Night of the living Dedra: Jan 2014 update p5

[theorganist]

Good news, always thought these were nice looking cars.

 

Hope you get it on the road soon.

[Skizzer]

Now that the deal's officially been done, I went down to the barn to visit the Dedra today. This was more of a reconnaissance mission to a) double check I haven't bought a pile of scrap artfully arranged in a Lancia-like formation (don't reckon I have) and what tools to bring next time (bloody all of them).

 

I'd bought a new battery for it (that being apparently the only thing missing), but a seized bonnet release refused to grant me access to the engine bay so I slung it in the boot. That'll be easy enough to sort out with some WD40 and a coat hanger by the looks of it, but I didn't have either with me. So I had a better look over the rest of the car, and the news is mostly good:

• 
  [*:1gyvdkuh]Can't find any rust anywhere, except on the brake discs which look like ginger biscuits
  [*:1gyvdkuh]The interior is grubby but all present, solidly screwed down, unripped and more or less mould-free (rear parcel shelf is a bit mildewy but that's all). Blue alcantara FTW
  [*:1gyvdkuh]The previous owner had left something on the dash - wait for it - the original service/warranty book and a full set of MOTs going back to the last one in 2006 This is a massive bonus as I'd not assumed anything about paperwork, it being basically a barn find an' all.
  [*:1gyvdkuh]...and in the back, a three-inch thick ring binder that turns out to be the workshop manual
  [*:1gyvdkuh]The body is completely straight and the paint should polish up a treat. Just one little trolley ding in the boot lid that I don't care about. Even the alloys are a shine away from very tidy indeed, which is remarkable for a 138k miler
  [*:1gyvdkuh]For a 1991 car, it's got absolutely all the toys - leccy windows all round, sunroof AND climate control, adjustable everything in any direction... and obviously I'm sure it all still works just fine

 

Early jobs are to put in on axle stands and replace the brake discs, pads and possibly calipers, see if the (pretty flat) tyres will hold air, change the oil and coolant, see what state the various belts, hoses and seals are in and (hopefully) start her up with a bit of fresh petrol. Once the battery's in we'll see what games the electrics start playing. The offside headlamp is broken, so I might start searching for one of those sooner rather than later in case it takes a while to track down.

 

A combination of work, travel, moving house, getting a dog and Christmas means it'll be a few weeks before I get properly stuck in, but I'm VERY excited about getting it moving again. Even Mrs Skizzer said it wasn't as bad as she'd been expecting. So here's some pictures to keep me going.

 

With its sister (lower miles and not been there as long/doesn't have a coolant leak, so the owner's keeping it for now):

DSC_5193 by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

I love these alloys. Rusty brake discs and porous rubber less so:

DSC_5181 by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

All nice and dry in here, although one of the tools I need to bring next time is a Hoover:

DSC_5176 by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

Ah, that 1990s essential - a device to stop people on benefits nicking your stereo :

DSC_5187 by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

Original dealer sticker FTW - number plates match too:

DSC_5184 by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

And as a Brucie bonus, a reminder about what made Lancia great - in case the Chrysler Delta makes us forget:

DSC_5183 by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

[fiatdaft]

I like these ,if you are going to keep it,i would do ALL the belts and tensioners before putting it on the road,also check the join from the floor to the sill all the way along from the front into the rear arch and the front subframe for corrosion from the inside out the climate control is a bit of a con on these and thema's,rarely is there an ac compressor fitted!

[Skizzer]

Thanks Mr Daft. Sounds sensible re the belts. I had a cursory look at the sills already and they seemed ok (previous owner had removed a bit of trim, presumably for the same purpose); front subframe is a big question mark though. I guess we'll see what happens when I stick a trolley jack underneath...

[scooters]

Top chod martin and it looks pretty respectable. Now all you need is a Maxi for a stable mate it's about time your teutonic mrs was introduced to the excellence of british engineering!

[Burnside]

Well brought looking forward to seeing updates on this always liked these an the delta's. Use to see a metalic blue H reg one by me sure it wasnt a turbo though as a kid an always stood out from the mk2cavs/astras an mk3/4 escorts etc but my dad had a Ereg Fiat strada 70cl team [CLASS] at the time so i always use to look out for other italian cars an funny enough a pov grey fiat croma 2.0 CHT was by me too always wanted to own that car when i use to walk past it. All the best with it.

[Pete-M]

Change all the fluids - welcome to the world of Selenia oil prices - lube everything up, change the cambelt if you're not brave, check and clean all the connectors. It'll probably be ok.

