Aprilia Diary

[DavidLaver]

I can see the merits of your one-coat quick-dry paint being able to turn a job like that round so quick.

The peddle photos looks very professional with the white background.  For a real challenge how about a photo with it laid out to match the TAV...

[simonandjuliet]

Even with the quick drying acid etch and acrylic paint I warm the pieces with a paint stripper before and after painting, especially at the moment when it is cool and humid - I find it reduces the paint blooming

[DavidLaver]

I suppose the heat gun tip removes any "we can't in the UK while you can in France" excuse.

[simonandjuliet]

On the home-strait .......not been able to devote a lot of time recently because we are pruning the vines and I have promised to get our rental property on the market for June, and it is a bomb-site !

On the plus side, I have bought a pair of electric secateurs so I can do more vines per hour - I can prune a vine in about a minute , and we have 4,500 !

Dog finished last week and I've been painting. The oil based paints take an age to dry so I can only do one coat per day.

The pictures show a couple of befores and then inside and underneath painted - the black mat paint hasn't quite dried so it is still a bit uneven. 8 mm copper fuel pipe has arrived so hopefully get that fitted tomorrow along with refitting the pedals.

The observant amongst you will have seen that although the folded edge underneath looks correct, we have welded the "seat" section in place before fitting the front floor. Originally the front and rear floors had a joint which resembles 2 clasped hands, fingers cupped on each hand and then clipped together, if you see what I mean !

I would quite like to get her finished this week because I am planning a recce this weekend for our inaugural Lancia Club France "Rallye de Pezenas" (name still TBC) and it would be good to use the Aprilia for timings etc.
A friend and I are planning and organising this , so watch this space !

 

[Parisien]

Fabulous Simon, you pair are quite the dream team in La France profonde!


P

[the.cern]

Simon, that is a great effort and looking so good. I hope you hit your target, it will definitely focus your attention.

As for the vines, that is a mere 9 days work, even with a couple of hours lost to showers!!!! Just a thought, does Dog do vines???

Best wishes,

             Andy

[simonandjuliet]

Thanks for you comments gents

As a reminder to me as much as anything else, here are a couple of before and after pictures ........

New copper fuel line fitted, just the pedals and interior to refit before a damn good clean !

[lancialulu]

Looking good. Should last a few more decades down in salt free Minervois

Re the rally we would love to come but you are a day early as we will be in Parma vectoring back West.....

[simonandjuliet]

Rally prep delayed slightly due to co-organiser illness. More anon

However, the pedal assembly is in place as is the new fuel line. Whilst replacing the floor we also made new 'fold-over' tags for the fuel line and exhaust shield

Is it design or wear ?

If you look at the pedals, the brake pedal is slightly angled towards the throttle. I always "toe&heal" , or more accurately pivot the foot, when changing down on the Aprilia and it seems to be made easier with the brake pedal angled such. The pedal is very well made, and so I do not think that it is 70 years of braking that has bent it. More likely, subtle design details that you come to expect with Lancias ....

Not sure how clear it is with the pedalbox cover pulled to one side, but you can just see the non-original brake light switch. It now works on a spring when the pedal is depressed. I cannot remember the last time I saw an original functioning switch (would be very keen to acquire one if available !!!)

 

[stanley sweet]

Is that the headlight dip beside the clutch? If the brake pedal looks to be the original shape then it really was a case of every single part being thought about during design. I've never managed the classic 'heel and toe' where you pivot your heel out but I do use the outside of my foot to bring the revs up during changing down on the Fulvia. So satisfying when you get it spot on and there isn't a change in engine note.

[fay66]

Is that the headlight dip beside the clutch? If the brake pedal looks to be the original shape then it really was a case of every single part being thought about during design. I've never managed the classic 'heel and toe' where you pivot your heel out but I do use the outside of my foot to bring the revs up during changing down on the Fulvia. So satisfying when you get it spot on and there isn't a change in engine note.

Simon,
Looks to me like the brake pedal was designed with a bias towards the throttle, probably? to make Heel Toeing Easier, something I used to practice and used frequently, handy with "Fay" but not much use on my Suzuki  automatic these day, unless you really want to charge up someone's rear end
Stan,
I used to prefer having the dip switch mounted on the floor, no chance like these days of pulling the wrong stalk when you drive two vehicles with the controls on opposite sides.

Brian
8227

[Sliding Pillar]

Simon, I think you have been pushing that brake pedal far too hard!!
In all of the photos I have of Aprilias they are inline.
You can get the pedal rubbers from http://www.cicognaniguarnizioni.it/en/lancia/141-aprilia-1937-49

[lancialulu]

That cable seems a challenge when driving!

Jai Sharma sells pedal rubbers on ebay......

[simonandjuliet]

Thanks Ade - who knows ? It may be a second series mod (my answer to all the differences I come across !) . Possibly, everyone else has straightened them ? Not planning to change it though.

The switch is for the headlamp dip and I find it a bit tight for my size 11's. I usually drive barefoot because my Crocs press all three pedals and dip the lights at the same time.

Re Pedal covers, I have a set courtesy of our Portuguese friend but I left them off for the pictures. Good to have the details for an European supplier of the floor rubbers, previously, I had only seen the American reseller.

[lancialulu]

My bet is the pedal was "adjusted" to suit good driving technique by a previous owner (and good driver).