Appia furgoncino - A fettler's voyage

[DavidLaver]

Got "compare" pics of the two rear lights?

NEARLY there now...

[simonandjuliet]

Will do David !

Update on new MOT rules. A first CT (MOT) is required for all vehicles being imported into France, irrespective of age

Certificat de conformité or attestations ( certificates) are available from the FCA site. I have completed the online form, uploaded the docs and photos and paid 65 euros. Apparently this will take 10 days .....

A certificat d'acquisition is also required - bit like a NOVA

So need to get wheels painted and fitted (plus a few other details like the passenger door !) and then MOT time

[simonandjuliet]

Wheels collected from paint-stripper - there's another story - and Dog has prepped and primed them. Hopefully top coat later this week

Applied for certificate of authentication from FIAT France , so paperwork started .....

[simonandjuliet]

Re paperwork, Lancia France do not know of the existence of furgoncinos (I think mine is the only one in the country), so I have to back to Italy for a certificate of authenticity - from Lancia - before they can issue the certificate of authenticity in France. Why I have to do it I am not sure, surely an internal email would be better  !

Back to a perennial Appia issue - Starter Motors.

I had an initial issue with the original motor not fully disengaging (lazy solenoid) and put on a working spare, however this has since caused grief

It became more and more sluggish and eventually wouldn't turn the engine over. Solenoid worked but no more. It felt like a flat battery, so before anything else I checked for "battery-drain" - done by fitting ammeter in line as I re-connected the battery. No movement so no short or anything taking current , so unlikely to be flat battery

Yesterday I replaced the "spare" motor with my repaired original and took the top off the spare

There is a "bridge" that connects 2 of the 4 brushes and it sits on another of the brushes. It should be insulated but the insulation had broken down. These bridges often burn out or break and are difficult to repair.

Fortunately I have a new spare bridge - we managed to source some new ones for the Consortium recently as well as making new brush sets, so I can repair this and have my spare back.

[simonandjuliet]

Quick and simple job; replace the brush plate, clean commutator and test - working spare back on the shelf .....

Plus a photo of a nice secondhand "queue de carp" or fishtail that I picked up last week. Cast aluminium , "ROBRI" make.

[Parisien]

More great work Simon, the exhaust tail, I seem to remember having one on a Traction 25 plus years ago!

P

[lancianut666]

These starter motors are in need of an upgrade I wonder if it is possible to soup them up a bit, mine struggled with a new battery to spin the collection of moving parts that was the engine in my car with no compression on 3 of the cylinders... wonder how it will cope with a rebored block and new bearings...
Clarkey

[simonandjuliet]

Promised this for David a while ago - The different rear lights;  LHS is correct Carello lens, RHS the alternative

What worries me is that the originals really stick out and are very easy to catch and break, they are more proud than the "bumper".

Initial plan is to use the flat ones day to day and have the others in the car for special occasions !

Also fitted the fishtail, but how far should that stick out ? The bumper is only 1/2 thick, you can't hide it under the bumper like you can with a normal Appia/Aurelia etc

[frankxhv773t]

I actually think the "alternative" lens looks more like it belongs there. I was reviewing your work on the radiator and I wondered what you did about the little rubber buffers on the shutters. My Flaminia ones have biodegraded.

[simonandjuliet]

Hi Frank
I used an 8mm sponge rubber rod, fitted and then trimmed on both mine. It is notoriginal , but works and is quick, cheap and simple. I am currently looking into a supply of the correct grommets. I will post a reply once I have them

If you look at page 13 of the "Everyday Appia" you can see how I made them - you can make them as long or short as you want

Re: Everyday Appia
« Reply #186 on: 08 October, 2014, 04:30:59 PM »

[frankxhv773t]

Thanks Simon, that seems a very practical solution.

[lancialulu]

Hi Simon,

I was very interested to read about your indicator switch. I have exactly the same set up on my early Flaminia GT. whilst the switch works - it only functions when held in the left or right position. It seems the electromagnetic part is no longer functioning. Given your experience - can you advise me on the best place to start to revive it?

Many thanks & a fantastic thread!

Cheers
Dave

Excellent write up in April VL - captured for posterity!!!

[simonandjuliet]

Thanks Tim
Even though I wrote it, it still seems complicated !

I have been very patient for the last month or so since I took the wheels off. Once the tyres were off, they went to the paint stripper who managed to "lose" one - it took over a week to find it ....... bit stressful

Anyway, once back they were prepped , etched, 2-pack primed and then finally painted last week, since then they have been sitting in the sunshine to bake before today's tyre fitting. I stayed with the fitter to make sure it was done carefully. They were mounted upside down on the machine so as to minimise any risk of damage. It makes the valves (tubes) more difficult to locate, but it  is only a bit extra hassle.

I have chosen not to balance them just yet, I want to give them a run first and then go back

Once back they have been cleaned and fitted and look great ! The car has been turned round in the garage and now I can fit the passenger door and finish some other details before MOT time

[lancialulu]

Looking good! Bars at the back indicate precious cargo or dangerous animal!

[stanley sweet]

Looks superb. Must be amongst the best out there. What better cargo for an Italian van than boxes of wine?