[Shep Shepherd]

Looks damn good for a barn find. I hope that getting it on the road doesn't prove too fraught a process

 

By the way, the garage in Benfleet which originally supplied the car still exists, albeit not as a Lancia dealer, obviously.

[nigel bickle]

Thats going to be fun. I'd prob leave ther discs for now -spinning them clean -hopefully , on axle stands. It'll tell you if the calipers are Ok, too. Unless you've got a set...

 

Belts are an early priority -but it does need a good hoon asap, to bolster mojo through the forthcoming winter unpleasantness.

 

Nice one

[andrew e]

Woodmans garage had an FSO franchise too, I remember my old man looking at pickups. I think it was Dahaitsu last.

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/leicester- ... 341585357/

 

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=woodman ... 1,,0,10.33

[Skizzer]

Made a detour to Hampshire on the way from Wales to London today so that I could spend a bit of time with the Dedra.

 

The good news is, I finally managed to burgle my way in past the seized bonnet lock. This involved removing the grille then lying on my back with one arm threaded up past the radiator to wiggle the cable release lever while the other hand pushed up on the catch from the front. I now have a very scratched arm, but the bonnet's up - and I was pleased to find a whole engine under there.

 

The oil looked clean enough and there was some coolant on board, so I chucked in the new battery I bought a while back, poured half a jerry can of fresh unleaded into the (empty) tank, turned the key, and hey presto... no, it didn't fire. So that's the bad news. I gave it a good few attempts but then the battery was flagging so I gave up. Next visit (in a week or so) I'll check the engine will actually crank round freely; meanwhile I'll charge the battery up again so I can have another go. By then the barn may have a properly sliding door so I can bring another car in and jump start it.

 

I was going to try unscrewing the spark plugs and chucking a few drops of fuel down the holes, but couldn't get the plugs to shift at all . I have a couple of different spark plug removal box spanner things, but neither of them allows you to apply much leverage. Question: if I get a plug spanner that fits on a big fuck off breaker bar, will I just end up with a broken plug stuck in the block?

 

Anyway, on the bright side, the starter motor works well enough, as do the leccy windows, the fan and the interior courtesy light. At least that means I have somewhere comfy to sit and read the workshop manual.

[scooters]

Id be inclined to squirt some decent penetrating spray around the plug seats and leave it for a while, WD40 will do if you haven't got anything else then use a decent quality plug socket -

 

can't go wrong with a good skoosh of somthing flamable - "start you bastard" works well, carb cleaner is just as good - - take the air filter out - get mrs S to turn the engine over and give it a good squirt,

 

if that doesn't work then you'll need the methodical approach.

 

Do you know why the car was mothballed in the first place? any mechanical woes? HG etc?

 

If not then it's the usual process -

 

is fuel getting to the engine (remove a the end of the line - if it squirts out then it's not the fuel pump or lifter)

are you getting a spark

etc...

 

That's about as far as my knowledge goes with any car that doesn't have a carb! Great minds lke Bollox, Billy and Nige will know what to do!

[shaun1706]

I love these stories. When you make a good find you feel compelled to save whatever you have found. I know for I have been there many times

[nigel bickle]

Got a mate- can you take it for a drag? 2nd gear will fire it up.

 

Or -as Scoots says- 'Start ya Bastards/Easystart' a fav. I sometimes soak the air filter in fuel -& reassemble - having a large bucket of water closeby. If it kicks -its fuel (maybe the lines are gummed).

 

What fun. Y'know the exhaust will fall off seconds after it fires up?

[Skizzer]

Thanks for the advice and support gents. Start Ya Bastard is a good call - I may even have some tucked away somewhere, come to think of it. I did briefly attempt to get into a fuel line to check it after failing to get the plugs out, but that wasn't keen to give it up either and I thought better of hacking away too randomly in the dark. I squirted some freeze & release on the plugs for now, which should help a bit - I won't get at it again for at least another week I shouldn't think.

 

The car was apparently parked up originally (in 2006) with a coolant leak - not a full scale HGF (no sign of mayonnaise, in fact the oil looks pretty clean). I've got two bottles of K-Seal primed and ready.

 

Got a mate- can you take it for a drag? 2nd gear will fire it up.

Good idea, except all four brake discs are completely fubar'd and the tyres have returned to nature - matey drove it through a bog to get to the barn . In fact there's an interesting challenge afoot, in that the car's parked hard up against the wall so I can only access one side to get it rolling: I'm assuming/hoping the engine will have the strength to break the rusted brakes so I can move the car enough to get at the far side. (Can probably reach round enough to get some air in the tyres, and at least the handbrake's off.) If that doesn't work, plan B may involve a really long rope and a JCB outside the barn. Plan C is dismantling the barn.

