S1 Restoration - I think

[lsdiff]

Hi
As a new member, I thought I'd post a couple of pics at the start of my restoration project. That way, I can look back on it in 10 or 20 years time and realise how little I've accomplished.
The car is an S1 1.3S that I bought in South Africa while on holiday a few years ago. I drove it for a bit while over there and it was great fun, if a little rough around the edges. It's now been sitting for a couple of years over here. I have been busy with other projects so only start it up and move it occasionally, but I had planned to address the minor issues that are required for an MOT (mostly electrics, brakes binding etc) and use it over the coming summer. However I'm not very good at half-jobs so as soon as I started taking things apart I decided that a full nut and bolt restoration was in order. The car seems pretty straight and solid for a 50-year old, but has a few patches of rot in the floors and sills. I suspect more might reveal themselves once the car is down to bare metal.
The plan is to build it into a fast (relatively) road car, with minor performance upgrades to brakes, suspension and engine. If anyone is interested, I'll update as I go and I'm sure I'll be asking lots of questions.
Cheers
Terence

[Parisien]

Welcome again to the forum Terence, the Fulvia is a very popular model on the forum, lots of members have plenty of knowledge and experience in looking after and restoring same.

I'm also currently restoring a Lancia, so your jest that looking back in 10-20 years time won't seem as funny in 10-20 years time, ie mine has been stuck with my body/paint guy for 4 plus years!!!

Good luck with the project, do put up lots of photos and keep us all riveted to the Fulvia section!


P

[lsdiff]

Thanks Parisien.
This will be my first Lancia so I expect quite a steep learning curve.

[Dilambdaman]

Hi Terence, Welcome to the forum, and yes, post away on your restoration. I can testify to the value of the forum if only to keep the enthusiasm up when the going gets tough (and it will!) during a restoration. You'll be amazed at the expertise available on here and the encouragement you'll get.

It might help (or possibly not!) to have a look at this thread http://www.lancia.myzen.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=5820.0

Good luck,
Robin.

[Richard Fridd]

Good stuff. What is the top left component in photo 3?

[Neil]

Looks like an oil bath type of air filter, most South African Fulvias seem to have those fitted

[lsdiff]

@Robin - thanks for the link to the Fanalone thread. It should be good for some inspiration.
@Richard and Neil - it is indeed an oil bath filter used as an alternative to a paper filter in dusty climates.

[stanley sweet]

Will you be removing that in your plans for the engine?

[lsdiff]

Probably. I haven't really planned much but suspect I'll swap for trumpets or performance air filter set up.

[lsdiff]

I said it might take a while. Now ready for media blasting.

[chriswgawne]

I am interested to see how much corrosion you uncover as folklore seems to suggest that South African assembled cars will have less corrosion than Italian built cars.
However my experience as an observer is that ex-SA cars can be just a rusty as European ones....and occasionally worse because some bodyshells were left lying around outside before being built up. And then there is the issue of the condition of the roads.
I have seen quite a few old cars being advertised in the UK as being ex-SA with the inference that they are worth a premium because of this.
Your car looks nice and straight and you are certainly approaching its restoration correctly.
Chris

[lsdiff]

Hi Chris
From the looks of it the car is pretty solid, but I guess until it's down to bare metal it's hard to tell. I know there is a bit of rust in the cills and a hole in the drivers' side floor, but otherwise it seems pretty good.
I've had a few ex-SA cars and I would say they have all been better preserved than the average UK car. It does depend where the cars come from. Coastal cars don't tend to do so well. I'm not sure what impact the condition of the roads would have although the fact that they never see salt is definitely a big plus.

[lsdiff]

Got the car back from media blasting on the weekend, and it's not too bad. Some evidence of previous knocks and some rust in the expected areas, but overall I'm quite pleased with how well it's held up over 50 years.

[stanley sweet]

Apart from the obvious there appears to be a lot of good metal there. You must be pleased.

[lsdiff]

Cheers. I am indeed. I'll probably do a mix of repair and replace. Anyone have any recommendations for replacement panels?