Appia furgoncino - A fettler's voyage

[DavidLaver]

...and I think incorrect.  They are on some of the B20 series and produce a delightful star pattern when on.  I had them on "my" (from Simon, went to Jason and Louise Kennedy) 3rd series but can't remember if correct or again I just loved them so much.

[Dikappa]

I think the indicators are correct David, my furgoncino has them too, just like the 1st series berlina  (so I've still got to find a few...)
The B21has other lenses, which I think are not correct.  I think it too should have the 'pointy' ones.

[simonandjuliet]

David, I think they are correct, although period publicity (sketched) are not clear, but certainly the majority of period photos look similar. Who knows , but they are very nice !

Fuel gauge part works - the warning light come on as it should, but no level on the gauge. The tank sender was one of the very few parts missing when I bought the car and so a 3rd series unit has gone in. I do not know yet if this is the problem or I still have an issue with the wiring. The wires were all disconnected and the diagram isn't much help. Added to that , the 1st and 2nd series wiring is different. So more fettling required

Yesterday was spent on the brakes.

The car has not been used for nearly 40 years and although the wheel cylindres were replaced at the early part of its restoration in 2007 (before me) I think that standing all this time did them no favours. I ran a hone through them and replaced the seals but there was still a seep, so I bit the bullet and bought new cylindres.

Furgoncinos share brakes with Aurelias  and the cylindres have been remanufactured by a renowned specialist but I have not been totally happy with them. One "exploded" shortly after fitting, filling the drum with brake fluid and another proved very difficult to seal. My feeling is that the banjo bolt hole is not exactly 90° thus not allowing the banjo to seat properly. I have removed, reset and re-annealed the washers several times. It is OK now but what a pain .....

The supplier has refunded payment very promptly and has said that they have never seen this before, so hopefully it is a one-off

Anyway, I can replace a wheel cyl very quickly now , so here are a couple of pointers for a front (very little room at the back because of the sliding pillar) and apologies if I am teaching grandmother to suck eggs !

In order to reduce the bleeding, I clamp the flexi-hose
Back off the adjusters
Remove the drum
Clamp the shoes with a sash cramp
Long screwdriver on the hub and onto the spring lip, remove the pin
Release sash cramp
Undo the bleed nipple, and then the 2 14mm bolts
Withdraw the cylinder
Grip the cyl and undo the flexi
Remove the old cyl , replace with the new
Tighten flexi - don't worry if the flexi is twisted, this is sorted in a moment
Bolt the cyl in place and replace bleed nipple
Position and re-clamp the shoes with the sash cramp
Stretch the spring with the long screwdriver - but I don't try and fit the pin straight away, I use a fine screwdriver to locate the spring first
Re-position the long screwdriver to ensure it doesn't slip, then stretch the spring and refit the pin
Refit the drum
With the reservoir plunger lifted, remove the pipe clamp and slacken off the mounting nut on the flexi/copper pipe joint then quickly and under pressure, slacken off the copper pipe nut and rotate the flexi to remove any twist, then re-tighten.
The joint will leak whilst you do this but if you are quick it is very little and no air gets in.
Bleed as usual

Apart from one door card/furniture and the rear "bumper" I am ready for the CT tomorrow. I have found a solution for the bolts that hold the bumper on ,but will leave that for a couple of days because I don't want to rush it

[simonandjuliet]

Well, the "fettler's voyage" is nearly at an end ......

This morning I took her for a test run and then down to the testing station. It is almost exactly 4 years since she arrived here on the back of a trailer and in boxes , and almost 40 years since she last moved under her own steam.

Everything works beautifully, a couple of body rattles but that's about all. She makes a lovely raspy/flatulent noise with the fish-tail which changes as she warms up. The gears all work smoothly , no whine from the diff and front suspension that doesn't rattle - at all.
Brakes are strong and true. The engine is very tight - new everything - so the shutters open. I am running without a thermostat for a while and will probably refit it once the engine is run in and the head has been tightened down.

Maybe the 58,000 kms are correct ??

I have completed the service card (found a stock of original 50's and 60's cards) under the bonnet and plan to change the oil and filter in about 500 miles

I am still waiting on paperwork to arrive from Italy so that hopefully I can get her registered here, but this morning I couldn't even get her tested because there was no "type approval number" on the V5 - Wonderful bureaucracy ...... 

It has taken a while to get this point, but I did buy and rebuild another Appia in the meantime.

[DavidLaver]

No shame in the four years - and we all know the reason for the other was to practice for this...

Hopefully this one will see some serious use.  Double the mileage in the next four years?

The question now...with it on the road...is what title for the "voyages" thread?

David

[the.cern]

Well done Simon, truly magnificent ..... both the effort and the end result!!!

OK, so nothing to get in the way of 'Here we go again' now!!!

                                    Andy

[lancialulu]

Was it really 4 years? Time flies when you are enjoying yourself

Excellent outcome.

I will want a drive in a couple of weeks!

[Parisien]

Fantastique!

A great credit to you and "team" Dog.

Wishing you many happy and safe kilometres!

P

[stanley sweet]

I can't believe it's 4 years either since I saw the photos of its arrival! I had to check page 1 to see if the thread started later but it didn't. So French bureaucracy strikes again but so close now. I bet you enjoyed that drive after all this time. Is the shortest route to the CT station really via Carcassonne, Perpignan, Beziers??

[simonandjuliet]

Yes really is 4 years

Ironically, I can use the van as much as I want to because it is road legal in the UK and is therefore OK here for a while. I do have another appointment at the test centre next week, so hopefully the appropriate papers will have arrived by then

Sticky backed plastic arrived today so red stripes when I have a moment

[simonandjuliet]

Certificat d'originalité arrived from Italy this morning so the furgoncino was re-presented for it controle technique and ......

Passed with no remarks or returns. In fact he said that he couldn't find anything wrong at all ! Was surprised at how good the brakes are - they aren't even run in yet

So just got to sort out the French registration now

First photo is in her new , natural surroundings, second shows the brake performance. After a few kms I will re-adjust the shoes to get the balance even better

[lancialulu]

Impeccable!

[stanley sweet]

Superb. A real credit to all your hard work - and Dog. The worst I could think of might happen is a headlight beam slightly out. My Fulvia CT is coming up soon. I fear it will disgrace itself next to its ancient relative. Go and have a well-earned relax and a drink. I'm sure you can find some wine somewhere.

[SanRemo78]

Congratulations!

Good job there's a thread about the ongoing restoration of an Aprilia Cabriolet to follow....

Hope you have many many years of fun with this Appia now!

Guy

[Sliding Pillar]

It looks Fantastic Simon, however I am just a little bit worried that you will be over-weight if you try to get all that wine into the van when you come on the Sliding Pillar