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Oups sorry guys, no photoshop here: you can notice it is really winter as the lady in the background is wearing a one piece bathing suit...  ;)

Another little running in trip to the sea side yesterday...

I drove the AC for a little tour (about 60 miles) 2 days ago and again today.

It seems quite OK, the engine runs and pulls well and oil pressure is staying at a healthy 60 + psi when hot at about 2000 rpm. This is not surprising to me as all the bearings are brand new and the oil pump was in very good condition.

I adjusted 0.5 mm valves clearances as indicated in the technical book but I feel the timing is a bit noisy.
Could this clearance be slightly reduced (say 0.4 or 0.3 mm) without risk of damage to the valves and seats?

Despite I fitted some new felt, there is a quite serious oil leak at the rear crank seal when engine is running.
Any solution, except disassembling the engine again of course?

Very nice car, love the boat tail.

Where in the world are you?

Stay safe and enjoy the ride.

Thank you GS, I live in the Var, south of France.

So, work is finished now, just have to wait for the allowance for driving it on the road after this second lockdown...
I must confess I am quite impatient!

Yes. Bang on Gary.

Very desirable car indeed, congratulations!

Hi

I think you will find that a 6'3" bloater is a large gentleman. Tall and rotund'ish.

I am sure Big Col will confirm or deny :D

By the way very nice car

Gary

OK, thank you Gary, so may I understand bloater means "big gentleman"?

Thank you for your compliment and indulgence re my AC, though, in my opinion, some work is still required to make it "very nice"...
Will keep on posting the progress!

Big col, what is a "three bloater" please?  ::)

Thank you Big col,

What kind of body is your AC wearing?

Re the side screens, I took some inspiration from those of my MG TC which I find quite practical & efficient.
I built the metal part about the same way, but with adapting the size and details to the AC of course.

I already have driven the car a little with its new engine (about 200 km) and no faster than 40 mph till now.
I suspect this kind of engine needs to be ran in quite a long distance this way, say about 2.000 km or even more?

I saw somewhere your engine doesn't idle correctly when cold starting and using choke.
So does mine and I need to use the manual accelerator for a couple of minutes till it gets warm and then run on a good idle.

So, the AC is progressing quite well now.
After a complete engine rebuild, I had the body modified by adding 2 doors.
Then, I got a hood, side screens and new tonneau cover.

I also made new door and inside leather trims, assorted to the existing seats.
And at the moment, I am working on a complete paint job which is nearly finished before re assembling the various components.

Then, I hope we can enjoy driving it in the beginning of next year an correctly run the brand new engine in!

Thank you for your kind answers.

I am not member of the ACOC yet and I am presently adding a couple of improvements to the car: 2 doors & a hood.
Of course, a new paint job will follow...
I also have completely rebuilt the engine which really needed it: brand new liners & pistons, as well as reground crankshaft & re white metal.

Hello,

Here is the 1936 AC 16/80 I bought last year in the UK.
It has a special body and I suspect it is well known to some members of the ACOC.

I would be very interested in any info about its story.
Can anyone help please?

So, after a lot of work done, the engine is now ready to be dropped again in the chassis.
The crank has been reground, rods & mains have been re-white metaled, small end bushes are new as well as liners & pistons.

Hope so Robin, but still a lot of work to do in rebuilding it!

Yes Robin, the water jacket is in very good condition and I do not think I will have to remove the head studs as the top face seems correct.
Even if it is not original, I will keep this block and fit it with new liners & pistons.

I checked and cleaned the cylinder head and noticed the ports castings were very rough from new, so I spent some time smoothing and adjusting them with the manifolds.
Also noticed the gas holes in the intake gaskets between manifolds and head were protruding 2 or 3 mm all round into the ports, which seems far from optimum in terms of efficiency!!!