 

What fun. Y'know the exhaust will fall off seconds after it fires up?

Yup! I came to realise yesterday that this is going to be one of those projects where every time you try and fix something, you find two other faults that need fixing first...

 

Oh and Scoot - Mrs Skizzer is a game old thing and I love her dearly, but holding the spanner while I bash away at a non-functioning Italian car, in an unlit barn, 200 miles from home, in winter? I should cocoa! Even Jut [renter of said barn, who owes me shitloads of favours] had better fish to fry yesterday, so this is strictly a solo effort for now .

[nigel bickle]

A running engine should shift the discs- but dont push the pedal -until you have it someplace sensible; there's a fair chance they'll stick on -& thats a real bugger. If you have too brake -use the handbrake.

 

Tyres are probably borked- so unless its easy -leave them flat. Take a set of slave wheels with good tyres- they'll make a load of difference. If you cant access any -take the 2 & spare, that you can get at -& fit part worns, overinflated. ( Gives you a chance to check the brakes -too.)

Dont worry about the plugs too much -if they worked when it went it -they'll prob work again. Anyway -they'll be a lot easier to get out of a hot engine, in one piece.

 

If it was leaking before -find the leak before adding additives. Chances are the hoses have died- esp the hard to get at one that have been neglected. Thats prob the reason it was originally laid up -so its not immediately important -but will be once its been running a little while. Leave it till its running -then fill it gradually. A bone dry engine will quickly show up weak spots -a lot easier than one thats been lashed up.

 

Sounds like a hoot.

[Skizzer]

A quick update on this, possibly the world's slowest resto.

 

Work and stuff have conspired to keep me away from the Dedra since my last visit in March, but on Friday I managed to spend a couple of hours attacking it with some lighting, a few tools and some hydrocarbons.

 

Inside the barn by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

The good news is, I got it fired up and running for the first time in (I think) about seven years, with the aid of some fresh fuel and EasyStart (I'd already put a new battery on it). It sounds clattery as hell and pongs a bit, unsurprisingly, but idles evenly enough and responds to the throttle. The front wheels steer, the dash all lights up, the rev counter works and the clutch seems fine.

 

The bad news is that the brakes are well and truly seized, so it hasn't moved yet. I was hoping it might shift under its own power, but it just squatted down at the back; a bit more perseverance might have helped but I was reluctant to rev the nuts off it completely from cold given the levels of noise and smell.

 

Plan B was to take the wheels off and attack them directly, but the trouble is the same genius* that parked it up wet with the handbrake on decided to place it 3 inches from the wall on one side and 6 from the back (in a barn that's about 30m x 9m and largely empty ), so access to the nearside wheels is impossible:

 

Try getting in there with a jack by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

I'd brought a set of wheel dollies, but my floor jack is both too tall heightwise and too short lengthwise to lift the NSR corner so I can get a dolly under the wheel. There's no way I can get round there with a scissor jack. Options are a) to tackle the side I can reach and get the engine to do the other, get a lower, longer floor jack and dolly it out or c) cut through the bushes and hack through the barn wall from the outside. I'll be back there in a few weeks to have a go at option a.

[Skizzer]

A quick update on this, possibly the world's slowest resto.

 

Work and stuff have conspired to keep me away from the Dedra since my last visit in March, but on Friday I managed to spend a couple of hours attacking it with some lighting, a few tools and some hydrocarbons.

 

Inside the barn by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

The good news is, I got it fired up and running for the first time in (I think) about seven years, with the aid of some fresh fuel and EasyStart (I'd already put a new battery on it). It sounds clattery as hell and pongs a bit, unsurprisingly, but idles evenly enough and responds to the throttle. The front wheels steer, the dash all lights up, the rev counter works and the clutch seems fine.

 

The bad news is that the brakes are well and truly seized, so it hasn't moved yet. I was hoping it might shift under its own power, but it just squatted down at the back; a bit more perseverance might have helped but I was reluctant to rev the nuts off it completely from cold given the levels of noise and smell.

 

Plan B was to take the wheels off and attack them directly, but the trouble is the same genius* that parked it up wet with the handbrake on decided to place it 3 inches from the wall on one side and 6 from the back (in a barn that's about 30m x 9m and largely empty ), so access to the nearside wheels is impossible:

 

Try getting in there with a jack by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

I'd brought a set of wheel dollies, but my floor jack is both too tall heightwise and too short lengthwise to lift the NSR corner so I can get a dolly under the wheel. There's no way I can get round there with a scissor jack. Options are a) to tackle the side I can reach and get the engine to do the other, get a lower, longer floor jack and dolly it out or c) cut through the bushes and hack through the barn wall from the outside. I'll be back there in a few weeks to have a go at option a.

