1952 VCH

[Mharrisbarton]

I have a 1952 VCH engine (TR) but I don't have an O R prefix frame, but I do have an XG world war 2 frame giving greater ground clearance (1 1/2" ?) Shorter wheelbase, the headstock appears to be slightly steeper which would also shorten the wheelbase, my question is are the OR frames the same as or similar to the ex WD frames, in 1969 as an apprentice at Muller & Co Cleobury Mortimer I built a 500cc Ariel for vintage racing using this XG war dept frame the bike handled really well. I didn't have my own transport but I could get a lift to the circuits with Phil Hodgkis and Jonathan Parks who both raced Ariels at that time .when one day my bike was parked next to theirs it was pointed out to me how different my bike was to there's. I was so inexperienced that I didn't question the pros & cons ,I just changed the frame to a standard one. I will never know whitch was best .this is the XG frame I still have. Matt Barton.

[Roger Gwynn]

Wheelbase of the 1952 VCH frame is 52-1/2", head angle 64degrees2mins. ground to centre of bottom tube 6-1/2
1933 and 1950 standard rigid is 55", 62 degrees and 5-1/2
I don't have dims for the W/NG but the chainstays were 3/4" shorter

Incidentally the ground clearance given is wrong, the figure given is from the works drawing and is the dimension to the centre of the frame tube!

[will_curry]

You'll get a VCH engine into the W/NG frame but it's tight and because of the studs
and sleeve nuts holding the head onto the barrel you'll find it fun getting the head
off with the engine still in the frame. I've had mine since the early '60s.

[Mharrisbarton]

Still a bit puzzled! in Peter Hartley's book the Ariel story it says that the WA stamped frames were fitted to VB. VH.and VCH machines in 1951.so that would be a head angle of 64 degrees 2min? I have a WA frame so that would be be the closest to original that I am likely to get to with what I have? Also DO the top and bottom yolk stem angles have variations.your help is much appreciated Matt Barton.

[Roger Gwynn]

WA was the prefix for the standard rigid frame and 22 VCH models, 9 were in SA plunger frames, the other 31 were in COM frames. The standard frames would have the standard dimensions, only the VCH frames would have a different wheelbase and head angle, 64 degrees 2min is for VCH frame not standard. The easiest way to find out if the yokes were different is to compare the part numbers of those specified for the VCH and road models.