AC ACE steering column
This page is focused on making the MGB parts of the Hawk AC ACE kit work. It is a tough ask for us as we want the Ace horn push indicator centre in the steering wheel. How we do it will be on this page. Writing this, we have no idea. What appears to be a saving grace is the MGB steering column on the early MGB has a hollow centre to take the horn push cable. So maybe we can utilise this to take the indicators too? We'll see!
Pictures above show MGB Steering column and wheel. Horn push cable and hollow steering column clearly visible. The AC ACE original equipment is not SVA complaint so the car needs the MGB horn push and indicators and a different steering wheel to pass the test.
MGB Steering Column
So, here's a thing. The steering column of an MGB (Early) has a hollow centre. Perfect for the horn push and indicator switch and taking a stator table. However, the splines are different if you want to use an original steering wheel from an AC ACE. Our plan is to see if we can keep the MGB outer tube and fabricate a new steering column that keeps all the MGB splines but changes the smiles at the steering wheel end to take the original AC ACE wheel. Can it be done? - yes. Is it easy? - no. Will it take ages? Yes. Below you can see pictures of the MGB steering column.
Some Dimensions
Here are the dimensions of the MGB and Austin Healy upper columns. They are pretty identical so we are thinking that the outer MGB column can be retained and a combination of the MGB and Healey can be joined so the spines are correct. The only issue now is how to keep a stator tube static in the column??
The MGB Column dimensions are:
Outer tube diameter 32mm
Inner column diameter 22mm
Internal diameter of the hole running down the tube 11mm. This reduces to 10mm at the lower end. No idea why?
The AC ACE column/Austin Healey column is:
The OD of the Steering Column is 1.25" 32mm
The OD of the top/spline section is 7/8" 22mm
The OD of the Stator Tube is 3/8" 9.5mm
Itt is 65" long. 1.651 metre
Outer tube diameter 32mm
Inner column diameter 22mm
Internal diameter of the hole running down the tube 11mm. This reduces to 10mm at the lower end. No idea why?
The AC ACE column/Austin Healey column is:
The OD of the Steering Column is 1.25" 32mm
The OD of the top/spline section is 7/8" 22mm
The OD of the Stator Tube is 3/8" 9.5mm
Itt is 65" long. 1.651 metre
Austin Healey Steering Column
Here is what the Healey steering box looks like and the stator tube. It is long and the tube is held in place at the box end! I found these pictures on Ebay but they are pretty good for showing the steering set up.
AC ACE / Austin Healey Comparison
It is worth noting that the indicator lever changed shape over the years. The early Healey went to the style that can be seen here on the ACE early in the production run - this is correct for AC ACE.
The correct parts
The original AC ACE used the same indicator and horn push as the very early Austin Healey. There were two types of steering column on the Healey. 1: Early Healey non-adjustable. 2: Later type, adjustable. The one required to make this conversion work on a Hawk is the non-adjustable version. The pictures below show the type. It is easily identified by the lack of an Austin Healey logo in the centre of the horn push. It is also made of bakelite where the later ones were made with plastic. It also has the slightly later lever that is correct for AC ACE. The early type are no longer available as an off the shelf part. They are available second hand but you have to be patient and search at auto jumbles and eBay to find one. Expect to pay anywhere between £300 - £1300. The pictures below show ours.
Fitted with a Stator Tube
The pictures below are more for reference. They clearly show how the stator tube is affixed and how a completed horn push/indicator should look assembled.
Moss Europe Sell them
They cost £290 from MOSS but you may have to make a few modifications and the horn push would need to be altered so no Austin Healey logo was visible to get it to look authentic.
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Austin Healey Lucas 331429 Orginal steering wheel center Horn Push
I found this on Ebay at an asking price of a whopping $1,175.00. It is a brand new old stock and in the original box so pretty unique but it does show the rarity of the part if it command such a price. Lucas 331429 Orginal steering wheel center cover with turn signal switch and horn push, Wiring terminals have 5BA brass hex nuts. New. fits A.C. Ace, Aceca, Bristol. 1955-60, Austin Healey 100, 100M. 1954.
A H SparesIf you do want to do this conversion, A H Spares are good people to talk to to get hold of the parts.
If they don't have them, they can often steer you in the right direction excuse the bad joke. On the right you can see the parts highlighted that are required to build up a centre push and indicator with the stator tube. |
Our Steering wheel with centre indicator and horn push
This was a dry fit just to see how it all goes together. So far so good!