Messages

[Fangio's Mercedes W196 "Streamliner" - winner of the 1954 French GP at Reims will star once more there this September]

Some news from the organisation team:
   Quote:"Fangio's Mercedes W196 "Streamliner" - winner of the 1954 French GP at Reims will star once more there this September
   DaimlerChrysler France have underlined their commitment to the "1st Week-End of L'Excellence Automobile" organised by Franz Hummel and his team. They have invited F1 star Jean Alesi to demonstrate Fangio's W196 Streamliner, one of the classic GP cars of all time. It was in this very car that he won the world championship twice - in 1954 and 1955"
   Unquote
   
   
   
   

quote:Originally posted by Emmanueld
   
Hi nanard,
   
   Is the track still around? I thought it had been demolished!
   
   Emmanuel
   

   Hello Emmanuel
   Reims-Gueux track like Le Mans or Spa Francorchamp was done by a national road and secondary road sections. It was not a permanent track. Roads are in good condition but the main stand looks very tired. Here attached some pictures to have a realistic general survey. These one are from last year at the Jaguar's commemorative day.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   And this one from last month
   
   

Hi AK1440
   Unfortunately, this concours is at the same date that the Sport and Collection at the Val de Vienne circuit [8)]

quote:Originally posted by Emmanueld
   
...Because I grew up in France, I like cars with long legs...
   

   Hi Emmanuel, 2.88 rear end ratio is not long legs, it's stilts  [:D]
   As you know, French car taxes was calculated according to the engine displacement and .... rear end ratio! It is the reason why a lot of French car was equiped with a small engine and a long rear end ratio [:(] (to minimise the taxes), why the last ratio was called "overdrive" and why the top speed was not obtained on overdrive selection. It is obvious that if you like to cruise your car at low rpm (and low fuel consumption) this ratio is a good choice. However, if your Top-loader first ratio is lower than 2.8/1 it could be little hard to your clutch to drive in the city. As usually, the good choice is a compromise [;)]

Amazing project! Very nice aluminum dash board, we are waiting now for a next picture with the red leather laying completion! Any engine or brake picture? Thanks to share your building steps and enjoy for your challenge

quote:Originally posted by Emmanueld
   
... With this setup, the transmission is exactly the same dimension as the big C6 automatic box that was on the car before, no modification to the driveshaft should be required. ...
   Emmanuel
   

   Again I suppose that you have a lot of investigations to select the right tail housing that will fit exactely to your driveshaft! For my replica I had have a good opportunity to buy a super T-10 (4 ratios) made by Tex Racing. It is also a good transmission for a small block. As you can see, the front bearing retainer is modified to install an hydraulic through out bearing to drive the clutch [;)]

quote:Originally posted by Emmanueld
   
Here is the box with the shifter ready to be installed! Unless I have made a mistake, the shifter will come out like the roadster above! It should be easy to use another shifter bent backward if needed!
   
   
   
   Emmanuel
   

   Fantastic restoration project Emmanuel! Your new Top-loader gear box looks very nice (and very strong), it is a good choice to associate with a big block. I am impressed by the tail housing size. You will have probably to reduce your shaft line length. Shifter arm is not a big deal, you can easily adapt it or change it as you want. About the pilot bearing that is located in the crank shaft, don't hesitate to replace it to avoid my mistake [;)]
   
   

Not sur about the date. According to this link, it should be the 4, 5 and 6 July: http://www.peopleorg.com/english/sm_lemansclassic.htm
   However, it is not the 3rd edition as indicated but the 4 th!(the 1st LMC was in 2002).
   More soon, the 1, 2 and 3 Jun 2007 will be 13th Sport & Collection edition at "Le circuit de Val de Vienne" (near le Vigeant)
   Some informations here http://www.sportetcollection.info/accueil.html
   I will try to go to this nice meeting to participate at "Le Mans serie" (it is not a race but only a demonstration). Registration shall be before the 1 April 2007 and the cost is about £50. Benefit of this meeting will be refunf to the cancer research center of Poitiers. Is some ACOC representatives will be present?

quote:Originally posted by Emmanueld
   
Can anyone post interior photos of manual transmission Fruas'?
   
   Emmanuel
   

   I only find this link but you need good glasses to see any details [:(]:
   http://www.motorlegend.com/coupe/ac-428-frua/6,12586.html
   Have a look page 2/2
   
   

quote:Originally posted by Emmanueld
   
Nanard289, I am wondering? are your the fellow who bought my PS Engineering 289 FIA wheels on E-Bay, couple of years ago? I shipped them to France somewhere in the "Vallee de Chevreuse" (and your car has "78" license plates) I don't recall exactly where, and they were going to be mounted on a Cobra Daytona!
   Just a thought! [?]
   
   Emmanuel
   

   Hi Emmanuel, AC world is not so big! That right, 2 years ago I had bought a nice 289 FIA wheel set on e-Bay at fair price. I use this set on my Daytona replica for street use (in France, racing tyres are not legal on the street) but I have to paint in white the hub (not yet done) [;)]

quote:Originally posted by Max Allan
   
.... But it seems ludicrous living in a so called industrial nation such as the UK it should be necessary to ship from the States simple things like pipe bends...
   

   Max, about engines and car workshops, UK is not the States, but keep in mind that France in not UK!!! You are lucky enough to live in a nice country where it is possible to find good AC specialists as well AC Owner's Club! [;)]

quote:Originally posted by Max Allan
   
... To date I've not found anyone in this area (Kent) able to mandrel bend 2-1/2 stainless and worry I'll hit a problem with emissions next MoT [:(!]...
   

   An other way is to buy a stainless steel U bent, to cut it as long as necessary and to find a good welder to fix the problem. I have made my own exhaust headers like that.
   Here is a good place to find the parts as you want  http://performanceweldingheaders.com/matprice.htm
   You can find also in this shop some Lambda probe plugs to weld on your exhaust pipe to control your CO² emission [;)]
   
   

To change the gear box is always a big job. I think you will need a new trans support, a new bellhousing (if it is not include on your new tranny), a shorter shaftline with a new yoke (to fit on your 6 speed gear box) and (not sur) a new starter to comply with your new 157 teeth flywheel.
   Nex winter will be long [;)]

quote:Originally posted by Max Allan
   

   ....Current project: conversion from auto to 6-speed manual transmission...
   
   

   Max, you have a nice license plate number [;)] About your manual transmission conversion, did you find enough space to locate an additional master cylinder to drive the clutch? Engine compartment looks crammed full [:)]

quote:Originally posted by terry3000me
   
Details will be included in the March edition of ACtion. Eric Gates is again organising the AC display.
   
   Terry
   

   Thanks for your information Terry. I hope to be able to participate at this meeting. After all Silverstone is not so far [;)]