Update:
Yesterday I took the Fiat Campagnola out for a one hour drive to test it in the heat (112 degrees in the shade!). In the first ten minutes it stalled. A few minutes under the hood routed it out as the engine being starved for gas. The second fuel filter was constricting the flow and was all silted, so now it's down to just one in-line filter. What happened was that after sitting for a while the ethanol mixed into modern gasoline picks up water from the air and separates from the gasoline, forming a layer of grain alcohol in the bottom of the gas tank. If you have a fiberglass tank it will eat through the resin ruining the tank, or if you have a steel gas tank like I do (though your one probably doesn't double as the driver's seat)it will slowly corrode the metal. The rust washes around in the tank until it eventually goes into the pickup line, where it goes on to clog filters. Eventually, it can wear out fuel pumps and rust out the bottom of the tank. The fix, cleaning out the tank and coating it with a special paint is what I have yet to do.
Anywho, after pulling out the extra filter, it ran like a clock, sitting in DC traffic and climbing uphill way up in third gear without any hesitation. I took along my infrared thermometer and logged the temperature of critical points every few minutes. The only anomalies were 1) the speedometer/odometer wasn't registering, so I had to use the TomTom to clock speed and mileage and 2) the driver's side front wheel was running at only a one or two degrees above outside temperature, even after heavy braking, which means that for whatever reason that brake is not working.
Overall, it made a better run than I had anticipated: No coolant leaking into the oil, no trouble on hills, after removing the second filter, it never even thought of stalling, and it got the typical, "hey! what kinda car is that?" "how much would you sell that for?" &c... :P
On the list of needed repairs and improvements to come in the next few weeks:
1) order five (four and one spare) 6-ply 600-16 Firestone NDT military tires and six inner tubes (enough for all five and a replacement tube) about 550$ with shipping and handling included
2) find and install a front axle or repair the double u-joint on the one I have at least $200, probably closer to $300 either way I do it (found good cross bearing at around 15 euros plus postage!!!)
3) service front driver side brake (it may just need to be bled.)
4) rebuild gas tank ~$25 (in progress, parts in the mail)
5) fabricate heat shield for fuel line ~$10
6) new cap and rotor for distributor ~$10
7) fix speedometer
8) strap exhaust pipe
9) drill & tap exhaust flange receive new bolt and form better seal
10) check fluid levels in transmission, reduction gear, steering gear, and differentials, and top-up where needed
11) wire in 12VDC to 120VAC 750W inverter.
12) find voltage leak
13) set aim on head lights
14) bend goosenecks into wing-mirror posts so that they don't block the doors
15) service shock absorbers (check seals, refill hydraulic fluid)
16) fabricate new fuel level sensor
17) get wheels balanced
18) align wheels and set correct camber
19) fix wipers and wiper fluid nozzles
20) adjust clutch
21) adjust handbrake
22) fabricate bracket for passenger's side front fender to keep siren and convex mirror from shaking on highway
23) install winch
24) paint wheels
In short, enough to keep me busy for most of the rest of the summer. The only thing on the list that's really urgent is to replace the old tires, in the long run I have more to do on it, (new paint, new top, new wiring harness, full conversion to 12 volts DC from 24 volt military system, reinstall old waterproof distributor, find and rebuild a Mercedes-Benz om616 diesel engine (probably by taking apart an old 240d) to replace current FIAT 1901 gasoline engine when it eventually wears out, soundproof/insulate cab, replace brake system, resurface clutch, replace brake pads, fabricate tailgate, relocate gas tank out from under seat to hazardous location, sew new upholstery, rebuild current engine to replace Mercedes-Benz OM616 when it eventually wears out) but that's all for another time
On the non-automotive side of things, I replaced the old back door to the house, as the old one was starting to fall apart The new one looks great, and seals close enough that it can't slam with the storm door closed. On the academic front, I still have no word on what I'll be doing for school this fall, so I may start looking at technical schools (learning to draft, paint, weld, fly, sail, &c...). I'll certainly take advantage of my time off from college to travel around and enrich myself, hopefully racking up a few college credits, and seeing a few far-off places. Hopefully I'll be able to visit a few friends from Skidmore and Mercersburg. I feel like I'll lose touch with many of them if I don't make an effort to drop by every once in a while.
My older brother and sister seem to be doing pretty well lately, My brother is proudly working his way to become a Lieutenant-JG on board possibly the most futuristic destroyer in the world, out in San Diego, and my sister is enjoying her job as an internet game tester up in Northampton, Mass.. My little brother is being a little brother.
