Api di Ken

[kjjohnson]

The P601 Calessino frame and motor cover (burned one) - the motor cover and the pianale tailgate and side panels (burned P501 Pianale) arrived this evening from my friends shop. He owns a Powder Coating business and they soda blasted the parts and used grey zinc primer on the tailgate and side panels and black finish paint on the frame and motor covers (powder coated paint). Next thing is the pianale box which has to be scraped somewhat (in the fire there were floor mats & things in the box and there's some residue to be scraped off before it can be soda blasted and the underside's coated with soot). He should have the two doors completed next week (zinc primer). Ken

[aronne]

you really are the creaziest restorer that I know, congratulations! I thought that my C3 was in too bad condition to be restored, but there are someone braver than me!

[kjjohnson]

So - you think I'm crazy. Let me show you. The photo of the burned P501 Pianale with it's former owner (car in the photo to the left was once owned by Emelia Erhart and had been completely restored) The center of the fire was to the left of this car. One would think by the photo that everything was lost. Not so. Look at the motor with an arrow pointing to the rear motor mount rubber buffer. It's not even melted or distorted. All the goop on the motor is from melted plastic from the cooling shrouds and air filter box. I brought 3 tires and mounted them, reached under and put it in neutral and we pushed it out to the truck (after I'd made the purchase of the three) and the comment I heard was "maybe it's not so bad after all" The photo of the Pianale box still shows blue paint and the undersides is covered in soot. Wiring is toast, but that's easy. You've seen the restored side panels, tailgate and engine cover and soon you'll see the two doors and then the Pianale box. Then the cab. No holes in the floor or door bottoms! - Ken -

[olandese volante]

not craziest restorer but laziest restorer, buying them cheap and having the paint off for free......

[kjjohnson]

Ah yes, but sometimes the fire is too hot and you wind up with a gas tank that looks like a balloon (not restorable) and a melted cylinder head and motor casings (from the P601V Calessino which was at the center of the fire). But the gas tank from the P501 Pianale only needed to be steam cleaned, soldered and then I bead blasted it and it's ready for painting and it will be used once again. Too much heat is not a good thing, ruins a lot of stuff. The workbench area suffered the worst but I didn't need anything there. Ken-

[kjjohnson]

My friends Steve & Val restored this 1982 Piaggio P501 Vespacar Pianale and turned it into a Coke truck - MPR2T+25519+ - It's here in Ontario, Canada - Ken -

[olandese volante]

come si raffredda la scattola?
how is the box cooled?
mi dispiace che la scatola e troppo piccola per il vino per il mio matrimonio.
i am sorry the box is too small for the wine on my wedding.

[kjjohnson]

The box is cooled by filling it with ice! (drain tube out the bottom) - As for your wedding, we planned on going to Hussey's General Store because they have ALL the supplies you'd need, might even find the bride there - Ken -

[olandese volante]

non mi sposo piu, adesso ho capito perche questi ragazzi sposati non fanno piu nulla la moglie ha una pistola e beve birra fino quando arrivano a casa..........
preferisco stare vivo e bere verdicchio (fra poco posso prendere questa medicina)

[kjjohnson]

Perhaps a smoke machine for the wedding! My friend Raymond who lives nearby has installed a smoke machine on his 1982 Piaggio P501 Vespacar Pianale MPR2T+25088+ - He also built a trailer to tow his dog "Buster" behind the Ape on his trips to the coffee shop. - Ken -

[olandese volante]

at least its clear where the owner finds his inspiration.........
almeno e chiaro dove il proprietario trova idee...............

[kjjohnson]

The doors from the burned P501 Pianale were sodablasted by my friend - He was worried the high temperature for powder coating would warp the door skins, so I cleaned them using lacquer thinners (see deposits on the rag) and primed them. Only minor touch-ups and they're ready for finish paint. The Pianale was far enough away from the center of the fire so they weren't warped or buckled. Then I went for a ride - Ken -

[kjjohnson]

After wiping down the gas tank with thinners I sprayed it with two coats of gloss black paint, covering the vent tubes with Marr connectors. Spray the bottom first and when it's dry set it on four Marr connectors and spray the top. Nice shiny gas tank, rescued from a fire. - Ken

[kjjohnson]

I think I have found an Ape MP to restore - Ken

[mondoape]

Credo sia un restauro molto difficile, ma nulla è impossibile.