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Hi guys', does anybody have any MKIV pin drive spare hubs anywhere? These are to be installed in my Frua. Thanks.
   
   Regards,
   
   Emmanuel[?]

quote:Originally posted by Classicus
   
AC 428 Article - Extract from Classic & Sports Car. Feb/ March 2008.
   Pages 134 & 135
   
   Have a chat with Hurst Park then....
   
   
   
   With grateful acknowledgements.
   

   
   In this latest article about the Frua, it is suggested that most remaining cars (and probably rightly so) are quite rusted. Since a lot of people are currently restoring their cars, I suggest that we post lots of photos of our cars after they have been restored. This should help greatly in boosting further interest to this very fine automobile. Jeffrey, maybe you could start since your car is original and unmolested!
   
   Emmanuel[:)]

http://www.sportscarmarket.com/Profiles/2008/February/Etceterini/
   
   This applies to the Frua as well! The Frua has a more exotic chassis with all independent suspension and coil springs all around. Also the few Iso s' with big block go for twice that amount!. Very nice car nevertheless! Like for the Iso Griffo, finding a very good Frua to buy may be difficult, this is why I think owners should document any work done on their cars, I think ultimately, the payback will come when the car is offered for sale. The value of our cars has been going up steadily but I think some people maybe unwilling to invest in a car that does not have full documentation. Most Ferraris for example have been restored to often better than new condition and are fully documented.
   
   http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/05/1969-iso-grifo-is-rare-and-much-too-good-to-pass-u/
   
   Emmanuel [:D]

Are any people interested in getting together and sharing the cost of making a few windshields? I would get 2 for myself and I think my friend Jeffrey would do the same! Theere are a few companies out here who can do it. The mold is expensive, if people are interested I will look into it and come up with hard prices! Regards,
   
   Emmanuel [;)]

I am in the process of building a new motor for my Frua, this would have probably been the motor of choice for AC or even Ford if cost and Pride!!!! were no object.
   
   Let's start: I bought a 68 original 427 block and I am having a billet steel crank made by Moldex. Rod bearing size will be stock Big block Chevy 2.2" and the small end will be Chevy as well allowing the use of Chevy pistons. Stroke will be 3.98" just like the 428 motor, however I will be using 6.8" long oliver billet connecting rods giving a much better rod to piston angle. The other advantage of using a longer rod is slower piston speed. The net result when combined with the 4.25" 427 bore should give me a 454 motor that can safely rev to 6500 rpm or more. I will be using a relatively mild cam, either solid or hydraulic, I have not made up my mind as of yet but I am leaning toward solid. The goal is 500hp and 550lbs of torque with a very reliable motor which can be driven long distance, I have been told my rotating assembly is overkill for such a motor, but I am lead footed and I would like the motor to be durable. The motor will look almost completely stock on the outside. Only one problem, delivery time for the new crank is 20 weeks!
   
   Emmanuel

In Germany, a very nice blue roadster sold, number is CF16, I hear that the car sold right away! Asking was 90,000 Euros, anybody knows the actual selling price?
   
   Thank you Damien for the tip, Emmanuel
   
   http://www.wunscholdtimer.de/

I am going to try to make a list and identify all the difficult Frua parts. Mainly, the hard to find or one of a kind stuff. Knowing Italien coach builders, I am sure these parts a found on some other Italien cars. Like the door outside handles and front quarter windows which are the same as the Maserati Mistral.  The way to do it I think is to go to Italien car show and look at small detail on all the cars displayed.

Here are some photo of the 428 bottom with new undercoating, new aluminum panels, etc. One can see the Waxoil sipping out from underneath. the bottom of the sills will be sealed and under coated as well. Massive amounts of Aircraft firewall ceramic insulation have been sandwiched between floors and aluminum panels and on the firewall. There is no way any heat can make it inside! We will see! For the undercoating we have used Wurth SKS stone guard, German stuff, it is great, it dries hard as a rock and is paintable. All the sills, all the rectangular tubing, most of the floors, inner wings and bottom of the fenders are new! What has not been replaced has been scraped clean, primed and repainted.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   The floor of the cabin, has been completely covered with Dynamat! It might be heavy, but it will be cool! I have added a drive shaft safety loop as well, one never knows with big block power!
   
