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Great news for American Lafrance drivers!
It's the nightmare of all those who really use their antique cars. And a problem that we will see more and more. Fatigue and decay of cast iron cylinder blocks. That castings made in a distant past were not meant to last for eternity. Cylinder blocks start to crack, to crumble, to desintegrate. First on micro level. And then slowly the proces becomes visible. Small leaks. Small issues. Sometimes still repairable with very simple WWII car medicines. We all know the names. But in the end the problems becomes massive.
At that point it's all over and the only solution is having cast a new cylinder block. A very costly solution, often too costly. Especially when it comes down to one or very few castings. Toby Ballard is a true Lafrance afficionado as he has been driving his massive 6 cylinder Lafrance speedster to all corners of Europe. He knows the issue very well and made a solid calculation of how many people possibly are interested. After all that he took a deep breath and decided to go for it. And now, finally he proudly presents the result :
"The cylinder is of cast iron is SL25 modified with silica calcium and barium. The cylinder has passed hydro test, turf, honed and is ready for montage. I've been working on this for a couple of years now. So I'm pleased finally being able to offer these to market. These blocks fit the 105hp engines. And we are working on the 150hp engine at the moment."
If you do not have the contact details of Toby feel free to send your interest to office&prewarcar.com (exchange & for @) and we will forward your request.
Pubblicato:
domenica luglio 12th, 2015
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Commenti
Andrew
23 Marzo 2020, 13:35
Tom Laferriere
20 Luglio 2015, 14:27
Toby, great job! Well worth your efforts. Thank you for staying mad about these!
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Sconosciuto
16 Luglio 2015, 13:06
Very correct of Tony Ballard to sat what he did, so, well done.
That he uses his car is, for me, exactly what it is all about.
There was an 'ALF' on the 1993 Monte Carlo Classic, that was held at the end of January that year. We competed in that in a 1930 Austin 7. It was built-up from original parts by me and was owned by Hugh Morris, one of my customers and now a very good friend. He drove and I navigated. We managed to finish 4th out of 17 pre-war starters in our first rally.
This was the beginning of a saga involving many serious rallies with Austin 7's over the next 10 years. Not only with this car but other 7's. Wonderful times!
Best regards, Peter.
Per saperne di più
That he uses his car is, for me, exactly what it is all about.
There was an 'ALF' on the 1993 Monte Carlo Classic, that was held at the end of January that year. We competed in that in a 1930 Austin 7. It was built-up from original parts by me and was owned by Hugh Morris, one of my customers and now a very good friend. He drove and I navigated. We managed to finish 4th out of 17 pre-war starters in our first rally.
This was the beginning of a saga involving many serious rallies with Austin 7's over the next 10 years. Not only with this car but other 7's. Wonderful times!
Best regards, Peter.
Sconosciuto
15 Luglio 2015, 14:56
Hi Oliver
Hmmmmmm Authentic cars!!!! Now there is a word that provokes so many conversational debates in the car world. It is massive matter of debate as to how authentic these cars are and I have a barn full on the bloody things and the LaFrance is far more fun then any of them. However I do agree with you on one point. There are way too many guys out there that want to try and pass there Lafrance off as a genuine racing car. There are absolutely no original LaFrance cars in private ownership. The one and "only" authentic LaFrance car is in the LaFrance museum and still owned by the LaFrance company and Unlike all the other speedsters it is not chain drive but shaft drive. The rest are all conversions, no matter what anyone says about theirs being a long lost racer from the bygone age. However I do understand that not everyone can afford the fuel bill as you so rightly admitted. Christian, yes my email is available via the editor or on the advert for the blocks. Please contact me as I love my hobby life and I can see you enjoy your LaFrance too.
Per saperne di più
Hmmmmmm Authentic cars!!!! Now there is a word that provokes so many conversational debates in the car world. It is massive matter of debate as to how authentic these cars are and I have a barn full on the bloody things and the LaFrance is far more fun then any of them. However I do agree with you on one point. There are way too many guys out there that want to try and pass there Lafrance off as a genuine racing car. There are absolutely no original LaFrance cars in private ownership. The one and "only" authentic LaFrance car is in the LaFrance museum and still owned by the LaFrance company and Unlike all the other speedsters it is not chain drive but shaft drive. The rest are all conversions, no matter what anyone says about theirs being a long lost racer from the bygone age. However I do understand that not everyone can afford the fuel bill as you so rightly admitted. Christian, yes my email is available via the editor or on the advert for the blocks. Please contact me as I love my hobby life and I can see you enjoy your LaFrance too.
