Buy my shite: 1981 Lancia Beta HPE NOW £220

[504GL]

Thanks Red Sparrow.

 

Dan - I've tried to PM you and can't get it to leave my outbox (I'm new to this site). Please would you PM me so that I can respond with my offer.

 

Cheers!

 

Sorry for the off topic post, where are you in fine sunny North Wales?

[pompei]

Looks like it's going to a good home - if it falls through give me a shout and I'll have it (not sure what The Fuhrer would say as I've got 4 cars already)

 

In the meantime, have an HPE from AutoItalia yesterday ...

 

[HillmanImp]

Glad this looks like it is hopefully going to get saved. Great looking cars.

 

Hey and remember, if you do save it and don't like it, you can always relist it 2 days later for a 250% mark up.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Heres an oldish pic of my S1 Berlina 1400

 

[Captain Flimble]

Yes, it will get saved if I get it, but I think it will take more than 2 days

 

Nice to see pics of other worthy Lancias.

 

Meanwhile, back off topic, somewhere in Wales:

 

 

Sorry for the off topic post, where are you in fine sunny North Wales?

 

Dyffryn Conwy. Yourself?

[504GL]

Near Prestatyn

[Captain Flimble]

We have been discussing arranging a local Autoshite meet later in the summer - if we do I'll let you know.

 

When I say "local", I mean "the local", of course.

[Guest]

Yes, it will get saved if I get it, but I think it will take more than 2 days

 

Nice to see pics of other worthy Lancias.

 

Meanwhile, back off topic, somewhere in Wales:

 

 

Sorry for the off topic post, where are you in fine sunny North Wales?

 

Dyffryn Conwy. Yourself?

 

I keep my Amazon near there

[504GL]

We have been discussing arranging a local Autoshite meet later in the summer - if we do I'll let you know.

 

When I say "local", I mean "the local", of course.

 

Cool

 

I'll have to see if I can get the wifes Subaru sorted before then as I don't like to drive it without the speedo working, don't want to suffer the embarassment of turning up in something that's still in warranty now do I?

[Pete-M]

How about a meet in the Sportsman's Arms on Denbigh Moors?

 

That's a properly Autoshitey place for a meet. Great roads, too.

 

LL16 5SW

[504GL]

How about a meet in the Sportsman's Arms on Denbigh Moors?

 

That's a properly Autoshitey place for a meet. Great roads, too.

 

That's a fooking awesome place to meet.

[fiatdaft]

and that s1 is lovely,any moar pics?

[Pete-M]

How about a meet in the Sportsman's Arms on Denbigh Moors?

 

That's a properly Autoshitey place for a meet. Great roads, too.

 

That's a fooking awesome place to meet.

 

Start a thread then! I'll tag along as it's not stupidly far from here, or quite a few of us, thinking about it.

[504GL]

How about a meet in the Sportsman's Arms on Denbigh Moors?

 

That's a properly Autoshitey place for a meet. Great roads, too.

 

That's a fooking awesome place to meet.

 

Start a thread then! I'll tag along as it's not stupidly far from here, or quite a few of us, thinking about it.

 

Posted, now we can stop polluting this thread with non-HPE talk

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Heres an oldish pic of my S1 Berlina 1400

 

 

Blimey! Where did you find that??!

[flat4alfa]

Aha! This is turning into a proper Lancia thread !

 

This was my little fettler until I sold it last October

 

 

Do miss it. But money was needed when the missus found she was carrying a new mini-Me.

 

Tagoras are in abundance compared with these blighters.

[Captain Flimble]

I saw this beauty on the way out of work today...

 

 

 

I guess this couple have come over from Italy, but they didn't want to chat - they were busy looking lost with a map. Does anyone recognise the plates?

 

The car is a Lancia Flavia 1.8 Coupe, I think built between 1963-1971, unless anyone knows better.

[dollywobbler]

Gorgeous. Rather more likely that they've come over from France though.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

I guess this couple have come over from Italy, but they didn't want to chat - they were busy looking lost with a map. Does anyone recognise the plates?

 

Them plates are definitely French! I think 95 must be somewhere near Paris.

[Captain Flimble]

Shame they didn't ask me for directions, then - I speak a bit of French, at least enough to send them the wrong way

 

I've agreed a price with Dan for his Lancia. I'll be picking her up in a couple of weekends. My welding trigger finger is itching already

 

Look forward to meeting you Dan!

[Torsten2001]

Great news! The suspense was killing me!

[KruJoe]

Yay! I was watching this thread with a heavy heart. Good effort.

[VC10dan]

Sold and collected by Captain Flimble today..... bye bye car

 

Please keep us updated as you go along sorting the car out

 

 

DAN

[Captain Flimble]

Yeah, will do. There will be a bit of a pause as I still need to get the Calibra finished and my Astravan running (so I can sell her and create some space, doubtless to be filled with some other shite ). For the timebeing I will be satisfied to sit in her from time to time and hum "On Days Like These" by Matt Munroe. (I should be careful - we've got a lot of road tunnels in North Wales).

