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1969 Fiat 500F Restoration Resolution
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colwyn500



Joined: 21 Oct 2012
Posts: 1745
Location: Nairn, Scotland

PostPosted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 4:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I got a bonus couple of hours this afternoon and instead of going for a snooze, as I probably should, I started to remove the rusty areas of the rear wheelarch to see what lay beneath. Despite the care I took, you might see that I slightly ground into the inner arch. I will have to put a bit of weld back in there.


_JAN6858 by peterthompson, on Flickr

The rust is far less entrenched than other peoples' restorations have lead me to expect. I have two outer repair panels and I will see if I can modify one to give me sections for the inner. The shame is that I only need a small amount of the supplied part to do the repair.

It looks like someone, at some stage, sprayed Waxoyl or similar into some hidden sections and this has certainly helped things.

I also ground, brushed and soaked in rust remover, the nasty roof and gutter problem that was probably the main reason that only I am mad enough to fix this thing. I want to gently reveal the extent of the damage and the way it's put together so I can re-engineer.


_JAN6857 by peterthompson, on Flickr


Last edited by colwyn500 on Thu Jan 17, 2013 6:30 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Rick
Site Admin


Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22429
Location: UK

PostPosted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 4:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Doing a bit a day gets things done doesn't it!? Looks like your weather is better than ours, it's snowing a fair bit now here (as per predictions) so no play today. Saying that the way I've felt this last week I wouldn't be up to much useful spannering anyway!!

RJ
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colwyn500



Joined: 21 Oct 2012
Posts: 1745
Location: Nairn, Scotland

PostPosted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 6:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes Rick, a bit a day is the right way. (Good motto there!) I think a lot of people must put off the evil day and effectively, they never start the restoration; except often, just to dismantle a little or a lot.

The weather here was cold but very clear and sunny, so much so that I had the hood down (actually, it's never up) on the old Austin when I went to post a letter.
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D4B



Joined: 28 Dec 2010
Posts: 2083
Location: Hampshire UK

PostPosted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 7:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Peter,

Looks like you have a challenge on there with the gutter..... I will watch with great interest when you tackle it.......

Thanks for the explanation on finishing the door skin repair, it will help me to plan the attack on my little Honda Cool

Cheers Steve
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colwyn500



Joined: 21 Oct 2012
Posts: 1745
Location: Nairn, Scotland

PostPosted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 6:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This bodywork takes ages to do. I spent about 6 hours making a new edge for the inner wheel-arch and filling a couple of big chunks that had rusted away. I used the replacement wheel-arch as a guide for my curves.

I don't know how I ever managed without the shrinker/stretcher; it's fabulous.

The welding might look a bit naff under the red-oxide but it's actually really strong and I am getting back the knack. I even did some good upside-down welding on a litttle plate at the back. It isn't seen under there anyway.


_JAN7338 by peterthompson, on Flickr

I have test fitted the outer arch that will be getting a lot of trimming before welding it on.



_JAN7336 by peterthompson, on Flickr

Unfortunately a few more rusty bits have come to light but nothing more frightening than I've seen already!
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D4B



Joined: 28 Dec 2010
Posts: 2083
Location: Hampshire UK

PostPosted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 7:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Peter,

Yet more progress, reckon you have a good heater in your garage to be
out there in this weather! I expect you will trim away about 80% of that
wheel arch panel before you weld it on.......

Where can I buy one of those shrinker stretchers from?

Cheers Steve
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colwyn500



Joined: 21 Oct 2012
Posts: 1745
Location: Nairn, Scotland

PostPosted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 8:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes Steve, just off to the garage to roughly trim the arch to fit.

NO HEATING! Just rely on hard work and my ex-postman's jacket. It was v,v,v,very cold today; never above 1 degree C.

