duncanmartin
Club Retro Rides Member
Out of retro ownership
Posts: 1,320
Club RR Member Number: 70
|
1985 Lancia Beta Volumexduncanmartin
@duncanmartin
Club Retro Rides Member 70
|
|
|
|
Any further news on this?
If you don't already know, there is a group called BetaBoyz that make replacement parts and panels for them - if you aren't joined up then you should.
The main rust problem was with the back of the front subframe - it was a "U" section that trapped water and rusted through in no time. After a couple of years they changed it to an "n" section (might have just flipped it upside down), and that resolved the designed in rust problem, but short of galvanising them properly (as they did with the Thema), 70s steel, paint, and production techniques meant that rust was always a problem. I've been doing my research, as I'm considering an HPE Volumex!
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 26, 2020 13:29:37 GMT
|
|
Man I love a good Beta! Always had an idea in the back of my head about making a 'Beta Integrale' by getting AWD running gear into one of these. Think that idea might be a bit of a pipe dream at the moment given the rising price of these now. Much harder to find one for peanuts, even rusted.
I remember one of the main issues with their rusty reputation was caused by importer practices here. The UK bulk importer at the time would store them in a field before they were distributed to dealers, rather than on a proper concrete hardstanding. Thanks to the poor logistics of the time they could be there months before they actually found their way to dealers, meaning they'd already had a rough life before they were even sold!
There's another area around the bulkhead where there's a drain hole. The UK importer saw that, thought 'that doesn't look right' and put a grommet in it. Turns out it's a drain hole so the bulkhead trapped water on UK cars, exacerbating the rust.
Funny how reputations are made...
|
| |
|
|
duncanmartin
Club Retro Rides Member
Out of retro ownership
Posts: 1,320
Club RR Member Number: 70
|
1985 Lancia Beta Volumexduncanmartin
@duncanmartin
Club Retro Rides Member 70
|
Jun 26, 2020 15:05:01 GMT
|
Man I love a good Beta! Always had an idea in the back of my head about making a 'Beta Integrale' by getting AWD running gear into one of these. Think that idea might be a bit of a pipe dream at the moment given the rising price of these now. Much harder to find one for peanuts, even rusted. Did you ever see the Yntegrale? I only heard about it, but the pictures are wild.  |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 26, 2020 23:20:53 GMT
|
An old photoshop mashup I did years back. Don´t let it sway you in any way though.  |
| |
Last Edit: Jun 26, 2020 23:21:39 GMT by horrido
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 30, 2020 11:28:35 GMT
|
Yep. Both of those are stone cold awesome. Do it! You know it's the right thing!  |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Any further news on this? If you don't already know, there is a group called BetaBoyz that make replacement parts and panels for them - if you aren't joined up then you should. The main rust problem was with the back of the front subframe - it was a "U" section that trapped water and rusted through in no time. After a couple of years they changed it to an "n" section (might have just flipped it upside down), and that resolved the designed in rust problem, but short of galvanising them properly (as they did with the Thema), 70s steel, paint, and production techniques meant that rust was always a problem. I've been doing my research, as I'm considering an HPE Volumex! I know, you thought about buying mine!   |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 26, 2020 13:38:47 GMT
|
|
Nice cars.
I mean they made the Hf ie Integrale, 007 etc etc.
And people desire subaru's now???
|
| |
|
|
bricol
Part of things
Posts: 290 
|
|
Aug 26, 2020 13:57:37 GMT
|
|
Owned two coupes, two HPEs, one spyder . . . and still get tempted . . . and of course, I chucked all the "worthless" spares I had years ago - the trim panel over the pedals everyone kicked off, the rear window louvres, roller blind . . . fantastic handling car, especially in bad weather.
I always thought an integrale version might be interesting - but I think it might have been brute force wrecking a nicely handling car with too much weight up front, having owned two integrales (still got one).
I still try to educate the ones who think "rust" when it was only Lancia buying back series one saloons with the failing engine mount and the Mirror getting wind of it, when every other car on sale at the time rusted as fast but the manufacturers didn't try to sort it - Austin 1100 needing the owner to buy new subframes for the first MOT anyone?
Still, double edged sword - the reputation meant I could own and drive some fantastic cars when a poor student/graduate
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 26, 2020 14:02:00 GMT
|
|
Yeah I'm slightly miffed that peope seem to have realised that these are cracking cars before I've managed to pick one up. They're getting a bit of a value they deserve now, which is good for their survivability but bad for any pending Lancia habit...
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 31, 2020 12:19:48 GMT
|
Lovely cars, I do like Lancia styling - always classy. This has to be worth saving or putting away as an investment, look into numbers remaining if you are considering breaking/scrapping it. They were not common even when I had mine. For your fuel problem, I think there's a safety switch that cuts the fuel pump if pressure drops (crash etc), see if you can find this and bypass it. There's an access panel for the fuel pump under the back seat - just run a bypass wire direct to the pump for testing. I've had a Beta coupe (not volumex) and HF Martini turbo (fwd version of 4wd Integrale). Lessons learned: They like to rust. My Beta ate crank bearings when it wanted attention (knocking big ends twice in 3 years - once due to an emergency stop with low oil!)... Beware - I like to push the limits of cars, these are hi-power fwd sportscars and *very* tail happy. One Beta buyers guide said "check the boot floor for creases - lots of cars have crashed backwards" ! I sold the Beta when I lost the back end on a country road (not braking - I just eased off the throttle on a curve), sold the Martini and the chap who bought it put it into a hedge backwards after less than a month. By the time I sold the Martini I could do controlled drifts on roundabouts (no brakes needed). They will bite if you don't respect them. Bookmarked  |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hi everyone,
Thanks for all the comments and apologies for the delay, I am going to get back in the habit of coming on here often as i love reading about all the projects going on and update on mine. At the moment there is no update in terms of progress on the Volumex. The car is in a garage around the corner from my parents still, but I live 50 miles away. Covid has hit all the plans i had for this year what with lockdown and whatnot preventing me getting over to it and my Delta to finish off. I am also doing some serious renovations to both my girlfriends house, and also my own house now, which is taking up what little spare time I have.
I love this car to bits, and want what is best for her. As reluctant as i am, i am thinking it maybe best to sell her to someone who has the time for her and can get her back on the road and her former glory. I still have my Delta HF Turbo ahead of her in the car queue to finish, as well as a couple of niggles with my Thema which i need to get round to. What with the houses it maybe a couple more years before she gets a serious look in and start work on her which isn't really fair on her. I will advertise here first before eBay i think in he classifieds. Anyone interested is welcome to come and view, and transportation wise i am even happy to deliver her for fuel price to save Transport costs if needed.
|
| |
|
|