 

Any road up - I'm very pleased with her. After dropping her off the trailer I managed to drive her up the track by chucking in about half a gallon of petrol, jump starting her off my neighbour's van and getting her in the yard quick before the petrol all pissed out again or she stalled. My garden now smells of petrol . Does she take unleaded or do I need to put additives in? [Memo to self: find a manual!]

 

I was pleased that the passenger side/front/floors/rear end are generally quite sound and most of the rust is on the driver's side. I suppose she may have spent some time parked at the side of a road on a gritter route. The headlining is a bit "crunchy" above the drivers door where the gutter has rotted through, but that is fine, because the interior and windows will all come out, meaning I can be sure to get all the rot.

 

The engine will probably be coming out, too - it looks like the easiest way to get at the timing belt, which will be changed due to its probable age (unless you have changed it, Dan). This will also give me access to any hidden rust in there and check on hoses, seals, joints, etc. John is encouraging me to swap the gearbox/pedalbox/trim for a manual spec, but I think I'll sort her out as she is and see how it goes first - I've never owned an auto. Anyway, these are just first thoughts. I haven't had time to lift her skirts and see just how mature she is yet - she gets to keep her dignity for a little while before I start to do a full medical on her undercarriage. Sorry - dodgy metaphor

 

This project is going to take some time because I want to do a proper job. First thing is to find out what jobs are needed and what order to do them in. This is going to be a cool motor when she's finished - the spec is high: leccy windows, sunroof, good instrumentation, comfy and well-shaped seats, alloys, side impact beams (if they haven't rusted away!), etc...

 

I'm looking forward to making a start, but it's planning and patience for now.......

[dollywobbler]

Great stuff!

 

Given the aluminium heads, I would have thought that unleaded would be fine. Might need to back off the ignition timing a bit if it pinks. Unless these things have a knock sensor. Not got much idea about these engines!

[flat4alfa]

Good going

 

Well if you're going to drop the subframe out with 'box together, it's right to put it back with a manual box while you're there? These AP boxes are ok (had one on the Trevi) but had a bad reputation when current, and well, an HPE isn't exactly a comfy GT so you'd want a bit of fun with it. Plus you want to get a bit more of a return when it come to sell. Plenty of manual boxes about I just sold three of them in a shed clearance. Tallest box is the one from Volumex, shortest for spinting one is from an earlier base 1600. Boxes are strong but synchromesh is chocolate.

 

Don't worry about unleaded seats, just use 98 RON and keep the timing in check.

 

Either way, get yourself amongst the Beta Boyz crowd on http://www.lanciabeta.co.uk. Don't worry about parts, there are more parts out there than whole cars...

 

I have a few spare Haynes manuals, shop manuals, autobox manual, etc

[Captain Flimble]

Opinion seems to be divided on the matter of unleaded. Am I right in thinking it depends on the hardness of the seats and how quickly they dissipate heat from the exhaust gas - if the valves get too hot, they can burn through, and this has little to do with retardation of the ignition?

 

I've read a lot of threads from people who have run these cars on unleaded and say there is no detriment after a few thousand miles, but is it worth the risk? I might stick in an occasional drop of lead substitute.

 

Flat4Alfa: If you are willing to let a Beta manual go - could you PM me with a price, please?

[Rod/b]

If you're going to have the engine out, why not get some hardened valve seats boshed in while you're at it, then stick the head back on with new belt, HG, water pump, thermostat and the like. At least that way you should be confident enough that all the bits that could screw up have been done.

[John F]

If you're going to have the engine out, why not get some hardened valve seats boshed in while you're at it, then stick the head back on with new belt, HG, water pump, thermostat and the like. At least that way you should be confident enough that all the bits that could screw up have been done.

 

That's an enormous amount of extra work if not needed... valves will have to be lapped in & all clearances re-set (shims? Screw & locknut?). I'd try to avoid it if at all possible.

 

There's a thread about this on betaboyz: http://www.betaboyz.myzen.co.uk/forum/i ... opic=139.0 - most of the contributors seem to think hardened valve seats aren't necessary.

[VC10dan]

Hey, glad to hear that you and the cargo got back down to wales ok, Regards the car. I didnt chnge the timing belt so i would recommend that is done. As for the bodywork etc... yeh she is pretty solid consdiering its a beta, 30 year old italian metal and been stood for 16 years.

Ive got some literature here and will post it to you, haynes manual, book on the beta etc........

 

Also i was planning on leaving it an automatic. They are really quite sparce in automatic trim, manuals are a lot more common chiefly for the reasons already said by others in this post. I would persoanlly leave it automatic and see how it goes, then if its not to your taste or obtaining spares is difficult convert it to manual spec.

 

I sincerely wish you every success in sorting the old girl out. Its bittersweet for me, gutted that its gone but also glad its goen to a decent home, hope you enjoy the journey and i look forward to reading updates as and when

 

DAN