New Fulvia owner

[Chasm61]

Heya Bill.

Congratulations! I posted my "proud father of a new US Fulvia" back in October. My car was also imported from Italy, but I didn't actually go there to do the shopping. I used an agent in Florida who went back and forth. Fair deal, but yours looks to be in MUCH nicer condition overall. Like others, I'm jealous but mostly happy for you!

Believe it or not, my car arrived in TX about a month ago. I got to drive it straight to my mechanic (a good Ferrari, Alfa, Fiat guy my club recommended) and haven't seen it since! It's not that it needs so very much work, rather he just didn't have it scheduled so my car sits to be worked on "time allowing". I'm DYING to get it back... like a kid with a new toy at Christmas that my parents won't let me play with yet!

When I do get it back though, every single mechanical issues promises to be sorted out, right down to greasing the CV joints. In the meantime, I've spent about 500 bucks on baubles and add-ons. Mine's a '75 3rd series (like your '74) and I don't really like that "rubber" steering wheel, so I bought a Nardi, hub adaptor, horn, etc... and shifter knob too. My car has an interior that is VERY well maintained - such a shame it's that FUGGLY mint green color. I'm going to redo it completely after I've had a chance to enjoy the car some.

Anyway, CONGRATS and welcome to the show!
Chas

[Randy Adams]

Terrific, and very funny, story. By "Lancia 2000," do you mean the final Flavia model? Was it so bad? We never got it here in the States.

[Randy Adams]

Prepare for a dumb question, Huib: What are the symptoms of a bad condensor? I don't change them on my Flaminias very often at all and I have a persistent inscrutable problem on one car. When the car is being used in very warm weather, after about 5 to 10 miles it starts to lose power as if it is starving for fuel. If I take my foot off the throttle it idles fine, but if I attempt to accelerate--sorry, no go. In cooler weather, no problem. I've changed the (electric) fuel pump, pulled and disassembled and cleaned the carburetor and replaced the coil (with a lovely NOS Marelli Superpotente). I think I replaced the condensor early on in this problem but I'm no longer sure of that.

[Stephan Protzen]

Congrats Bill
As you may have seen I imported my Fulvia also, without problems.
Ironically I also had problems with the plugs fouling ( wet with fuel ) Mine had Champion so I changed to NGK BP7ES still I had occasional problems. Now, I live at 5350' so I changed to larger air jets and that sollved it. I also travell for business and in fact will be in ATL later in Nov. and would love to see your Fulvia if it works out.
Stephan
Sam, let us know what info you want about our Fulvias.
70 plus is great! In all my travels I have seen only 2 Fulvia's,( except when I drove with the Italians on Route 66) 1 in SanFrancisco (red) and one in Napa (also red but not the same car).

[Ralph de Masi]

Sam,

I was an ALC member many years ago so you may or may not have my Fulvia details on that database. Let me know what information you'd be looking to list/verify.

[Ed Levin]

Sam

Let's share this responsibility; I think I'm actually not quite ready to give it up entirely. But so far I've only dealt with the coupes--it should be expanded to cover all Fulvia types--so there's plenty of leg work to share. I'll contact you off-list.

Ed

[Chasm61]

Hey Ed...

I still plan to register with the ALC as you suggested right after I got my car. I'm waiting though until I actuallly GET my car... back from the shop. Is my '75 S3 one the 71 you mention? I'll make sure I send you or Sam or whoever the details requested to update the registry.

Thanks!
Chas

[Ed Levin]

Chas

The registry that I'm cobbling together is entirely separate from joining the ALC, although the membership form will ask you for details of your car as well. You can of course join the ALC even *before* you get your car back from the shop...

And I'll contact you off-list for details, but I'm already counitng your car among the 72 Fulvia coupes (now including Ralph de Masi's) known to me.

Ed

[Chasm61]

Thanks Ed.

Got your email and will follow-up with the details requests *when I get my car back*...
And yes, the last name on my mailbox is correct.

Regards...Chas

[Huib Geurink]

Depends how the condensor failed. If it turned into a short, there is no spark at all. If it became open circuit the voltage will surge and destroy points and possibly insulation of the wire inside the coil.
Failure situations in between result in erratic behaviour. A condensor which is good at low temp, but bad at high temp is a known failure mechanism for condensors.