Lancia Montecarlo - Wiring

Not an X1/9, but a close relation - I recently acquired a Lancia Montecarlo, the X1/9's big sister. It is in need of some TLC and I have started by sorting out the wiring. Many of the alterations I intend to make apply to the X1/9 as well, so I thought this thread might help other restorers/improvers.

There are lots of add-ons by previous owners and it was looking a bit untidy, so I set about it...

Owner-added wiring removed so far...



Front loom opened up...




More to follow over the long weekend. I intend to show how to add relays to relieve the ignition, lighting and column switches of high current loads; this will prolong the life of these hard to get parts.

now that would be a nightmare for me but when it comes to 'wires' your the expert

Haha yes, you could almost call me a wizard. But as the title says, I do it for fun rather than reward!

Hi Rachael,

That is a lot of extra wiring, any idea why it was added ? I remember the Lancia Montecarlo a friend of mine had one, very nice cars.

Best wishes,

Geoffrey.

Hi Geoffrey,

The car has had a few modifications, it had the original rectangular(ish) headlights converted to twin 5.75" round headlights from a BMW 3 series, also there were driving and fog lights added along with associated toggle switches. There was also a wiper relay mod to improve the wiper speed.

In the cabin, the original ceramic type fuse boxes were replaced by aftermarket blade type fuse boxes, which were nice but there was no means of identifying what fuse served what. A CD radio and some extra gauges were added with wires going everywhere and using Scotchloks and "chocolate strip". There have been other wiring repairs made with not very durable methods!

Scotchloks - oh dear, especially when used to wire in an alarm system ! Hope it all goes well and that there are no intermittants.

Best wishes,

Geoffrey.

Here I have wired the ignition, lighting and dip/main beam switches. It's hard to tell but this is done in thinwall cable in much smaller sizes than original since the switches are no longer carrying heavy current...


As the dipped and main beams are operated via relays, I have "reversed" the circuits such that the column switch is on the earth side of the relay coils. What was the supply wire to the switch is then run to earth. This is inherently safer and less likely to release smoke than original set up because if any wire to/from the column switch is shorted to earth it simply operates the affected relay; if a wire is shorted to 12 V, nothing happens.

Work continues; the rear lighting loom is in and I have been making up a rear lighting panel using one of the spares I got with the car...

To swap out the engine loom I have had to partially dismantle the engine, which has been a real pain, literally as I have a bad back as a legacy of my sporting past (yes I was thin and fit once) and leaning over the engine bay is murder.

This photo shows the battery to starter cable running across to the left side to suit the relocated battery.

A little more progress on the rear lights...





Next on the agenda are the front lights. The car had a twin 5.75" headlight conversion, but the execution was a bit agricultural. What I have are fascia panels fixed very shakily into the body. The headlights themselves, ex BMW E30 "smiley" twins with projector dipped beam units, are actually fibreglassed into the fascias. Not only are they glued in at angles reminiscent of Marty Feldman, there is no means to adjust the beams at all.

As previously mentioned, the car had a "twin headlight" conversion, which worked but the execution was far from ideal. Original headlight units glassed in...



Basic backplate out of 12 mm uPVC sheet...



Backplate ready to take the new headlight units...

Headlight units installed - now fully adjustable for aim and ready to accept aftermarket HID units if desired...


Rear view...

very nice work. Montecarlos are that little bit closer to real supercars...

but one reason X1/9s are better is that you can lie down on the rear boot lid while you work I was thinking of making up a second padded boot lid to fit while working to avoid scratching the paintwork

I would be really daunted with that lot laid out in front of me!

Progress has been slow, I've been busy doing stuff like this...