Sconosciuto
14 Luglio 2015, 16:21
I had the pleasure to be invited for a one day trip on an ALF some 25 years ago. The car was equipped with the carburettor of a centurion tank, to save fuel, as the owner said. It was fun, no doubt. I even went to the UK to look at one which was for sale. I just found the pictures from that trip. Today I'm quite happy that I chose a by far smaller and more authentic car, and I use it on everydays transport as long as the weather allows. But I never participated at a rally or any other veteran event. I'm rather the workshop guy.
I think, it would be time to shed some light on the real history of ALF racing cars. And perhaps also on the marvellous racing cars built by Scania.
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I think, it would be time to shed some light on the real history of ALF racing cars. And perhaps also on the marvellous racing cars built by Scania.
Sconosciuto
14 Luglio 2015, 16:01
I have an 1917 ALF and Manage to get to quite a few shows per year. I couldnt justify the fuel to the Blackforest at the moment but maybe one day. My friend Jim is also currently building a speedster and hopefully will be ready for testing in the Autumn. Is there anyway we could keep in touch. The Facebook Lafrance page seems a bit quiet.
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Sconosciuto
14 Luglio 2015, 14:08
Hi Oliver,
Do you have an ALF? If you do then come with us on a trip. As The editor says, come with us for a week or so. We have a riot and clock up some serious miles. Last year we drove down from London to the Black Forest and into Austria for the Sea Plane convention on Lake Wolfgang. Then home again. 2500 miles in a week. Ok the fuel bill was stupidly big but still great fun.
Toby.
Per saperne di più
Do you have an ALF? If you do then come with us on a trip. As The editor says, come with us for a week or so. We have a riot and clock up some serious miles. Last year we drove down from London to the Black Forest and into Austria for the Sea Plane convention on Lake Wolfgang. Then home again. 2500 miles in a week. Ok the fuel bill was stupidly big but still great fun.
Toby.
Sconosciuto
14 Luglio 2015, 11:56
Hi all. These are cylinder blocks. The engine does not have heads.
I drive my vehicle around 10000 miles a year but I am definitely mad. There are 6 of us that drive all over Europe on rallies with our ALFs. Anyone with one I would recommend you join us. Great fun.
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I drive my vehicle around 10000 miles a year but I am definitely mad. There are 6 of us that drive all over Europe on rallies with our ALFs. Anyone with one I would recommend you join us. Great fun.
Sconosciuto
14 Luglio 2015, 10:43
Dear Editor,
that's exactly what I meant. They may "campaign" their vehicles, but that's far away from "really use". I even dare say that there is - in my opinion - no way to really use such a special.
editor: go visit Toby and go with him for a week or so, and you'll know :-)
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that's exactly what I meant. They may "campaign" their vehicles, but that's far away from "really use". I even dare say that there is - in my opinion - no way to really use such a special.
editor: go visit Toby and go with him for a week or so, and you'll know :-)
Sconosciuto
14 Luglio 2015, 09:54
Well done. But is there anyone, who "really uses" his ALF ?
editor: Oliver, did you actually read the article above. Toby is driving his car really a lot. Aside that we know several people in Germany and Switzerland who actively campaign these cars.
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editor: Oliver, did you actually read the article above. Toby is driving his car really a lot. Aside that we know several people in Germany and Switzerland who actively campaign these cars.
Sconosciuto
13 Luglio 2015, 20:42
Great Job Toby! Unfortunatly I can't used them in my girls-car...
Congratulations.
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Congratulations.
Sconosciuto
13 Luglio 2015, 13:14
That's what I had thought, but the story talks about casting new cylinder blocks, not heads ?
editor: I may be terribly wrong, but I don't think these machines have a separate head. It's ione stop shopping :-)
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editor: I may be terribly wrong, but I don't think these machines have a separate head. It's ione stop shopping :-)
Sconosciuto
13 Luglio 2015, 03:22
perhaps someone would explain what we are looking at in the photo with a marked up copy ?
editor: Petger , you are looking at a twin cylinder T-head. A-LF is using two or three of these, depending if it's a four of six cylinder engine.
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editor: Petger , you are looking at a twin cylinder T-head. A-LF is using two or three of these, depending if it's a four of six cylinder engine.
Do you still have new La France blocks available
I have the smaller version 9 litre La France and Iv always assumed that the 14 litre just has 3 blocks the same as the 2 block engines.
Mine is dated somewhere between 1915-1920.
Any information welcome.
Andrew Davies