Anyhow, that's about all I have for print right now. More to come later, but I have lots to do around the house. In general, things have been better and they've been worse, so I think I'm alright right now.
Edit: After a quick examination, the speedometer is fine, but is driven by the front driveshaft. It's not turning because it takes both front semi-axles to drive the front driveshaft and one is removed for servicing or replacement. So that simplifies things a little bit.
Anywho, after pulling out the extra filter, it ran like a clock, sitting in DC traffic and climbing uphill way up in third gear without any hesitation. I took along my infrared thermometer and logged the temperature of critical points every few minutes. The only anomalies were 1) the speedometer/odometer wasn't registering, so I had to use the TomTom to clock speed and mileage and 2) the driver's side front wheel was running at only a one or two degrees above outside temperature, even after heavy braking, which means that for whatever reason that brake is not working.
Overall, it made a better run than I had anticipated: No coolant leaking into the oil, no trouble on hills, after removing the second filter, it never even thought of stalling, and it got the typical, "hey! what kinda car is that?" "how much would you sell that for?" &c... :P
On the list of needed repairs and improvements to come in the next few weeks:
1) order five (four and one spare) 6-ply 600-16 Firestone NDT military tires and six inner tubes (enough for all five and a replacement tube) about 550$ with shipping and handling included
2) find and install a front axle or repair the double u-joint on the one I have at least $200, probably closer to $300 either way I do it (found good cross bearing at around 15 euros plus postage!!!)
3) service front driver side brake (it may just need to be bled.)
4) rebuild gas tank ~$25 (in progress, parts in the mail)
5) fabricate heat shield for fuel line ~$10
6) new cap and rotor for distributor ~$10
7) fix speedometer
8) strap exhaust pipe
9) drill & tap exhaust flange receive new bolt and form better seal
10) check fluid levels in transmission, reduction gear, steering gear, and differentials, and top-up where needed
11) wire in 12VDC to 120VAC 750W inverter.
12) find voltage leak
13) set aim on head lights
14) bend goosenecks into wing-mirror posts so that they don't block the doors
15) service shock absorbers (check seals, refill hydraulic fluid)
16) fabricate new fuel level sensor
17) get wheels balanced
18) align wheels and set correct camber
19) fix wipers and wiper fluid nozzles
20) adjust clutch
21) adjust handbrake
22) fabricate bracket for passenger's side front fender to keep siren and convex mirror from shaking on highway
23) install winch
24) paint wheels
In short, enough to keep me busy for most of the rest of the summer. The only thing on the list that's really urgent is to replace the old tires, in the long run I have more to do on it, (new paint, new top, new wiring harness, full conversion to 12 volts DC from 24 volt military system, reinstall old waterproof distributor, find and rebuild a Mercedes-Benz om616 diesel engine (probably by taking apart an old 240d) to replace current FIAT 1901 gasoline engine when it eventually wears out, soundproof/insulate cab, replace brake system, resurface clutch, replace brake pads, fabricate tailgate, relocate gas tank out from under seat to hazardous location, sew new upholstery, rebuild current engine to replace Mercedes-Benz OM616 when it eventually wears out) but that's all for another time
On the non-automotive side of things, I replaced the old back door to the house, as the old one was starting to fall apart The new one looks great, and seals close enough that it can't slam with the storm door closed. On the academic front, I still have no word on what I'll be doing for school this fall, so I may start looking at technical schools (learning to draft, paint, weld, fly, sail, &c...). I'll certainly take advantage of my time off from college to travel around and enrich myself, hopefully racking up a few college credits, and seeing a few far-off places. Hopefully I'll be able to visit a few friends from Skidmore and Mercersburg. I feel like I'll lose touch with many of them if I don't make an effort to drop by every once in a while.
My older brother and sister seem to be doing pretty well lately, My brother is proudly working his way to become a Lieutenant-JG on board possibly the most futuristic destroyer in the world, out in San Diego, and my sister is enjoying her job as an internet game tester up in Northampton, Mass.. My little brother is being a little brother.
Anyhow, that's about all I have for print right now. More to come later, but I have lots to do around the house. In general, things have been better and they've been worse, so I think I'm alright right now.
Edit: After a quick examination, the speedometer is fine, but is driven by the front driveshaft. It's not turning because it takes both front semi-axles to drive the front driveshaft and one is removed for servicing or replacement. So that simplifies things a little bit.