nose part numbers pre-Ruby

[JonE]

I have a 1A 254 that came with an '30 crankcase and 1A 831 with a '33 - but the earlier one is shorter. Could someone tell me whether these are correct - the parts number books refer to reference numbers rather than the stamped parts.
Trying to get head around feet positions and changes...

[Tony Betts]

hi jonE,

the basic difference, is cars made with 3 or 4 speed gearboxs.

the 3 speed is further back, so a 7 1/4 inches long nosecone was fitted.
the 4 speed, the engine was pushed forward 1/2 inch. so the nosecone shortend to 6 3/4 inches.

tony

[Dave Mann]

  Front covers.doc (Size: 28.5 KB / Downloads: 11)

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  Nose Cones 1.jpg (Size: 118.22 KB / Downloads: 142)
  Nose Cones 2.jpg (Size: 163.22 KB / Downloads: 143) Here's some photos.

[Austin in the Shed]

Plus the 29-31 type,pre RN has the brass hex threaded in nut on the nose,7/8" dia staring handle shaft and dog drive to the crank lnstead of the later pin drive

[Hedd_Jones]

It has to be more complicated than that I'm sure.

The engine in my RL (tall rad, steel saloon 1930) was fubared, the nosecone on it was on it when we fitted it. There was only one set of holes in the chassis, early coil engine (as it should have) 3 speed box. The front of the nosecone lined up nice with the cowl. Original body, flitch plates and cowl. OK, but not original to that chassis.

When I attempted to put the engine dad got rebuilt for the AE in it, with the brass nut style nosecone, it was a different length, trouble is it was so long ago I cant remember which was longer (but I could go an measure - the car and the very same nosecone are in the same garage). So I had to swap them over. Which involved me breaking the cam pulley, (which is why I remember because I annoyed myself). As I say I cant 100% remember, but my feeling is the nut style nose was shorter.

There are also cast iron versions about, I notice Tony had/s one for sale. There is one here on the RP.

[JonE]

thankyou Tony and all. Didn't even think that they would be mismatched on their engines, but quite understandable that they are.
Odd that the part numbers are different from EITHER of those unless they have both been shortened. Anyone recognise the casting numbers?
from Dave's pic and list...

1A 254 ? 7 1/2" (was on a narrowboat '30 engine)
1A 459 RN
1A 559 RP
1A 831 ? 6 3/4" (was on a 33 engine - perhaps shortened)

[Hedd_Jones]

Jon, had to go to the spares shed to take a picture of mag starting handle stuff, so dug out what I have on the shelf.

This is the 1st type of coil nosecone, with the hex bush, and the angled dog type handle shaft 1A 264



Depends where you want to measure from, I have the casting flat on the shelf here wit the steel cam oil thrower thing overhanging. I made it 6 3/4 over the ali part. A smidge under 7 with the brass nut. My Oct '28 AD chummy has one of these. The April '30 AE chummy I sold recently also had one of these. Both fitted the cowl perfectly. My assumption therefore is that these are appropriate for the medium sized (plated) cowl cars, though I have no experience of the saloons of this era.



Couldn't get a dim for the one on the car (RL), and I don't have a spare to measure, but I'd happily pin the one on the car as a 1A459 on the basis I know its the longer version.

So perhaps we could say the long version was for the taller radiator, 3 speed cars?, Not just 'RN' as Daves notation. My assumption again. Any comments?.

I do have a few later short 1A559 on the shelf



My measurement for one of these is 6 1/4 over the ali. I measured 2.

.

So I suggest:

August 1928 - June 1930 (med sized plated cowl) -  1A 264 (6 3/4 long)
June 1930 - October 1932 (tall plated cowl - 3 speed) - 1A 459 (7 1/4 long - Tonys Dimension - 7 1/2 - Jons Dimention.  I believe they are more likely to be 7 1/2 on the basis the 4 speed box is 3/4inch longer than a 3 speed box) 
October 32 - 1936 (tall plated cowl - 4 speed) - 1A 559 (6 1/4 long)

any more variations?

For shits and giggles here is a 1A 246 (nut style) and a 1A 559 (late type) together. I dare say you could fit the early one to a late car at a push, or vice versa.



Clearly only applies if you put the cowl and engine where Austin intended. Ulster rep and Special builders, none of this need apply to you. Fit your cowl where your nosecone wants it to go. Or at least fit it where you can get a nosecone that fits, or do without a handle.

[Dave Mann]

Just to confound matters I had a long 3 speed RN one that hacksaw marks where it had been shortened.