Lancia Motor Club Forum
Model Technical and Interest => Aurelia => Topic started by: Parisien on 25 November, 2024, 08:39:02 PM
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Did some Irish bloke on the forum embark on an Aurelia B12 restoration about 12 years ago?
Whatever became of it...........
https://www.forum.lanciamc.co.uk/index.php?topic=5254.345
Well fellow forum readers, things indeed have moved on, from the photos below, taken at a very low point in the restoration, which I hadn't shared before as it was dare I say a little traumatized at that time in 2019.
Much more to follow, please put your feet up, grab your favourite beverage and read on......
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Photos a bit big ........one by one ....
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....more ....
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Another twenty months were to pass before I happened on another body/paint guy who said he'd do the job for me. Up til then I'd asked and enquired of at least another dozen guys from far and wide.
This guy was a pleasant enough chap, based about 12 miles away, seemed to be working through endless hours, rubbing and filling, lining up, sorting out minor body work issues, slowly but surely getting there. He'd said initially it would take about six months or so to do.
We got around to agreeing a price after 3/4 months but we didn't seem to be getting to a point were it actually would get painted.
The six months period came and went , work slowed, busy periods of doing his main type of body repairs, a bout of illness, COVID raised it's ugly head, then a burst pipe.
Before I knew it 18 months had passed and I was no further on.
Photo of it on its travels again April 2021
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Can’t wait for the continuation!
Popcorn and cola ready:)
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Looking forward to progress. Forgotten about his one.
Richard
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In the interim, via the forum, internet and interactions with other individuals and companies, I'd been amassing information, contacts and supplies.
As the B12 was progressing, albeit slowly towards being ready for paint, I'd browsed the Thornley Kelham site and spotted this fabulous series III B20 in the correct colour, Amaranto.
https://www.thornleykelham.com/gallery/lancia-aurelia-b20gt-series-3-2/
I inquired off them as to how they'd sourced the Amaranto colour. They very helpfully came back to say after a spectrum analysis and further research, this was indeed the exact colour as used in the 50s on Lancia Aurelias.
As this was done in about 2016, they dug out the tints list used to make up the colour required using the Standox system. They even gave me the address of their paint supplier so I could order it .
There then followed another truly facial episode in the B12's story.
Firstly they asked their delivery guys to deliver it to NI, sorry we don't deliver to NI any more due to onerous new regulations implemented after Brexit.
I tried further delivery companies, one said they would but only after I'd applied for an import license in my name and filled out several forms and then paid them roughly a quarter of the value of the paint to cross the North Channel!
I did explore other avenues, and enquired of a local paint shop who informed me that there was a Standox supplier in Belfast, another small celebration took place in my home!!!!
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I was putting the cart before the horse in the last post, we had actually tried a local motor factors to mix up a batch, based on the colour found under the dash to see how close we could get it, wasn't bad but it wasn't Amaranto!
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I was putting the cart before the horse in the last post, we had actually tried a local motor factors to mix up a batch, based on the colour found under the dash to see how close we could get it, wasn't bad but it wasn't Amaranto!
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Thats more like Fulvia Rosso York!!!
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As above, work continued
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Constant reworking, the indicator opening, being refashioned, several times, noting again the rear indicator apertures has been cut out of other rear wings and welded back into mine, aluminum welding required
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Time moved on, COVID lockdowns, illness, supply issues continued to stymy work, visits and mood.
These photos were taken in March 2022, it was moving on but, it had been with him for nearly 2 years now
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Great to hear that this project is still alive Frank!
When you get it on the road I feel sure you will value it as B12s are great for everyday motoring. Long legged with sufficient power & brakes c/w an excellent ride.
Keep up the good work.
Chris
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Coming back to the paint, having gotten this far and the promise of it all being painted shortly ( can anyone define shortly, because it doesn't fit the OED definition!)
I'd ordered up the 6 litres plus thinners etc from the paint supplier in Belfast. I told them I'd send up the mix ratios for the Amaranto colour in advance, they'd mix it the following week.
Belfast is about an hour and 30 mins away so I'd lined up a few more things to do on that trip
As I queued with 4/5 customers to receive my paint, I felt a tad giddy, like an overgrown school boy waiting for his first "99" ice cream of the season on a warm summers day.
Standox supplies paid for, then safely stashed in my boot, things are looking up!
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I'm looking forward to seeing it painted :)
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And then there was quite an hiatus, weeks turned into months, excuses and reasons why no further progress got a bit tedious and exhausting.
Of course some work was done, I'd inspected it in occasions, noting one of the back doors couldn't be fully opened, realising there was an issue with panel gaps/lines.
Eventually he agreed to paint up some panels, to see how they looked.
