Lancia Beta Forum

Hello everyone
totally new to the use of forums so apologies in advance for any mistakes in use.
I bought a spider a few years ago, used it a little and then unfortunately other 'projects' cropped up - children, house etc. I'm now in the position where i can blow the cobwebs off and get some use out of it. It's been MOT'd - suprisingly little needed - it's very original and always kept under cover. However, it will need some 'fettling' over the winter and i would be grateful for help with technical issues. First is petrol, whats the current thinking around unleaded vs super plus vs additives? Secondly, i have two sets of wheels. One set looks painted, the other suspiciously like alloys. What was original on the car and has anyone ever renovated alloy wheels, slight pitting etc? Thirdly (it won't be the last), any thoughts on exhaust systems, is stainless steel worthwhile? can anyone recommend a supplier?
Apologies if the above are viewed as basic, i''l be the first to admit my enthasiasm is greater than my experience.

Hi and welcome,
firstly I drive Gammas so the following may be totally useless, but anyway,

I use normal unleaded, have done for years without problems others will have their own views.
Original wheels were powder coated, this can be redone but no-one will guarantee success as it
can be very tricky to stick powder to alloy.
Exhaust is a matter of choice, stainless will last but can sound tinny, supplier really depends on
your location.

Once again Welcome.

Geoff

All of the opinions expressed above are my own, any suggestion that I am living or dead is merely
down to lack of alcohol,  this being a school night I can assure you I'm already asleep,  all replies
will not be treated in complete confidence, please leave the key under the mat. not issued under
and foreign copywrite as I cannot read when I'm driving.  ;-})

most folk seem to use super unleaded without additives but take your choice at your risk  there is no definitive answer. Not quite sure what you mean about the wheels I half read it that one set could be after market and the other originals, the original wheels were painted alloys in the UK market (although in Europe steels would have been the standard fitting on the more basic variations). post some pictures so we can be sure what we are talking about but best finish will be achieved by getting them professionally powder coated this usually works well except with early style hpe and berlina wheels some of which seem to be magnesium alloy that doesn't respond well to bead blasting and is porous under the outer skin. stainless exhausts are fine and sound just as good as mild steel just so long as you buy from a high quality manufacturer cheap ones are a bad economy as thinner gauge steel will have been used and substandard fillings leading to resonance and a longer term excessive noise increase

Thanks to both of you for your answers. To clarify re the wheels, they are both the same time and Lancia originals. One set looks to have been painted at a later date. I hope to be at Birmingham for the show so hopefullt there will be beta of some sort there and i can compare

Another question. I need to get some touch up paint, bonnet edges etc, prefereably aerasol. I have tried using the Moss classic car paint website but couldn't get anywhere. Anybody have any better suppliers?

If you want matched colour paint in aerosol or touch up sticks then you need look no further than a good local automotive paint shop.
They can mix the correct shade from your paint code.

No need to go to specialist "classic" car repairers to fleece you.
Halfords offer the mixing service but i doubt they will carry the old Lancia paint codes - i had trouble getting paint for a 1991 VW so  anyway try them as a last resort.

To get a custom filled aerosol you are looking between £12.00 and £14.00.

Stick to super unleaded - 98 octane - it goes further than the 95 regular even though it costs a few pence more.

Good luck.

Grand, thanks for the info