Messages

Barrie,
Apologies for not giving the full "story" from the start. I haven't got any idea what running in oil was used when the engine was first built. However, I have now ordered the multi viscosity oil from Miller so let's hope the future for this engine will be bright!
Thanks, you for your time and suggestions.
I will keep the Forum posted about developments regarding the engine in 31.
Jonas

Barrie,

I do have quite a lot of oil left so I think I will stick to what I have for now. I haven't really experienced any problems with the engine running hot, the opposite has probably been the case if anything.

Well, I don't think I ever experienced any performance issues with this engine. For most of the 9 years I drove with this engine it worked just fine. Until I noticed some grey smoke from the exhaust pipes! This led me down a tedious and tiresome period were I after checking the compression a couple of times, I did take the head off and sure enough the head gasket was blown in between to liners. So, I sourced a new head gasket thinking that the problem was solved... but it wasn't!

Upon dismantling the engine, it was found that some of the piston rings had ceased and some carbon deposits was there as well. Which would indicate over fuelling I guess?

Yes I do have an external oil filter fitted and as I have mentioned, all the bearings looked fine.

Could I ask you which of the Miller running in oils you would think is the best for this engine type?

I am about to get my skates on with the engine work. Unfortunately, all roads are salted in Sweden when there is frost around... But usually this doesn't occur until mid to late December, so still sometime left!

Jonas

Barrie,

First of all apologies for misspelling your name, my apology is that A and E are too close on my keyboard, at least for my less than slim fingers!

I must confess that I don't know anything about different oils long term effects on engine parts. The oil I'm using was recommended by the engineer builder that helped with this engine and he has used this oil in everything he has built over the last 15-20 years or so, multiple Mulle Miglias and historic racing in blown Alfas, ERAs and the like. Do you think I should change to a synthetic oil?

I'm definitely open to using something that's worked well over time for other users... on the other hand I already have a number of gallons of the 20W50 Miller oil in the garage!

I've fitted two Lambda sensors so hopefully that will tell me something once  the car is up and running again.

Something that I have been thinking about is the fact that I'm using an old ignition coil, it has been pointed out to me that a weak spark would not help in incinerate all the petrol. I've also thought about the possibility that the advanced curve on that distributor I'm using is not ideal for the engine I've got.

Grateful for any comments.

Thanks Jonas

Berrie,
Thank you. Thankfully I've been busy with other things so I have managed a year without driving 31. I don't know for a fact that bore washing was the reason behind the malfunction as such, but it seems a likely cause...

It can obviously had been a problem with the ring gap, ring material or the liners. But I think your right that it probably wasn't the auxiliary carburetter. However the engine builder I used is highly reputable so I doubt that he would have missed setting the ring gaps correctly. The wear was unfortunately on two different carburettors so nothing to learn from that either.
I can't remember were I got the liners so they could have been of an inferior quality, I guess. Now I've got new Westwood liners fitted that were within specification so I cross my fingers that they will be okay.

I've been using Millers 20w50 classic oil and all the bearings looked fine...

I have spoken to the engine builder but his guess seems as good as mine, i.e. struggling to understand what could have caused the problem. A local engine builder I have spoken to, that also investigated the pistons and liners do think that the problem came from bore washing. So! I've added a Lamda sensor on the exhaust manifolds so in the future I should be able to monitor the engine a bit more securely than with colour-tune and checking spark plugs!
I sincerely do hope that you won't suffer the same fate as me!

Jonas

Barrie,

Thank you very much for the length of the tool, and yes I intend to use it in the engine bay.

No good summer at all for 31 I'm afraid. Unfortunately, last spring I experienced some pressure building up in the crank case so stripped down the engine to find that some liners had gone a bit oval! I did have an extra set of liners but no pistons... I did used to have JE pistons that are very expensive nowadays so I ended up ordering some new ones from Omega in the Birmingham area, that look great. That entire process took a rather long time but now the engine is back together again, unfortunately not in the car yet since I also had to move away from my old garage!

I only did something like 5000 miles before disaster struck, I guess the engine just got too much petrol, maybe the auxiliary carburettor was playing up... I got a new one now so let's see how that goes.

Possibly worth mentioning is that Omega's minimum order was for 24 pistons so I have a set or two waiting on the shelf if anyone is looking for a set of forged pistons for a Weller engine please feel free to contact me.

I'm happy the your incident didn't cause any harm to you or 22.

