My 79 Beta spyder 2000

[deks]

So, Ive already done my new member post but thought I'd start my cars story here.

I bought this end of July on a whim I guess you could say. Ive a limited budget and been unsure what I actually wanted ranging from 1950's upto 2000's. I really wanted something Tax exempt and had a preference for a V8 RWD Nothing worthwhile was coming up in my sub £3k budget running or otherwise. I follow multiple auctions and then saw this Lancia Beta Spyder 2000. I worked on these as an 18 year old as my boss was an italian so we saw a lot of Italian cars come in. I am very aware of the issues with tin worm though in fairness anything built in the 70's 80's suffers from that problem. I am very much a Ford man and my 40+ years of car ownership would show, however theres a few too many noughts on classic Fords for me and this also to me makes them unusable in the real world and I want to be able to use mine classic daily if I so choose. 
So i out a bid on of £2000 un seen as for that money I wasn't wasted a weekend driving to North Yorkshire to view it. Should I have done quite probably given what i have since found needs attention. Would I have seen them all had I viewed definitely not. Would it have made a difference hard to say but at £2k most likely not. So my maiden bid wa the only bid the seller wanted nearer £3k but I wouldn't go to that and I agreed on £2250 plus charges so car was mine for £2450 plus delivery fee of £190.  on arrival I thought every thing was great and good to go however since its been here I have found the following so far that needs attention some of it urgent

Core plug missing on front of block
fuel leak near the tank
rear roof needs replacing
carpet needs replacing for original one not the home made it has
sticking brakes
drivers door glass frame need a repair as its bending due to rust where it meets the door frame
both rear quarters have visible signs of rust around the joint with the sills
front edge of bonnet needs work
bodywork is generally ok but its clear its been done before
noisy exhaust that needs looking at due to slight blow at a joint
gear linkage
new battery
cam belt and tensioners
full service
spare set of keys

So am I going to fix the faults and use or am I going to do the right thing and strip it and restore it fully now
I genuinely dont know largely because at this moment in time I would struggle to finance a full resto right now
I will definitely being doing the urgent things like core plug and fuel leak as i really need to run the engine up to see how it performs

So here is the start of my journey and I will return here with updates and questions which I know I will have
actually to start how do I know which of the two horse power engines they seem to list when stating this car and does it make a difference on any of the parts it will need.

[peteracs]

Hi

Glad you are not instantly horrified at what you found, probably normal for a £2k one of these cars now.

A full resto will be expensive, especially given your comments unless you do all the work yourself. If the door is bad, go for a n other if you can find one. The lower lpart is common to the Coupe, the difference is the upper frame.

Bonnets are harder as most do rot, especially along the front edge.

The sills are very common rot points as are the floors in the Spider, also check the A pillar inside the front wings, though hopefully you have the wing liners.

On my Spider the rear turrets were badly rotted out, mainly around the base.

Really odd to have a core plug missing (ice damage?)

You can check the engine code which is stamped on the block just above the oil filter housing. Your badge implies 2l which would make sense as most later cars were 2l.

My restoration is here (long) if you want to see what I found.....

http://lanciabeta.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1936.0

Peter

[deks]

No not horrified at all. In some ways given its a 46 year old Lancia I am quite surprised how solid it seems. There is evidence i can see that some one has been round it before and I expect the sills for one are not original and given how solid the floor feels I'd guess this too isnt original but when I take the seats and carpet out I will get a better look.

Core plug issue is at a guess due to it being laid up with no antifreeze in it and isnt a big job if I can work out the size of core plug and buy one otherwise its a box of them off ebay

Mine is a 2.0  but they list an 83 hp and 115hp version in some places I look like insurance quotes etc

I’ve had my head under the bonnet of cars since I was 6. I’ve rebuilt more than I can remember
So hoping to do much of the work myself but haven’t yet decided about bodywork. I am sure I can do it but unsure if I can give it the finish a pro would it’s also been 30+ years since I’ve embarked e I’ve been near a welder.

I am waiting for the V5 to return as had to apply with a V62 hopefully that may have more info on it but no problem if it doesnt

[peteracs]

Hi Steve

In the U.K. there were 3 versions of the 2l, carb, IE and VX (Spider only had carb in U.K.). The 83hp sounds like it may be the US version, which was a de tuned version for their emission rules. Typical power for U.K. carb would be 115.