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Usually, as this paint guy told me, when he gets a paint delivery in he does a quick check, but as this was from a different supplier, first time he'd used the Standox paint system ( noting its suitably expensive price as a premium product), plus all neatly labelled and packaged/sealed, he felt confident all would be hunky dory.
Finally after being sat in his store for nearly a year he opened one of the tins .......
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the suspense! :D
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Quelle horreur! (As they'd say in South Kensington!)
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Upon receipt of the attachment on his text message I felt quite nauseous/panicked even.
How could this have happened, was the ratio from Thornley Kelham completely wrong, was it the suppliers fault?
A quick flurry of phonecalls/emails resulted in this information.
"My paint supplier got back to me, they incorrectly added each tint to overall figure each time instead of clearing scales and doing each tint individually!"
Thankfully they agreed to remix and deliver the correct colour later that week!
Panic mode dialled down several notches!
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I'll let you all recover from the paint cauchemar as relayed above. .......
I'd signed off on the first segment concerning the water pump.
I'd left it with James Parry in Wales a while back, I'd also left the refurbishment kit from Cavilitto with him too. As James reported the body of the original pump was completely corroded and unuseable, luckily a member of the forum was able to help me out with a decent one, looks magnificent doesn't it?
Turned out it needed both bearing replaced, Omicron helped out for second one.
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Hi Frank
I was only thinking about this project about a month or so ago and wondered what had happened. Glad to see it is still ongoing albeit very delayed, cannot imagine your frustration.
You started this a couple of years after I started my Beta Spider, that was finished in 2021, but the difference was the time taken was due to me, not any third party which is not the same.
All the best for the future, hope the road is less stressful….
Peter
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Thank you gentlemen for your kind words and support, yes it's been a struggle especially for a first timer in fully restoring any car never mind an Aurelia B12!
The posts in the first two pages are from the previous years, soon I'll bring you into the present. I delayed posting as I truly wanted to get to another milestone stage before restarting my story
More anon.
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More progress in building up and getting the car as good as it could be, it still ( on reflection not near being to in a good enough condition to be fully painted
Remember, these little improvements were over a number of months.
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Please don't ask any questions about the bumpers, they are a story in themselves!
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Looks better and better!
But hey, what’s going on with those bumpers? ;D
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Who needs bumpers?
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Just a reminder of the B12 in 2011 as advertised on eBay.
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Before the archeological "dig"
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I've been playing with colours for my B20 which was originally Amaranto - I sprayed up an Appia wing and left it in the kitchen for the girls to look at
I was keen to go "original" but even after living with the wing next to the breakfast table for 3 weeks, the girls were not convinced unfortunately ....
It is a beautiful colour to my mind, it will look fab on your Aurelia berlina
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These Thornley Kelham pics might persuade you .......
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Eventually sample panels were painted in Amaranto, the colour was as expected, but on closer examination an "orange peel" finish was easily visible, I was disappointed, he could tell by what I didn't say that the work carried out wasn't up to standard.
The issue with the doors hadn't been resolved either.
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I was delighted with the colour, but not the execution.
Awaiting a further update that the remainder of car would be in paint, plus the required alignment and reviewed paint of the three panels.
The weeks passed, but wasn't invited out to workshop for a look-see.
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Then one morning we heard a lorry slowly approaching our address, glanced up when near to see the B12 on the back of a recovery truck!
His brother in law (owner of said lorry), then proceeded to unload my B12 onto the drive, no explanation, no offer to in anyway mitigate why he decided to end his involvement.
Nada!
The brother in law did say that he wasn't looking for any further payment from me ( I'm sure he'd done much more than I'd already paid him for!)
I was flabbergasted.
Car dually pushed into my garage, and so ended another chapter in the eventful life of the Portuguese Aurelia!
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And so another period of being laid up, doing the rounds of asking/re-asking body paint guys far and near, but drew a blank.
Enquiring off another mechanic, he told me he'd met a guy near Belfast who more or less specialized in restoring older cars.
Contact was made, turned out his wife was from the town, so he was up and down regularly. A visit was arranged.
A few weeks later he inspected the car, had a chat, cup of tea and agreed to take it on. However it would be in a queue so I'd have to wait 3/4 months before he could start
I kept in contact, narrowed the week down to last week of July 2023.
But on the week concerned, radio silence, no answers to Whatsapp or phone, totally ghosted.
I was a tad put out.
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so many obstacles!
Very impressed by your stamina!
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I always try to get to both the Annual weekend and NEC event, to meet fellow members, admire their respective cars and occasionally make a contact or two.
They are my bi-annual fix!
