IsItAGoodCar
Reliability Guide

Common Problems with the
1987 Lancia Delta

The Integrale era: box-flared wheel arches, upgraded turbochargers, 16-valve cylinder heads, rear-biased torque split and the iconic wide-track Evoluzione I and II homologation specials.

What changed for 1987

  • •HF Integrale 8V launched in 1987 with blistered wheel arches, larger intercooler and 185bhp
  • •HF Integrale 16V arrived in 1989 with bulged bonnet, rearward torque bias (47/53) and 200bhp
  • •Evoluzione I (1991) and catalytic-converter Evo II (1993) introduced wider tracks, redesigned front suspension geometry and up to 215bhp

Common MOT watch-outs

  • !Worn front wishbone ball joints and rose-jointed anti-roll bar link play on Evoluzione models
  • !Exhaust emissions test failure on catalysed Swiss or late Evo II imports
4
Known Issues
3
Serious
1
Moderate
0
Minor

All Known Issues

Chassis and Windscreen Pillar Stress Cracking

SeriousBodywork & Rust

The Delta's monocoque chassis was originally conceived for a modest 1.3-litre family hatchback. Channeling over 200bhp through stiff 4WD suspension, aggressive anti-roll bars and modern low-profile tyres subjects the shell to immense torsional loads. Severe stress cracking frequently develops at the upper corners of the windscreen pillars under the rubber seal, around the front bulkhead chassis leg attachments, down at the bottom of the B-pillars and around the rear suspension turret perimeters.

Est. Repair Cost: £800–£3,000
Warning Signs:

Visible hairline paint cracks at the upper and lower corners of the windscreen A-pillars, Creaks and groans from the dashboard and windscreen area when traversing uneven road surfaces, Fracturing around the front chassis leg welds inside the engine bay beneath the battery tray, Distorted door shut lines or sticking front doors when the vehicle is jacked up from one side

What to Inspect:
  • Pull back the windscreen rubber seal at the upper A-pillar corners to inspect for metal fatigue and cracking
  • Inspect the bulkhead where the front inner wings weld to the crossmember and suspension towers
  • Check the rear turret seams inside the boot area for welded reinforcement plates or stress tears
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated

Timing Belt and Balancer Shaft Belt Failure

SeriousEngine

The turbocharged 2.0-litre Lampredi engine features twin overhead camshafts and twin counter-rotating balancer shafts driven by independent toothed rubber belts. High-temperature engine bay conditions, high-lift camshaft modifications and tight clearances accelerate belt degradation. If the cambelt or balancer belt snaps or skips teeth due to aged tensioner bearings, the valves impact the pistons, resulting in bent valves, broken guides and major engine rebuild costs.

Est. Repair Cost: £800–£2,500
Warning Signs:

Sudden engine shutdown under acceleration with no compression when cranking, High-pitched screeching or dry whirring noise from the timing cover at the front of the engine, Rough, unrefined engine vibration if the balancer shaft belt has snapped or skipped teeth, Oil leaking from the front crankshaft or camshaft seals contaminating the rubber belts

What to Inspect:
  • Check documentary proof verifying timing belt and balancer belt replacement within the last 24,000 miles or 3 years
  • Verify that the water pump and belt tensioner pulleys were renewed simultaneously with the belt service
  • Inspect the timing belt cover area for signs of oil misting from leaking cam box seals
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated

Upper Sump Gasket Oil Leaks and Low-Oil Turbo Starvation

SeriousEngine

The transverse Lampredi turbo installation is prone to oil weeping from the two-piece sump gasket and rocker cover seals. In aggressive driving, the turbocharged twin-cam engine consumes up to 0.5 to 1.0 litre of synthetic oil per 1,000 miles. Because the turbocharger oil feed gallery sits high up on the block, running with low oil levels rapidly starves the turbo bearings and big-end bearings, resulting in bearing seizure and turbo failure.

Est. Repair Cost: £500–£1,800
Warning Signs:

Oil drips forming beneath the engine bay and coating the front subframe and exhaust downpipe, Oil pressure dropping below 1.0 bar on the dashboard gauge when idling with a hot engine, Blue smoke billowing from the twin exhaust tailpipes on boost or during overrun deceleration, Deep knocking or rumbling from the engine bottom-end under moderate load

What to Inspect:
  • Check engine oil dipstick level and condition; ensure the previous keeper used high-grade 10W-40 or 10W-60 synthetic oil
  • Verify oil pressure gauge registers at least 1.0 bar at hot idle and rises cleanly past 3.0 bar above 3,000 rpm
  • Inspect the turbocharger compressor housing and intake hose for excessive wet oil pooling or shaft play
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated

Roof Trailing Edge and Windscreen Frame Corrosion

ModerateBodywork & Rust

Unlike earlier Lancias, Integrales received improved factory cathodic dipping, but specific moisture traps remain notorious. Rainwater and road grit collect in the channel seal where the tailgate hinges mount to the roof trailing edge, causing bubbling and structural disintegration that weakens the tailgate mountings. Similar corrosion takes hold behind the windscreen rubber seal and around the front lower scuttle, requiring painstaking metal fabrication to rectify.

Est. Repair Cost: £600–£2,000
Warning Signs:

Blistering and paint bubbling along the rear edge of the roof panel above the tailgate hinges, Water dripping into the luggage compartment or dampness beneath the rear boot carpet, Rust staining creeping out from beneath the lower windscreen rubber seal onto the scuttle, Tailgate sitting unevenly or rubbing against the roof aperture due to weakened hinge metal

What to Inspect:
  • Open the rear hatch and inspect the roof gutter seam directly around the two tailgate hinges with a torch
  • Carefully lift the lower edge of the front windscreen rubber seal to check for concealed rust blisters
  • Examine the front radiator support crossmember through the bonnet louvres for water corrosion
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated

Buying Tips for 1987 Lancia Delta

  • Prefer authentic left-hand-drive cars over aftermarket UK right-hand-drive conversions, which often used compromised steering racks with slow ratios
  • Check for non-standard ECU chips and excessive turbo boost pressures that overstress head gaskets and gearbox teeth
19861988–1994
Check a 1987 Lancia Delta by Registration