Api di Ken

[kjjohnson]

MPR2T+25088+ waiting to go to the paint shop (Wednesday) and MPR2T+25090 waiting in the rain for some space in the shop - Ken

[kjjohnson]

MPR2T+25088+ off to the body and paint shop today - Den-Way Auto Body in Bayfield. - Ken

[kjjohnson]

Sandblasting is done outside the shop. Very good at covering the motor and the rear suspension. Two of the others wait in the driveway. - Ken

[kjjohnson]

Here are some photos of the P501 in the Body Shop getting final sanding before being primed and painted white. Very neat dolly with 4 wheels under the Ape's front wheel used for moving it around easily once paper covers the door openings. Ken

[kjjohnson]

Priming all finished, openings taped up. It was going to be painted this afternoon and the tailgate and side panels were being finish sanded and they'll be painted tomorrow. Should be able to bring it home for re-assembly. The one photo is a closeup of the wheel dolly used on the front so the machine is easily wheeled into the paint booth. - Ken

[kjjohnson]

Here she is, white as the driven snow! - Ken

[kjjohnson]

Home from the paint shop, ready to re-assemble - Ken

[kjjohnson]

Picked up the doors, tailgate and pianale side panels, all painted white - Ken

[kjjohnson]

Had some time today and started re-assembly on MPR2T+25088+. New battery. Hooked up the turn signals and installed the rear window and seat backrest. Put on a new type of cabin beading which is held in place with self-adhesive tape. It's fairly wide and covers the cabin joint which had quite a few rust holes. Vespacar and P501 nameplates also installed. Just started putting on the new door rubbers. - Ken

[kjjohnson]

New weatherstripping around the door openings. These are from the D600 produced in India. Spring loaded they require no glue, only sidecutters for trimming and a rubber mallet to install. The kit comes with the top, rear and front opening which includes down onto the sill. Sill protectors (a bit larger than original) go on next. Installation is quick and no mess! - Ken

[kjjohnson]

When you put the side glass in the door use a cord and when you pull on one end slowly it will curl the inner rubber over the steel flange around the window opening. I usually clean the rubber and leave it wet so it's more pliable. Same goes for the rear window and especially the windshield (it's shown in the Owners Handbook) - Ken

[kjjohnson]

New weatherstripping around the vent window (these are also from the D600) - new vent windows from the D600 also fit including attachments - new door strap - 3M black weatherstripping adhesive used, use sparingly on both surfaces and allow to become tacky before applying (cleanup with Varsol) - Ken

[kjjohnson]

JF of Scootart in Montreal, Quebec, Canada has sent me these photos of his 1982 P501 Vespacar Pianale MPR2T+25076+. It's the service vehicle for the Vespa Scooter Shop. Ken

[kjjohnson]

Pompa Freno - dual action, codice 195662 (no longer available from my suppliers, anyone know where they might be available, or at least rebuild kits?) Just before re-assembly I soaked a rag in brake fluid and pushed it through to clean the barrel (just like a gun) and then re-assembled, ready to install. New shifter cables and cable stops. I use a bicycle wrench set because the 8mm wrench is very flat, ideal for holding the cable stop while tightening the inner bolt to hold the cable. Installed the refurbished gas tank as well. - Ken

[kjjohnson]

After bleeding the brakes, tightening the gear change cables and adjusting the clutch cable, temporarily hook up the gas tank and fuel lines & filter to the carb, it was time for a test drive - Ken