03-09-2018, 11:03 AM
(This post was last modified: 03-09-2018, 11:05 AM by Nick Turley.)
On dismantling my current restoration project (1925 AC tourer) which has had very little done to it in it's lifetime (circa 33k miles). The milage was kept as a log by the original owner (district nurse) as a diary which is still with the car.
I found a thin piece of hickory word between the chassis and spring.
Of course I cannot say for sure whether it was fitted at the factory, but I would be surprised if not.
On reassembly I have left it out as I could not see a purpose for it, although it has been treated to a new Dunford spring.
This car had been very badly maintained by the local to the owner garage and despite the relatively low mileage showed wear on springs and pins as a consequence.
Out of interest one of the rear springs had a broken leaf as the shockers were stupidly overtightened (a common mistake) thus loosening the rear chassis brackets. Now I have replaced the rivets, hot riveting (that was exciting) all the brackets to chassis and fitted new rear springs as well.
The engine which was running fine was on standard bores with original pistons still fitted. However the engine inside was the dirtiest I have ever encountered. So I decided to strip clean and rebuild it, it has been re-bored to +10 thou and the original crank with an 8 thou grind is going back in. As well as crack testing I had it x rayed to check for stresses. Re balancing was also necessary because the machines available in the period were nothing like a accurate as now.
The back axle on stripping showed no wear at all, so it just got new inner lipseals, clean and back together.
The gear box was perfect, just the leaver top needed repair.
It is a great privilege to work on such an unmessed about with car.
I found a thin piece of hickory word between the chassis and spring.
Of course I cannot say for sure whether it was fitted at the factory, but I would be surprised if not.
On reassembly I have left it out as I could not see a purpose for it, although it has been treated to a new Dunford spring.
This car had been very badly maintained by the local to the owner garage and despite the relatively low mileage showed wear on springs and pins as a consequence.
Out of interest one of the rear springs had a broken leaf as the shockers were stupidly overtightened (a common mistake) thus loosening the rear chassis brackets. Now I have replaced the rivets, hot riveting (that was exciting) all the brackets to chassis and fitted new rear springs as well.
The engine which was running fine was on standard bores with original pistons still fitted. However the engine inside was the dirtiest I have ever encountered. So I decided to strip clean and rebuild it, it has been re-bored to +10 thou and the original crank with an 8 thou grind is going back in. As well as crack testing I had it x rayed to check for stresses. Re balancing was also necessary because the machines available in the period were nothing like a accurate as now.
The back axle on stripping showed no wear at all, so it just got new inner lipseals, clean and back together.
The gear box was perfect, just the leaver top needed repair.
It is a great privilege to work on such an unmessed about with car.