Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[colwyn500]

I am very pleased but will be even more so when I have a tax disc (or maybe I won't with new legislation).
The bumpers are original and bear the scars of being just that...a bit mislaligned in curvature and with a few minor dents. In fact, the only items of interior and exterior trim, lighting, switches, etc. which are new are the headlamp reflectors, the aluminium window surrounds and one of the special rivets that holds the centre bar of the sunroof. As far as I am concerned, amazingly, this is a very original car....saved myself a packet.
It does really need a new indicator stalk assembly as it snapped just where the internal reinforcing steel ends. I have tried drilling it so that I can epoxy a splint but the steel is hardened and refuses to "give".
I should be romping to the end but no point rushing at this stage and I do have a house build to finish!

[kevin2306]

have you got an original tax disc you can use from years back?
I use the 1985 one from when the Singer was last used...keep the free one in the glove box just in case.

Kev

[colwyn500]

Just thinking, it's nice to have a few people being very complimentary about my achievement but I better point out that there are many other mad Fiat 500 restorers out there and here are two who are currently underway.
http://www.fiatforum.com/500-classic/354649-500-resto-major.html
http://www.fiatforum.com/500-classic/345169-franko-1971-500l.html

[peter scott]

Fantastic result Peter! Well done!

Like for like before and after photos please!

Peter
_________________
http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[vitesse]

Did you sort out the charging problem Peter? If so what was it?

[colwyn500]

Those "like for likes" are in planning Peter.
I suspect that the new brushes are either sticking in their holders or need properly bedding in. I should have bench tested it but didn't have a meter, Still got the brakes to finally sort and then I'll dig into that annoying problem.

[Franko500]

Well done Peter, you should be really satisfied with the end result. You have managed to salvage this 500 and yet kept it looking like a classic car.
The car looks great, now what you going to do with your time? ready for another one?

Sean

[colwyn500]

Thanks Sean, that's the best compliment you could have paid. If part of classic car restoration is about nostalgia...and I guess it must be, then I have certainly produced my own little time travel capsule which takes me right back to the early eighties.
I have been pinched for time all the way through this which is the reason why it's taken so long and as I reach the end I am still grabbing odd minutes to do things.
Just yesterday I was struggling with the simple task of making up one short piece of brake pipe needed to finish the system. This was proving really hard for some reason and I will try again later and (hopefully) get them bled.
The replacement brake pipe kit is designed for LH drive which means that the main pipe to the back brakes is just a few centimetres short. As original there is a connector union which allows a short length to extend the pipe. A very thrifty factory bodge to avoid having to produce two different lengths for the main pipe. Obviously wouldn't be a problem if I had made my own.
So I probably will see my time being absorbed into normal life. I do intend to spend a bit more time on my Austin which could do with new rear springs and a fabric hood.
I plan to travel a lot with the Fiat. using it whenever I can for my job which takes me to the most amazing roads on the West coast of Scotland. I would also like to do a grand tour down through Italy to Greece and Sheila is definitely up for that. Before that I will need to sort out any "shakedown" issues and would probably be happiest with a spare engine fitted, which had been completely renewed rather than reconditioned.
Before all that I need to build a staircase, construct a wet-room and two other bathrooms, build a kitchen install a log-burner and flue, lay 100 square metres of oak flooring.........

[colwyn500]

What a benefit a good night's sleep and reading some online advice makes. Pipe formed in minutes..
BRA_7968 by peterthompson, on Flickr
It fitted nicely thus completing the brake system.
BRA_7970 by peterthompson, on Flickr
Unfortunately I then failedat the first fence when it became obviousI would need a new brake reservoir.
BRA_7975 by peterthompson, on Flickr
This original had cleaned up great but when I had a close look (ie. deliberately forced it) you can see the rusty stain where a long term crack existed.
Doh!

[kevin2306]

Thats a neat bit of pipework.
I have a few pipes that I want to replace, mainly following the fitting of a new servo earlier this year. I used the generic pipework supplied with it and just bent the excess out of the way (using a proper bender)
So, what make pipe did you use and did you use a pipe cutter or hacksaw to trim the length?..nice flaring tool!

Kev

[colwyn500]

The car still awaits a good polish and degreasing but here it is.....Fiat 500 As Delivered by peterthompson, on FlickrBRA_7987 by peterthompson, on FlickrDSC_6048 copy by peterthompson, on FlickrBRA_7983 by peterthompson, on FlickrFiat by peterthompson, on FlickrBRA_7995 by
DSC_6057 by peterthompson, on FlickrBRA_7990 by peterthompson, on FlickrDSC_6059 by peterthompson, on FlickrBRA_7994 by peterthompson, on Flickr

[colwyn500]

PS. Kev, used a piece of surplus pipe as delivered from Fiat specialist when I ordered the ones with the wrong flares.
It seems to be that hard stuff as original and I prefer it to copper for strength. I bent it over steel bar and eased it by hand and had no kinks...it's really strong. Half the problem was its hardness. In the end I cut with a pipe cutter, cleaned the inner burrs with a small drill by hand, chamfered the outer edge with a file, lubricated the worked edge with brake fluid and gently sanded the burrs from gripping the pipe with sandpaper. The tool works well but isn't the best, I bought it locally. I wouldn't want to do a whole car!

[vitesse]

Nice before after pictures Peter, shows what a great job you have done.

If have the same types of brake pipes as you and can confirm they are a pig to bend. Strangely I didn't need to extend mine at all. I got mine from Axel Gerstl for a RHD car.

[colwyn500]

I did consider connecting the rear pipe to the left hand pipe outlet on the master cylinder, which it would reach but wondered if that might mess up the front/rear balance.
You might see from another post that I have taken out the dynamo brushes which I suspect are the cause of the charging problem
Nearly there...I had alovely drive around the lawn today...and no, the garden is not all that big

[colwyn500]

Great help from the forum and now the car is charging properly
I got a new brake reservoir from a company called Motobambino.
Great service...delivered from Manchester to Inverness in less than 24 hours by standard delivery.
At this rate I might be on a sneaky test drive tomorrow..