Jonas

Dear Barrie,

Thanks for posting about your "tool" it looks like something I could need!

So I will try to make one as well. Could I ask you how long it is from top to bottom?

Kind regards

Jonas

Dear all,

I just wanted to inform anyone interested that I have found the part in question.

Thanks for your attention.

Kind regards Jonas

Dear all,

I'm looking for what I would call an inner rev counter drive as the enclosed image. Anybody got one of these that you could imagining selling?

In that case please let me know!

Kind regards

Jonas

Good morning Michael,

Fantastic news. Thank you very much for this. I will try to phone you later today.

Kind regards

Jonas

Then there is CSX 2000 that sold for $ 13.750.000 some years ago.

https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/mo16/monterey/lots/r193-1962-shelby-260-cobra-csx-2000/380120

But as far as Ace's go I imagine it's the most expensive one ever sold. I have heard rumours that
some Ace's have changed hands with dealers for very high amounts, close to the figures that AE 205 brought. But that was including a guaranteed Mille Miglia entry.

Jonas

Michael,

There is the slightest drag at roughly a 100 kph, but I have to say that I'm rather pleased with how the car behaves now. I feel I can trust it a whole lot more now than before.

The type of tyre and condition / age of the tyre and condition of the road you drive on are definitely all very important factors in how the car behaves.  I have driven 31 with:
Antique Michelin X's, Dunlop Racing, Excelsior Racing (Cross ply), Excelsior Radial and modern Michelin X's, all 5.50 x 16.

What I find intriguing is that straight line stability was possibly better with the 20 year old Michelin's than the new X's, grip is something else though!

Jonas

Good morning Michael,

Thanks for your generous offer and message. I have actually managed to get ahold of a cast iron master cylinder so no need for that any longer, however I'm still looking for a set of rear brake shoes.
As far as I know I believe that the brake shoes were the same throughout the production run of the Ace's and Aceca's even if part numbers changed. My Girling book is a bit earlier than yours so I can't see any changes.
Maybe somebody out there knows with certainty?

I've enclosed some images of the brake shoes for reference. So If you don't mind, please start looking!

As luck would have it I will actually be going to Hampshire first weekend in September for the Beaulieu auto jumble, so I could probably come passed you if you aren't too far away. Otherwise my father in law lives in the West Midlands and I frequently use him to store AC-contraband I manage to get my hands on.

The reason that I'm looking for a spare set is that I have for many years tried to keep spares to be able to keep my car on the road. Brake shoes are certainly one of those things that need to be relined every now and then and since I would have to send them away, probably to the UK, I would possibly have a car on stands for some months, something I don't want to experience if it can be avoided.

Thank you very much.

Jonas

Hello,

Thank you for sharing your experiences about the Blockley tyres. As mentioned earlier I have heard of positive experiences about these tyres on other cars so glad that this is also the case when fitted on an Ace. Especially that it makes the steering feel lighter in comparison with old X's, would you say that high speed stability is also improved? I have tried a number of different tyres and at the moment 31 is fitted with Excelsior 5.50 x 16 radial tyres that work okay but they are rather loud over 50-60 mph.

By the way, could I ask you if your car an early or later car with rubber or bronze bushes?

You mentioned that the Blockley's look nice on an Ace, you wouldn't happen to have an image that shows how it looks? Thanks in advance.

Kind regards

Jonas

Good morning Michael,

Well "rock solid" at 100 km/h possibly! I was out yesterday and was getting up to 120 km/h which would equate to 75 mph and that feels okay, maybe not rock solid though!

It would be interesting to hear from members on this forum and their experiences with front end stability at higher speeds? I also believe that the type of wheels and tyres, not to mention their condition (!) are important factors in how an Ace or Aceca behaves at higher speeds.

Something I'm interested to hear about is if there is anybody that has any experience with using Blockley tyres on an Ace? I have spoken to people that have used them on other cars from the same period that are very positive towards them.

Jonas

Dear all and especially Michael,

I'm sorry for my delay in replying but moving my office and other time consuming chores postponed high speed testing of the steering until this last weekend.

The result was very positive and the steering felt better than it ever has since 31 was restored some 6-7 years ago. I'm very sure now that 12-13 minute degrees in total toe-in is what it should be. I should also mention that I have gone through and adjusted all the steering components and I also changed the tie-rod ends to have the best possible preconditions. It did make a big difference.

Thanks to everybody, especially Michael, that's been supportive and helpful in this process.

Best wishes

Jonas