Ardea Camioncino - Unbelievably Cute !

[simonandjuliet]

Unfortunately Cavalitto don't have the seals/washers , so I will have to make or source them myself - they are an odd size

In the meantime I have made a simple supply. The most difficult bit was finding something with the right thread to attach to the tank. For reference it is M18 x 1.5

I found some stainless, oxygen tank fittings that worked and were not too expensive, plus a nice solid OMG (make of tap, not "oh my god it's expensive" ) motorbike tap that I can mount on one of the wing fixings, so no holes to cut either

This gives me time to work on the original set up

[nistri]

Hi Simon,
I understand that the tap seals remade for the Ardea Club were not very good so they dropped the project. To my knowledge, nobody stocks the good ones, at least in Italy. I think your temporary solution is really good and will keep your Ardea runnign fine. Happy 2023, Andrea

[Raahauge]

Simon, the seals in my leaking Ardea tap were cork, I just turned up some more, you should be able to lay your hands on some.

[simonandjuliet]

Thank you for your comments and I will make some new seals. I have some different materials soaking in petrol to check suitability

Another satisfying job today - the wiper motor. With the dash out, you can get at the motor. It wasn't working, but only needed a really good clean and re-grease. I scooped out the old hard grease and sprayed with a lighter grease to help loosen it up and then added more

The commutator was dirty and the grooves blocked, so once cleaned and blow-dried (!) it all works as it should

[simonandjuliet]

It's been a while since I posted anything, but I've not been idle !

The 1st series Appia is finished and going back to it's owner
A friend's Aprilia has been fettled (front suspension stripped and checked, steering sorted out and mysterious transmission "clunk" remedied amongst other things)
An Aurelia B20 4th series has joined my fleet and is having some bodywork done

And of course the vines have been pruned, ploughed, "weeded & feeded" plus a new irrigation system for the whites ..... so not idle !!

But, back to Ardeas !

The re-wire has now been finished and works nicely.I have modified the loom for modern indicators a discreet iPhone charger and some other mods, however it is really quite sophisticated/complex in some ways and almost "modern".

(Anorak Warning !!!!)

The ignition key has 4 positions
0 - press in the key for ignition circuit only
1 - above plus ancillaries - indicators, horn (day) , interior lights etc
2 - above plus side/dip lights
3 - above plus dip/main

But if you go from 1 to 2 then the central steering wheel button becomes the light flasher instead of the horn. The horn moves to the nighttime button on the dashboard ! The lights are on side until you press the steering wheel button and then the dip beams flash

Also if you go from 2 to 3 then the dip lights come on and if you press the steering wheel button the mains flash

BUT, in both positions 2 & 3 you rotate the steering wheel button, then the dips (position 2) or mains (position 3) are on permanently !   

How bonkers is all that ? Anyway , it works !

I am planning to take it for an MOT this week, it will blow the tester's mind !

photos of the beautiful ignition light in bits, plus the nighttime horn switch and the "clockwork" fuel gauge.  The quality of the Ardea is amazing

[Spider2]

Do cars of that age need an MOT in France? If so are the testers "understanding"?

[Kari]

Regarding the ignition switch connections, I am sure you have accessed the Lancia Ardea web-site. There is a camioncino manual to look at. The switch has positions 0-1-2. The ignition would be independent from the light switch (key in or out). The high and low beam are changed by the foot switch left of the clutch panel.
Unfortunately, non of the wiring diagrams show the internal switching of the ignition switch. Good luck at the MOT!

Karl

[simonandjuliet]

Thanks for your comments

We don't need MOT's for cars pre 1960 except when you register them for the first time or change ownership, so I do need an MOT (or Contrôle technique , CT)

The guys I work with are happy for me to explain the "subtleties"

Karl, not sure if mine is a later car but it definitely has 4 positions on the key - the 1949, 4th edition handbook shows the positions that correspond to my car. Not sure if this is a "commercial-thing" or it also applies to some cars ??

As we've seen before, there's no such thing as a standard Lancia

[a1city]

Hi ,great thread and as you say CUTE . I have been looking for the PU you have used and wondered if you could send me some kind of link or manufacturer? Regards dave

[simonandjuliet]

Hi Dave, if you mean polyurethane glue/seal then my favourite is "TigerSeal" , but I also use one of Dog's PU's, but that is a locally supplied glue so not available in the UK

MOT booked for Friday, so long as the 'computer says "yes" - I don't have a registration document, so this may be difficult .... just means that I have to go through the process of getting a justification from the FFVE (Féderation Française de Véhicules d'Epoch) first

Gratuitous photo of the camioncino in a vineyard today !

[simonandjuliet]

TigerSeal, via eBay

[SanRemo78]

Tiger Seal - I think it depends on what you expect from it. Tried it to bond fibreglass to aluminium and it didn't work. Ended up using Sikaflex for a more permanent bond.

[Spider2]

Good luck with the CT on Friday. She'll be fine, '49 was a great vintage. I once had a case of '49 Cheval Blanc in the '70's. I dare not tell you what i paid for it.

[simonandjuliet]

We have a bottle of '82 Cheval Blanc in the cave - we are waiting for one of our 60th's to drink it - unfortunately not that far away ....

[simonandjuliet]

The camioncino passed its CT with flying colours - so another one on the road

I am pretty sure that its the only one on the road in France, so quite a rare sight !

Couple of things to do to make it more comfortable and usable, but we'll start off as it is .....

Photo shows the camioncino with the "dating" newspaper that is necessary for the registration process. The FFVE requires photos showing that the van is in one piece, has the engine fitted and an interior - and these need to recent, hence the newspaper