Lancia Delta HPE - 18 months later, nearly back on the road.
Discussion
Back in 2000 I bought my Delta HPE from my friend, a fellow Lancia nut. He had driven it back from Italy to use as a daily drive but lent it to me and I had to have it, the understated looks but performance of an Integrale. A few weeks later it was mine.
17 happy years of ownership ensued and with various road trips to Le Mans, Italy, Scotland - many bills from a London specialist to keep it tip top and even becoming affectionately named Larry by everyone including the wife (tough gig), the Delta was a part of the family.
Then on a fateful day in Dec 2017 the engine packed up. I thought it was lack of petrol at first, then was told by the AA man it was a sensor (incorrect) so it ended up parked outside on the road whilst I waited for the garage to find a slot. A week later some lovely person decided to give it a war wound and without leaving a note (as if) - poor Larry was bound for the garage for more than a running issue.
A few hours later the garage called and uttered the words that still haunt me today, "how much do you love your car?". I didn't want to say "more than the wife" so asked what the problem was. The engine issue was basically untraceable and possibly the alarm/ECU and the small dent was a chassis/sub-frame/suspension bender. So all in all a lot of money had to be spent. I was crushed.
I went between thinking we've had some good times so let it go and thinking of course I need to get him fixed. The latter was my deciding thought so I made some calls and scoured eBay for the needed parts - after a year I got the car to a garage in Essex where a wizard found out the running issue was merely an air leak and the alarm did indeed need to be removed but the scare of a dead ECU were banished. I also found the relevant sub frame and bits from a guy in York who was happy to deliver for a very small price.
So now, after 18 months Larry is off to the menders on Friday. I found another nice garage in Essex who are going to bend it back into shape etc. Hopefully I will be able to post in a few weeks tales of happy driving, but the moral of this story is never give up hope on your little motor. And eBay can be your friend too...
Watch this space.
17 happy years of ownership ensued and with various road trips to Le Mans, Italy, Scotland - many bills from a London specialist to keep it tip top and even becoming affectionately named Larry by everyone including the wife (tough gig), the Delta was a part of the family.
Then on a fateful day in Dec 2017 the engine packed up. I thought it was lack of petrol at first, then was told by the AA man it was a sensor (incorrect) so it ended up parked outside on the road whilst I waited for the garage to find a slot. A week later some lovely person decided to give it a war wound and without leaving a note (as if) - poor Larry was bound for the garage for more than a running issue.
A few hours later the garage called and uttered the words that still haunt me today, "how much do you love your car?". I didn't want to say "more than the wife" so asked what the problem was. The engine issue was basically untraceable and possibly the alarm/ECU and the small dent was a chassis/sub-frame/suspension bender. So all in all a lot of money had to be spent. I was crushed.
I went between thinking we've had some good times so let it go and thinking of course I need to get him fixed. The latter was my deciding thought so I made some calls and scoured eBay for the needed parts - after a year I got the car to a garage in Essex where a wizard found out the running issue was merely an air leak and the alarm did indeed need to be removed but the scare of a dead ECU were banished. I also found the relevant sub frame and bits from a guy in York who was happy to deliver for a very small price.
So now, after 18 months Larry is off to the menders on Friday. I found another nice garage in Essex who are going to bend it back into shape etc. Hopefully I will be able to post in a few weeks tales of happy driving, but the moral of this story is never give up hope on your little motor. And eBay can be your friend too...
Watch this space.
Fair play, be good to see more pics when all fixed
I had an old Merc Coupe that kangarood'd a bit and was a bit down on power, no garage could ever fix it and said untraceable. I took it to an anonymous back street garage for an MOT, after the MOT they had the ECU out, re-soldered a couple of connections (or similar) and it ran beautifully , the best it ever ran. Somewhat ironic as I had to sell it a fortnight later!
I had an old Merc Coupe that kangarood'd a bit and was a bit down on power, no garage could ever fix it and said untraceable. I took it to an anonymous back street garage for an MOT, after the MOT they had the ECU out, re-soldered a couple of connections (or similar) and it ran beautifully , the best it ever ran. Somewhat ironic as I had to sell it a fortnight later!
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