Talking of cold, Frosts had run out of shrinkers so I got one from Stakesys in Leicester. A little steep on price but a good machine. Luckily, I had a little stash of cash from selling a car a few months ago.

http://www.stakesys.co.uk/product/sta105_shrinker_stretcher_combination/

They do lots of other interesting things including a tiny folder to fit in your vice.
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D4B



Joined: 28 Dec 2010
Posts: 2083
Location: Hampshire UK

PostPosted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 9:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks Peter,

have bookmarked that website Cool Cool

Will be getting one of those vice mounted folders too... tomorrow I plan
to visit a friend who fabricates metal for a living for one offs and also
produces repair panels in great quantities... for some advice and to see if
he has any old tools he could sell me (you never know)

After that I will probably be ordering a shrinker stretcher etc.

Cheers Steve
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colwyn500



Joined: 21 Oct 2012
Posts: 1745
Location: Nairn, Scotland

PostPosted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 11:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

D4B wrote:
Hi Peter,

Looks like you have a challenge on there with the gutter..... I will watch with great interest when you tackle it.......

Thanks for the explanation on finishing the door skin repair, it will help me to plan the attack on my little Honda Cool

Cheers Steve


I have had what I think is a bit of luck. I can get this whole side of the later Fiat 126. It would still present problems but this would give me a basic gutter profile to cut off and work with.

Anyone need the other bits cheap?


c12192_neu by peterthompson, on Flickr
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colwyn500



Joined: 21 Oct 2012
Posts: 1745
Location: Nairn, Scotland

PostPosted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 12:34 pm    Post subject: Welding in the wheelarch Reply with quote

Gritted teeth this morning and did final trimming of panel.


_JAN8070 by peterthompson, on Flickr

I got it very accurate and had to do some "micro-" grinding to get the (almost) perfect fit.


_JAN8071 by peterthompson, on Flickr

Tacked then welded in short sections overlapping tacks.


_JAN8072 by peterthompson, on Flickr



_JAN8075 by peterthompson, on Flickr

There's a small area at the back not covered by the repair panel and then grinding down the lot.


I'm hoping for quite a smart repair; we'll see.
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D4B



Joined: 28 Dec 2010
Posts: 2083
Location: Hampshire UK

PostPosted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 5:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Looks good from here Great Job bet it was cold tho Smile
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colwyn500



Joined: 21 Oct 2012
Posts: 1745
Location: Nairn, Scotland

PostPosted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 5:43 pm    Post subject: Bonnet Reply with quote

Finished off a bit of boring welding under the wheel-arch then got stuck into the bonnet hinge fitting and alignment.

I couldn't get it just right at first but wasn't complaining considering that the whole of the scuttle area had rotted away along with most of the hinge when I bought the car.


_JAN8081 by peterthompson, on Flickr

After a little tweaking and some very successful welding on the bonnet, it all looks very good.

In fact apart from the door and the bonnet, all the bodywork you can see in that last photo is brand new


_JAN8077 by peterthompson, on Flickr

By the way, that's the reverse of the weld proving it penetrated properly. It's like the bonnet is made of a better grade of steel.
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D4B



Joined: 28 Dec 2010
Posts: 2083
Location: Hampshire UK

PostPosted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 8:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lovely shape car the Fiat 500....

Have you got all the trim? And what about the sunroof?
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colwyn500



Joined: 21 Oct 2012
Posts: 1745
Location: Nairn, Scotland

PostPosted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 10:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

D4B wrote:
Lovely shape car the Fiat 500....

Have you got all the trim? And what about the sunroof?


Steve. The car is complete. One of the reasons I am putting up with this struggle is that the car had never been dismantled or messed about before I got it.


DSC_6058 by peterthompson, on Flickr

Every little thing that gives a car its character is present including seats, instruments, handles, trim, rubber floor-covering etc. The sunroof is fabric and might be a bit brittle, but all the bits are intact.

For this car you can get just about anything you want to replace, but I will only be replacing mechanical parts like brake system and dampers once I pass the bodywork stage.
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D4B



Joined: 28 Dec 2010
Posts: 2083
Location: Hampshire UK

PostPosted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 9:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The trim looks in remarkably good condition.... I wish I was able to say
that my Honda had not been messed about with before Confused

Don't forget, when it's finished and you drive it to Beaulieu Auto Jumble, pick me up on the way past Cool

Steve
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