Appia furgoncino - A fettler's voyage

[simonandjuliet]

Before I commit a heinous crime, can someone confirm that this beautifully polished steering box SHOULD be black. I can just find vestiges of black paint .....

ps I don't think these are specific to furgoncini (!) but it is stamped C80S and then the number

[DavidLaver]

If you are looking for something to polish with this is the fattest catalogue of that sort of stuff I know:

http://www.abrasivesplus.com/

These are new to me - got to love a "grittyflex" for the name alone:

http://www.abrasivesplus.com/dept/brushes-accessories-both-for-hand-drill-operation_d0133.htm

"Especially suitable for removing oxide films from all kinds of metals".  I've got a bit of that to do...

The other thought for an abrasives fetishist is this one:

http://www.kemet.co.uk/

Which is where I got this from:

http://www.kemet.co.uk/pdf/Sanderhead2006.pdf

David

[Sliding Pillar]

I would say it should be satin black.

[simonandjuliet]

David

I feel an "I Spy" book of abrasives coming on ....

Juliet already thinks that I am a long way along the "bonkers"ometer, I am sure that if I subscribed to your suggested websites I would advance several notches !

I won't tell you you where she thinks you are on the "bonkers"ometer !!!!

[simonandjuliet]

Thanks Ade

[chriswgawne]

Ade is right - it should be satin black.
If I were you I would disassemble the steering box to check that the needle rollers are not pitted and also to replace the oil seal. I imagine the bearings will be OK but worth checking them as well.
I have rebuilt several B20 steering boxes of similar design and in roughly 50% of cases the needle rollers have been pitted needing replacement..
If the worm and screw are worn then there is the possibility of rotating the inner bush to take up slack - very effective in most cases of worn boxes.
So definitely worth a closer look inside.
Chris

[simonandjuliet]

Chris
When you say 'oil seal' do you mean the one where the steering column joins or the bottom seal - or both ?
 

[simonandjuliet]

A few minutes fettling after work this evening - and taking Chris' advice, I took the top off the steering box. I was expecting it to be like an Aprilia, but it is completely different. Instead of a segment of teeth, there is a whole circle. As far as I can see, it doesn't matter where you are on the circle, so long as the steering column and drop arm are in the right position relative to one another. We'll see when I fit it !

The condition of the box was so good, clean oil, no tight spots or anything ,so,  I have decided to leave it alone and will just replace the output seal (ordered from Omicron so hopefully will be here soon) and have made a new gasket. Coat of paint and soon be ready to fit .... I am sure the nuts and filler cap would have been black originally, but allow me a touch of individuality .....

The steering box appears to be B10 since the castings say "B10" ! - but it is overstamped with C80 S as mentioned above. Don has informed me that the front axle is B24 with B10 brakes and wheels, so they are a bit of a "parts box" car !

[simonandjuliet]

Frustrating day at work today, so went to the garage for some R&R

Bits arrived yesterday for the steering box, so that is back together, just need to find the right oil to refill it.

Also this evening tried a bit of an experiment to see if it is possible to retain the original transfers whilst repainting the rusty/tired part . Took the top off the regulator , carefully masked the transfer, without actually touching it. Done by folding masking tape on itself leaving a 1 mm wide strip of sticky and then sticking that just outside the transfer (if that makes sense). Clean and paint the rest and there we go !

Was it worth it, or should I have painted the whole thing or left alone and just cleaned it up ? Well I suspect we will all have an opinion on that one !

The regulator transfer was low risk, being quite badly scuffed already but I think the method may well work on other bits like the air filter which still has the instructions on it

The bonnet catch (before and after) shows how the base plate had been designed for LHD and RHD cars. A tiny detail !

[Sliding Pillar]

Penrite steering box lube is best, rather than oil.

[DavidLaver]

Lovely job keeping the transfers...inspiring...

David

[simonandjuliet]

Thanks Ade
We have a Penrite distributor the other side of Beziers, so a visit is on the cards ....

David, glad you approve, it was a bit of a fankle but I think it was worth it. The suspension oiler has cleaned up nicely and just has a few chips, so I'm not going to paint that at all

This evening's fettling was to renovate the battery cover and tray. The cover was surprisingly rusty, I suspect it had been taken off to remove the battery and then left in a damp corner ! The rubbers were all ok; removed, cleaned and re-glued ( I use a rubber and vinyl cleaner made by Autoglym) once the cover had been repainted.

The battery sits on a slider to assist removal, however the strap has rotted so will need to be replaced

Just placed a big paint order in the UK , so waiting for that to arrive. Filler primers are not as good here, zinc primer impossible to find. Etch primer an enigma and as for any of the above at a sensible price ........

[DavidLaver]

This stuff?

http://www.autoglymprofessional.com/product-proddetail.asp?v06VQ=HE

[simonandjuliet]

That's it - with rubber strips and things , I massage it in ..... makes tyre walls look nice too

[simonandjuliet]

Last night's efforts !

Not sure yet where all the bits go , but they will look nice when they are there !