AC ACE EXHAUST & MANIFOLDS
The exhaust manifold that sits in the engine bay of an AC engined ACE makes for a very striking look. We are not 100% sure on how we will make them but whatever way we go it will be expensive. (We have a plan see below thanks to Hayward & Scott.)
The pictures below show a manifold kindly lent to me by Tim Isles of the AC Owners Club. You can see the very large radius on the pipes. This has been no end of trouble trying to find someone with a radius that can do the job. Now we have found someone in Hayward & Scott and I have had a few sets made for AC ACE Owners Tim Isles and Nigel Winchester. One set in mild steel, one set in stainless and another in polished stainless. I also have a set from an original AC ACE bought from AC Cars Brooklands for template purposes. On inspection they were in excellent condition so they are being refurbished and these will be sold on to aid another AC ACE owner.
Below you can see a manifold that I bought for £100 from Brooklands Cars to act as a pattern - Tim will need his back at some point. So these were bought as an insurance policy.
The repaired mild steel original set. To be sold on.
Blasted, repaired and painted in a high temperature paint
Hayward and Scott have the right radius available for the AC AceTalking to Hayward and Scott, they have the right radius to make an exact copy in stainless steel. The cost is around £725 ex VAT. So the plan of action is to take Tim's manifold over there so they can copy them. They have a website HERE. The manifolds are now with Ian at Hayward & Scott. The guys at CES had started and you can see the half made jig. CES did not have the right radius to get an exact match but Hayward Scott do. The pictures below show the manifold in the jig and inside Hayward Scott. They are exhaust specialists and also make fuel tanks and much more besides. Seeing their work I have to say it looks excellent quality so I have high hope for my manifold.
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Completed Manifolds Mild Steel
Completed Manifolds Stainless Steel
Polished Stainless Manifolds
The set below will be on our Hawk Ace. The immediate 2 pictures below are of the manifold part completed on the racks of Hayward & Scott.