mat wrote:
>
> ...
> I will measure the plates this weekend and post my findings,
> but as Phil comments, has no one been down this route before?
> Surely?
Indeed they have. My car came from the factory with aluminum panels, so I certainly can't speak from personal experience, but I dug up an article I recalled having read on the subject. In the May 1990 issue of Popular Classics, David Plumb wrote the following about trying to fit S1 aluminum doors to his S3 Coupe:
"As my car is a Series 3 model, it has steel boot, bonnet and door panels. These were badly rusted; the door bottoms had rusted out, and the bonnet had no lower lip left, so I decided to replace them with the aluminium panels fitted to earlier cars. I thought these rare panels would benefit the car by reducing its weight, and also increase its value. But I soon discovered that the alloy panels were virtually made to measure for each Series 1 Fulvia, and no amount of re-aligning would persuade them to fit my car. So after a lot of wasted time and effort, I had to resort to repairing my original panels, and then refitting them."
S1 aluminium doors
-
carlos
Re: S1 aluminium doors
Hi folks,
When I completly restored my S2 coupe, I fitted a pair of allu doors and it was (and it still is) a headache!
I had to replace the door locks and a lot of pacience to make them close, because the lack of weight against the rubbers. Plus, the allu doors are flexible, so the alignment of edges and recesses with the body is a almost impossible mission!
Good luck
Carlos
When I completly restored my S2 coupe, I fitted a pair of allu doors and it was (and it still is) a headache!
I had to replace the door locks and a lot of pacience to make them close, because the lack of weight against the rubbers. Plus, the allu doors are flexible, so the alignment of edges and recesses with the body is a almost impossible mission!
Good luck
Carlos
-
Bart Verbeek
Re: S1 aluminium doors
Ah,
Okay,
my mistake.
I've only played with naked zagato-doors.
Now alu coupé doors makes more sence!
Okay,
my mistake.
I've only played with naked zagato-doors.
Now alu coupé doors makes more sence!
-
Bart Verbeek
Re: S1 aluminium doors
Jay,
if the main reason is weight: I suggest:
rebuild your house like I did, I lost 10kgs; more than you'ld gain with the alu parts I guess.
And it's a win-win situation:
1. your wife happy: you did something constructive in the house ("in stead of those freakin' cars you love more than me")
2. you lost your beerbelly (in my case: I'm more skinny than I was before)
3. you don't have to allign your doors for a trillion times to become something that looks okay but isn't.
Losing weight is one thing, losing weight at right parts is another.
To become the best results you have to lose the weight in: upper& lower arm, brakes, axle... the parts that are situated before suspension takes care of balance.
(Aurelia has its brakes near gearbox - it has a 'sporty' reason)
if the main reason is weight: I suggest:
rebuild your house like I did, I lost 10kgs; more than you'ld gain with the alu parts I guess.
And it's a win-win situation:
1. your wife happy: you did something constructive in the house ("in stead of those freakin' cars you love more than me")
2. you lost your beerbelly (in my case: I'm more skinny than I was before)
3. you don't have to allign your doors for a trillion times to become something that looks okay but isn't.
Losing weight is one thing, losing weight at right parts is another.
To become the best results you have to lose the weight in: upper& lower arm, brakes, axle... the parts that are situated before suspension takes care of balance.
(Aurelia has its brakes near gearbox - it has a 'sporty' reason)
-
Jay Hinton
Re: S1 aluminium doors
Bart,
I am very pleased with your success with weight reduction, housework and doors that close on Fulvia Zagato.
Yet, my situation is different.
1. Wife is very happy when I am working on her S1 Fulvia Zagato. I get looks of adoration and receive many extra treats as well.
2. I don't have a beerbelly cause I don't drink beer. Okay, maybe there is something of a wine belly, but If I am going to drink those Burgundies, Bordeaux and Cabs, then its part of life.
3. doors seem to close just fine on all four Fulvias......maybe because they all have steel doors. (Note to self : need to replace with alu doors soon.)
4. I don't have to work on the house, its only five years old, though I do have plenty of work to do with house modifications and yardwork, tending to 1.6 hectares.
Ultimately, to my way of thinking, its better to do weight reduction surgery on the Fulvia than myself, its cheaper and the results last longer. When I need a quick weight reduction, I just drive around on half tanks of gas.......
If you come over for a visit, then we can work on your new wine belly, too.
Ciao, Jay
I am very pleased with your success with weight reduction, housework and doors that close on Fulvia Zagato.
Yet, my situation is different.
1. Wife is very happy when I am working on her S1 Fulvia Zagato. I get looks of adoration and receive many extra treats as well.
2. I don't have a beerbelly cause I don't drink beer. Okay, maybe there is something of a wine belly, but If I am going to drink those Burgundies, Bordeaux and Cabs, then its part of life.