   
   
   
   No more rust, no more bondo, no more fiberglass. Just new metal and lead for the outside panels. The car has been worked on continually for 10 weeks. It is funny that all the corrosion was located down low with the exception of the chassis which was like new (I can see why some of these cars were converted into cobras). Now that everything is beautiful underneath, the mechanical work comes next with more suspension work as well! and maybe air conditioning. Once all that is done, the car will be repainted BRG again. I want to make sure it drives great before I paint it.
   
   First, the 428 motor will go back in with the new 4 speed Toploader box, I have selected a wide ratio setup since I plan to run the current 2.88 ratio or go to 3.08. The Toploader was never offered with a wide ratio with the 1 3/8 imput shaft but David Kee makes a custom shaft for this application. I will see how the car goes, with the Edelbrock heads and the bigger cam, the motor currently has about 450 HP, estimated. If the heat is under control, I will install a 427 block with the current crankshaft which will bring the engine to 454 cubic/inch. Even with a smooth cam, The car should be a monster! It will be dynoed at this point. The goal is 550 HP and 600 F/lbs of torque with very smooth delivery. I might have to install pin drive wheels with this kind of power! This type of modifications have to be done in steps to get good results. [:p]
   
   Emmanuel

Here is a  photo of the little front spoiler we made up! I hope it helps a little! I did not want it to be too big, 2" only!
   
   
   
   
   Emmanuel

I understand this is the Prototype Coupe from a Swiss collector!
   4 Speeds, Halibrands and modified engine!
   
   //www.motorlegend.com/coupe/ac-428-frua/6,12586.html
   
   Check it out, nice car!
   
   Emmanuel

If anybody is interested at looking at the Frua's empty engine compartment! Chassis is huge! If you are wondering why the inner fenders are not painted, it's because they are new! I thought it was better to replace them with the engine in the car to minimize any clearance problems! They will get primed and painted this week!
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Emmanuel

Owners and past owners of 428 Fruas, please come on over and tell us your experience with the car, good or bad!  [?]
   Emmanuel

http://www.americandreamcars.com/1986cobramkiv.htm
   With a little bargaining, maybe $30 to $32K! If the car is nice? that would be a good deal!
   Emmanuel

In view of all the want to be Cobras, Shelby continuation cars, MKIV etc. What is a real AC? To me a genuine AC is a car that was build by Derek Hurlock at the Thames Ditton factory, the last of it being the ME3000 and that's it! Now, a lot of credit should be given to Brian Angliss for trying is best to resurrect the Make. The MKIV and the new AC Ace where a sincere try to resurrect the brand. Whether we want it or not, the spirit and the know how are gone. It's like with Bugatti, is the current car a real Bugatti? Hardly.
   
   Owners of original AC cars please provide your thoughts on the matter.

I am thinking about getting an Aceca to do a little rallying out here, I would love to find out more about the car from owners! Which year would be best? Which motor? How the car does compare to the roadster etc.
   
   Any feedback appreciated thank you.
   
   Emmanuel

I am somewhat disappointed by this forum, I thought we would discuss various technical aspects of AC Cars and instead we end up arguing over kit car value and whether or not the MKIV is a real AC or not. I would like to see more questions and answers about real AC cars like Acecas', Bristols', Zephyrs', Cobras', 428s' Etc.
   I guess that's why we don't hear much from original AC owners, a pity.
   [?]
   
   Emmanuel

I am in the process of converting my Frua to a manual box! I am doing it because I think it will make the car more enjoyable for me to drive. I already purchased a proper Ford Top-Loader box. I have 3 questions for you guys:
   
   What is the proper shift mechanism mounted originally on the Frua? I have seen photos of cars with the short forward shifter like the Cobra MKII and I have seen photos where the shifter was the long Cobra 427 type. I can install either since all is needed is a different tail-shaft and I have not bought a shifter yet!
   
   What is the proper tail-shaft for the Top Loader?
   
   Also would it be sacrilegious to mount a modern Tremec 5 speed TKO600? Would it hurt resale?
   
   Any feedback appreciated!
   
   Emmanuel [?]

Hello,
   
   I am wondering, does anyone know how may AC Frua are left? We know AC built 29 convertibles, 51 coupes and 3 special bodied cars. Some rotted away, some were converted into Cobras, some perished in road accident or went to the wreckers yard. Anyones guess? Maybe If you guys list your serial numbers we can get an idea of how many and where they are!!
   
   Los Angeles, CA CFX54 BRG roadster! [:)]
   
   Emmanuel