Believe it or not I've never owned or driven a Lancia of any kind before I bought my B12 off eBay in 2011.
Indeed the first Lancia I drove was the B12 owned by The Automobile magazine in 2013.......I now digress
I'd been accumulating parts over years, had my engine completely restored but realized the transaxle would be a big task also, both it's complexity and cost.
So at the Annual weekend in 2022, and having read lots of Tim Burretts articles and pieces in Viva Lancia, I asked some one to point Tim out.
Introductions made and knowing he used his B22 on an almost daily basis, plus he'd raced his B20 over many years, and noted he'd advertised refurbished transaxles in VL, I thought I might inquire if he'd be interested in doing mine.
After a few minutes chatting I put the question to Tim, he said he'd do it but in a few months time, I was one very pleased B12 owner on that warm July afternoon!
Things were looking up
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So January of 2023, I did an inventory of all my transaxle parts, I'd nearly all the wear and tear parts gathered up, plus several gears and a host of other parts, just in case!
After a bit of research I reckoned putting it all on a pallet was the sensible thing to do plus insuring it for a substantial amount.
Finally it was delivered to Tims for the full works!
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You can catch glimpses of the extremities of my cleaned up transaxle (cleaned in 2012) , I thought it was more than respectable to send off to Tim.
However Tim was not impressed at all and complained bitterly at how filthy it was , indeed probably the filthiest transaxle he'd ever had the displeasure to work on!!! He spent further hours cleaning it before opening the casing.
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PS It's a good job I didn't dispatch as first dismounted!
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Continuing in the same vein today, thought I'd clean up the steering box, initial impressions were that this was part of a booster rocket off a Saturn V that had fallen into the Atlantic!
But a scrape, then cleaning as best could without dismantling it was indeed the steering box!
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A bit of scraping ....
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Et voila!
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Having had a forensic examination of my steering box the number on it was indeed as originally left the factory....No 470
Thanks to the kind member who supplied me with build data
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The gearbox was fully stripped down, all gears, moving parts, wear and tear items were to be checked, replaced or improved by Tim's expert knowledge. The same applied to the rear brakes and clutch.
In effect a full rebuild to factory plus standard
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I wonder how many Aurelia owners have seen the gearboxes inards?
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And the same for clutch and brakes.
There wear a couple of unforeseen issues.
However Tim remarked on how little wear had occurred in the gears of this box, hardly run in!
On reassembly all measurements and tolerances were religiously adhered to
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A few more
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Brakes ....
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And then finished
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Just need the car finished.....
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Great progress!!👍👍👍
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So yet again the restoration had stalled in July 2023.
I tried to regroup, asking again of guys around the locality if anyone else came to mind. Blanks and dead ends came thick and fast.
Then in mid August, our local vintage run took place, the Friday evening was the first part of the run through the town, usually around a 120 vehicles took part. They started off from a carpark, it was the wettest Friday start I'd seen for years.
I got completely drenched, but one guy I'd helped out a few years ago source headlights for his Alfa Romeo, mentioned a name of a body/ paint guy 30 odd miles away.
But he was hard to get, always a queue of cars awaiting his skills, but by now waiting was one of my few virtues.
A phone call was made.
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A little while later I dually made contact. I explained my situation, as I'm sure you're all aware, body guys are very reluctant to carry on from where one guy left off, in my case were two left off.
He stated he only does a few cars a year, he also restores tractors and runs a small haulage company. However after some further discussion and taking an interest in the Aurelia, given it's rarity and being quite different from British cars he normally works on , he said he'd come and look it over.
Down side being it would be December before he could visit and if it passed muster, it would be a few months later before he could do the work.
Having just been ghosted by the last guy I was quite anxious the same could happen again!
But wait I did.........
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One loom waiting to be delivered to an old school friend who runs an auto electrics business. Noting the labels still attached, 12 years later, to the instrument panel bulb fittings for reference.
Likely ready in January
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The months passed quickly enough, he contacted me to say he'd be down later in December before Christmas.
Sure enough he appeared and we spent two solid hours going over and over the B12. Panel by panel, gap by gap, line by line. All we're critiqued and judgement passed.
He spent much time shaking his head, tut tutting and generally making all the wrong noises. To be honest it wasn't looking good.
His parting words were, its just too much work especially having to undo and or make good lots of issues that needed addressing
But he said he'd contact me in a few days with a yay or nay.
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Sure enough, two days later I got a WhatsApp, both in the affirmative and a step by step list of how it would proceed, rough time schedule plus a price.
To say I was pleased is another understatement, I felt I'd been very much drinking at the last chance saloon. But as noted before there's been quite a few slips betwixt cup and lip!
