First post, first project!

[Griff]

Hello everybody!

I've only just joined the LMC after the purchase of my 1975 Lancia Fulvia 1.3, and I'm very pleased there is a good active forum to use! A credit to everyone involved. With the introduction dealt with I can tell you some more about the project...

I had been on the look out for a classic project for the summer months with nothing really catching my eye, when a friend of mine (also a classic enthusiast) got talking to a man in the local pub, who said he had a Fulvia for sale, I decided it was worth a look, and after a couple of weeks I had taken delivery of my new car! The car itself has not had an MOT since 2002, after it had been taken off the road due to a leaking fuel tank. It had been kept in dry storage since then but not run, and due to that all the brakes had seized, but the body looked solid and the engine had been sorted 20K miles ago.

In the past week I've owned the car the brakes have been freed off to make it easier to move around, and I've got the engine running, which started very easily and without any smoke or nasty bangs (thankfully!) and the gearbox and clutch are good. With the engine now running I decided it was time to make a start on the bodywork issues, mainly around the footwells, which I thought would be a simple job, but as you probably all know, jobs like this tend to escalate. And this is when I need to ask for some advice... When I cut out the bad metal in the floorwell and inner sill, it was revealed that the mounting point for the front subframe is totally corroded from the inside, and will definitely need to be replaced/repaired. Would anybody be able to tell me the best way to approach this? Does it require the subframe to be dropped away from the car (as I assume) or is there some sort of way to repair around it? I understand this might be difficult to imagine without pictures, but I'll try to put some up soon, any help is much appreciated.

On a different note, I have some history with the car which says one of the owners in the late 80s early 90s was a member of the LMC, his name was Jon Meyler from Daventry. Anybody know of Jon? Or know anything about the car? Even a period photograph would be great, the registration in RRU250R.

To end, here is a photo of the car on the day I got it. Thanks in advance, Adam.

[lee69]

Welcome to the LMC and the Forum Adam. As a fellow Fulvisto be assured that the support and advice you'll receive on here will be invaluable. Somebody somewhere has undoubtedly encountered the problems that you'll come across, so just ask. Take a look at Neil Cundy's Fanalone restoration thread if you want to see how to restore a Coupe. Link here -> http://www.lancia.myzen.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=78.0

I guarantee that it won't be too long before someone posts with specific answers to your questions.

Lee

[ncundy]

Firstly welcome, good choice of car

Corrosion of the rear subframe mounts is probably the most typical of Fulvia repairs.

To do this you will need to take the subframe out. The you need to cut the bottom 8" or so of the wing panel off so you can get at the pick up box. Then you can replace the box. Check the front of the sill (which sits behind/underneath the wing) while you're there. Also check the top of the rear subframe legs.

Take the subframe out complete with engine/transmission. Take the radiator of, disconnect all the "bit" - not forgetting the reversing light wire underneath the gear lever! Then lift the front of the vehicle up and wheel the subframe out.

Panels for this repair a pretty readily available, but get them first so you know how much to cut out.


Well, there's me and Lee not out on the sauce tonight then!

[fay66]

These notes from Peter Gerrish should help.
Note; if you use the description underneath to open, you can then enlarge to read, copy or print.

Brian
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[ncundy]

Brian,
Excellent stuff!

[fay66]

Brian,
Excellent stuff!

We aim to please

[Griff]

Wow, great info already, thanks! Hopefully this should give me some motivation to get on with it. Can I ask, for a Fulvia novice, how long does it take to remove the subframe? (forgetting the welding, can't say how long that will take haha)

[DavidLaver]

Meanwhile - to know what you're missing:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=lancia+fulvia&aq=f

[ncundy]

I would say with a couple of big chaps to lift the front end about 3 hours (starting from nothing disconnected). Get yourself something to support the front end, a couple of axle stands and a good plank of wood to put across the front two - run it just behind the jacking points.

good luck!

[St Volumex]

Brian, I have to heartily commend you for the tremendous effort you put in - just fabulous.

It's what makes this forum incandescent.

Keep up the good work!

Kindest regards

[fay66]

Brian, I have to heartily commend you for the tremendous effort you put in - just fabulous.

It's what makes this forum incandescent.

Keep up the good work!

Kindest regards

Thanks Guy,
 but I'm just the sponge who soaks up this information, and squeezed at the appropriate time I let it out again, the people who really deserve credit are those who write the articles from practical knowledge, such as  Neil, Chugga, David, and many others who actually do the work, and then share their experiences and knowledge with the rest of us.

Brian
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