Check with Mark re the core plugs, see

https://353652584127257704.weebly.com/store/p494/40mm_Core_plugs.html

Peter

[Nigel]

deks,
As Peter says, the core plug is 40mm, a common size I believe. I had to change
one of mine on my hpe.
Hope yours is accessible.

Good luck with the car,

Nigel

[deks]

Hi Steve

In the U.K. there were 3 versions of the 2l, carb, IE and VX (Spider only had carb in U.K.). The 83hp sounds like it may be the US version, which was a de tuned version for their emission rules. Typical power for U.K. carb would be 115.

Check with Mark re the core plugs, see

https://353652584127257704.weebly.com/store/p494/40mm_Core_plugs.html

Peter

Once again many thanks for the info

[deks]

deks,
As Peter says, the core plug is 40mm, a common size I believe. I had to change
one of mine on my hpe.
Hope yours is accessible.

Good luck with the car,

Nigel

its the one in the front of engine. it looks if i remove the starter and radiator I should have enough room to fit the new one in. Then hope there isnt another missing elsewhere

[Ferrit]

I guess you will find pdq when you pour water all over your feet :-)

[deks]

So my new axle stands arrived(wanted some with a bit more height and sturdiness to lift the car up higher than the cheap ones i had. Think I might regret this.

So first things is the wheel bolts which Ive asked about on a separate thread but more worrying is what I found with some ease just by looking and a prod with my finger.

This is going to go further than i wanted to go when I purchased but probably expected to find.

the pile of rust i pulled out of the sills with my hand

Think I need to dig further before I spend any money in case its too far and too much for me

[peteracs]

Hi Steve

That does look pretty bad, I would also look at around the base of the rear turrets (under the rear seats) and the floors which are the other favourite places to go.

Peter

[deks]

Hi Pete, Yes I am going to take the seats out this week if I get time in the evening and lift the carpets to see how the floor.

[deks]

are these the correct bolts for hold the discs on ? they are the same on all four just seem a bit large to me.
one rear disc needs replacing as the centre lip is half missing and the calliper that side is seized

[Ferrit]

Same on my Coupe and its pretty original.  You are right though, I thought the same when I removed the wheel.  You can buy from Betaboyz Spares a guide pin.

[deks]

So, I kind of think I know where I am headed with this car. It isn't what I intended but it is what it is. Before I spend any money its a case of investigate first to make sure it doesn't become an endless pit with no chance of being anywhere close to what its worth once its done and on the road. It's a classic and I haven't bought it to make a profit I bought it to enjoy(thats looks a bit further off than intended). So today I spent an hour on my return from London weekend away and have stripped the seats out and the carpet which clearly once graced someones lounge. theres more rust than I'd have liked but I am happy it seems mostly solid.  I think I am going to have to invest in a sand blaster or equivalent. 

[peteracs]

Hi Steve

That is not too horrific so far on the floor, so not too bad as you say. You do however have to check the rear inner wings which will mean taking out the rear quarter cards etc.

Peter

[deks]

Hi Steve

That is not too horrific so far on the floor, so not too bad as you say. You do however have to check the rear inner wings which will mean taking out the rear quarter cards etc.

Peter

Yes Peter. That is in my mind as per our conversations. I did the seats today with the car under cover. The rear cards have some handle/arm rest ashtray thing that I could get off largely as I could see whether it was a screw head/bolt or unlikely a torx to get them off. When I meet you that’s something I want to discuss as they don’t look correct for the 1/4 cards. I will try to get them off this week one evening as I know I need to look at this area.  Then next on the list will be to fix the core plug and fuel leak so I can run the car up to temperature to check engine is ok.

[deks]

so  a bit more dismantling and some more holes. These ones concern me more than the others it has to be said. 
I do know my way around a car but a metal fabricator and welder I am not. 

[Ferrit]

I cant zoom in on those holes, where are they? 

There are all different levels of car refubs here in this Member Cars blogs.  Maybe look through and see if someone else has done similar and try and get a rough price?

[deks]

I cant zoom in on those holes, where are they? 

There are all different levels of car refubs here in this Member Cars blogs.  Maybe look through and see if someone else has done similar and try and get a rough price?

Today’s holes are in the rear wheel arches at the top of the turret mount.
I believe Peter(admin) has done this as it was him who advised me to check this area.
To be honest I have a very good friend down in Kent who I can ask to guide me on expected costs however it is my intention to have a go myself though I’ve never done fabrication or welding but seems the time is now to learn

[peteracs]

Hi Steve

Some of this will be familiar......

http://lanciabeta.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1936.0

Peter