Appia furgoncino - A fettler's voyage

[DavidLaver]

Sounds sweet and willing.

[Dikappa]

Again a giant leap forward Simon!

Thrilled to see it in the flesh on the next SP...

A question on interior finish if I may:  Yesterday I had a 'discussion' with Gerhard on the colour of the interior.  My furgoncino (Light/ dark grey exterior colour) has a blue skai interior, and I thought all grey furgone's had blue, and the green ones had grey interiors.  Gerhard's furgone has grey interior material in a grey car, and furthermore the door card material is thinner and of different texture then the seat material.
Anyone knows more about this? (hope this is not too polluting your topic?)

[stanley sweet]

Sounds and looks really responsive. What a great little engine.

[frankxhv773t]

Your YouTube video is excellent. What a wonderful addition to a wonderful thread.

[simonandjuliet]

A list of suppliers for the hose clips - thanks to Tim Heath for finding the first two in Italy !

I found that the first supplier was VERY slow, but the second supplier (smaller Vespa ones) was super quick !

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FASCETTA-PER-MANICOTTO-RAFFREDDAMENTO-FIAT-500-126-VR-84-/371064472511?hash=item56652a83bf

http://www.motoricambisoviero.it/catalogo/-Coppia-Fascetta-Vintage-Metallica-a-Coppiglia-mm-5x200-per-Manicotti-per-Vespa--2566

I identified a supplier in the USA who has kits, but I thought they worked out very expensive once postage was added

http://www.authenticclassics.com/Cotter-Type-Hose-clamp-kit-5mm-9mm-Sizes-p/auth-003406.htm

If you google "fascetta metallica a coppiglia" you can find a few more options, but I haven't any direct experience of them

[simonandjuliet]

Koen,

I will take some photos of trim later today

[peteracs]

The other problem with items from outside the EU is that it depends on the courier or post if they charge VAT on the item and usually they will also add an admin fee, so a £80 item can quickly become £100 etc. The admin charge varies courier to courier, best to check.

Not a great problem for those of us who can claim the VAT back, but not so for individuals.

Peter

[simonandjuliet]

A nice , satisfying job today, squeezed in between coats of paint in Mathilda's bedroom ...... out go fairies and Barbie, in comes sophistication !

One of the problems with buying a car in boxes is that you didn't take it apart and don't always know how it was connected up originally. So when the dynamo was refitted I connected up the wires as I thought they should be according to the labels on them and the wiring diagram at my side.

But the dynamo light stayed on when running, so a check across the battery terminals with a voltmeter showed that there was no increase with revving, but the regulator appeared to be working so on rechecking the wires and diagram I spotted that I had mis-read one of the labels - the D+ label had become worn and I had read as D- thus connecting to the D- marked on the dynamo case !

Connected up properly and the light goes out !

The only problem is that my car is slightly different to the wiring diagram having 2 D+ wires to the dynamo instead of just one as per wiring diagram. However the light goes out and the volts rise on revving so let's see what happens

[lancialulu]

You sure D- on the regulator should not go to D- on the body of the dynamo (how my S1 Fulvia is wired)?

[simonandjuliet]

There isn't a D- on the Appia regulator , it is just the body of the regulator  - both the dynamo and regulator are earthed.  There is a thick webbed strap between the engine and chassis across the LH engine mount.

I can't remember how the bodywork on the Fulvia is earthed because the battery -ve goes to the back of the engine if I recall

[lancialulu]

I can't remember how the bodywork on the Fulvia is earthed because the battery -ve goes to the back of the engine if I recall

Yes the fulvia is randomly earthed with 6mm cable and crimp eyes and it is easy for these to break/ and get left off a rebuild....Maybe though the dynamo is happier with its own earth to the regulator (but if the is no provision.....)

[simonandjuliet]

I will see if there is any problem with charging, if so I can always add a cable

A couple of nice jobs today in between fitting out my new "sewing room" ...... actually it is the space above the garage. I have just boarded it out and put a window in for security.  Nice bit of carpet on the floor and a heater and I'm sorted !

Jules has suggested adding a bed - trying to tell me something, perhaps ?

The air filter was too tatty to use as was, so it has been rubbed down and painted. It meant that I lost the "Fispa" transfer but the consortium have new ones.

The washer bottle and frame were cleaned up and a new transfer applied. Next jobs are fitting the horn and choke cable plus painting and fitting new rocker covers now that the engine is in - I had just sprayed a couple of old ones black for the photos.

Once done, I can fit the bonnet and move on ......

[simonandjuliet]

More bits done this afternoon:

Choke cable fitted
Radiator stays
Horn cleaned and fitted - plus it makes a very loud noise !
Rocker covers painted

I only replaced the cable outer, but still have to find/make the bracket that fixes it to the back of the oil filler pipe - anyone got one to hand ?

With the radiator stays/rubbers, I have been trying out a new product. It is a spray acrylic finish protector. In some situations I have cleaned up brackets or bolts that have had surface rust. This can damage the nickel/zinc coat so that after a while it becomes tarnished again. I could re-plate the bits , but I often want to retain the character that some wear gives.
Previously I have been using a French product called "Rustol" but the problem is that it takes forever to dry, so now I have found a new "Eastwood" product
Anyone else had experience with it ?

The horn has cleaned up very nicely so really doesn't need paint. It is mounted on a delightful laminated, spring steel stay. I still need to find a solution to the horn-ring brush that fits behind the steering wheel. I have tried some distributor cap brushes but they are not quite right.
Again, anyone any other ideas ? There is a company in the UK that makes brushes (I have just had new starter motor brushes re-manufactured for the Appia Consortium) so maybe they could help ....

The rocker covers have been painted with crackle (wrinkle) paint. A couple of photos to show the process. I rescued an old oven that was bound for the tip so I used that to keep the rocker covers warm (50°C ish) whilst I painted them. You do 3 heavy-ish coats, 5 mins apart and then wait. The paint is initially smooth but starts to crackle after about 20 mins when the parts are warm
I will leave them to dry for a day or 2 then give them a blast in the oven (200°C) to cure them

It was very satisfying to start the van, drive her out of the garage, turn her around and drive back in again - the brakes even work !

[stanley sweet]

That horn was obviously built to last - only the best as usual. Crackle covers look great.

[frankxhv773t]

As ever it all looks so good. What make of crackle finish paint are you using? For the horn brush, presumably it is carbon, couldn't you just file something the right size from a larger carbon brush or isn't that simple?