Just thought I would whack up some pics of my 88' Scala that I am doing up. Bought it about a year or so ago with only 64,000 backed up miles off a dealer who just wanted rid of it (only dealt in more expensive modern cars and had only received this in part ex from a guy who got it in a will but didn't want it.) Came with a full years tax & MOT.
Immediately I got it back to mine and gave it a full service and clean including a valet of the interior using a rug doc, which brought the seats and upholstery up like new
Poor thing had been stood a good couple years and had loads of final notice's threatening that it would be towed a crushed included in the paper work, luckily it wasn't. Cleared a load of sludge from the coolant system and got that all flushed out. Everything at this point seemed pretty great, it had absolutely NO RUST anywhere! apart from one tiny graze on the bonnet corner where it had been clipped by the old lady who originally owned it one her driveway (hence why it also had a black non Scala front bumber rather than the colour coded as in the back. no idea why her husband fitted a new one, the original came with the car and only had a tiny crack. but I like the look of the headlight washers so will keep it on.
So here is the scala as it stands now, back on the road and have started a bit of work. here's a list of thing done so far and some pics too!
All feedback welcome!
Couple of things done so far:
Decided to strip down the engine and give the bottom end a freshen up and a decoke - some pinking issues from poor timing and the never adjusted 2e2 had caused alot of hard carbon build up and coupled with the timing and fuelling being a little off was causing the engine to run on as well as a bit of power loss. Didn't want to do too much just an interim freshen up as I have full rebuild plans with a re-con 2.0l with twin 40's for the future.
It was pretty black in there for the mileage so Since I was doing the gaskets etc anyway I decided to take the bottom end apart, clean the pistons, check / fit new rings if needed and have the block honed and checked at the machine shop, bearings, crank,oil pump etc were also checked over.
Unfortunatly, I forgot to take pics during the bottom rebuild but here's one when its back together and back in the bay looking a bit better.
Next I decided to give the had some attention which involved new tappets, new valve guides, oil stem seals, and the valves and seats getting re ground for a good fit. I also sent the head off for a light skim just to be safe and maybe raise compression just a teeny weeny bit. new cam belt and tensioner went on too. Got a full gasket kit and gave everything a good old clean. there was some nasty gunk in the inlet manifold! and I fitted a new rubber carb mount while I was at it.
after giving everything else in there a good once over and clean or recon, the final touch was a freashly painted rocker cover and a crankcase breather filter to replace the breather hose, the heat exchange section of the intake was also removed to make things simpler.
Lastly for the engine, was a full service, new HT leads, New coil, New battery, New belts, New dizzy arm and cap and a full carb tune and timing set from scratch to get the best of the current set up.
Next was to winter proof the rocco, so all the arches and underneath were stripped back as below and then freshly sealed and waxoyled, no rust at all even behind the dreaded arch flares. lol
Car drives awsome now, You can really feel the benefit of the re-fresh. defiantly wouldn't think it only has 90bhp, though it may have a little more with any luck.
Here are some outside pics as it stands,forgive the towels over the back seats (dog!) Needs a real good clean and detail, but I want to get all the body work and the black mirror and front bumper sorted first.
Got a long list of extensive future plans, so I will keep you all posted!
Have to restrain myself cause if it was up to me, then in need of replacement or not, I would either re-new or professionally re-furb ever single mechanical and electrical part, and acid dip the shell / chassis, full respray, nut and bolt re-build and upgrade on every project I do. Think the rocco will be a keeper though...so watch this space cause all that kinda stuff and more might just happen.