Aiming for a March 2024 start, Xmas 2023 will be much more enjoyable I thought!
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Fast forward to March, I was now next in line, palpitations all round.
Juggled a few dates, but weather was so hit and miss, windows of opportunity shrank and expanded by the hour, I did not want it to get soaked , so I decided to cling wrap the B12! ( Mostly stayed in place, plus no rain!)
Loaded it up on a trailer and off it went on another road trip!
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You're just teasing us now, drip feeding pictures, I think you have actually got it back home all painted and looking fantastic ;)
Or maybe you've actually got it finished??
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I really like this thread:)
The suspense is killing me though!!! :D
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Fellow Aurelian's, would I be so crass as to string you all along?
Nooooooooo
Finished.................and SOLD.......!!!!
No gentlemen of the forum, I still have it, not finished but passed another significant milestone.
As in any decent suspense thriller ( because for me, it's been just that!) you just don't jump to the conclusion just after you've started it!
Like lots of stories etc these days there are many sub plots, yet to hove into view!
Do bear with me.
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April came and went, May and June too before he eventually got around to the B12, as ever life doesn't run smoothly and I just had to accept the reasons for the delay, for which he was very apologetic.
From July onwards he got stuck into it, as we all know many hours can be spent for no real difference in how the car looks, but I'd put my trust in him, he knew what needed done to make the paint work as good as possible.
These were the only photos I received in 3 months!
But he assured me the correction, redoing and aligning of panels doors were taking up inordinate amounts of time.
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It's the detail that takes the time ...
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Time vs money vs quality.
For most of what I do the motto is "its amazing what you can get done if you set your standards low enough".
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Which reminds me of...
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In the end, it was like a dam breaking, no warning, no signs at all.
He told me to ring him in 4/5 weeks, or end of October, but the week before that, I got these through, no accompanying message just these.
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I was shocked and delighted in equal measure.
After everything, a final purgatory of preparation and anticipation the B12 was in paint, I honestly could not believe it.
He said rather than sending more photos to come and see it for my self, as everyone on the forum knows, in car terms, a picture is NEVER worth a thousand words!
A visit was quickly arranged.
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Hooray!!!
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A few posts back I'd mentioned the bumpers.
As per photos they'd been "interfered "with, much to the concern of several afficianados, and rightly so.
Having saved a B12 owners post about how to repair the brass based bumpers, Brian Long in Australia , I'd set about phoning both chromers and guys who had metalworks in an attempt to organise or sort out a full repair.
I'd undertaken this search a couple of years back but again despite numerous calls it seemed impossible to track down someone to carry out the initial annealing due to the size of muffle oven required.
Feeling I'd run out of options, someone suggested why not use filler to at least get an even-ish surface ( not bother fixing cracks etc) and then either use a modern chrome look paint or wrap it.
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As previously, photos don't really get across what your eyes will see when face to face with a thing of beauty...IMHO.
And there it was, the colour was nicer than I thought possible, the finish magnificent.
I was pleasantly blown away...can someone please pinch me!
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A few more, contrasting the pics deeper inside workshop and those at door.
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The car has since arrived home, front doors in place, rears stored in a bedroom for the moment until I resolve the wing/body trim issue.
The main reason I hadn't posted until now was because, more uncertainty came my way.
The mechanic who'd stripped the car with me back in 2012 had told me he would not be doing the rebuild ( he had retired plus had a temporary health issue) a more than deflating moment. However I did ask him to come view the B12, finally in paint and looking fabulous.
He did indeed visit and he did say, if I got another mechanic/restorer to actually do the hands on work, he would indeed act as adviser/consultant as it progressed!
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looks WONDERFUL!!
that color is stunning!
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Referencing the ongoing uncertainty about the continuation of the restoration.
I'd mentioned to my son, that I now needed to find someone experienced, interested and skillful enough to put the B12 back together, those sort of guys are pretty thin on the ground locally!
He sorta nonchalantly said why don't you ask my band mate Ciaran ( a guy with a national profile in restoring almost exclusively Peugeot 205s). I thought no harm would come of asking, holding out very little hope.
But a fortnight later a voicemail to my son stated that yes he will do it!
This was the main reason I'd restarted the thread again, I thought it would take me months to find someone else plus likely be much further away.
Delighted, over the moon, relieved...... didn't quite cover how I felt at that moment!
A meeting is scheduled in January, see how it pans out over 2025.
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Incredible who comes out of the woodwork at times like these.
Brilliant!
Richard
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Wing/body trim issue?
I presume you have all of this trim as the car has come from a pretty dry climate?
One problem I have had with my B21S restoration is the aluminium 'C' section which holds some of the door rubbers. It had either corroded away or become perforated and so was unusable. Cicognani sell a plastic equivalent but its a b*****r to bend and secure properly.
