TSU 306 - the restoration begins

[sd39]

I started in earnest today on what is going to be a long slow haul. You'll remember that I have recently brought our Appia S3 Sedan back from Tucson, AZ. The first tasks are to get the car going and see if it can get an MOT: and there are a number of fuel issues and the gear linkage needs adjusting.

I will definitely need advice along the way, and I hope that fellow Appia owners will not mind answering what will I am sure be a few daft questions. I will use this post to create a blog a bit like Simon and Juliet's Furgoncino tale, if that is ok.

So the fuel line came off and was cleaned. It had some nasty black stuff in it, but flushed through with carb cleaner and a cycle pump it seems clean now. I took the tank off and as you can see it has a lot of really nasty stuff in it. Which I assume is rust from internal condensation. There seems to be a lot and I suspect that the tank may not be serviceable. I'll see what its like after cleaning it with nuts, bolts and screws, but it might have gone too far. Once I have cleaned it I will see if there are any leaks. Then I'll likely use tank sealant (http://www.frost.co.uk/por15-car-bike-motorcyle-fuel-tank-repair-sealer.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwlf_MBRDUARIsAD8Gj8BcwyL7ihBJsDslLtzwZdJ9sQJJbczGBtntL5OHbdUjPdqE9_0b258aAlUFEALw_wcB). The internal pipe seems to have crud in it too but, this will probably clean up ok with a narrow pipe cleaner and carb cleaner fluid.

The float mechanism was seized but I managed to free this up. One of the linkage bar has tiny little washers which seem to act as locks to stop the bar from coming off. But I can't really see how they stay on. Anyone have any ideas?

One thing I will definitely need is a replacement drain plug filter, but I suppose I could braze some brass mesh on this. Again, if anyone has any suggestions they would be welcome.

[frankxhv773t]

Of course we don't mind a blog. I think you would be in trouble if you didn't!

[Parisien]

Great to see two grown men enjoying themselves!

Yes, this forum is a Lancia bloggers paradise, virtually all of it has been done before and you'll be in good company, keep getting those hands dirty!

P

[sd39]

By the way, that me, Simon on the left, and my Brother Ed on the right

[simonandjuliet]

Good luck and we look forward to following your progress - I had the same problem with my tank filter. I chopped up a stainless steel sieve to make a fine-mesh filter and held it on with copper wire, it has worked so far, but I do have a modern filter fitted in the flexible line as well ( after the copper pipe but before the pump, just under the engine)

New , inexpensive pumps are available, I would consider one of these as well ......

I will look at a float to see what you mean, but I think the end of the rod has been crimped

[sd39]

Ok, thanks for the tips. crimping makes sense. I can see that thats what was done. Will do same.

[sd39]

Crimping worked.

Guy who does welding for me has made what seems a really good suggestion for cleaning the tank. Hire a cement mixer and strap the tank to it with sand and water. He explained that the mixer allows for changes of angles that really get the job done.

I'll let you know!

[Jaydub]

Sand in a fuel tank!! Sounds like trouble.

[sd39]

that was my initial reaction, but he swears by it. I would go for screws, nuts and bolts by preference

[sd39]

Thanks Jim, Carb castings arrived today. Very smart they are too.

BTW, is there a way of searching the Appia forum? This will likely save a lot of routine questions

[simonandjuliet]

I did a bloggy-thing for my 3rd series rebuild ("Everyday Appia") as well, I have tried using the forum search for different aspects of the rebuild but it doesn't work well in my hands so maybe someone else can explain how to make it work better - eg I searched "Appia carb" and your last 2 posts came up but my posts didn't

[chriswgawne]

Ref Fuel Tank inner paint I remain to be convinced if it is thick. There is the potential for future problems I feel. Best to give it a good but not too aggressive clean and then inspect closely for leaks before using any inner coating.
I think the tank filters are important and can be fabricated if they need repairing as Simon says.
Chris

[LANCIA]

Ciao ti suggerisco trattamento con TANKERITE ,  vedi SITI WEB.  Io lho fatto su fiat    TOPOLINO:

[DavidLaver]

Simon - worth telling the story of how it came to be in Tuscon, and why you brought it back again?

[sd39]

Thanks for the suggestions vis the tank (Google translate was useful, cheers Andrea). I will take it slowly and carefully that's for sure, and given the amount of crud that came out of the tank, it could well be stuffed. I will clean off the under seal first to check if it has corroded through.

I will read the 'Everyday Appia' and other blogs. Great to know that there is this store of knowledge and expertise.

Hi Dave. Was going to drop you an email anyway. The car was on the road in 1998 and I used it as my wedding car when I lived in Plymouth. I got a new job in Wollongong Australia, and my brother Ed had already emigrated to Tucson in 1998. My parents looked after the car for a short while and Ed decided to get it over to the US. He had grand plans for doing the car up, but apart from changing the gearbox (usual 1st gear issue, and hence the need for gear linkage adjustment) and dismantling the faulty carb other things took priority. We did get the car going in 2006 and drove down to get the exhaust welded, whilst I was on holiday there. So, I returned to the UK in 2004 and brought back the 1966 S1 Fulvia that I have hill climbed over many years now (registered AB 003 in NSW and AVG209D in the UK).

Ed returned to the UK this year, and we were faced with a dilemma. Could we really leave the 'Egg' behind. Financially it doesn't make any sense, but the argument that we could get another one in Italy didn't stack up: I probably wouldn't have bought another Appia. Even Linda my wife said we should get it over! So I paid to get it shipped over.

I have wanted a project car for some time, and now I have one! I am a bit daunted at the moment, and busy! I only have a single garage which keeps the Fulvia warm, but I am planning a large double garage in due course. It may take a while, but it will be worth it.

A question: In the parts diagram of the body the wings of the S2 depicted seem to bolt on. Is this the case? Is the S3 the same?

I am very encouraged by your support