There's a guy near me working on one at the moment - Geoff Turton restored the shell for him, it's going to be a stunning car again very soon!
http://www.lancia.myzen.co.uk/forum/...p?topic=9873.0
Guy
Printable View
There's a guy near me working on one at the moment - Geoff Turton restored the shell for him, it's going to be a stunning car again very soon!
http://www.lancia.myzen.co.uk/forum/...p?topic=9873.0
Guy
Phil, is the renovation of the 124 costing that much?? The state of the wiring that you are discovering, is, from memory (Strada, Panda, Uno and others) typical of Fiat original as it left the factory, wiring of the age.
Robin.
Aaargh... I said "who's got a Fulvia for sale" in a kind-of whimsical way, but I shoulda known it'd only invite temptation!!!
Phil, I know you said a while ago you were thinking of selling yours, but I thought it was more a "maybe, not really bothered" kinda thing... was I wrong? And sorry for hijacking your thread. Although it's deffo non-Stratos-related :)
Chris, is your brother's that white one with the black bonnet on Car & Classic? Looks fantastic! Looking at current prices I can't believe I actually threw away a genuine RHD HF Lusso bodyshell back in the late 80's (mind you, it'd been bashed really heavily on the side - enough to smash the bellhousing and bend the gearbox input shaft... you can imagine what he shell looked like...!)
No, it's not advertised, because he never has time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Normb666
It's an ex HSCC 70s road sport (road registered) race car, 1972 K reg. It would be easiest for it to go back to doing that, but it is a 100% genuine RHD S2 1600 HF.
I've had a look at the white one Norm.
It's exactly the same model as that, but with it being a race car, the interior trim has been scattered to the four winds, and it has a big alloy plate where the sunroof used to be.
Mechanically, and rust wise it will be good, but just not a presentable car for road use like Phil's (ex Richard C.) car.
Ah, OK, saw it was in Yorkshire, added two and two and got five. You assume right, that it's road cars only for me - couldn't handle the embarrassment of being on track!
Now then Phil... ;)
This should be another thread !... yes Fulvia is for sale due to lack of use... I have fibreglass arches, wheel spacers for it and also a pair of nice yellow lensed spotlights... you know the car Norm !!Quote:
Originally Posted by Normb666
Still plodding on with the electrics and other small jobs.... you think that you have all the parts you need then you find you haven't !.... back on Fleabay again !
Attachment 16222Attachment 16223
Cromodoratastic!!
Plus one for the wheels! They look so good.
Haynes manual in prominent position there Phil.
Are you getting sponsorship?
Morning John / ChrisQuote:
Originally Posted by john
There is an issue with the Haynes Manuals !!... the 2 Books I have found are for models up to 1978 and 1980 Upwards............ mine is a 1979 !... there are several wiring diagrams, for European and American markets, and also there is a difference between the 124 Coupe and Spider !...... however when I have been tracing wires back to source i.e Fuel Tank sender, Lights etc etc not all the the colour combinations match what I have on my car for any of the wiring diagrams !!... and I am convinced that the wiring is original..... So when you are a Mechanical engineer the electrics are taking a little longer than hoped !
Progress / Non Progress yesterday
I had read on some web page somewhere that the engine and gearbox could be fitted to the car as an assembly... so here we go I thought... took the bonnet of and safely stored it away without any drama, then after about 3 hours buggering around, pulling, shoving, giving birth to a 5kg hernia twins etc........... IT DID NOT GO IN !!..
The slightly different shape of the Fiat 131 Sport gearbox combined with the custom sump from Guy C (square along the front edge rather than rounded) prevented this idea... so today I will split them down and fit the engine followed by the gearbox (as the rear mounting for the gearbox is in a different place to the original item)..... that's the plan anyhow.
On the plus side... yes I really like the wheels too !
Cheers
Phil
Phil, hope your garage is soundproofed so you don't upset the neighbours with various utterances (crikey, By Jove, I Say, etc.) But good luck with getting the motor/box in!