Chris
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My body guy has told me it's not suitable to reuse, previous damage, loss of chrome, deformed.
I had to replace plenty of metal on the B13, they all eventually rust!
I must have a closer look at them
Your thoughts on the pics?
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Coming back to the bumpers, I'd noted a few FB adverts from a company in Vietnam making stainless steel versions. I went through their catalogue noting they only had a small selection of Lancia bumpers and no reference to a B12's bumpers.
Having heard so much about the number of scams on the go, I fired off a very tentative email.
I received a quick response, this was back in mid 2023, the only snag was Id have to send them mine, which they then would keep and from which they could remake a new set.
I didn't really want to let them do far out of my sight, I took cold feet.
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Ref B12 Bumpers I feel sure I have seen new SS ones offered for sale by a Vietnamese company recently?
I was surprised because the demand for these must be very small as there are so few B12s on the road.
Chris
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Yes, there have been some adverts on the Facebook group from the Vietnamese company.
They seem legitimate.
I have considered using them as my bumpers are badly damaged.
"Tienbumper Tran" is the FB-profile, and the website is bumperautomobile.com
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...they seem to offer new B12 bumpers now, without an exchange?
https://bumperautomobile.com/lancia-aurelia-b12-bumpers-year-1950-1958-new/
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I haven't finished this sub plot gentlemen!!
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sorry:D
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And as 2024 dawned, the prospect of getting the B12 into paint seemed to have thawed my cold feet.
Now my car was being actively worked on, I re-established contact with bumper cars in Vietnam, over a period of several weeks, trying to dot "Is" and cross "Ts", we came to a clear understanding.
They undertook to completely remanufacture my B12 bumper set based on receipt of my original bumpers, which would then be kept by them for reference in future.
It was a step into the unknown.
My wife told me to up my daily dose of whatever tablets helped put my big girl pants on and put my trust in them and the couriers involved.
At the end of August they were collected, then phew, delivered!
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PS But not before I'd done some work!
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Dually picked up and delivered, seemingly none the worse for 5/6 stops on their journey.
It's seemed to take forever getting them made, but two months in I got these, endless polishing then followed.
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And just like that, after they left Vietnam on Monday, they've arrived just now
I'm coming the conclusion very quickly that Santa Claus may well be Vietnamese!
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A few more. Wrapped in a very soft inner material then bubble wrapped. Spare set of front bumper supports, all bolts to assemble rear three piece bumper
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And the final few interior metal parts, plus other smaller under dash items collected today
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Just leaving this there....
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I'm sorry to have upset a few members with the last image.
It was my way too subtle attempt to convey the fact that the B12 has moved to it's latest location, the garage of the mechanic whose going to re-assemble the car.
Currently installing the wiring loom.
Garage meeting with original disassembly mechanic this week
In the meantime out with old and in with the new/refurbished actually!
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Initial meeting was very useful, some notes from the strip down in 2012 plus a small hoard of self fabricated tools were retrieved.
The strip down mechanic could remember plenty of titbits of information too, hoping it all comes flooding back. He also offered to make himself available for the fiddly/tiresome/frustrating reassembly of doors and windows!
A box of new parts , steering column and box were deposited, inspection and refurbishment to take place after loom fully installed.
Please note horn topic too!
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Was the original loom beyond saving? And if so, was it complete enough to be able to simply copy it?
I think B12 looms all used cable with quite thick PVC insulation so in my B12 ( from the 1st srs prodn with a 2 piece propshaft) for example the original loom is in perfectly useable safe condition. It also still has the majority of the original number tags on it which is handy .
Chris
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I didn't think so Chris, plus there had been additions and it looked pretty tired. However it was largely complete, plus had a wiring loom diagram to keep us right.
I added in an extra circuit to facilitate a stand alone brake light to sit on rear parcel shelf, having been rear ended a few times over the years, once on my wedding day, and the second time in the same car!
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Not sure how you are planning to do your new loom, here is one I did for an HY van - pinned the old one to a board and then made the new one alongside
For the Aprilia and Ardea, I have added extra wires for indicators and phone chargers ! I didn't do hazard lights, but maybe I should have done that as well ???
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Loom was remade in March, trial fitted since, just a few adjustments/finessing of same.
Just trial fitting dashboard and components,switches etc currently
No doubt a few things need checking and tidying over next few days
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As you can see the front rubber mat is as found in this pic, a bit creased, very dirty and a tad stiff.
I looked on the Cicognani site and whilst there's a huge choice for the B20 nothing at all mat wise for a B12.
Has anyone refurbished a 71 year old rubber mat and what products are recommended?
