Appia furgoncino - A fettler's voyage

[stanley sweet]

It actually looks sad in the Aosta photo. Looks much perkier now, even with different coloured eyes.

[simonandjuliet]

Neil, you were probably there about the same time the first photo was taken ....

Re "red stripes" - I plan to repaint the stripes, both front and back as they were when found. Doesn't apply here, but I like them ! Some vehicles had white stripes and apart from being the name of a very good band, I think they had a slightly different meaning - something to do with different taxation/customs ?? I am sure someone will tell us !

Stan, I quite like the "Bowie" effect .... but "les flics" won't, so I am going yellow

[mikeC]

I believe the red stripe allowed the owner to drive the vehicle for commercial use; the white stripe allowed employees to drive.

[simonandjuliet]

I found this delightful answer on a truckers forum .....

Postby giemmegi » Mon Mar 20, 2006 4:52 pm
well the white stripes means "conto terzi" and for me it's hard to explain, i try:
A transport operator hauling load produced by another company (a really transport company).
Red stripes means "conto proprio" a non-transport company that own a fleet of truck hauling ONLY his products.
The blue stripes means local transport less 50 km trip.
I hope you understand

[peteracs]

Hi Simon

So that means that you can only move your wine with it I guess....

Peter

[simonandjuliet]

Peter - that's the plan .....

I've had a busy day today (it's been raining !) and done a variety of things

First up was to finish fitting the sidelights and headlamps. Going with new lamps for the time being and I have found some new retaining rings and seals on an Alfa website. Still looking for new reflectors though. The obvious idea is to buy some cheap units, smash and remove the glass and glue in my lenses , but it has to be possible to buy the reflectors .....

Next was to repair the bumper rubber. I glued in a new piece with white Sikaflex and made new retaining bolts for the end clamps. I removed and painted the irons, then cleaned the back of the bumper, "painted" it with black waxoyl because it was too good to strip and repaint - it needs protecting anyway !

Refitted,polished and looks great

I had a small leak on one front wheel cylindre and despite cleaning up with a hone, still had a seep so I phoned Cavalitto yesterday and had a new one delivered today - which I fitted. They are repro units made from aluminium instead of the original iron, but it was complete with seals and pistons and very reasonably priced.

Typical - I have a spare , but it is for the other side - C'est la vie !

Finally, I decided to fit the engine rather than try starting it on the floor. It only took 44 minutes and 57 seconds from picking it up from the bench to having it resting on its engine mounts !

I have fitted a few Appia engines now and decided to try a different approach. I removed the engine mountings (because I find that it is these that foul) jacked up the front of the 'box and then dropped the engine in. Because there were no mountings there was a lot more wriggle-room and it was a doddle - I would definitely do it this way again ( ie 'box in situ , mountings off, fit engine, reconnect mountings then clutch etc).
NB don't forget the engine earth strap !

Tomorrow's job is to get a working carb from all the bits in the picture and then see if we can start the engine, but I have an appointment with the compost-man so it may have to wait until next week !

[SanRemo78]

First up was to finish fitting the sidelights and headlamps. Going with new lamps for the time being and I have found some new retaining rings and seals on an Alfa website. Still looking for new reflectors though. The obvious idea is to buy some cheap units, smash and remove the glass and glue in my lenses , but it has to be possible to buy the reflectors .....

Apart from the cost are these any good?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LANCIA-APPIA-VIGNALE-CONVERTIBILE-AURELIA-FARI-HEADLIGHTS-CARELLO-/162187888316?hash=item25c326c6bc:g:KosAAOSwvzRXx~5Z

Love this thread - and any similar long term restoration story - What happened to the South London Sport?

Guy

[simonandjuliet]

Thanks Guy, I had spotted these however they are early lamps used on the S1 furgoncinos ,I think. They are beautiful though !

I have had a couple of emails suggesting sources for the reflectors, one person saying that he bought a pair at Padova, so I can use that as an excuse to go next year ...... Mathilda is keen to go as well

ps the German lights referred to earlier were significantly more expensive than these

[DavidLaver]

South London Sport is progressing at the same rate as before - nil...

[the.cern]

....... but David, the important thing is that you still have it secure on your drive and it is not deteriorating!!!! Your day will come, I just hope you don't have to wait as long as I did!!!!

                                  Andy

[simonandjuliet]

And it is a lovely piece of artwork to have on the drive

Carburetors !

And what do all the sizes mean ? But I'll come back to that ....

Appias have 2 types of Solexes fitted (there are some Weber set ups on PF coupes etc), early cars and most furgoncinos/camioncinos have the 32/30 BI or BIC fitted. This does not have an accelerator pump

Later cars (not sure if 2nd and 3rd ser but definitely 3rd) have the C32 PBIC fitted - with an accelerator pump

By all accounts the later carb is a huge improvement in terms of usability - more power and economy, so I am going to fit a non-standard, later carb to mine (I have the early one as well, just in case ....) but the carbs I have are new but have come from other models and were not complete

First was to fit an emulsion jet tube to the PBIC, they are delicate and often break if someone is too firm with the jet . Carb body in the oven (75°) and tube in the freezer (-20°) . A tight push fit but straight forward !
Then clean everything and check jet sizes, change the linkage, fit new gaskets and drill out the mounting holes because they were threaded.

Now the question of jets and what difference do different sizes make ?

Standard Appia set up for the PBIC is:

Main = 120
Emulsion = 180
Starter = 130
Diffuser = 23.5
Slow running = 45
Float chamber valve = 1.5

I have most of the correct jets except the emulsion jets I have are 195 and 175 - what difference will they make to the engine running

Also I am not sure which is the diffuser jet (see photo 3 - is it the middle brass "bolt" ?) but the one I think it is, is a 50 - what difference will this make ?

Finally, the float valve - I have 1.7's as well as 1.5's - what does the number mean ? Flow rate ?

Sorry if this is just too boring ........

[lancialulu]

First float valve is mm when open. I suspect 1.5 will be fine for the small Appia engine. 1.3 is standard for the 1.3 Fulvia.

Slow running jet you may find you need to up this when running if you have a flat spot as it is also a transitional fueller before the main jet comes into play. Modern fuels are some what more volatile so need a larger jet sometimes.

Emulsion (Air correction) jet is 190 for all 1.3 Fulvias dropping to 175 for the 1.6 so I would plumb for the 195 (or buy a 180 when you see one on ebay). Not that critical while you are tinkering just keep an eye on spark plug colour.....

[Dikappa]

Your posts are never Boring Simon!  They only make me a bit jealous on al the progress you're making!!!

[simonandjuliet]

Before I forget, a picture showing different types of sidelight rubber - I am using the lower one with the brass tube. These lights were used on a whole variety of 50's cars hence the different set up

[John B]

Interesting pics of your carb Simon, mine should be the same but there seems to be a significant difference when viewed from above. Mine does not have the large brass tube and there is no provision for it, perhaps in the past someone has replaced the top section with one from an earlier type carb without the accelerator pump perhaps? Assuming yours is correct and mine is not what differences would it make?
Photos below.