seat belts, BWA covers, air filter

[Marios]

Hi,

I have 3 questions and I hope somebody can help
a) I wanted to ask if the original seat belts on an S2 Coupe were the simple ones or automatic (existed actually automatic seat belts then?) I have both and I wonder which should I fit?
b) I would also be gratefull if someone could tell me where I can find the cups with the BWA-Lancia logo for the BWA rims for my S2 Coupe? The ones that I have unfortunately are in very bad condition (one is missing). Alternatively could I place there other lancia badge (if yes, where can I find them)?
c) And a last question: I see sometimes in Internet (ebay etc) trombets instead of an air-filter (example:
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... 3APIC&rd=1). Do they bring an improvement towards the original air filter? And what about dust etc?

I hope it is OK that I am asking 3 different questions on one thread

Thanks,
Marios

[Marios]

Hi,

Sorry to come again with this, but I would appreciate it if somone could help?

Thanks,
Marios

[Justin]

a) original belts were not auto-retracting, and usually had a jackplug-like buckle - these were the best, I think, often replaced by more conventional buckles.

b) I think you mean wheel-centre caps, and I don't know if anyone has new ones - I doubt it - Huib?? I've got a few used ones which may not be in better condition than yours - mail me.

c)There may be an advantage to using un-original trumpets to improve intake gasflow, but there must be a filter arrangement, too.
The standard airbox hides a set of trumpets, and houses an air filter, already.
No airbox makes the intake noise much louder which may or may not be to your taste, and will damage your cylinder bores, eventually.

Best, Justin

[Huib]

The later S2's may have had autoretracting belts. I am restoring an early S3 which arrived with original Lancia auto retracting belts. The retractor was mounted on the floor. I assume single acting

The early auto retracting belts however were single action. A hard pull locked the mechanism. This was:
a) unpractical. The mechanism reacted very sharply and made it necessary to pull out the belt very slowly.
b) not safe enough

Modern ones are double acting. They lock:
a) when the car flips over or is hit. This makes it necessary to mount the reel in the position it was designed for. As far as I know all have to be mounted with the axis horizontal. They can thus not be mounted under the rear quarter vent. The ones I sell are adjustable and can be mounted in any position.
b) when the belt is pulled hard. The mechanism does not react as sharply as on the single action ones. The can be pulled from the reel in a normal fashion to put them on.

Note that some get double acting belts from a wreckyard and remove the steel ball that causes the thing to lock when the reel is not in the correct position. These are not the same as original single action ones as they require a much stronger pull to lock.

I don't know about the BWA wheel caps.


Tests I have done with the airfilter on standard engines showed that what you gain in torque at high rpm, you loose at low rpm.
Changing the air filter is in my opinion only usefull as part of a total plan to increase engine power. The plan should include a rolling road tester to optimise the jetting. Note that the 1.6HF with 115HP and even the 1016 with 132 HP came with the same air filter as the 1300's.
No airfilter is bad for the cilinders and only to be recommended if you have a service team that replaces your engine overnight.
And the open trumpets pick up the air from the hottest part under the bonnet.

[Marios]

Thanks a lot for the answers. I will fit the retractable belts and I will try to find wheel badges with lancia logo to fit in the BWA's, and I will leave my airfilter as it is. You have been, as always, very helpful, thanks.

Marios