[dieselnutjob]

just drag it forwards with another vehicle

it might even free off the brakes

years ago I went with a friend to rescue a mk3 cavelier out of a lockup, and it had been in there for years with the handbrake on

it dragged out fairly easily with the 504 diesel that I had at the time, mind you it was good at dragging things

by the time it was out of the garage the brakes had freed off

[dieselnutjob]

just drag it forwards with another vehicle

it might even free off the brakes

years ago I went with a friend to rescue a mk3 cavelier out of a lockup, and it had been in there for years with the handbrake on

it dragged out fairly easily with the 504 diesel that I had at the time, mind you it was good at dragging things

by the time it was out of the garage the brakes had freed off

[Skizzer]

Thanks DNJ, I knew someone would have a better suggestion. It did cross my mind to use the Jaguar to drag it, but I didn't have a suitable rope to hand and also wondered if a whole stuck car might be a bit of a strain. I guess if a 504 can manage it then so can an XJ6 or even a Yeti.

 

Barn guy needs to move some stuff before I can drive anything else in there, which he should have done by my next visit, so I'll stop fretting and get on with dragging it oot

[Skizzer]

Thanks DNJ, I knew someone would have a better suggestion. It did cross my mind to use the Jaguar to drag it, but I didn't have a suitable rope to hand and also wondered if a whole stuck car might be a bit of a strain. I guess if a 504 can manage it then so can an XJ6 or even a Yeti.

 

Barn guy needs to move some stuff before I can drive anything else in there, which he should have done by my next visit, so I'll stop fretting and get on with dragging it oot

[phil_lihp]

Inside the barn by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

Now that's got to be a calendar shot! Nice work, it'd be good to see it back on the road again one day. Lancias are becoming a rare sight now, especially rust-free ones.

[phil_lihp]

Inside the barn by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

Now that's got to be a calendar shot! Nice work, it'd be good to see it back on the road again one day. Lancias are becoming a rare sight now, especially rust-free ones.

[walk]

Good job on getting the old girl started - I wouldn't worry too much about the tapping and knocking, mine does that if it's only been left for a couple of weeks! The brakes will free off no problem with a bit of pushing and shoving. I'll be keeping an eye on this - we need updates ASAP!

[walk]

Good job on getting the old girl started - I wouldn't worry too much about the tapping and knocking, mine does that if it's only been left for a couple of weeks! The brakes will free off no problem with a bit of pushing and shoving. I'll be keeping an eye on this - we need updates ASAP!

[Skizzer]

Ta chaps.

 

I'm keen to get her back on the road and really want to see her cleaned up and running around soon. Don't hold your breath for news though - I'm about to go abroad for a bit, then home in Wales for a few days, then working in Cambridgeshire for a month. Planning to get down to the barn (which is in Hampshire) for half a day in November.

 

I had thoughts of doing a bunch of work myself, but my lack of progress in the last year means I'll scale back my ambition to driving it out of the barn under its own steam (possibly with actual steam, given its alleged cooling problems) and then have it properly recommissioned by a suitable professional. Suitable = decent, competent, willing to take on a job like this, not snotty because it's too old/too new. I have a couple of options but recommendations would be gratefully received.

[Skizzer]

Ta chaps.

 

I'm keen to get her back on the road and really want to see her cleaned up and running around soon. Don't hold your breath for news though - I'm about to go abroad for a bit, then home in Wales for a few days, then working in Cambridgeshire for a month. Planning to get down to the barn (which is in Hampshire) for half a day in November.

 

I had thoughts of doing a bunch of work myself, but my lack of progress in the last year means I'll scale back my ambition to driving it out of the barn under its own steam (possibly with actual steam, given its alleged cooling problems) and then have it properly recommissioned by a suitable professional. Suitable = decent, competent, willing to take on a job like this, not snotty because it's too old/too new. I have a couple of options but recommendations would be gratefully received.

[nigel bickle]

Well done! pretty much as I expected. Overinflate the tyres (if poss) & snatch it out using another car & a strong rope/cable. 50/50 they'll free straight off.

 

You'll feel complete different when it runs/drives.

 

Excellent. On the road for Crimble?

[nigel bickle]

Well done! pretty much as I expected. Overinflate the tyres (if poss) & snatch it out using another car & a strong rope/cable. 50/50 they'll free straight off.

 

You'll feel complete different when it runs/drives.

 

Excellent. On the road for Crimble?