Bill
Any chance they can post some pictures.
Glen
----- Original Message -----
From: <ardunbill@webtv.net>
To: <land-speed@autox.team.net>; <bigsid@webtv.net>; "marco"
<bk185@lafn.org>; <bjgayle@aol.com>; <clemtebow@jps.net>;
<ddferguson@msn.com>; <gillette@aiinc.com>; <LITNMAN@aol.com>;
<jamisone@iowaone.net>; <gillette@gateway.net>
Sent: Monday, May 21, 2001 7:02 PM
Subject: Ardun-Allard #2
> Hi Folks, you recall a week or two ago I told a story here about the #2
> Prototype Allard that came to America in '49 minus the engine, and Zora
> Arkus-Duntov installed an Ardun, and raced it at Watkins Glen that year,
> etc. Many years later the same car had surfaced in Texas, been
> restored, and Zora was reunited with it in '90 at a show.
>
> Then Bob, of our List told us that the said Allard had subsequently been
> breathed on by Ardun men Mike Hart and Ron San Giovanni of CT to get it
> running right for the owner.
>
> Today I had a chat with Mike and asked him about it. He said it was
> just a year ago that the owner asked him and Ron to look at the engine,
> it was sick and no-one had ever been able to get it to start and run
> properly.
>
> Very fortunately, the complete original Ardun setup built by Zora had
> been preserved intact, but by the time Mike got ahold of it, no-one knew
> any details of its present internals, short-block, etc. Zora had built
> the engine with a front-mounted Ford crab-type distributor on the timing
> cover, pre-'49 style, and with one of his so-called "alternative"
> manifolds, which consisted of his usual two logs, which were modified
> with additional welded pads, so that three "bridges" could be mounted on
> them, each of which held a Stromberg 97 carb. The three 97 carbs were
> connected with throttle linkage to run all together, this being a
> serious racing sports car. So you would have a reasonable fast idle,
> and plenty of CFM.
>
> Apparently the Ardun fits so tightly into the Allard that it is possible
> to remove the valve covers, but the body has to be removed to get the
> engine out, or even to change the starter.
>
> As received the engine was very hard to start, and would barely run 50
> mph, with much misfiring, due to carburetion and ignition problems. So
> Mike and Ron started with the basics. Leakdown testing was done with
> the cylinders, which gave satisfactory figures, and compression testing
> showed something like 140 or 150 in all cylinders, which was plenty.
> There was no water in the oil, or vice versa, so whatever head gaskets
> were in it, were holding. As mentioned, the heads and pan could not be
> removed, but there was fortunately no need for same.
>
> The defective ignition on the car was replaced with a unit of the same
> style, carefully set up by Mike and Ron to suit an Ardun, with about 20
> degrees initial and 40 degrees total advance, which original
> cartridge-fire heads like.
>
> The original 97 carbs were delved into, and found to have various
> faults, drilled-out jets, etc., which were made good, and the three
> were arranged with progressive linkage, to make the beast have better
> road manners and be easier to start and drive, but still give full power
> on demand.
>
> Mike reports that the work described took about 40 hours to do, and on
> completion the Ardun-Allard started and ran perfectly, so the owner has
> been able to take it to shows, and run it any speed he wants on the
> road, and it runs just like it should. Mike says at shows, people come
> up to him and thank him, for getting that very special ex-Zora Allard to
> run the way they want to see it run.
>
> Bob, can you add anything to this? Cheers, Ardun Bill
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