All suggestions welcomed!
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I have used soap and water with scrubbing brush and then an Autoglym product - rubber bumper renovator I think - it's a green liquid that revitalises the rubber
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Thanks Simon, there's a few tears/splits too, just hope I don't add to them, will use appropriate glue on them
The mechanic whose doing the work has a mobile sandblaster visiting to do a tractor he's also renovating ( tractors are huge over here, classic cars a poor second).
A previous owner thought he spice up the engine bay by chroming the air filter box. It's looking very sorry for itself so will get him to lightly blast it too!
NB. As per pic, note more newspaper pieces found inside the actual filter, those Portuguese mice will set up home anywhere!!
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Frank,
I wonder whether the B20 matt would be different from the berlina one? It all seems to be in the same place? maybe worth a question to Cicognani? (horribly expensive though the stuff...)
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Just had a look Koen, they are different especially on passenger side where the cut out is deeper, mind you it would be tucked up under the dash and at a mere €168 plus postage a snip!
I've fired off an email to Cicognani.
I don't suppose any one has a decent LHD B20 second hand one for sale?
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I just went down to check and indeed, on the B20 the battery box is lowered some 4 cm, and on the side of the battery box the top of the 'chassis member' has been bent down. Another thing learned! I already wondered why the ventilation shutt-off was lower on one side, now that is clear.
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Cicognani suggested I send a paper tracing outline of my mat, they are closed til 25th August though.
Thanks Koen
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Many years ago replaced all early B20 mats w Cicognani. Supposedly made from same molds, but they were a bit different in size, and now a bit thicker. Workable, decent, but not as unique as the originals. Prefer a damaged original to the newer mats, if possible.
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Thank you for that Geoff, Koen and Simon, my mat may well be too far gone, was looking for black rubber solution to fill the holes, fine with backing to support splits and tears, but holes are a bit more difficult.
I shall try after further research
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Following on from a post above, the air filter box is being stripped of its chrome as I speak, also the reservoir and petrol tank which appears to be in very good condition.
Chrome wise the door furniture has seem much better days, so am pricing up options rechrome old parts versus NOS from several sources.
To date one chromer quoted 4 times what another company wanted, am not sure what to think or do, waiting for a few guys to get back to me too.
Secondly can anyone identify the metals the various parts are made from, especially the boot handle?
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I'd want to have a look at samples of their work when quotes show a four fold difference in price. There may be very good reason for the difference or the high quote may just be the "I seriously don't want this job" quote you sometimes get from builders.
As to filling holes in mats I've long meant to try the black silicone sealant they sell for gutter repairs to see if that would serve.
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Always best to try to bring an old mat back to life. The Autoglym product seems to soften old stiff mats and its often possible to repair holes using other OE mats which are too far gone. Alternatively I have occasionally used some new ribbed matting from Woolies ( Broad Rib matting SKU:85-3 ) for repairs which is very close in pattern and profile to original matting. The Woolies also good for the pieces used on the inner sills where Cicognani doesnt seems to offer new ones.
Chris
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Regarding your chrome door handles ( inner & outer) and the rear number plate lights lights there are Italian traders who sell these at quite reasonable prices. And as you are in the Eu, they will ship to you. Rechroming seems to be a lot cheaper there than in the UK.
I have a pair of re-chromed rear number plate lights but I am not sure they are the correct ones for your car....I will check and come back to you if they are.
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As you can see the front rubber mat is as found in this pic, a bit creased, very dirty and a tad stiff.
I looked on the Cicognani site and whilst there's a huge choice for the B20 nothing at all mat wise for a B12.
Has anyone refurbished a 71 year old rubber mat and what products are recommended?
All suggestions welcomed!
P
I would say that your front bulkhead mat is perfectly salvageable if you follow the advice given recently by Simon ( and I )..
Chris
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Chris, thanks again for your thoughtful insights about the queries raised.
I'll certainly take on board the idea of trying a restoration of the mat, Geoff and Simon's additional advice very useful. I'd looked on vintage supplies also, but missed the Woolies rubber mat item.
Still chasing a few prices of chrome items, will buy some new and rechrome the remainder parts. Let me know about your licence plate lights too.
P
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Whilst I work my way through smaller parts to restore or replace, you open up a bag or box and wonder how some parts are made/finished.
The finishing plates for dashboard for instance, some parts are worn/burnished ( brass appearance under) will they clean up, polish or require chroming?
P
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I dont like 'perfect' cars - all cars are meant to be used and driven - so I would polish these interior chromed bits yourself carefully using a proprietary polish and see how they come up. If you give them to a rechromer, you may find after stripping they polish out the delicate filigree work which then looks awful when replated.
