Aprilia Diary

[simonandjuliet]

Father Christmas has just been and left some lovely "new" bits and bobs !

Security should be better now with the new bootlock and key.

A couple of bits are going to need some work - it would take Bill Lewis or Chugga 5 mins to sort out the petrol cap cover but I suspect it will take me longer .....

The jack and folding stock are a luxury, but what the heck, Juliet has been spending at Boden !

Thanks David for the advice re coil and I think I will rebuild my spare water pump with new bearings and modern seals - great idea, ta

[simonandjuliet]

The filler cap was more delicate than I first thought so took a while to sort. A bit of filler to smooth over the welds, a coat of paint and it will look nice !

The T piece for the waterpump tap was split and the rest was seized, requiring some delicate disassembling. Very different to  Aurelia wheel bearings .....
New gaskets and a coat of paint for the new bits and the pump will be ready to refit

Topcoat planned for wings and running board this week

[simonandjuliet]

In between trips to Scotland and elsewhere, some progress done.

The wings, binnacles and running boards are BEAUTIFUL ! The colour is perfect, very happy bunny !

The only problem was that the smooth (therefore invisible) stonechip reacted badly with the underbody paint so I have had to take it all back to bare metal underneath one of the wings. But no damage to topcoat and nothing major

The petrol cap cover looks better painted up as do the diff cover and gearbox filler cover. In answer to a question about the folding stock, I have shown it unfolded with the jack

Finally, the area under the rad has been stripped and painted ready for it all to be reassembled. It isn't perfect but can wait until the engine comes out to do it properly .....

Bit more prep and painting of front suspension before I can put it all back together

[simonandjuliet]

Wings repainted on the underside - real pain having to strip them again, but very nice and ready for final painting

[Sliding Pillar]

Simon, the shiny bits are looking good, but you could do with the proper union where the brake pipe passes through the side of the engine bay, a lot safer too as the pipe can't rub on the sides of the hole. See items 38-46020 38-46026 38-46022 and 38-42024 in Tav 27a below.  Ade.

[simonandjuliet]

Thanks Ade, very interesting !

I have always thought the copper pipe across the engine bay was a bit "un-Lancia" !   I had put it down to post-war economy and scarcity of copper, taking the direct route and saving materials  ...

I have never seen the unions on any of my Aprilias - If any one has the correct bits I would be interested because the flying copper pipe does offend !

[Sliding Pillar]

The part actually bolts to the body, leaving a threaded union on either side, but you also need the domed nut for the inside pipe, then the flexible pipe attaches on the outside. Does that make sense?

[simonandjuliet]

Definitely ! - it would also explain the dodgy welding holding on the brackets for the flexibles ......

I wonder if the replacement parts were obsolete for a while so people carried out some mods to keep them going ..... interesting

[simonandjuliet]

Just had another look at the parts book and it seems that from chassis 438-12787 the layout was different and did away with the transfer union. (TAV. 33 bis if interested) However there should be a grommet to protect the pipe going through the wheelarch

That would cover my car, but still doesn't explain the dodgy welding and flying copper tube !

[Sliding Pillar]

I'm sure one of the Forum members who own an Aprilia can take a photo for us, the bit that sticks out in the wheel arch is particularily nice and well made, very Lancia.

I've not got the later parts book, so a scan would be interesting.

[simonandjuliet]

Photo of the later braking system - also shows the "pigs tail" at the back, presumably to reduce risk of fracture (hope quality is OK - photo of parts book available in pdf)

[Sliding Pillar]

Is part 6 refered to as a grommet?  Very much a retrograde step from the series 1.

[simonandjuliet]

Part 6 is "Guarnizione per passaggio tubi comando freni idraulici sul fianco anteriore" !        A grommet ?

The later pipework is not as aesthetic as the earlier setup.  Damned accountants ..... but there is one less joint to leak - maybe they had a point

Bit of prep today before repairing a small ding at the side of the grill. Meant I had to remove the bonnet catch on this side so that has been cleaned and painted.

Inner wheel arches and scuttle repair to be painted tomorrow

Suspension on RHS has been degreased, rubbed down and painted as best I can without taking it all to bits (tempted as I was ....)
New oil resistant hose and clip to the shock absorber.
Once the paint is dry I can top up the bottom suspension units because it easier with it all in bits !

Coat of High temp black paint on the drums and ready to put back together this side

[Sliding Pillar]

That would be 'Gasket for pipe passing control hydraulic brakes on the front side'

[simonandjuliet]

Beautiful day today - with NO wind, so we painted the wings outside.

Finished off a couple of other repairs as well, the scuttle and a flaw on the body at the back of the wheel arch. They just need a final polish.  Hope to start putting her back together next week.

Leather samples arrived from Connolly's today, so have made the decision re interior. More next week, just need to get the seats to Brian Cates in Bournemouth - anyone driving back that way in the next couple of weeks ??