A couple of questions from a new member

[RobD]

Hello all,
Just a quick note to introduce myself. My name is Rob from Shropshire and I own a Fulvia 3. I've always preferred the look of the Fulvia without bumpers and I'm in the process of removing the ones on my car. Of course this isn't quite as straightforward as it looks and I was wondering if anybody had a pic showing the detail of the small bumper mount blanking plates Lancia fitted when they supplied cars sans bumpers. I'm aware Omicron supply blanking plates but they are quite costly and therefore I might have a go at making some and a pic would be useful as a reference.
My second question is regarding the number plate lights Lancia fitted to bumperless Fulvias. I'm aware these are shared with a couple of Ferrari models and aren't easy to get hold of. Does anybody know of a source where these can be bought for sensible money?
Thanks in anticipation of any help.

Regards, Rob

[SanRemo78]

Fiat 124 Spider perhaps? Keep an eye open eBay USA?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FIAT-124-SPIDER-2000-1975-85-LICENSE-LIGHT-ASSEMBLY-USED-/141454873045?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item20ef5e11d5&vxp=mtr

Guy

[frankxhv773t]

Is this any help? I have seen them painted body colour too.

[RobD]

Many thanks for the prompt replies.
Guy,
Great tip on the Fiat 124 lights. The Fiat items share the same part number as the Ferrari ones so they'll do for me! I've just sourced a mint used set in the US, $48 apiece. Ahh, the power of t'internet 

Frank,
Many thanks for the pic, I think I'm getting an idea of what needs doing.

[DavidLaver]

That's got to be a record from question to answer to solution.

Made my day.

David

[RobD]

Hi David,
Due to procrastination I've missed one or two opportunities in the past to pick up rare parts and nowadays if something is available I tend to snap it up.
I'm just feeling my way with the Fulvia having recently re -aquainted myself with classic cars after an absence of almost 20 years. A process of elimination made me decide a Fulvia was the perfect classic for me and after driving mine around for the past week I'm really pleased with the choice.

My car is a bog standard 1.3 and the best way I can describe my car is it looks as if someone has spent a lot of money on the body and then hastily re-assembled it. Imagine paying over £4k for a lead-loaded body restoration and then amateurishly riveting the rear number plate in place? Well that's what somebody did to this car, not to mention lots of other things. All ha'porth of tar stuff...

Anyway, the fundamentals are all OK, it just needs a lot of attention to detailing to make it function correctly. I love the way it drives, it feels very taught and the roadholding is astonishing for an old car, especially on the bumpy backroads hereabouts.

 My main observations thus far are the steering is heavy at parking speeds. This could be down to me having lost the correct technique to apply lock only when moving having been spoiled by power steering over the years or it could be something is adrift.
The other thing I've noticed is a reluctance to rev and a slightly strangled feel beyond 5000rpm in the higher gears. I can't decide whether this is me expecting too much from a 40 year old small capacity car or whether the ignition or valve timing is out. It feels like valve timing to me.
I'm sure it will take a good twelve months to bring the car up to scratch but I'm so encouraged by my initial impressions I'm looking forward to getting to grips with it.
Rob

[Richard Fridd]

Hopefully the timing chain is in good condition, and the flywheel TDC/ignition timing marks not confused with one an'other.

[lancialulu]

Re steering - Fulvias are quite heavy to steer at parking speed. You should try an HF! This is made worse if the tyres are old/sticky/wider profile. A set of 165/14 Michelins will help at a price.

Sounds could be ignition too retarded so best check that before valve timing. Do you know if the engine was "hastily" rebuilt??

[stanley sweet]

Yep, steering heavy at low speeds. Check the condition of the air filter also if it's a bit strangled, but probably timing of some sort. Carbs need to be spot on too. Re the bumper blanking plates, Graham Bates made mine. He had a stamp for them. I have his old workshop number but I think he has moved from there to a home workshop. Maybe someone can help with his latest contact details. Also I don't know the price as it was all part of an overall refurbishment but can't imagine being as much as some specialists. Have you had a look on Italian ebay under Fulvia? Lots of goodies on there. Congratulations on your choice. Twenty one years on and I still enjoy driving mine as much as the first day I had it. For the money they take some beating on engineering and looks. That's partly why I still have mine, can't think of anything to replace it without spending far more.