Just my opinion. Its a bit like the earlier rubber mat conversation.
Chris
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Plus, once things have been rechromed, they never seem to fit as well as they did before !
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I'll take that on board, have an offer of new outer door handles, but inner handles/window winders have been rechromed so I'll get mine rechromed separately
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Moving along, some more prep and painting plus VHTIing the airbox shortly, etch primed for better adhesion.
Reservoir repaired, a number of holes apparent. Cavillito have new ones online, but not in stock
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Reservoir inside pic
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Having dismounted the fuel sender, ( fossilized cork!) and removed cover, what are the odds it will work?
P
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I got my Appia fuel sender working and it looked a lot worse than yours. It was so covered in corrosion it did not even look like a car part. I bought a board of 8 mm cork sheet to make a float. Many hours of scraping and WD40 and it came back to life. Very satisfying. I have a load of cork left over so either tell me the dims of the float and I will make you one or I will send you some of the cork sheet.
Cheers
Simon
07785-231635
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I am afraid my experience with my B12 sender unit was not so positive. It had stopped working (actually jammed at 1/3 tank and I did not realise till I ran out of fuel...). I freed it off and electrically it was working and the float had not died, but the mechanics has suffered sever corrosion. I did put it back in the tank but when it stuck again showing 1/3 full when I had filled the tank Idecided that fuel gauge was quite important on a thirsty car like the Aurelia so I bought a remanufactured sender from Cavallito and it has worked ever since...
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I have a pretty good idea of the MPG of the Appia, both cruising and around town. I keep a log of the fuel uplift and usage so regardless of the fuel gauge I reckon I know the quantity in the tank to within 5% or 2 litres. Flying aircraft with either dodgy fuel gauges or none at all has given me good training. You may be interested to know that big aircraft like Boeings and Airbuses do not need serviceable fuel gauges to fly. There was a famous incident in Canada 25 years ago when a Boeing 767 of Air Canada ran out of fuel and glided to a safe(ish) landing. The company had recently changed their units of fuel from pounds to Kilograms and the crew asked the re-fuelers to pump in 20,000. The re-fuelers assumed 20,000 lbs but the Captain wanted and needed 20,000Kgs. Without fuel gauges an accident was bound to happen. We call it RIRO. Rubbish In Rubbish OUT. Google the "Gimli Gilder". Makes fascinating reading. Also this incident is an episode of Air Accident Investigations. The rules about flying without fuel gauges was not changed after this incident.
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I am afraid my experience with my B12 sender unit was not so positive. It had stopped working (actually jammed at 1/3 tank and I did not realise till I ran out of fuel...). I freed it off and electrically it was working and the float had not died, but the mechanics has suffered sever corrosion. I did put it back in the tank but when it stuck again showing 1/3 full when I had filled the tank Idecided that fuel gauge was quite important on a thirsty car like the Aurelia so I bought a remanufactured sender from Cavallito and it has worked ever since...
Hi Simon, thank you for the float offer, I was advised by another member that the cork was originally coated in shellac and that the 5/10% addition of ethanol to petrol will dissolve this, suggested a brass float from an older SU carburettor, or am sure a modern plastic float would do?
P
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I used lacquer on my cork float and hopefully by using Esso 99 which, reputably, is 0% ethanol it will last as long as Lancia originally managed (about 60 years). I have had to tweak it a couple of times to get it to work reliably (straightening the wire and getting the balance between buoyancy and weightiness correct). Also needed to adjust the low level sender contact a couple of times but now all seems to work OK and the red low level light comes on at, I think, about 6 or 7 liters. All in all a very interesting and rewarding project, but If I had charged myself the man hours, even at minimum wage, I could have bought a new one from Cavalitto many times over.
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Things have settled down for my mechanic plus the months effective delay as Cavillito was closed has passed. so work now continues.
There were one or two issues with new loom, which will be sorted shortly. The carburetor ( which my mechanics dad would have worked on if he had been well) had been passed to another carburetor guy ( along with a full kit), and taking into account Chris Gawnes experience and advice with working on same.
A further consignment of parts due tomorrow to allow refurbishment of steering linkages etc. At same time front brakes have been dismantled for rebuilding, again taking much advice from several members about relining and setting up. New cylinders to be fitted, shoe bearings ok, as is spring.
Front bearings also being swopped out and seals.
Steering box, cleaned out, new needle bearings inserted, refilled with EP140 oil , steering column connected
Work is ongoing for both door lock and boot lock.
Work ongoing prepping petrol tank, also applied crackle finish to airbox, think I need to cure it too.
