ardea pickup.........THING!

[chugga boom]

getting fired up about starting on the beast nxt month, grale is now finished and ready for sale, got a few jobs to do on my fulvia so i can say its finished then work will commence, stroke of luck tonight i've managed to buy a supercharger which should hopefully arrive next week, will keep you all posted

[chugga boom]

WORK HAS COMENCED!!!!!! i've started on the beast, took a grinder to the back of the cab an cut out all the mess that someone had welded in in italy, could have done it with a screw driver or if i'd pushed from the inside i think it would have fell out!!!, must say though the standard of welding thats been done to the floors and sills is very good and i'm really pleased that "so far" its proving to be in excellent shape and a fairly straight forward project. Making the back of the cab is a challange but i'm really enjoying it, the morris back that i've bought is too wide but is a damn good basis to start with, its had its first fit this afternoon and i'm amazed at how different its starting to look and its nice to finally be able to move the seat back and sit in it!!!, will try to post some photo's over the weekend

[Sliding Pillar]

That's the difference between an Italian work and English work!  The cab was welded in Italy........ the floors amd sills were done by Colin Batholomew in England.

[chugga boom]

id kinda figured the cab was done in italy as i dont know any brit with legs short enough to get in it haha , who made the sills and inner wings? good shape to them

[Sliding Pillar]

Colin made and fitted them

[chugga boom]

As promised some pics of progress

[chugga boom]

and more.....

[fay66]

Looking real good, wish my Dad had taught me about Lancia's etc! in no way is this meant to denigrate your own excellent skills.

Brian
8227

[DavidLaver]

BRILLIANT!!

I was a bit confused thinking it had a sunroof until I realised the photo was on its side and I was looking at the drivers door.

What tool(s) do you use for cutting?

David

 

[JohnMillham]

It's looking promising. What about the supercharger? What make and model are you going to use? I had a couple of days driving my Augusta with the Arnott fitted. It went quite well, but was obviously not working as it should, so I have reverted to the SU while the blower is mended. It'll be great when it's working properly. Good luck with your project.
I attach a photo of the supercharger as first fitted to my Augusta.
 Regards, John

[chugga boom]

i use a small air saw for cutting and the little square clamps are from frost, billiant idea for butt welding panels, the supercharger is obviously modern but very small and compact which is what i need, there is no make on it but it was brand new and £205 + p&p, will take some pics this week and post them, and of progress too, thanks for your interest all its nice to have encouragement 

[Sliding Pillar]

It's looking good!  What you really ought to do though is get rid of that big rear window and replace it with a pair of Aprilia rear windows, but upside down. This is what Lancia used as the back windows on the Ardea van, it would give it that vintage look........ and with your welding skills it wouldn't be that much extra work.........

[Scarpia]

John,

supercharger looks really nice.I've no idea how much extra power it might give but it will be interesting I'm sure.

[chugga boom]

had a stroke of luck today, i have tried for a couple of months to free the engine off with no succes at all other than tightening the crank nut even more, i gave up incase something broke and decided to loosen the crank nut off while the engine was in situe,anyway after i mild crack the engine suddenly decided it was free!!!!!, cant loosen the damn nut off now but with a little back n to the engine turns over freely!!! , The pickup is pretty much stripped now and most panels have gone for shotblasting, i'm getting the chrome together next and sending that off and hopefully while its all away i can finish the bodywork off, i'm aiming 4 months and into paint, ambitious but do-able..........i hope , keep you all posted and will put some more pics on soon

[Sliding Pillar]

Chrome??? there's hardly any on the Ardea save for the grille and headlamp rims, oh and hubcaps, most of the other bits are polished alloy, and the bumpers should be painted body colour. You wouldn't want to see the chroming bills for the Aurelia Cabriolet!