As for the electrics - might it be an idea to try and source a new loom and install that, rather than bu&&ering about with the one currently in the car? At least that way you'll know which wires go where cos you'll have done them all yourself... as it is you'll never be sure what some of the wires are for (et one of them's a bonnet release, haha!)
Wiring sounds typical of Fiats of that era, as I have eluded to before. Generally it was, "what have we got a reel of today, OK lets use that one".
Press on regardless !!!
Best of luck Phil.
Plus one for making a new loom! The 124 isn't exactly stuffed with electronics and CanBus stuff. A new one is likely to be more reliable plus you'll know where to check for any future faults and can draw your own wiring diagram as you go.
I seem to remember installing the motor and gearbox in one unit on my Spider many years ago. But for the life of me can't recall how. I think it was a case of dropping the body onto the assembly (or more likely having the car on the lift with the enginge/box underneath and then hoisting it up to the right heigh and lowering the lift/car). But I am sure I didn't have the motor in the car and then heave the box in or vice versa!
Guy
New loom may be an option..!.... but will keep trying for a bit yet !
Better day today !!.... whey hey... Engine and box in !.... fitted the engine first (the easy bit)... then added to my collection of Hernia's heaving the box in...
Attachment 16224Attachment 16225Attachment 16226
Wow, looking good, with all the witchcraft and strangeness of 'moderns', give me a Lampredi and set of carbs any day... as well as a V6 Busso obviously.:D.
Looking good Phil. Re the wiring, everyone seems to be fitting fancy PDU’s these days. Does away with all the fuses and relays...and no doubt a chunk of the bank balance too.
Bonjour Msr SavageQuote:
Originally Posted by NoCorseChris
I didn't reply immediately as I didn't have a clue what a PDU was (quelle surprise)..... Reading a little.... I mean little.... Bit of what it meant and what it would cost.... I will be sticking with the standard wiring with twisted connections and doubtful insulation.... And that's only my input !!!!.....
just about out sorted the tail gearbox mounting this morning, just made a couple of spacers and will bolt it up tomorrow....... Just had a VE Day celebration drink so best not venture into the garage today !!
take care mate
Phil
Nowt wrong with a few wires, fuses, relays and switches Phil. PDU’s probably make sense for a high-end motorsport application where the significant cost is less of a factor...and in mass production where you can get economies of scale. I see the new Tesla Y has a PDU among many other cutting edge components.
Retropower used a PDU in both their Stratos build and the “Murray Escort”, but I can’t help thinking a bit of the motivation is ‘cos it’s cool’. And of course, budget no object. No denying they are incredibly flexible things but they need to get cheaper.
They'll get cheaper when the Chinese start copying them.........
Update on the Fiat Corona..
Moved to the boot area
Stripped out the tank and all of the rest of the items and repainted.
Drained the fuel tank, removed sand and carp by using degreaser and jet wash then repainted...
View inside tank..
Attachment 16288
This is the Carp
Attachment 16289Attachment 16290
Now painted and refitted..
Attachment 16291Attachment 16292
I will be adding a "Reserve" tank to the passengers side, filler caps already installed, not Abarth position or style......
Attachment 16293
Fuel pump, filter, reserve transfer pipe and tap, new filler pipe, new breather pipe with anti roll valves... all since fitted.
That's not just any carp, it's Californian carp! Stick it on eBay, someone will buy it.
Car is looking great Phil.
Thanks ChrisQuote:
Originally Posted by NoCorseChris
Looking back I realise that I did make a big mistake... I only had the Fuel tank and pipes, Wiring Loom and steering boxes to remove and the body would have been completely stripped and I could have had it painted inside and out !!........ so next time..........
Hopefully we never stop learning. My example, I recently learned not to try and paint a chassis at home in a tent....
So what's the next project on the production line then?
