Messages

Thanks, Gary
   I do have the cracked originals so they are potentially usable as templates. Living where I do there's not much call for a local source, so I thought I'd try the Forum first.
   
   The restoration seemed to be going quite well - albeit slowly - but the discovery of more rot and woodworm last week has required rebuild of the entire A pillars, dash and screen mountingsAbout 2/3 of the way through that but am away all next week that halts progress for a bit.
   
   How's your disc brake project & engine going?
   
   Karl

Hello Gary
   Just read your post re King Pins, presume I know that axle! Mine has really tightened up while standing and requires a lot of effort. Were the others relatively free, if not how did you get them going?
   
   I've tried WD40, heat and large levers - combination of the last two is more effective but not yet free enough.

Couple of points to address since I asked a question and received some very good advice and offers, thanks so much everyone, especially Gary & Leo.
   First, Leo sorted out my front brake cylinders and supplied new seals. Rear brake rod covers obtained OK. Otherwise the restoration of L1123 has been "somewhat mixed". The front end is coming on quite well although the king pins are still exceptionally stiff, but the rear end is a disaster, especially the near side that is fragile in the extreme. I'm working on a complete reinforcement of that whole area.
   
   That leads me to a query Gary raised some time back re towbars. I've got the assembly from my former Cavalier that almost fits but my personal opinion is that, even as-new I'd never have risked towing with that design of rear chassis. Any significant load could conceivably yank the whole lot off or concertina it. And all the ACs looked too good to risk that! I reckon the boot floor and chassis side members were always too fragile, even when new.

Having just bought 4 new taxi tyres I've been offered 4 little worn cross ply tyres and tubes 6 inch x 16! These were taken off a Riley only last Saturday, a few days too late to save me quite a bit of cash.
   
   Anyone interested at £80 the lot (collection free or plus carriage from Lincolnshire)? If so please reply via forum.

Have just had super service from Ravensengher tyres whom I found on ebay when looking for taxi tyres (thanks for pointing me that way). Bought 4 tyres for £30 each plus delivery charge of £21 for all. Arrived next day!
   
   Now it's on to carpentry, an Strange's drawings and website proving very informative.

Interesting comments that many consider the AC 2 litre to be boring, fuddy duddy, old hat etc but, living in Croydon (not a million miles from Thames Ditton) they were fairly common sights in my youth. For some reason we used to call them "Doctors' Saloons); maybe the windscreen seemed too vertical and the roofline a bit high (providing headroom to drive when wearing a hat, that was a criterion for some much earlier cars.
   Anyway, they may not have been as sleeks as Jags of the early 50's and didn't have the apparent appeal of Allards etc - probably because the majority of their drivers didn't want the top down or compete on tracks as much.
   
   To my mind they remain one of the most elegant saloon cars produced and the modest numbers produced adds to their appeal. Yes, 70 year commemoration would be great - but only if ine is ready in time!
   
   Karl

Thanks Gary
   With my wheels now away being shot blasted and stove enamelled I'll pass the taxi tyre info onto the local chap who's doing that work for me. Leo Archibald has my front wheel cylinders for possible recovery, otherwise, at a pinch, I can revert to the earlier single leading shoe type.
   Body restoration now beginning from the front bulkhead backwards.
   Karl

Hello again Gary
   Been to see Leo and he's taken all 4 cylinders to "play" with. He's done it before, apparently and, if he fails, I'll follow up with MEV as you suggest.
   
   There's no panic yet as I'm very much at the start of quite a series of tasks on it.
   
   Karl

Thanks Gary
   
   I've trawled the list and found that round about page 23/4 there is a complete list of 1946-51 cars using the same model (Girling PN 390212-3)
   They were used on numerous Austins of the same era, notably A40 (DEvon, Dorset, Countryman), A70 and A90 Atlantic, as well as Crompton Parkinson electric commercials.
   
   I'm meeting Leo Archibald tomorrow - he thinks he may be able to get mine apart for inspection &, maybe, recovery. If not I'll pop into Rimmer Bros at Lincoln next week and see what they can find. I've a gut feeling that something similar may have been fitted to some LandRovers.
   
   Will keep the thread going if I have any luck.

Like Gary I am new to the task of AC 2 litre saloon restoration, I acquired a miscellany of car and parts. These comprise chassis and most of the body of 1949 car L1123 plus axles (rear is Moss), rear wings (and spats), ally scuttle, bonnet, steering box etc from LX841 that was sadly scrapped by my source.
   
   I need a petrol tank, RHS windscreen panel and photos showing the interior, especially the dash area.
   
   I'm interested in exchanging what I have for the parts I'm seeking; any offers? These parts are in Lincolnshire.
   
   Karl

I need to replace the glass on my 1949 2 litre, both square cut panes are cracked. Has anyone got any to spare, please?
   
   I've got a spare pair of the earlier, rounded inner corner ones if anyone needs those.
   
   My location is Lincolnshire.

I sort of inherited most of one 2 litre saloon plus some bits of another, earlier, car. Am currently restoring the later, 1949, saloon but both w/s panes are cracked. I have another pair but these have the rounded inner corners, predating the central chrome divider.
   
   Is there anyone out there who needs the round corner glasses and has a pair of "square" ones to swap?

Does anyone know if there are any readily available rubber or PU bushes to replace the perished ones I've got? Full set reqd for front and rear teles.
   These are all split type because of the contracting bores on all units.
   
   Thanks in anticipation.

Having recently begun my projected, brakes are now more or less settled and 4 wheels are now being prepped before tures are acquired. Its proving more costly than I imagined so I'm looking for a reasonably priced source of 16 inch tyres - and a spare wheel!
   
   Any suggestions will be welcomed.

I have recently begun the restoration of the remains of a couple of AC's that were two out of three cannibalised by a previous owner to create just one look-a-like that is, I believe, now in South Africa.
   
   What I have is the chassis and most of the bodyshell of L1123 plus parts of LX841. The bulk of the latter apparently sadly went as scrap.
   
   The biggest headache I've found to date is the seizure of all front brake hydraulic cylinders. Note, despite info to the contrary, L1123 has two leading shoe front brakes. The rear mechanical ones are fine but nothing in my tool kits can shift the others. Unfortunately, I don't have an hydraulic pump, otherwise I'd try to force them out.
   
   I've found one source of 4 new ones - at a hellish price! And for overhaul (including sleeving and new pistons) for only a little less.
   
   Does anyone have any ideas or any of these cylinders available at sensible prices, please? I'm pretty sure they'll be the same as some I bought from Les Ballamy (LMB) to fit to my 1172 Rochdale GT Ford Special back in the fifties.
   
   I do have a dismantled Moss rear axle and matching front from L841, also bonnet panels and rear wings plus their spats, steering box, master cylinder etc if anyone needs these items, maybe we could agree terms?