3. doors seem to close just fine on all four Fulvias......maybe because they all have steel doors. (Note to self : need to replace with alu doors soon.)
4. I don't have to work on the house, its only five years old, though I do have plenty of work to do with house modifications and yardwork, tending to 1.6 hectares.
Ultimately, to my way of thinking, its better to do weight reduction surgery on the Fulvia than myself, its cheaper and the results last longer. When I need a quick weight reduction, I just drive around on half tanks of gas.......
If you come over for a visit, then we can work on your new wine belly, too.
Ciao, Jay
-
Bart Verbeek
Re: S1 aluminium doors
Lol Jay
Winebelly: no problemo! I'm on my way!
If you're located in europe, you could organise a sort of Fulvia-driving, wine-tasting meeting????
Huib; Lucas and I are organising the 4th Fulviameeting which started on the dutch forum. It isn't a lot of work, it's a lot of fun: TWICE! Once when organising and the second time with the other Fulvia-equipes!
Perhaps, if you're interested (or any one else off course!!!!!!) check out this page:
http://www.viva-lancia.com/assocat/calendar.htm#fulvia
You could bring some of that belly-making wine of yours, soo we can taste what you're talking about!
Ooo yezz, to stay on topic; we could slam some doors to see the diffirence between alu and steel doors. T
cheers!
ps: under my workbench in the garage is a crate of Duvel; so if you're in the north of Belguim...
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/222/695
ps2: picture from last years fulvia-meeting: we did some martini-brut tasting ourselves:
Winebelly: no problemo! I'm on my way!
If you're located in europe, you could organise a sort of Fulvia-driving, wine-tasting meeting????
Huib; Lucas and I are organising the 4th Fulviameeting which started on the dutch forum. It isn't a lot of work, it's a lot of fun: TWICE! Once when organising and the second time with the other Fulvia-equipes!
Perhaps, if you're interested (or any one else off course!!!!!!) check out this page:
http://www.viva-lancia.com/assocat/calendar.htm#fulvia
You could bring some of that belly-making wine of yours, soo we can taste what you're talking about!
Ooo yezz, to stay on topic; we could slam some doors to see the diffirence between alu and steel doors. T
cheers!
ps: under my workbench in the garage is a crate of Duvel; so if you're in the north of Belguim...
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/222/695
ps2: picture from last years fulvia-meeting: we did some martini-brut tasting ourselves:
-
johnny 48
Re: Barts losing weight
Bart, I've been body building (unsuccessfully) for years, trying to gain weight in my upper & lower arms...but I have no brakes. (yes, I am often "out of control & unstoppable")
I gave up trying to count all the axles (or joints, to be more accurate)I have in my body...elbows, knees, 3 on each finger, 2 on each toe ( I just checked), 2 hips etc.
In any case, I don't wish to lose weight - in any ? on any ? of these moving parts. I'll stay steel & won't crack.
By they way, if anyone really wishes to lose weight quickly, I will accept any overweight Fulvia, without complaints, as long as they are A1. No questions asked !
I gave up trying to count all the axles (or joints, to be more accurate)I have in my body...elbows, knees, 3 on each finger, 2 on each toe ( I just checked), 2 hips etc.
In any case, I don't wish to lose weight - in any ? on any ? of these moving parts. I'll stay steel & won't crack.
By they way, if anyone really wishes to lose weight quickly, I will accept any overweight Fulvia, without complaints, as long as they are A1. No questions asked !
-
johnny 48
Re: S1 aluminium doors
by the way everybody who has posted here...this is just great & just sooo fuuunnnnyyyy ! Thanx !
But, with lots of anti-rust oils; greases, treatments available...why would steel parts rust ?
I assume no one drives their Fulvia around in winter on salty roads these days ; or if they do, for example on a Winter-Raid, they wash / hose / steam it clean - as soon as possible.
Again...the ?'s are - can't steel panels,, frames etc... be treated to not rust;
can' they be galvanized & then painted & then grease treated to prevent the return of the red monster ?
Lats comment " hats off to those Ital-Artistains (sorry, I can't figure out how to spell this word right) who cut, welded, fitted, trimmed each door , hood, trunk (boot) panel for each Alu Fulvia; part Alu Fulvia.
I am sure they worked very-slowly !!
But, with lots of anti-rust oils; greases, treatments available...why would steel parts rust ?
I assume no one drives their Fulvia around in winter on salty roads these days ; or if they do, for example on a Winter-Raid, they wash / hose / steam it clean - as soon as possible.
Again...the ?'s are - can't steel panels,, frames etc... be treated to not rust;
can' they be galvanized & then painted & then grease treated to prevent the return of the red monster ?
Lats comment " hats off to those Ital-Artistains (sorry, I can't figure out how to spell this word right) who cut, welded, fitted, trimmed each door , hood, trunk (boot) panel for each Alu Fulvia; part Alu Fulvia.
I am sure they worked very-slowly !!