp 48/48 watt and a spotlamp/foglamp 48 watt. All of these use a BPF cap and will fit the appropriate original Lucas reflector. The last two types are available from specialists like Holden, but CEAG are much more competitive on price. I am very pleased because these three bulbs are the ones carried by LM5000 and A98. Should this be of any help to other members please email me bird@oldmanse.net and I will put you in touch with CEAG of
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