[Karthik1100]

Dear TBHP mates, i have been driving fiat cars since 10years. But i never experienced Brake fail till yesterday. due to heavy rain, yesterday my car's brakes got failed when i was driving along with my family members near J.P.Nagar, Bangalore. luckily nothing happened and i managed with gears to drive back home. There was almost 1-1.5feet down pour on street. Is it because water accumulated in drums of the wheels? any one please let me know what could be the reason for the brake fail? now the brakes are proper by itself.

[manishalive]

The rest of the pictures

[manishalive]

Originally Posted by Karthik1100

Dear TBHP mates, i have been driving fiat cars since 10years. But i never experienced Brake fail till yesterday. due to heavy rain, yesterday my car's brakes got failed when i was driving along with my family members near J.P.Nagar, Bangalore. luckily nothing happened and i managed with gears to drive back home. There was almost 1-1.5feet down pour on street. Is it because water accumulated in drums of the wheels? any one please let me know what could be the reason for the brake fail? now the brakes are proper by itself.

The reson is simple water reduces the coefficient of friction thus brakes become ineffective, to over come this after coming out of water, apply brakes frequently while riding slow and on side. The heat will dry up the system and you are ready to go.

[suren181]

Karthik: Cars with drum brakes normally tend to give up their braking efficiency during the rains. Especially if there is too much of water on the roads.

The normal work around is to slowly pump the brakes while the car is in motion and removing the excess water/moisture in the brake drum. After a few attempts you would find the car slowly regaining its braking efficiency even though you may experience a non-uniform braking from all the wheels together i.e., when you brake the car tends to steer to one or the other side instead of tracking a straight path. However this also is known to clear of after some perseverance with the brakes.

[funkykar]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

A lovely car indeed, in perfect period paint scheme and thin whitewalls too. The car is more likely to be a President though, going by the bumpers, wheelcaps and rear badge positioning. Can you confirm? Interior and front end pictures will help.

MEO registrations are mostly Presidents. My President is MEO 2121. Could the last few Delites have got the MEO registration or is this a President?

[manishalive]

Originally Posted by funkykar

MEO registrations are mostly Presidents. My President is MEO 2121. Could the last few Delites have got the MEO registration or is this a President?

Instrumentation suggest its a President.

[adheesh]

Originally Posted by manishalive

Instrumentation suggest its a President.

Going by the bumpers, wheelcaps, side trims, side indicators, grill monogram and the speedometer, this car is definitely a President. Perhaps the parcel shelf is still in the original factory dark tan rexine.

Regards,
Adheesh Parelkar

[DHABHAR.BEHRAM]

Dear all - everything including the horn button seems to suggest that it is a Premier President. The confirmation will be the vehicle identification plate on the right side of the bulkhead above the steering gear. Please see it. PREMIER PRESIDENT will be written on it.

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

[Sidman]

Originally Posted by suren181

Karthik: Cars with drum brakes normally tend to give up their braking efficiency during the rains. Especially if there is too much of water on the roads.

The normal work around is to slowly pump the brakes while the car is in motion and removing the excess water/moisture in the brake drum. After a few attempts you would find the car slowly regaining its braking efficiency even though you may experience a non-uniform braking from all the wheels together i.e., when you brake the car tends to steer to one or the other side instead of tracking a straight path. However this also is known to clear of after some perseverance with the brakes.

This workaround works even on 2 wheelers. Pump the brakes gently a few times to eliminate as much water as you can, and then you're ready for proper braking. Bangalore rains are getting very scary! Had a similar problem with my Lambretta scooter, but the brake pumping helped me restore the braking efficiency, and reach home safely.

[arun1100]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

Wow, what a beautiful car. Do get us some more pictures including the interiors.

Can you ask him to share some pictures? These original low milage cars help us immensely in terms of reference while restoring our own.

WRT post no:113

Sorry for the delay. I am posting few more pics.