New outer door handles obtained, remainder door furniture to be rechromed, plus other smaller parts, (timescale 10-12 weeks)
Radiator to be refurbished in coming weeks.
P
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Noting curious markings on shoes, reckon the linings had "slipped" or become part detached, hence advice on riveting and bonding, dually noted
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Brakes, first time seeing light in 50-60 years
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He also remarked that for some reason one side was better maintained than the other, why one wonders.
Cylinder looking sorry for itself
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As in grease found!
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Many small jobs remain to be completed.
One of which is to refurbish the boot lock/ handle combo, specifically the lock barrel as it didn't have a key, plus as you can see it needs rechromed.
The little locating bar tagged onto a "V" shaped little spring was released, this then allowed the barrel to be tapped through from the inside.
But then spent an hour releasing the glass inside due to a type of putty keeping it in place, then cleaning it!
New barrel with key to be installed at a later date.
P
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Be careful when rechroming as it adds more metal than back in the day and things like locks are hard to refit.
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Unsure of metallurgy of said lock, it's hard to know how it will take the rechroming full stop. I'll certainly mention it, assuming they can "tailor" their process, or bypass/lessen one or more of the layering of the various coats
P
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More progress, steering arms ball joints fitted plus new cups. Bush fitted too. Now more more tight and fluid on moving.
Brake drums were within tolerance, so ground to the relevant "rough" finish. Both front bearings and seal replaced, backplate in good condition, cleaned and painted.
Brake shoes will be back next week
Petrol tank, lower half , bituminous paint finish scrapped off, found two earlier braised repairs, but metal in remarkable condition after 70 years, primed and will be recoated in bituminous paint by Friday.
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A few more pics
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Back plate, cylinders, bearings, seal in situ
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Some more
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Cracking on !
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Great Frank, got the wind in your sails!
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We'd visited the shed were the remainder parts were stored since 2012. Came across the last pieces of mats, consisting of the boot mat, two front sill strips, tunnel mat (virtually torn in two) and 1 rear passenger rubber mat, thought the rears were carpets?
So Autoglym product in hand I set about the worse one to see if it could save this awful looking mat from the bin.
So 3 hard warm water and liquid detergent scrubs later it looked like this, things were not looking good at all.
Then after a solid hour going over and over the very worst stain it looks like this.
Might do another bit at it tomorrow, but I'd say a 97% improvement!
P
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Nice little brass stud at one corner.....says ITALY or...and AB
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The mats look great ! - Patinated .... very acceptable
Ironically, nowadays we spend loads of time cleaning up the rubber mats and then protecting them with carpet. Before, we used to put protective rubber mats over the carpets !
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Whilst on cleaning and prep duties, decided to clean up brake pipes, not looking to bad after 70 years. Now to be used as a template, renew in copper or the other material?
Do I need to replace the junction/crucifix part or what else need replaced ?
Best place to source pipes plus ends?
P
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The go to place for brake pipes used to be Automec who supplied tailored kits for many cars, even an AC Aceca-Bristol!. Their off the shelf Lancia range only covers Fulvia and Beta. Sadly they don't list Aurelia but given the lengths they might make up a set with the correct unions. The other obvious route is to buy a coil of the correct size pipe, a pipe making kit and reuse your existing unions. It isn't difficult to do and is very satisfying.
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Buy a new coil of copper pipe and a brake pipe flaring kit. Its an easy job. Or why not use the old pipes if they arent damaged?
Chris
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Frank and Chris, I'll let mechanic inspect first, he's done brake pipes many times ( just in case anything Aureliaesque he hasn't encountered before!). They looked pretty good from my uncritical eye.
And the same applies to cruciform junction and tap arrangement?
P
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Both distributor and carburetor have been fully refurbished. Done by a specialist about an hours drive away, turns out we went to same school!
The parts and overhaul kit from Cavillito were of good quality and no issues fitting. He had concerns about that seemingly "inconsequential" part, but critical part, the condenser. He's had so many issues with these for all sorts of cars that he commissioned a "transistor" style replacement, but the condenser supplied was fine.
He calibrated and tested same to his satisfaction and it met the usual test parameters.
The carburetor was in good condition overall, required quite a bit of cleaning, ultrasound too, again kit all went in as expected. He'd thought he'd have to skim the base for a good airtight fit, but it was fine. He was happy with outcome.
P
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The local company who'd said they could reline my brake shoes quoted quite a bit more than Industrial Brakes, actually just relining them as I type !
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Forgot the strip down pic
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ultrasonic clean and airline. will come up very nice
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Meanwhile the order from Cicognani arrived, just took 2 1/2 weeks to get here!
This is what €1000 of rubber parts looks like. Both screen rubbers (add another €550 odd) to follow after Xmas
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