B20 awoken after 46 years

[frankxhv773t]

My wife says that knowing the propensity of Lancisti to squirrel things away she isn't in the least surprised at the presence of a new engine!

[Kevin MacBride]

Paint at last !!

[Sliding Pillar]

Looks good in the original colour!

[HF_Dave]

Well Kevin I never tought I'd see the day ! when I first saw the B20 in the garage I could not believe my eyes. After you told me to go check out two fulvia's in a garage and  Y10 then the owner shows me the B20 I was awe struck. I could see from his mood he would never part with the car. I got on well with him and had agood chat and managed to rescue the Y. The two Fulvia's are knackered!and only good for parts. My Daughter Natalie drove the Y for  two years and passed her driving test with it. Alas the fulvias are still there at least they are dry. I also rescued a sub frame fo a fulvia from under the bench and it's in it's way into my Fulvia I can tel you that was some find !

[Kevin MacBride]

Another view with painted wheels and polished chrome bits attached. the aim is to get the car up and running for the annual Terenure Car show in Dublin, where, if I have anything to do with it, it will win Best Car of the Show.

[ncundy]

Kevin,
Looks very good - should be a shoe in 

[Kevin MacBride]

I was hoping this post would be the one showing a photo of a rolling finished car wainting an engine refit and a few bits and bobs, but alas no...
The owner of the car, for reasons which baffle both myself and my friend who did the bodywork, has decided he does not want the car finished, and wants to arrange collection, and put it back where it lay for nearly a half century.
The body is finished, glass fitted, newly chromed grill, bumpers etc fitted, brand new wiring loom, interior refurbished, 4 new Michelin tyres, a new stainless exhaust. Engine not refitted.
I'm stunned 

[DavidLaver]

A shame - but these cars get under people's skin.

All the more reason to appreciate your own B20.

David

[chugga boom]

what a shame !! have you got any more photo's of it anyway that we could see as it was a rare sight to see such an origional car! maybe he's run out of money for the time being, this is the most common killer of project cars and so many cheap projects turn up for sale because the owner has simply run out of funds which is a real shame for them to sell after the work they have done or had done

[Kevin MacBride]

The problem is not money, well it is, but not the lack of...I think he cannot understand the sheer amount of time and effort involved in getting his car up and running again. He sees the car as it is, and cannot really 'see' what work went into it. His son was the driving force behind the rebuild, but as he lives abroad we have not been in contact. I'm hoping he will intervene and at the very least, let us finish the project. After that, I'm not bothered, but I'd like to see the car driving again. My friend is annoyed at he runs a restoration buisness, and prides himself on his workmanship.

[chugga boom]

hi kevin, fully sympathise, this is why i got out of bodywork / restorations on a proffesional basis, most people dont realise how much work goes into a propper restoration or paint job, the body work is probably the most labour intensive part of any rebuild yet so under appriciated especially by those who dont really know what they are looking for, my friend and ex work colleage now owns his own body shop and i hear some people slate him for the prices he charges however in my eyes for the standard of work he produces he's way way way toooooooooooo cheap!!!! he qouted 3k to do the body work on my friend matty's appia, i wish i'd let him do it because i spent nearly a month solid on it , it looked like michael flatly and his team had used it as a stage especially the roof it was un believable and with hind sight 3k would have been a bargain! i hope the son does realise how much work has gone into the project so far and gives you the go ahead to finish it

[Kevin MacBride]

The wiring loom was the final straw. The customer had no problem spending 3k on chrome plating (which I did not think was initially that important), but was annoyed at being quoted for 1800 Euro to remove, make and refit a new loom. We actually had the loom made, its colour coded, plus each wire in the engine bay is covered in black shrink wrap so as to look original. The sparks also managed to get the original voltage reg and flasher unit working. This also included a very nice wiring diagram for future referance.

[HF_Dave]

Oh Dear !! I hate that, never start questioning how much a restoration is costing ,if you do you'l slit your rists or have to sell a kidney. My Fulvia has cost €10,000.00 at this stage with a lot of the work done by Kevin and myself. I hope it gtts started again I was looking forward to seeing it finished.

[Kevin MacBride]

There could be hope yet !!  The son has been in touch and talks are under way to see if we can come to some kind of compromise.
Oh, and by the way Dave, I'll be around to collect that kidney, I've a buyer...

[Kevin MacBride]

Well, a bit more news. The owner wants me to re-fit the engine. OK so far, but when I mentioned that regardless of how 'new' it is, to simply start a engine, especially one with white metal bearings, would be very risky without at the very least, removing the sump and bearing caps to have a good look...trouble is....he wont let me. he wants it fitted as is. To be honest I'm a bit terrified. Firstly, its not mine, and I could not accept resposibility for anything going wrong. Anyone have any ideas, suggestions...I'm considering washing my hands of the project, although I really would like to see the car up and running.