Cheap Barn Find 1974 vespa 90

[smallframenyc]

Hello small frame'rs . My first small frame vespa. It's a little rough as it was sitting under the overhang of a barn for several years, owner said he had it running 3 years ago. Engine is seized, assuming its a little rust on the ring. Have the head off w/penetrating oil on it for 2 weeks, still seized. Never rebuilt a vespa before, only a puch moped. But I've oned a p125x and a p200 in the past. Planning on a full rebuild. Maybe a polini 130 kit. SIP or Polini banana. The blue paint was rattle canned on over the orig. teal paint. Fairing is dented up a bit. Good amt of rust. Going to try and do everything myself, I can weld. Goin to try and learn to paint..

Missing the battery door

909 orig miles

Any advice or tips appreciated
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IMG_2060 by Ben, on Flickr
IMG_2078 by Ben, on Flickr
IMG_2076 by Ben, on Flickr
IMG_2071 by Ben, on Flickr
IMG_2070 by Ben, on Flickr
IMG_2067 by Ben, on Flickr
IMG_2066 by Ben, on Flickr
IMG_2065 by Ben, on Flickr
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IMG_2062 by Ben, on Flickr
IMG_2061 by Ben, on Flickr

[tzsteve]

a bit of rust but nothing that cant be sorted
enjoy

[smallframenyc]

Anyone ever tried these indicators? Pretty sweet:

[Jimmy D]

Looks good! Are we sure it's a V90 with that speedo? Not sure if US models were different.

I restored a barn find '75 V90 a few years ago (engine rebuilt with Polini 130 etc) - thread is here if you want some inspiration: vespasmallframeforum.proboards.com/thread/14057/complete-jimmys-polini-tourer-project

[69shau]

nice project seen a lot worse, think you might struggle locating a LHS door can't recall seeing one maybe contact SIP GOOD LUCK

[smallframenyc]

Sept 6, 2019 11:01:30 GMT Jimmy D said:

Looks good! Are we sure it's a V90 with that speedo? Not sure if US models were different.

I restored a barn find '75 V90 a few years ago (engine rebuilt with Polini 130 etc) - thread is here if you want some inspiration: vespasmallframeforum.proboards.com/thread/14057/complete-jimmys-polini-tourer-project

Hi Jimmy D. 
Yes its a v90, apparently the US models came with that spedo and these ugly turn indicators. Here are some pics of the same bike (same color before mine was rattle-can'd) I found on flickr:

Your 75 v90 looks great, I will check out the whole build, might need your advise when I get closer to doing the polini kit.
Cheers

V90 Headset by PJ Chmiel, on Flickr
1974 Vespa 90 by PJ Chmiel, on Flickr
1974 Vespa V9A by PJ Chmiel, on Flickr

[smallframenyc]

Sept 6, 2019 18:48:26 GMT 69shau said:

nice project seen a lot worse, think you might struggle locating a LHS door can't recall seeing one maybe contact SIP GOOD LUCK

Thanks 69shau, I picked up another v90 frame yesterday a 1976 in orange, floorpan is completely rusted out, that will be a another project one day...

Yes I have two oh these bikes not, but no LHS door, been asking all over. SIP doesn't have them, used is the only way... fingers crossed 

Considering just making a simple one up w/sheet metal, adding some shape to it w/hammer/dolly   

[69shau]

HI, hmm just what I suspected I have seen a couple of these in picture only located in other country's, every one I've seen was also missing the LHS door. (do they bloody vanish haha!!)Shame SIP make bloody everything for smallies. Maybe contact some of the Italian dealers.


my ET3

[smallframenyc]

Sept 8, 2019 8:18:12 GMT 69shau said:

HI, hmm just what I suspected I have seen a couple of these in picture only located in other country's, every one I've seen was also missing the LHS door. (do they bloody vanish haha!!)Shame SIP make bloody everything for smallies. Maybe contact some of the Italian dealers.


my ET3


If someone out there would start re-manufacturing the LHS battery covers, there would be many happy individuals here in N. America..

Like what you did with it black accents,  How do you like the SIP tubeless wheels? Is if difficult to get a tire on one?

[69shau]

Thank, Yeah it is a tight fit getting the tyre on a SIP rim but worth the effort

[smallframenyc]

Some updates:
Did some disassembly and some sanding. Used two ball peen hammers to remove some dents and restore the shape to the legshield. As you can see I have a little rust issue on the rear fender, and some pitting on the floorboards. Does anyone have a recommendation on rust inhibiting primer (Epoxy Primer?) or painting in general, I wasn't going to take it down all the way to bare metal, was going to get it smoothed out, bondo where needed. Then prime it. and focus on the engine. I've heard the trick for restoring the rusted rear fender is to weld in a section of an old front fender, this is what im planning on doing. 

[69shau]

Good work straightening the legshields and good news the floor boards not rotted out, wonder what's caused excessive corrosion of the rear frame in comparison to the rest? strange but completely saveable. I would get a welder to attach plating behind the rear section and then use filler to blend in. would look 100% ok even from the underneath with good welding. See you've left the old loom in, I would strip that and all cables out and replace.

[smallframenyc]

Sept 28, 2019 9:25:28 GMT 69shau said:

Good work straightening the legshields and good news the floor boards not rotted out, wonder what's caused excessive corrosion of the rear frame in comparison to the rest? strange but completely saveable. I would get a welder to attach plating behind the rear section and then use filler to blend in. would look 100% ok even from the underneath with good welding. See you've left the old loom in, I would strip that and all cables out and replace.

Thanks 69shau, amazing what you can do with hammers. The bike sat outside for a few years, maybe the back was more exposed? I will be doing some welding on the rear end soon. Yes a new loom and cables are in order

[smallframenyc]

Some new photos of where im at with the engine:





















Cleaned up the head a bit, stamped 90ss 

[Jimmy D]

Damn, that's one rusty crank 😳

All 90cc heads were stamped 90ss for some reason.

[69shau]

what you going to do with the engine? looking at the amount of water ingress/ rust a full strip and rebuild might be the order of the day. You going to kit it?

[smallframenyc]

Oct 15, 2019 17:41:55 GMT 69shau said:

what you going to do with the engine? looking at the amount of water ingress/ rust a full strip and rebuild might be the order of the day. You going to kit it?

I split the case, degreased & cleaned with a brass brush. My plan is: to do all new bearing/seals/bushings/circlips and install a racing crank and a Polini 130 kit. Prob match case and ports. Doing my research on gearing now. 

[69shau]

looking good progress, if you are fitting a Polini Kit if you don't match the cases you won't hardly get any better performance so well worth getting the dremmil out.

[smallframenyc]

Oct 17, 2019 14:21:36 GMT 69shau said:

looking good progress, if you are fitting a Polini Kit if you don't match the cases you won't hardly get any better performance so well worth getting the dremmil out.

Thanks Mate, Ok port matching is essential, will do!

[snails]

So much nicer in black and white

Oct 16, 2019 22:58:07 GMT smallframenyc said:

Oct 15, 2019 17:41:55 GMT 69shau said:

what you going to do with the engine? looking at the amount of water ingress/ rust a full strip and rebuild might be the order of the day. You going to kit it?

I split the case, degreased & cleaned with a brass brush. My plan is: to do all new bearing/seals/bushings/circlips and install a racing crank and a Polini 130 kit. Prob match case and ports. Doing my research on gearing now.