[DavidLaver]

Testing the steering.  I've no direct experience but to me the questions are:

= Is it enough to jack it up to see how free it moves (with the suspension on full droop) or does it need stands under the wishbones?  
= Just how light should it be with the tyres off the road?
= Obviously it should be tight around straight ahead, but how much free play is acceptable on full lock?

To get it running well I've yet to find anyone who regretted a rolling road session.  What part of the country are you in to focus recommendations?   SOME places can do rolling road type work ON the road.  They weld a boss on the exhaust to screw in a sensor, but that tends to be hunting flat spots etc that don't show up in the rollers but annoy in day to day driving.

David

[DavidLaver]

Read your first post: SHROPSHIRE.  Anyone recommend a rolling road in that area?

David

[fay66]

I agree with Tim & Stan regarding steering on Fulvias' at parking speeds, it gets much easier as soon as the wheels are on the move, is the original steering wheel fitted? while changing to a smaller steering wheel might seem to have advantages, it was large in the first place for a very good reason, in that it's easier to turn a large steering wheel at slow speeds, than an small one!
I had a 1969 1.3 Rallye Coupe for 3-4 years, and I've had my 2c Berlina on the road for 15 years, and like Stan  I'd be very reluctant to change it, as apart from another Fulvia I just don't know what I'd replace it with for the same money; I love driving mine whenever I can.
Brian
8227

[smithymc]

Shropshire is a large county, but I am at the Telford /Wolverhampton end so quite handy for the black country. If Rob is too,  Aldon Automotive have been rolling road, carb and distributer gurus for 30 years plus to my knowledge.

Aldon Automotive Ltd
Breener Industrial Estate
Station Drive, Brierley Hill
West Midlands
DY5 3JZ

Tel: 01384 572553

Fax: 01384 480418

[RobD]

Thanks for the tip Smithy, I've heard of Aldon but I didn't realise they were relatively local to me [I'm a recent incomer to this part of the world and live in the South Shropshire hills...]
 The car starts and runs well [apart from the perceived reluctance to rev] and before resorting to a rolling road I'll need to make sure everything else is properly set up. Rolling roads are good but of course they don't actually fix anything, they only provide an indication as to where you should perhaps concentrate your efforts !

Regarding the heavy steering; I had a spare hour yesterday and did a bit of experimenting with tyre pressures. Having started out with the factory recommended 22.7 [ OK, 23 psi if I'm honest! ] I did some incremental increases and settled on 30psi front and 28psi rear. The tyres are P6000 Pirellis which seem to get questionable reviews on the web but feel pretty good to me.
The low speed steering is now perfectly acceptable, wet weather road holding seems fine and comfort is good so I think I'll stick with 30/28 for the time being

[stanley sweet]

I agree with Tim & Stan regarding steering on Fulvias' at parking speeds, it gets much easier as soon as the wheels are on the move, is the original steering wheel fitted? while changing to a smaller steering wheel might seem to have advantages, it was large in the first place for a very good reason, in that it's easier to turn a large steering wheel at slow speeds, than an small one!
I had a 1969 1.3 Rallye Coupe for 3-4 years, and I've had my 2c Berlina on the road for 15 years, and like Stan  I'd be very reluctant to change it, as apart from another Fulvia I just don't know what I'd replace it with for the same money; I love driving mine whenever I can.
Brian
8227

Actually have owned mine 21 years today! Went to say hello to it in the garage.

The tyre pressures you mention are the pressures I used to use for sprinting or track days, but if it's comfortable I suppose it's OK. As long as it doesn't wear out the centre tread. As Brian said, usually you only need a minimum few mph for the steering to lighten up.