The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen......

[Parisien]

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?

P

[frankxhv773t]

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.

[chriswgawne]

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

[chriswgawne]

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.

[chriswgawne]

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

[Parisien]

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

[Parisien]

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

[chriswgawne]

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   

[simonandjuliet]

Plus, once things have been rechromed, they never seem to fit as well as they did before !

[Parisien]

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
.

P

[Parisien]

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

P

[Parisien]

Reservoir inside pic

P

[Parisien]

Having dismounted the fuel sender, ( fossilized cork!) and removed cover, what are the odds it will work?

P

[Spider2]

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

[lancialulu]

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...