AC Ace Chassis Build up
Here you will find the build up of our re-creation AC Ace Chassis. Picture below shows the original AC Ace Chassis at the motor show. Just look how sparkling it is with the optional chrome 48 spoke wheels. Even the rocker cover and gearbox have been polished. The distance the radiator sits away from the engine is very noticeable as are the stunning and the fan was extended to reach it although we have heard many AC Aces were fitted with an electric fan from the factory? Al-fin drums on the wheels. Also of interest is the white gearstick knob that is perfectly round? I will have to investigate our 2.0 Litre as the radiator may fit our build?
Chassis Sources
From what we can gather, the best chassis for a re-creation AC Ace is from Hawk Cars. As we would be using an AC Engine it will have to have different engine mountings made. The Hawk chassis is the same as the one they use in their 289 recreations so tried and tested and quite straightforward for the home builder to work with. Below you can see the Hawk 289 chassis that uses the MGB running gear next to an AC 2 litre chassis with AC running gear. There is quite a difference so you could never use it to build an ACE. I have been trying to find chassis drawings for the ACE to see where and how they mounted the engine - no luck so far so I guess I'll have to photograph and measure one although engine brackets should be fairly straightforward to fabricate.
Above - The Hawk 289 Chassis - This is the chassis we will use. Extremely well designed and built.
Chassis test fit - June 2019
The engine / gearbox and headers are at the chassis shop for dry fit. The AC engine is tall and combined with the gearbox and overdrive very long. It has thrown up a couple of issues. We are working around them. The main issues are 1: Overdrive solenoid hits the chassis cross member. 2: The front engine pulley hits the chassis cross member. 3: The gearbox clutch bar needs a clever solution to make work with a pedal box. 4: The AC Radiator will probably have to have the routing shroud removed to make work. All of the issues can be resolved but it will take some clever engineering.