Une nouvelle Comète au US

[aelam@nyc.rr.com]

Bonjour, je suis nouveau sur le site. Je parle et comprends pas mal le Français mais je vais écrire en Anglais comme j’habite à New York.

This is my 1953 Comète. I bought it in 2019 in Clermont-Ferrand. Immediately afterwards, I and my two sons, drove it to Madrid where I have a home and garage. This was an extremely arduous trip, especially crossing the Pyrénées, in second gear, with the engine heating up…don’t ask!

Then Covid intervened. I finally shipped it to the US in December 2021.

My immediate concern was the weak engine. It actually turned out that one cylinder had deep scratches and no compression.

As you may know, there are several “after market” parts made for this engine in the 1940s and 50s, for their use in “midget racers.” We installed them all, including double Webber carburetters. The pistons were custom made. Car now has reasonable power, like 87HP on the dyno.

This brings me to my question. With more power, I need a lower differential ratio — car now does

IMG_5730.jpeg (67.03 Kio) Consulté 1517 fois

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60kmh at 3500 RPM! But I do not even know what brand / maker this axel / differential is?

Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated.

Amicalement,

Ali Elam

[aelam@nyc.rr.com]

Deux photos de plus:

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IMG_7821.jpeg (39.09 Kio) Consulté 1516 fois

[fredV]

Hi Ali,
That's a fine car, a nice engine and a nice garage that you have!
I don't really see the point of having a lower rear axle ratio with a more powerful engine.
I believe that your car came with the standard manual 3 speed transmission with third gear ratio is direct drive 1.1.
60 km/h at 3500 rpm is the normal engine rotation speed for this car, but l guess that you are looking for a lower ratio to decrease engine speed rotation and noise, which is understandable.

The rear axle is French Ford made and I believe it is the same as the standard Vedette sedan which is rear axle ratio 4.33.
The solution will be to find a French Ford Vendôme rear axle with a 3.455 ratio but it will be really hard to find!
A cheap and easy way to reduce engine speed rotation would be to choose bigger tires, but it might change the general look of the car...

[fredV]

Ali, I noticed that you used Isky parts. Could you please let me know what parts? Did isky make a racing camshaft suitable for this engine?
What's the heads brand?
It will be great if you can give more details about the engine.
Thanks.

[cvf]

Bonjour, je suis nouveau sur le site. Je parle et comprends pas mal le Français mais je vais écrire en Anglais comme j’habite à New York.

This is my 1953 Comète. I bought it in 2019 in Clermont-Ferrand. Immediately afterwards, I and my two sons, drove it to Madrid where I have a home and garage. This was an extremely arduous trip, especially crossing the Pyrénées, in second gear, with the engine heating up…don’t ask!

Then Covid intervened. I finally shipped it to the US in December 2021.

My immediate concern was the weak engine. It actually turned out that one cylinder had deep scratches and no compression.

As you may know, there are several “after market” parts made for this engine in the 1940s and 50s, for their use in “midget racers.” We installed them all, including double Webber carburetters. The pistons were custom made. Car now has reasonable power, like 87HP on the dyno.

This brings me to my question. With more power, I need a lower differential ratio — car now does 60kmh at 3500 RPM! But I do not even know what brand / maker this axel / differential is?

Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated.

Amicalement,

Ali Elam

C’est ma Comète de 1953. Je l’ai acheté en 2019 à Clermont-Ferrand. Immédiatement après, moi et mes deux fils, l’avons conduit à Madrid où j’ai une maison et un garage. Ce fut un voyage extrêmement éprouvant, surtout la traversée des Pyrénées, en seconde, avec le moteur qui chauffait... Ne me demandez pas!

Puis le Covid est intervenu.
Je l’ai finalement expédiée aux États-Unis en décembre 2021.
Ma première préoccupation était la faiblesse du moteur. Il s’est avéré qu’un cylindre avait des rayures profondes et aucune compression.

Comme vous le savez peut-être, il existe plusieurs pièces « après-vente » fabriquées pour ce moteur dans les années 1940 et 50, pour leur utilisation dans les « courses ». Nous les avons tous installés, y compris les doubles carburateurs Webber. Les pistons ont été fabriqués sur mesure. La voiture a maintenant une puissance raisonnable, de 87HP sur le banc.
Cela m’amène à ma question. Avec plus de puissance, j’ai besoin d’un rapport de différentiel plus bas - la voiture fait maintenant 60kmh à 3500 tr / min! Mais je ne sais même pas quelle marque / fabricant est ce pont/ différentiel?

Toute aide ou suggestion serait très appréciée.

[cvf]

Hi Ali,
That's a fine car, a nice engine and a nice garage that you have!
I don't really see the point of having a lower rear axle ratio with a more powerful engine.
I believe that your car came with the standard manual 3 speed transmission with third gear ratio is direct drive 1.1.
60 km/h at 3500 rpm is the normal engine rotation speed for this car, but l guess that you are looking for a lower ratio to decrease engine speed rotation and noise, which is understandable.

