Messages

16

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Chrome two-eared spinners

« on: September 24, 2019, 10:31:44 »

I posted this in the Cobra forum - I think it applies to Aces etc. as well, but not sure.

There's a slight possibility that a run of correct-pattern chrome two-eared 42mm 8tpi spinners could be made to the attached design.

Before this can go any further, would any interested please let me know likely numbers?

Thanks, Roger

17

Cobra (Thames Ditton) Forum / Chrome two-eared spinners

« on: September 24, 2019, 10:30:00 »

There's a slight possibility that a run of correct-pattern chrome two-eared 42mm 8tpi spinners could be made to the attached design.

Before this can go any further, would any interested please let me know likely numbers?

Thanks, Roger

18

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Re: Ace Lucas Wiring Diagram

« on: September 13, 2019, 11:27:57 »

Just a little aside to this, which I'm sure you already know anyway:  Lucas wiring colours conform to a standard code for each function, usually pretty detailed, and common across their entire production.  There should be a set colour for each pathway and each 'direction', which I've found to be constant for all British cars of the period.

Roger

19

Cobra (Thames Ditton) Forum / Re: CS2030

« on: August 29, 2019, 12:56:49 »

Russ, did you get the instruments all sorted in the end?  I can't remember where you had got to!

I've found a good route to getting a very accurate cable drive speedometer and tachometer made up using original instruments from another model.  If you're still stuck on this, get in touch.

Roger

20

Cobra (Thames Ditton) Forum / Re: Rear disc runout

« on: August 04, 2019, 14:01:52 »

The issue is a little involved!

My hubs and discs are double drilled to allow for peg drive, which I don't use.  When the parts were machined, the machinist couldn't get the disc-to-hub mounting bolts through the holes due, probably, to over-enthusiastic plating of the hub.  Rather than re-drill the holes, he used nuts and bolts through the peg-drive holes, which are slightly larger.
The parts were indexed, but when I assembled the hubs I clearanced the bolt holes slightly and assembled correctly using those.  I suspect I managed to get some debris between the two, but nothing showed on another dismantling.  Another careful cleaning and assembly and it's now fine.  I've done a test drive (Silverstone Historic) and all vibration under braking has gone, making it a lot more pleasant to drive.

21

Cobra (Thames Ditton) Forum / Re: Rear disc runout

« on: July 25, 2019, 09:52:17 »

Just to say I've sorted this and now have around 0.001" run out on the disc, and all my pedal vibrations have vanished!  So have the flickering brake lights...

22

Cobra (Thames Ditton) Forum / Rear disc runout

« on: July 23, 2019, 11:10:18 »

Does anyone have a figure for the max permissible runout on a rear disc for a leafspring car?  I've just rebuilt a rear hub with new RHP bearings, seals etc. and a new disc, and despite having a machine shop set the interference tolerance for the axle shaft fit, true up the hub face for the disc fit and check the run-out on the bench, I have 5 thou runout at the edge of the new disc.  I had terrible brake judder before under heavy braking, and suspect I still will have (won't know until the new pads arrive).  I wonder if there's a problem with the hub?

23

General Forum / Re: Another AC

« on: May 15, 2019, 13:30:31 »

Excellent!  I see what you did there...

A Rolls-Royce Mudlark.  Lovely - race you with my Series 2A 88"!

Roger

24

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Re: Aceca

« on: April 19, 2019, 14:03:56 »

Thanks Luke, and thanks for the good advice via pms.
It's annoying when a dealer who is selling a car at that price automatically assumes it has a Moss box...
As mentioned, if the situation changes I'll give you a ring.

Roger

25

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Re: AC or Bristol?

« on: April 10, 2019, 16:42:50 »

Thanks Robin.  From what I've read, the CLBN WT engine gets close to the standard Bristol output in bare numbers.  I have a few minor concerns, such as not being able to remove a piston without the liner, but I guess if you're removing pistons the chances are that the bores will be needing attention too, possibly.  It's general parts availability, ball joints, dampers, bushes etc. that I was thinking about but I guess that would all apply to Aces anyway.  I'm not aware of any big difference in service items, but am willing to be corrected.

26

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Re: AC or Bristol?

« on: April 10, 2019, 14:22:59 »

Thanks Barrie, that's rather where I was going in the decision-making process.  I'm halfway through a full restoration of a '55 140DHC, and was very careful to buy a matching-numbers car with sound provenance - and won't be putting a 5-speed in it any time soon.  Actually, I won't be doing very much in it all for a while as I've just sectioned the body which is now at the blasters:  which brings me to the next question.  I do as much as I can myself, bar paintwork (and XK drophead hoods), and would plan to continue this with an Aceca as far as possible.  I'm familiar with transverse leaves etc., having built a super-accurate Cobra replica.  I don't imagine there's anything technically in an Aceca that's more of a challenge, but what about parts availability for the DIY-er?  I don't think Halfords will have a late-AC engine water pump on the shelf.

27

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Re: AC or Bristol?

« on: April 10, 2019, 13:17:44 »

Thanks James, very helpful.  I do have Rinsey Mills' book and have read it thoroughly several times over the years, but you can't beat actual owner feedback.  I like the Ford suggestion, that engine is much more 'my era'.  Would you happen to know anything about engine mounts?  Presumably anything Aceca will translate to Ace, but I assume engine mounting brackets for the AC and Ford engines are quite different animals.  Purely guesswork on my part, though.

28

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Aceca

« on: April 10, 2019, 11:52:56 »

Still hoping for a bit of advice on Acecas - I'm also looking at AE805 which is currently for sale.
How easy are these cars to live with - what's the spares situation for the CLBN AC engine, or the 'lightweight' gearbox?
Thanks
Roger

29

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / AC or Bristol?

« on: April 08, 2019, 22:53:43 »

Could someone enlighten me as to the various pros and cons of AC and Bristol engines?  As in earlier post, I'm thinking about an Aceca.  What are the reliability and driveability elements of the two - and parts availability, prices, etc.  Did the Aceca always have the Moss box, with either engine?  I'm getting the impression that the 100 D2 motor might have the capacity to make my XK's engine look cheap...
Thanks,
Roger

30

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Aceca info?

« on: April 08, 2019, 15:22:27 »

I have reached that stage in my life at which I really fancy a Bristol-engined Aceca.  Does anyone know anything at all about the history of this one, currently at Redline?
http://www.redlineclassiccars.co.uk/sale/ac-aceca-blue/
It's not cheap, but...

Thanks,
Roger