beta coupe 1979 - 1600 from belgium

[fred2660]

I am working on the front suspension. I dismantled the front wishbones and ordered new bushes. In the haynes manual there is a difficult explanation how to remove and replace them, needing special tools. Off course I dont have those tools, and i dont think my replacement bushes are originals. They seem to be Poly.

My plan was to use the spacers from the old bushes and reuse that and just press the new bushes in. Has somebody any experience with this . comments are highly appreciated. Thanks

I also bought new rear ARB bushes (photos later)

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[peteracs]

Hi

For the front bushes, a press or long bolt etc will do to get the new bushes in. I used Poly ones and I put the bushes in first by hand and then pressed the central spindles in after, cannot remember if I needed to use a bolt to do it or not, guess it depends how difficult the bushes prove to be.

Peter

[fred2660]

a little update after a lot off work.

reinstalled back suspension
making new brake pipes
painted tha interior
took the engine out
...

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disassembling the brake booster was hell. I couldn't reach the top bolts so I had to disassemble the pedals also (which wasnt the plan). In the haynes manual its easy explained how to take the pedals out, but reality was something else. I fear the day I have to reinstall them

the engine bay is quite dirty but the metal is good.

like i said earlier I installed new rear suspension struts. after installing the whole thing and putting the tires back on, it seems to me that the car is sitting high (?) like you can see on the photos.

next job is cleaning and painting the engine bay, cleaning the subframe and installing the front suspension again. than I wil start with filler.

greets

[fred2660]

remember I said the metal was good.... aaaahh wishfull thinking

the lower front off the engine bay is a bit rusted. Because the subframe is bolted here to the frame , and I don't want to weld upside down no more, I've cut the whole profile out, so I can repair it in a comfortable , propper way.


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[RichB]

This guy deserves a medal! Keep it up Fred!

[cheeky monkey]

Such well documented hard work. Please keep sharing the progress

[betaveloce]

It looks like this is going to be one the best sorted Betas in Belgium when it's finished 
Keep up the good work! 

[smithymc]

Inspirational work all round.

Keep it up.

Mark

[betaveloce]

By the way Fred, if you need some more parts: https://www.2dehands.be/autos/lancia/overige-modellen/a-vendre-373887919.html
 

[fred2660]

thanks boys for the coments

@betaveloce: If i had the space...

I repared the front profile. there was quite a lot of rust and i had to replace a lot of metal. I decided not to cut(?) the welds away.
the welding is going better and better


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I seperated the subframe from the engine. very dirty and a bit of rust. The rust is on both sides of the frame on the same place. There is also a piece that is pressed in, probably from jacking up the car.

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pressed in, so i cutted out

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greats, fred

[fred2660]

some new parts arrived. had to wait a long time for them. But if you look some on the internet you can do some good deals

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realy happy with the gaskets,

some parts drying and waiting to be installed.

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the subframe is out to be sanded and powdercoated. I was realy fed up with the grinding

greats

[fred2660]

What do you do on a lazy sunday afternoon?        ..... you rebuild your master brake cilinder

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finished


the replacement kit was good. All the seals fitted perfectly

[peteracs]

Hi

Nice work, I enjoyed rebuilding the master cylinder, less so the front wheel cylinders with the really difficult retaining ring.....

On the lower ball joints for the front wishbones, I found one of the new ones I bought, different suppliers for both bought at different times, had too high a threaded section and had to cut it down, otherwise it fouled the drive shaft assembly. I think it was a Delphi one from memory.

Peter

[fred2660]

@ peter: you are right. the new balljoint is probably gonna get too high


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meanwhile I have put the engine on an enginestand

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gonna work a bit on cleaning the thing. its so dirty (promise to myself: next time i do a restoration, i have to have some kind of sandblaster)



During the work on the car I sometimes encounter 'yellow marks'.  Is this a factory thing or something a previous owner has done?

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greats

[HFStuart]

It looks like that ball joint I designed to mount under the wishbone rather than on top of it.

[peteracs]

Hi Stuart

The issue is not that. If you mount top or bottom, the thread length and taper still mean the thread butts up against the CV joint when fully tightened.

Peter

[HFStuart]

Ah, gotcha!

[fred2660]

Got the subframe back so I could weld the front profile back in

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meanwhile I cleaned the oilpump

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question: I have never rebuild an engine before. Is it difficult to replace the head gasket?

cya
 

[HFStuart]

Check the oil pump clearances while it's apart.


Head gaskets are pretty simple with the engine out. You might want to think about new head bolts.

[rossocorsa]

As regards head gasket you may want to consider changing to stretch type bolts, very late betas used this type, I think many later lancias use the same bolt spec, you would need some ribe tools to tighten them. Also consider modifying the top metal coolant pipe to late spec as on VX, helps with pressure in cylinder head reduces risk of HGF from memory it's just a couple of very short extra pipes to add on