A Beta Spyder - Just a small project to keep me amused.....

[ncundy]

Looks like self adhesive "anti-booming" panels that you heat with a heat gun and shape around the panel contours?

[peteracs]

Hi David

It is sound deadening material which has an adhesive side and you simply warm and mould to shape. Apparently it works really well and you do not have to cover all of the panel, it acts as a damper for the panels. It also has the added benefit of providing a seal on the welding as well as I understand.

I have asked John to let me know the brand name on it as I do not have it to hand.

I was aiming to add some extra ones to a the front and rear bulkhead to reduce vibrations as well.

Peter

[peteracs]

Still waiting for a call on the brand name of the material, but in the mean time on with the photo show....

These are the passenger side rear seat area. As well as sorting the panels, a new rear seatbelt fixing plate was fabricated and included for both sides. The old ones were well corroded. Again the finished job had the matting applied as a last job.

[peteracs]

Ditto the drivers side rear seat..

[fay66]

In 101 and 103 there's a diamond pattern on the surface.  What's that?

David

Sorry hadn't seen page 2

[fay66]

In 101 and 103 there's a diamond pattern on the surface.  What's that?

David

not satisfied with not seeing page 2, I replied twice

[peteracs]

Not a problem, it is good to have a question or 2.

The final photos are of the repair work around the rear turrets, but in the boot. Note they had to cut out a section of the rear passenger bulkhead to gain access to the corroded area around some of the nearside rear turrent.

Near side rear turret photos (2 sections)

[peteracs]

Rest of near side rear turret

[chriswgawne]

Peter,
You are really brave and I take my hat off to you.
When Beta Spyders were sold new, I had a friend who was the Sales Manager at a large London Lancia agent and he was more than a little unhappy at the lack of paint, never mind underseal or rustprooofing on the hidden parts of the Spyders (which were built by Zagato I seem to remember?). This dealer actually started a programme of trying to remedy some of this I seem to recall by painting the inside of the doors etc! And of course the steel used wasnt wonderful then either.
Having said that, the Beta Spyders were well regarded from the driving and aesthetic point of view so I am sure you will feel the effort has been worthwhile when you have finished your 'small' project.

[HF_Dave]

I presume thats sound deadning material ? Exelent job, are the floor pans made by hand ? I restored a beta many years ago the photo's bring back any memories (not good ones)  The finished car should be great and you'l be sure

[peteracs]

Chris & Dave

Thanks for the words of encouragement. This was definitely an itch which needed to be scratched and even though it has been 6 months so far and a fair amount of cash spent, it has been an enjoyable experience, albeit most of the effort from my part has been answering questions and dismantling! I guess the hard part is to come for me in that the winter is not necessarily the most pleasant to work on a car and some of the jobs I have planned are not what you would call mentally taxing eg I aim to replace all the old crimp connectors.

As to the painting internally and underneath, I think this was probably the biggest failing of the car as some panels are pretty well not touched or just an undercoat layer. I think I read somewhere that you could take two cars produced the same day and the rust would appear in different places depending on where they sprayed the individual car (or rather missed spraying).

The material over the welds is a sound deadening sheet (stops mainly high freq vibrations of the panel) which I understand also acts to preserve the repair. I am trying to get the brand name for it.

The floor panels as with all the other repairs pieces were made in house by Tom.

Peter

[peteracs]

Drivers side rear turret in the boot

[peteracs]

The inner wing on the near side was not particularly bad, here are the photos of the repair

[DavidLaver]

I think picture 85 is my favorite.

With the rust all out and the wiring loom done you're going to be in clover.  Thinking about it even if you do have what others might call a major mechanical problem it will seem as nothing next to those tasks.

Its a fabulous and rare car - and even in winter that top will be down more than up - and you'd have earned every moment of the enjoyment you get from it.

Maybe that's a question for the others - is a Beta heater any good?  In a Midget the heater is bigger than the engine...

David

[peteracs]

David

Thanks for the encouragment, not sure I see me getting enough time to finally get it on the road before the Spring, but hopefully a 70s heater will be adequate.

Any comments would be appreciated on the subject.

Peter