Messages

I have no experience with the original Armstrong shocks but I can say that the revised Eacott/Bird Spax dampers with limited travel have worked very well for me on the road, on the track and with servicing the car with its wheels up in the air.

Dampers are wear items and looking at today's technology the only interest of the originals probably lies in being kept on a shelf as factory relics for "archaeollectors".

Hi Nick,

Thank you. I have been in touch with Oliver Nuthall and my friend is now pondering his options.

Regards

Dear all,

The crankshaft damper on the Ace Bristol of a friend is in need of replacement or at least overhaul. Do we know people who can take care of this?
I know that Barrie posted while back about a company in Oregon a who can rebuild the damper from the AC engine, but it seems the Bristol damper has not been discussed on here yet.

Thanks in advance.

Hello,

As I did not feel confident with the solution of soaking the old and dirty filtering elements in fluid I ended up purchasing a set of these from IN Racing. They are perfect but they come at a price. I will certainly attempt to clean the old sets in view to put them back into service once the time comes.

Hello David,

I do not have a problem with members making profits as long as it benefits the club and is done so in full transparency as to not abuse anyone. What remains to be defined is what actually benefits the club and what does not.

Indeed it has been good to discuss directly with you about the issue.

Best regards,
Thomas

The legal issues a friend of mine has been going through since he sold his Ace Bristol has put under the light the practices of some long term ACOC members, such as using the law to avoid bad publicity when the sale of a car has gone wrong. Whilst such practices are certainly not unheard of in this sad world where making ever bigger profits has become, for far too many, more important than common sense and basic morality, I am curious to see if the club will take any action (pun untintended) so that people in the know would not take advantage of their position to abuse naive and trustworthy enthusiasts who thought they were buying a troublefree car. I will not give names as I have better things to do in my life than triggering any personal affair against dishonest people who may well attempt in return to drag my name through the mud, but hearing about such misbehaviours, and to echo the explanatory letter of Barrie Bird in last month's ACtion, I cannot help raising my hand and suggest writing a few names off the members' list.

I cannot believe the amount of patience you have. It feels like this thread has been running for as long as I can remember... When are you hoping to get the car road-worthy?

Thank you Andy, I will definitely join next year. The Ace seemed to know the way to Le Mans all by itself!

I think it would have been honest from the organisers to mention on the sign of each car in the paddock if it was a replica or not. I was very pleased when I went to see up close some of the cars I mentioned above but not being an expert and learning afterwards that many were replicas was for me quite a disappointment. While we are not talking about doing anything illegal I just feel that the spirit of all this process has similarities with money laundering. I am all for perfect replicas to preserve original cars but pulling the wool over the public's eyes is I think a little irritating, although I know it's very easy for me to say things like that when I am lucky enough to own a special Ace.

Best wishes,
Thomas

PS : I stand corrected - a letter (C) on the sign of each car in the paddocks would mean that the car was a replica, which I ignored until a few seconds ago. Wish I had known that when walking in the paddocks.

Yes, thank you Andy for the organisation.
I had a wonderful time for my first ACOC meeting although it all felt like an escape outing after 2 years of Covid restrictions as people seemed to proceed with their own agenda (me the first!) and spend not as much time together as I had expected.
Looking forward to a more AC-focused ACOC meeting.

I had a terrific time putting the old Ace through its paces on this wonderful track, for the 60th anniversary of its taking part in this mighty race.

Not sure I understand though why so many replicas are allowed to take part in the "racing". Not sure how many of the perhaps half dozen Cobra Daytonas ever saw the skies of California... and the '64 250 GTO, the 250 LM and at least one 250 SWB were also replicas. Nice cars, but but but...

1958 AC Ace - BEX385

https://www.broadarrowauctions.com/vehicles/029/1958-ac-ace-bristol

That is quite a bit of negative camber on both the front and rear axles, isn't it?
The fuel supply pipe to the carbs should be on the LHS, the steering wheel is awful, the water temp gauge is SW rather than Smiths, the gear lever knob is wrong, no extension on the oil fill up rocker cover, no glovebox lid, and there is just something bizarre with how front wheels look, like the proportions on the front wings are off, or is this just a ride height issue?

Thank you Keith. I replaced the offending fuse with a 50A unit. Let's see if it holds together. Still surprised how the 35A could have melted as it's not like the horns are being used continually.

Good morning,

Well, exactly during a few spirited laps at Le Mans the 35 Amp fuse that handles, on my Ace at least, the horn and the warning lights melted. I seem to remember this happened in the past already, so what size fuse should I try in there? Since the handbook mentions 2x 25A and 2x 50A fuses, logic dictates I should try a 50A?

Interesting indeed. When does this date from?

Too bad it's RHD otherwise I'd be all over it...


... I'll get me coat.

What happens if you swap the fuses?