Diff. So the current Albert has a restored rear D type axle dated 1935, with a near new 5.25:1 ratio crown wheel and pinion, good condition half shafts and of course new bearings and modern seals throughout. The Hardy Spicer type prop shaft is fully restored with new parts, but will require repainting after the hard time it and some other parts got while under going an Australian customs search enroute from New Zealand.
Chassis A 1936 Ruby chassis has been bored with a large number of holes to reduce weight and the crossmembers renoved for strengthening work to be carried out.
Engine. Based around a 1934 crankcase, the Austin unit has Renault con rods and pistons to be fiited to a Phoenix pressure fed one and a half inch bid end journal crankshaft.Naturally being pressure fed in the "normal" way through the nose means a crank handle will not be fitted.
Most engine ancilliaries are painted white, as is the steering column, foot pedals, and gearlever. White was used to mimic the 1928 London Motor Show display chassis because it was envisaged that Albert would be bodiless for some time after the mechanicals were complete.
CURRENT WORK 28-1-00 Getting ready for the engine reconditioners, the fly wheel is being lightened with the toture of a thousand holes - and it IS tortuous work! The Cambridge pattern valve chest cover has been drilled to fit today also, it being a new repro. casting by John Barlow , UK. A gallery for an oil breather has been drilled in as well for provision of over flow pipes and containment as required by some racing authorities.
The last few weeks have seen a card board mock-up of the body shape started, and the tidying up of the rear axle. A snapped off bolt was removed, but I don't have the correct replacement amonst my spares. All six will need renewing as the shims have worn the threads and they are all necked.
As mentioned previously the hand brake was too long, so yesterday it was shortened. Today the holes were drilled to lighten it and the new cast aluminium handle fitted. Cast in 2 pieces, it was an easier job to glue this into place than to continue attempting the removal of the original item, however the angle could not be obtained without welding and these facilities are not readily available. See photos (scan) below. Shown is both halves of original Ruby hand brake lever. Don't worry, it's not all butchery- great care is taken to select less than perfect items for such jobs. This lever has a large chip broken from the handle, was bent twisted and had poor arc weld around the base to repair the worn pawl guide box. Casting ex-John Barlow and cost 2 pound as can still be seen in the pic.
Whilst at it the pedals and their respective shafts were drilled for weight loss also.
The centre water galleries on the block have been opened up a little to match the size holes in one of the aluminium heads. The other heads will be drilled to match in due course.
