Modern Vespa

This scooter was an ebay impulse buy about a year ago but work only started on it last week. Hope to have it on the road for the spring.





Last edited by ricky cantley on Sat Jun 21, 2014 10:49 pm; edited 1 time in total

Some pics of the side

Frame repaired by a local scooter shop this week

Hard to believe they got those crunches out, wow.

Thanks Lynn the person who repaired it is an old school craftsman. I have built the scooter up today to check wheel alignment prior to paint, it is looking good but I will get it checked on a jig anyway. My gamble on buying an accident damaged scoot rather than a needing restored one is paying off as all the bits that were not smashed in the crash can be reused, the engine was running prior to removal and the frame has no rust issues.

Ricky

Lucky lucky you.

That's some good work getting those dents out, skilled metal worker!

+1 that guy sore does done a great job

I need some help here, should I get the frame repainted as original in pastel green or go for something different. I am thinking Porsche 911 orange.

Very impressive Ricky! I would have said no way could that be straightened looking at the before photos. Did you get it for a good price?

Can't remember exactly it was less than any restoration project I could find at the time. The bodywork was £280

Expensive day - headset (or 2) sorted out, new front mudguard bought, BGM front and sip gas adjustable rear shocks , uprated front spring, cable set, sip alloy wheel rims, break pad set, tubeless tyres, new front and rear lights ordered and paid for.

The plan is:
frame to jig and back by last week of November
frame and panels blasted by first week in December
paint by xmas
Build up the scoot over the xmas holidays
MOT first week in Jan

But I need a toolbox side panel

Ricky

Busy couple of days, I installed two lights over my work benches and cleared out the garage so I can work on the scoot easier, I removed the junk front suspension from the fork ready to give it a blow over with some silver paint, then fit the upgraded suspension, cable set, break pads, new wheel / tyre etc.

Good news looks like a local scooter shop (I never knew there were so many in Kent) has managed to source a original second hand side panel. First package of parts were delivered.

Take some pictures when the frame is being straightened on the jig, I'm sure everyone would be interested to see that. I take it this is the place? http://vespaframejig.piczo.com/vespaframejig?cr=6&linkvar=000044

Yes that is the place, They offered to photograph the jig work when I discussed the job last week. I will post them when the work is carried out. As an aside I am stressing trying to get my frame transported 300 miles I hope you don't need their services.

Ricky

I thought of you when I came across this... sounded very reasonably priced for transport although it is a few years old.
http://vespasmallframeforum.proboards.com/thread/9603/vespa-frame-jig

Busy day today, I left my house at midnight for an 800 mile round trip to John (Vespa Frame Jigs) workshop in the Borders. John had put me in touch with Billy another customer who has a 1955 wide frame project on the go, and had suggested that we meet up / car pool. So a 3am meeting was arranged and we travelled most of the journey together.

We arrived at Johns workshop at 8am, he was waiting and had had the jig set up for my GTR, after a quick cuppa my frame had the fork bearing cups knocked out an alignment bar passed through the headset and the rear engine mounting points set on the on the jig. A quick check and my frame was pronounced straight as an arrow. Great news.

The jig was set up for Billy's frame and his frame checked, unfortunately it was found to be slightly out, John strapped the frame down to the jig an in a series of small, measured hydraulic pushes slowly realigned it. From the look on Billy’s face I think that was one of the worst half hours of his life.

For peace of mind during a restoration or rebuild think an alignment check is a must and after witnessing the skill John used to realign Billy’s frame I can’t recommend him enough.

Some pics snapped on the day

In addition I have ballsed up a re-spray of the front forks, hub and Fitted the tubeless tyres to the new alloy rims.

PS can anyone ID the rear drum as I want a matching front one.

Ricky

Not sure if you decided on a color but I think the Porsche orange would be deadly.

Frame and forks are now away for media blast and paint. Most parts gathered. Rebuild will start late Jan.

New suspension

Catching up with your thread Ricky - glad to see you're posting and the jig and rebuild work is going well - you're way ahead of me now

With the mods you've put in you can justify any colour I reckon - porsche orange or maybe a kiwi green like the Skoda Fabia VRS or Scirocco.. The original 70s GTR colours aren't up to much (they're on my resto thread). SIP or TR Speedshop via eBay have good stock if you struggle for items again,

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/motoring/skoda-fabia-vrs-when-less-is-more-29255120.html

I second the green - it's wonderful!

Years ago I had an Euro Spec 76 Carrera that was Blood Orange that was very similar to the color you're looking for. They also had a color called Continental Orange that was a bit brighter and not as red. I attached a color code list. I owned this car prior to cell phones and digital cameras in my previous life and am unable to locate any photos, but as I recall it was very similar to the color of the car in the photo you posted earlier. I always got a lot of positive comments on the car. Good luck

http://www.912registry.org/restore/pcode.htm

That orange is nice.


I wonder if someone turned the rear hub on a lathe to get it looking like that. The rest just looks like a normal hub... I don't imagine much material would need to come off.

Slow times over Xmas not much done on the scoot, all parts now gathered for basically a nut and bolt rebuild / upgrade to allow me to use the scooter everyday.

Ginch
Turns out the rear hub is found on a 1984/5 PX engine, this explains some wiring anomalies I have.

Willie B
Thanks for the info, the blood orange looks the mutts nuts. But the frame is at the painters and the choice is made.

Ricky

Hmmmm

it will make ur bike look different, believe me

Yes I am that bored. Can't wait to get the frame back from the painters.
Starting to think I should pull the engine apart for fun. I need to get building.

Nice one bro, just a word of caution on the eager rebuild post paint. Make sure the paints had at least 72 hours to go hard before you start pawing at it or putting it together otherwise itll still be soft and youll be sorry if you marr it. It takes dedicated patience but trust me itll be worth the wait, you can dent it with your fingernail within 48 and itll annoy you for a long time if its got scratches that couldve been avoided through common sense.

I know from past experience.

Thanks for the good advice, the frame will be painted for the end of Feb (the painter moved workshop and was waiting for an new media blaster to be installed) after that I will build up the front giving the frame and panels plenty of time to fully harden.

I removed the top end and carb from the PX engine last night to have a good look at it and discovered some marks on the crank - shame now I have to rebuild it - I was thinking casings ported, Mazzuchelli crankshaft, Malossi 166cc kit, Cosa reinforced 21tooth clutch assembly, Malossi-dellorto 30mm carb, reed valve kit and a Scorpion exhaust.



Ricky

Fresh from paint

Very nice Ricky.

That looks like Lambretta GP orange or the new GTS300 Super Sport colour...?

did lammy do an orange gp??? i remember the ochre one but thats more yellow

looks sweet ... at least ya stuck to the rule .... vespas are cool in orange n lammies in kwak green

Was thinking of the one I'd seen on Lammy Rascals thread this week... http://modernvespa.com/forum/post1787931?highlight=#1787931

Guess that's more ochery if you like...

Yeah, mine's Ochre (the pic is quite dark) - I have a 'Rosso' GP200 Electronic too. To the best of my knowledge, they didn't do an orange one.

Thanks for the comments, it is Ford RS orange (burnt amber I think ) with metal flake and pearl over.

Very nice.

Bit of progress, Forks assembled and front mudguard on to mark up for drilling the side fixing holes

Looks great Ricky.

Are the hubs and ribs brand new? Where did you get them? Good colour and look match together...