Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[colwyn500]

I have been given the go ahead by SWMBO to get started properly.
So today I stripped out the interior. COR_9960 by Peter Thompson, on Flickr
COR_9961 by Peter Thompson, on Flickr
The floor is in amazing condition compared to the rest of the van.
I stopped short of removing the special trim put in when it was converted. that will only come out when absolutely necessary. I threw out all the cupboards etc . as these are not originals and poorly made. kept the sink though and does anyone need a toilet?
I found a few more horrors and some reasonable repairs to the seat mountings that look quite recent.
Best thing was that all the door hinge-pins responded well to heat and penetrating oil.
COR_9959 by Peter Thompson, on Flickr

Oh...and how big is it?
COR_9969 by Peter Thompson, on FlickrCOR_9970 by Peter Thompson, on Flickr

[kevin2306]

looking good! Im glad you posted the pic of you lying down in the top, was wondering how that would work..

Kev

[colwyn500]

The panels arrived frm Italy..here's some of them:
COR_9978 by Peter Thompson, on Flickr

[colwyn500]

I have been documenting this restoration on the Fiat Forum but this photo gives a good update of where I am at.
COR_2769 by Peter Thompson, on Flickr
It is a mock-up of some of the new panels to see if they fit.
This follows a couple of frantic weeks where I have rebuilt three chassis outriggers and had to weld in various plates amounting to about one square metre of sheet steel. I am optimistic that I am about a quarter of the way through the welding and if I can keep up the pace I should have it sorted by the Spring.

[D4B]

Hi Peter,

Somehow I knew you weren't off enjoying that Scottish autumn sunshine!

Great to see you are right back into the world of Fiat fabrication.....

Enjoy

Steve

[colwyn500]

As it's a quiet time of the year for me I'm responding to a suggestion that updates might be appreciated in some quarters.
Since early summer I have completed very little on the van because of problems with other vehicles and in needing to build new accommodation for my cars. Here we are; halfway built:
MAL_9276 by Peter Thompson, on Flickr
But as it stands I have completed about two-thirds of the chassis welding and maybe two-fifths on the body; so maybe about a half of the metalwork overall.
Where possible I have used sections from brand new panels to repair the worst of the originals.
MAL_6403 by Peter Thompson, on Flickr
But there's lot of new, full panels as this image shows; everything pink is a new, original Fiat panel.
MAL_6134 by Peter Thompson, on Flickr
Under the van is more challenging. Although the fit and finish is less demanding, there are no repair sections available, so the metal folder and shrinker/stretcher have been well used,
The worst area is under the front floor. You have to know the vehicle to understand the photo but that galvanised cross-member, the two parts of chassis ends that support it and the whole of the back of the front valance have been fabricated and replaced.
PT1_5945 by Peter Thompson, on Flickr
Over the last year I have realised that the majority of the remaining Fiat 900 vans in this country are in better condition than mine, but I guess that most of them will have had, or will eventually need a lot of significant welding. The problem is the construction methods used and the very poor rustproofing from new. So, in order to have agood one I would probably have had some of this to do in any case.
I am about to kickstart the project and provide updates on the Fiat Forum, but I will be back in a year to report on progress.

[Rick]

Excellent photos, look forward to the next report in 12 months

RJ
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[kevin2306]

Well done Peter, good to see the update

Kev

[D4B]

Hi Peter,

thanks for the update, great work as always. I have of course been checking progress on the Fiat Forum as you can imagine

Cheers Steve