Originally Posted by DHABHAR.BEHRAM

MEO is a good car but needs the restoration touch. It is difficult for "normal" people to do such a restoration. Ask the owner if he wants to restore the car, he can send it to Mumbai. I am serious..

Sir, as you said "Normal" people cannot restore such cars. In fact the owner of this Delight is around 60 years. He is too busy working for a private firm. The car has no dents at all but the wheel arches are badly rusting. He knows all the technical details of the car as he has driven only Fiats all his life.. His dream is to take it to Bombay and get the patch work done (as he feels nobody in B'lore can do the job perfectly) and get it painted here. But I really doubt of him doing it. His mother who owns this car, is simply not ready to his it too.

I am just hoping that one day he will handover the car to me as he is my neighbor and pretty close to me , i will do the best job needed.

[DHABHAR.BEHRAM]

Dear Arun - you and me can do what others cannot, because we are not "normal". That's what I meant. If we were "normal", we would not have this hobby. In the company where I work, everybody including the senior management very well knows that as far as Fiats are concerned, I am not "normal". Even the security guard opens the main gate as soon as he sees any Fiat standing outside. When I asked, he said "it has to be your car, who else uses a Fiat these days".

Comments on MEV4850 - the accelerator pedal is not original. The radiator and front / rear glass rubbers are of Premier Padmini. Spark plug wires are aftermarket. Ignition coil is of Maruti 800. Coil specification of Maruti 800 is different and not suitable for Fiats although the engine will run. Wheel caps and instrument cluster are of Premier President. Alternator is used as voltage regulator is removed. The inlet manifold does not have heater pipe connections, although it is a double walled manifold. The rear bumper is thin but small. Bonnet opening lever is on the LH side. The pawl position indicates so. Everything indicates that this must be a 1969 to 1971 car.

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

[adheesh]

Originally Posted by DHABHAR.BEHRAM

Comments on MEV4850Wheel caps and instrument cluster are of Premier President.
Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

The wheel caps are not from the President. Please zoom-in the 8th photograph, its clear. Also the last lot of Delights did come with such instrument cluster (which is the same as in the President but in black). Ronybhai and Karlbhai please confirm.

Regards,
Adheesh Parelkar

[manishalive]

Originally Posted by DHABHAR.BEHRAM

The inlet manifold does not have heater pipe connections, although it is a double walled manifold

Sir Just wanted to know why this system was discontinued by company in Premier Padmani's and later again brought back in S1. Also why there was a tendency to shut off this system by the users, was it something to do with our tropical climate?

[adheesh]

Originally Posted by manishalive

Sir Just wanted to know why this system was discontinued by company in Premier Padmani's and later again brought back in S1. Also why there was a tendency to shut off this system by the users, was it something to do with our tropical climate?

The heating pot type manifold was introduced back in the early 90's ( My '91 car has it) perhaps for fuel economy and to meet NOx emission norms.

Regards,
Adheesh

[President]

Originally Posted by arun1100

WRT post no:113
Sir, as you said "Normal" people cannot restore such cars. In fact the owner of this Delight is around 60 years. He is too busy working for a private firm. The car has no dents at all but the wheel arches are badly rusting. He knows all the technical details of the car as he has driven only Fiats all his life.. His dream is to take it to Bombay and get the patch work done (as he feels nobody in B'lore can do the job perfectly) and get it painted here. But I really doubt of him doing it. His mother who owns this car, is simply not ready to his it too.

I am just hoping that one day he will handover the car to me as he is my neighbor and pretty close to me , i will do the best job needed.

Dear Arun. This looks to be such a virgin beauty, that I wouldn't bother touching it for the next 4 to 5 years at least, leave aside us being normal or abnormal. Please guide the owner to store the car indoors and it will be more appreciated in the present condition rather then restoring it incorrectly and making it lose its virginity.
You rather do it yourself with your professional expertise at a later stage when the need arises.

Best Regards,

Rony Vesuna