Apart from the Fulvia Zagato which I am still pondering about selling as a "Project".... nothing really.... But a rust free California car is definitely the way to go !.... so much better when you are not cutting rust out and having to take bolts out with a spanner ALL the way... using far less WD40 etc etc..... so much more pleasurable...Quote:
Originally Posted by NoCorseChris
So a Refurb / California car will be definitely the way I will be going... I have enjoyed doing the Fiat, I like the look of the car.... another one ?.. who knows !
I watch a load of these car shows where they resurrect a rusted hulk worthy of nothing but scrap, and while I have huge admiration for the skill and effort, I always wonder how long before the tin worm reappears. Can’t be doing with rust myself, it’s so insidious you just never know what’s lurking. A California car is such a great way to go.
Totally agree..... just watch Car SOS (and as you say I admire the skill of Fuzz and his team).... they restored an MGA..... there was ONLY the sub frame left and that was questionable !.... just total RUST !Quote:
Originally Posted by NoCorseChris
I.bought a basket case MGA Coupe about 30 years ago.
When I totalled up the cost of the replacement panels alone it came to much more than the car was worth. Even then.
I didnt love it that much.
I too, agree with what you're all saying.
A restored car, no matter how good the workmanship, will never be as good as a car that's never gone rusty in the first place.
You'd have to replicate the full factory body shell dipping, to get anywhere near the same lifespan.
I suppose restored cars tend not to be exposed to damp, like they were when they were new, so they last from then on, for that reason?
Fabricated steel space frame chassis' are quietly going rusty on the inside too. The rate of decay will be so very slow if kept in a dry garage.
Some shots of recent progress, Dash stickers courtesy of Chris J (cheers Chris).
Fuel tank plumbed in apart from the reserve tank I am having made by a friend on here !
Sump guard fitted…. However where they expected the front end to bolt to god only knows !... the black hollow section is my creation and at least provides a solid foundation for it.
Bonnet refitted now the engine is in place, Front lower grille in place.
I am currently looking at the steering again as I have noticed that having cleaned down the steering box some months ago it has now decided to start weeping oil… bugger, plus I needed to replace the transfer steering link and the inner rod ends…. Some months ago whilst the engine was out I decided to leave it until after the engine was fitted as it should be easy enough and access is good….. mistake!
So here we go lets take the whole lot off and get it sorted, a quick glance at the Haynes manual… no where did it say that that removing the steering box was a right bitch as there is a 300mm long shaft protruding inside the car which attaches to the steering column !! Also there is a Pitman Steering arm on the bottom of the steering box, the nut which holds the Pitman Arm to the steering box is 30mm AF……. I have a 32mm AF and 27mm AF … sod’s law at it’s best !
So I have an old large adjustable spanner (cringe)…. Didn’t even move the nut at all, however I did have a length of 40x40 box section lurking in the corner of the garage…. At this point I did think that this could all end in tear’s… so with the adjustable spanner extended by the box section I gave it a tug… nothing !... sh1t or bust time now.. both hands on the box section and one foot against the car and gave it all I’ve got… hey presto it started to move !
The issue now is getting the Pitman Arm off it’s spline’s…. this too is bloody stuck ! this is the job for today !... so I dare say there will be more cursing and blood by the end of the day !..... next report may be coming from a Corona infested hospital ward !
Cheers
Attachment 16423Attachment 16424Attachment 16425
Attachment 16429 Attachment 16430 Attachment 16431 Screen prepped for refit
Very impressive Phil, love the dashboard but I think the Sump Guard could be a little lightweight?
'Seems to be the only one you can get 'off the shelf' Robin.Quote:
Originally Posted by Longtimefan
I thought it was the shelf.
Out of Phil's fridge.....
Correct Chris !!..... I couldn't make one for 84 Euro's !!... it is steel and 4mm thick... don't intend to scratch it Robin !!..LOLQuote:
Originally Posted by ProtoTipo
Well don't try landing it on its nose over a Yumpy, it has already got a hole in it !!!
Phil,
Did your car have a glove box and lock?
I'm asking for Frederic.