The rear axle is French Ford made and I believe it is the same as the standard Vedette sedan which is rear axle ratio 4.33.
The solution will be to find a French Ford Vendôme rear axle with a 3.455 ratio but it will be really hard to find!
A cheap and easy way to reduce engine speed rotation would be to choose bigger tires, but it might change the general look of the car...

Hélène, il faudrait ouvrir un nouveau post dans la rubrique Comète pour ce nouveau sujet. Merci.

Salut Ali,
C’est une belle voiture, un beau moteur et un beau garage que vous avez!
Je ne vois pas vraiment l’intérêt d’avoir un rapport de différenciel plus bas avec un moteur plus puissant.
Je crois que votre voiture est avec la transmission manuelle standard à 3 vitesses avec la troisième en prise directe .
60 km / h à 3500 tr / min est la vitesse de rotation normale du moteur pour cette voiture, mais je suppose que vous recherchez un rapport inférieur pour réduire la rotation du moteur et le bruit, ce qui est compréhensible.
Le différenciel est fabriqué en France et je crois que c’est le même que la berline Vedette standard qui a le rapport 4,33.
La solution sera de trouver un differenciel Ford Vendôme français avec un rapport de 3.455 mais ce sera vraiment difficile à trouver !
Un moyen peu coûteux et facile de réduire la rotation du régime moteur serait de choisir des pneus plus gros, mais cela pourrait changer l’apparence générale de la voiture...

[cvf]

Ali, I noticed that you used Isky parts. Could you please let me know what parts? Did isky make a racing camshaft suitable for this engine?
What's the heads brand?
It will be great if you can give more details about the engine.
Thanks.

Ali, j’ai remarqué que vous utilisiez des pièces Isky. Pourriez-vous s’il vous plaît me faire savoir quelles pièces? Isky a-t-il fabriqué un arbre à cames de course adapté à ce moteur?
Quelle est la marque des culasses?
Ce sera génial si vous pouvez donner plus de détails sur le moteur.
Merci.

[aelam@nyc.rr.com]

I am not 100% sure what parts the engine shop changed. I will ask and get a list.

I do not think we changed the cam.

The engine builder said that while he could add a lot more power, the piston rods, which are no thicker than a small finger, would not take it. He said they would need to make custom rods which would take a long time. Here are a few pictures:

[aelam@nyc.rr.com]

SwiftScan Dec 14, 2022 1.46 AM.jpeg (140.17 Kio) Consulté 1463 fois

[fredV]

Thanks for the pics Ali, the dual carb intake manifold is Eddie Meyer, but what about the heads?
What carbs are you using which such 2 holes on the manifold?
It can't be the regular Stromberg right?
I was asking the question regarding the camshaft because I noticed that you used Isky valves springs.

[cvf]

I am not 100% sure what parts the engine shop changed. I will ask and get a list.

I do not think we changed the cam.

The engine builder said that while he could add a lot more power, the piston rods, which are no thicker than a small finger, would not take it. He said they would need to make custom rods which would take a long time. Here are a few pictures:

Je ne suis pas sûr à 100% des pièces que l’atelier moteur a changées. Je vais demander et obtenir une liste.

Je ne pense pas que nous ayons changé l'arbre à cames.

Le constructeur du moteur a déclaré que même s’il pouvait ajouter beaucoup plus de puissance, les bielles, qui ne sont pas plus épaisses qu’un petit doigt, ne le supporteraient pas. Il a dit qu’ils auraient besoin de fabriquer des bielles personnalisées, ce qui prendrait beaucoup de temps. Voici quelques photos :

[cvf]

Thanks for the pics Ali, the dual carb intake manifold is Eddie Meyer, but what about the heads?
What carbs are you using which such 2 holes on the manifold?
It can't be the regular Stromberg right?
I was asking the question regarding the camshaft because I noticed that you used Isky valves springs.

Merci pour les photos Ali, le double collecteur d'admission est un Eddie Meyer, mais qu’en est-il des culasses?
Qu'els carburateurs utilisez-vous pour ces 2 trous sur le collecteur d'admission?
Ce ne peut pas être le Stromberg habituel, n’est-ce pas?
Je posais la question concernant l’arbre à cames parce que j’ai remarqué que vous utilisiez des ressorts de soupapes Isky.

[versailles55]

Hello and welcome
very beautiful this Comète.

[aelam@nyc.rr.com]

“I was asking the question regarding the camshaft because I noticed that you used Isky valves springs.”

— Oh! I think that is just the box where they were holding the custom pistons. Sorry for the confusion.

[fredV]

Ok, I see no worries. I checked with Speedway online shop and I saw that the Eddie Mayer manifold and Offenhauser heads were still available there.
But no performance camshaft or double valve springs you're right!