Topics

Does anyone know a good company in the UK that can re-temper sagging leafsprings?  My Cobra is sitting lower than I'd like and I'd like to sort them.  I've used Brost Forge before but I think they ceased trading in June '19.
Thanks all,
Roger

Peter Auto and the ACO have announced that this year's LMC has now been postponed until 1-4th July 2021.  No real surprise there, I think...

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

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

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?

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

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

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

I have foolishly disposed of my copy of a recent edition of ACtion which contained an article mentioning Vauxhall's interest in AC Cars in the twenties.  The magazine seems not to be accessible online to members, so could some kind soul let me know who the author was and which edition it was in?  A brief copy of the paragraph relating to Vauxhall would be helpful, too.
The reason for this request is that an old friend has recently published a book on the Vauxhall company, and on mentioning it to him he was quite interested and has come up with a few things that might be of interest.  I was planning a brief mention of these in a response to the magazine.  As a seasoned academic historian, I like to get my references and notes correct!

Thanks

Roger

My all-time hero, Dan Gurney, sadly died on Sunday 14th Jan at the age of 86.  Yes, he raced Cobras, but I worshipped the beautiful Eagle-Weslake of '67.

Roger

Neither CAI or Speedycables seem to be taking on modifications at the moment.  Russ Swift has had flat refusals from Speedycables to do anything other than sell what is advertised on their website, which is not entirely helpful as their instruments are generally not close to correct - wrong speedo/tacho needles, wrong range for water temp, wrong tacho range, no high beam light in tacho etc. Speedograph Richfield are the only company I know of at present who are prepared to modify instruments to what amounts to custom end results.

Can anyone tell me which Lucas dynamo leafspring COB/COX 289 Cobras had fitted?  Was it C40 or C40L?  The handbook describes a C40-1, but I can find no reference to this in the Lucas parts books and wonder if it is a mis-reading of C40L.  Alternatively, if anyone could tell me the measurement between the inside faces of the mounting flanges on a Cobra generator that would help greatly...
   
   Thanks
   
   Roger

What rear axle ratios do folks run in their leafsprung Cobras?  I understand 'stock' was 3.54 for COB cars - has anyone changed this, and if so has the difference been noticeable?

Can anyone tell me if there should be a Furflex strip around the door aperture on the hood (soft top) on a leafspring Cobra, or not?  Getting conflicting advice...
   
   Thanks
   Roger

Can anyone tell me what route the rear brake pipe and the clutch pipe should take once they have left the master cylinders on a RHD 289 Cobra?  I have seen LHD cars with a lug welded on the left side engine mount for the clutch flexible hose, and I'm wondering if this means that the RHD cars' clutch pipes travelled around the front of the engine bay to get to the left side.  If so, did the brake pipe to the rear of the car follow it?
   Thanks,
   Roger

I'd be very grateful for advice on these parts.  I have replaced the original front lower balljoints with the smaller-type pin and bronze cup arrangements as original, and the rear lower wishbone pin and self-lubricating bushes, supplied by Hawk Cars.  I'm wondering if the front steel ball-pin and the rear wishbone pin should be hard chromed for increased wear resistance, and if it's worth getting the rear pin drilled for a grease nipple.  Any thoughts on this, and who might be able to do this for me?
   Thanks,
   Roger

Can anyone tell me if there should be a light to illuminate the original Lucas/Smiths style ammeter?  The gauge has a heavy bakelite casing with two screws for the charging wires, but no obvious provision for a bulb.  It is also a push fit in the dash, with no provision for a retaining clamp (which sometimes holds the bulb to light the instrument face from the side).  Was this the only instrument on the dash not to be lit, or am I missing something?
   Thanks,
   Roger

I'm planning to glue new leather to my dashboard this weekend, and am looking for tips.  The leather has been skived to thin it, and I have the recommended contact adhesive to fix it with.  But I can't see how to get it around the elbows in the dash panel where the centre section drops down for the clock without getting a crease in it - it doesn't stretch like vinyl!
   Any clever tips?  Do other cars have a crease here?  Does heat help (I doubt it), or wetting the leather?
   All suggestions gratefully received!
   Roger

Can anyone help with construction of glove box doors?  Specifically the thickness of plywood used.  I have found an old thread which suggests the ply was of 1/4" thickness, but that seems extremely thin to me and new plywood sold of that thickness is generally already warped.  I'd have thought 1/2" or 3/8", but does anyone know for sure?  I know there is a trim panel fixed on the inside.  Does the hinge screw onto the front face of the door, covered by thin padding and the leather - or should it screw to the edge of the door?
   Any guidance gratefully accepted!
   
   Roger

Would someone with an unmodified original leafspring car (later r&p), UK market, be able to tell me where the washer bottle sits - and what type it is?
   
   Thanks,
   Roger