Club126UK
Fiat 126 Chat => Your Restorations => Topic started by: Jan-in-UK on January 09, 2010, 04:39:24 PM
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My 1980 orange rebuild project was finaly brought in the UK this morning. I was waiting for quite a while as it was rebuilt all over last 2 years and was ready to go few months ago. I had no time but finaly got managed transport for it and here he is. After 2200 miles trip on a trailer through winter Europe it appeared to me dirty as hell and looking like a rubbish :) not nice view but quite funny. I have never managed to get 126 so dirty by driving it :) but after quick wash and dry it went to sleep in my tiny garage looking way better.
Huge but huge thank you to Lad from and his girlfirend for their help with my 126. They came to pick up the german looking engine I had for sale and Lad was so kind to help me with exhaust swap from factory one to the "abarth" looking sport one. Not onlu he did fought some problems with fitment but he did it outside as my garage is too small for any jobs being done inside.... Brrr. Cold as hell. I was moaning, supplying coffee and Lad's girlfriend didn't kill us so we all are fine. Exhaust sounds the dogg!!! I love this sound.
I have no idea what I will do with my orange as it was loads of effort and loads but loads new parts used to get it to ist actual shape. My first idea was to sell it on but as longer I am watching it as more i love idea of adding few smallaccesories and having fun in summer. We will see. Just in case I will register it this week in the UK. Below you can find few pictures of 126 being dirty, being semi-washed and finaly quite nice looking guy in its 30'. Will try to load more pictures into online album as I think snow is a very nice background for making them good :) link will be of course posted.
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/54910_A_122_59lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/54913_B_122_60lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/54917_C_122_161lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/54919_D_122_223lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/54922_E_122_410lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/54925_F_122_221lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/54929_G_122_910lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/54932_H_122_574lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/54936_I_122_29lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/54939_J_122_443lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/54942_K_122_137lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/54946_L_122_435lo.jpg)
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Love it! very very nice.
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Thank you. It still needs some final touch up - mainly small bits like new lamp covers, one dorhandle cover missing etc etc. But I am on the case and some shopping done in Poland today. Plus few bits from my new-old stock and it should really look nice :)
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I'll have to come round for a look, that car is a beauty!
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You know where to find me Michael, do you? :)
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ill give you a call in the week
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I have just recieved full box of parts and acessories from Ricambio. Well, nice shiny things but £200 is gone :) Another box is on the way from Poland with much much more - another £250. So having some additional spares and gadgets for £450 + freshly built engine (on the way next weekend) I hope I will finaly have one of these fiats I always wanted to have. Will post some progress here when done.
Today I did fit new das gauges (in miles) and sorted out all wires and bulbs (wasn't done properly) and now we have quite english LHD in miles :) Original handbook and parts catalogue (both pictured and they were issue 12.1980) were wery helpfull. If somebody would need some original part number (if not regarding LHD parts) let me know and I will have it for you. Pictures below. Not much to do but took me almost 2 hours to sort out and with my current job it is miracle I found 2 spare hours anyway :)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/06155_100_4184_122_1003lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/06166_100_4185_122_232lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/06177_100_4186_122_443lo.jpg)
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What a lovely day for a ride we had today :) I spent about 2 hours driving orange around Berkshire, lovely day. When I back I did few other details, step by step I am getting there. Well, couldn't fit white wall rings as it was too late (local tyre shop was closed) but I did replace one old cable (earth for coil) and use this opportunity tu "tune up" coil and the bracket a little bit. I also did put brand new "old stock" front indicators with new seals. Finaly I did went to the shop and got 4 never-rusting screws for air vents on both sides. Plus brand new chrome window winders. It really gets it there slowly, she will be a real beauty before summer will come.
I also had a crazy idea to take off dirty seatbelts and wash them in a washing maschine (my other half said I am completly nut). They are fresh now with realy nice grey colour and will be back in as soon as they are dry (other half said to iron them if i am 1000% fiat nut :) ). Well, quite a few new bits is waiting to be fitted but sunny day was so short. Few pictures below.
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/51003_IMG_0717_122_386lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/51012_IMG_0718_122_770lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/51026_IMG_0719_122_343lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/51037_IMG_0721_122_215lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/51048_IMG_0723_122_163lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/51063_IMG_0725_122_148lo.jpg)
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And I couldn't resist to put exhaust cover. It was dried for 2 days on my kitchen heater to cure black paint. Well, engine bay will look nice. Especialy with new engine coming next week, lots of chrome under engine lid it will be... mniam.
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That is cool!
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Today due to a lack of time and shi***y weather I have no time to progress as I would like to. But did spend quite a moment today to clean and connect properly all fuse cables as last time I discovered sometimes light blinks for a secon - fuse was as old as fiat. So I did clean and re-connected cables, replace all fuses with new one and finaly painted fuse box as it looks a little bit better now in my opinion. Pirelli sticker added for "character" and just because I really love pirelli logo (collecting stickers of pirelli by the way).
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these are the sort of jobs everyone needs to do, but never get round to it. best i do is spray a bit of WD40 on the connectors! 8)
Good job done
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HI HI HI, I did spray :) :) well, still loads of these small jobs to be done :D
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I did have few hours free this morning. By accident :) so took 126 to local specialists to fit white walls bands. Effect pleased me so much I still watch the same few pictures on my iphone. :D all day long. I would never say such a small thing can make a car totaly different :)
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a little nose down lowering and that would be perfect (mind you i re-iterate that since its orange then its perfect anyways!)
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I like it. Looks very cool with them [-/
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how much for your white wall bands?? and fitting ?
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I paid £68 for flaps and another £50 for fitting them and blancing wheels. Fitting night have been cheaper buy I run tubeless wheels so it was a bit expensive as they stripped wheels to pices, clean them and all that. So in my case it was more or less £120.
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Todays menu specials:
1. New wheel nuts all over (nice and shiny)
2. Got hold of spare wheel as it was missing (cleaned and painted white)
3. Cleaned smart "tool box" under the driver seats. People tried loads of ideas to use space in 126's more, thats one of them. Very very old polish toolbox for 126 :)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/57550_1_122_212lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/57553_2_122_380lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/57555_3_122_504lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/57557_4_122_429lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/57560_5_122_593lo.jpg)
Not a lot done but lately I just have no time for anything. And obviously I prefer to drive it in a weather like today :)
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Yesterday fiat pass an MOT easily. Apart of a detail like jet washers still not connected and me forgot to screw maschine washed seatbelts back (there were in a boot though) there was no even small discusion about it's roadworthiness. I know this tester who did the test but he said whoever would come in this one would get it through as condition is near mint. So I am pleased as there was a lot of fun, pictures made by some people and I even did manage to set up lights "a la" brirtish setting do not cause any confusions :) :) so no advisory on the paper and fiat is basicly ready to be UK registered. Which will happen as soon as I will have another morning off.
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Thats good news Jan, she looks a real beauty... a unique 126 here in the UK and I love the whitewalls.
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Ohh man, I had no time last weeks to do anything but tonight I came back home tired and angry as hell and decided while having my evening cigarette in my garage I will fit chrome mirror. This small nice thing was bought from Poland and looks exactly like vintage mirrors produced in Cracow Glass factory in early 80'.
I had to add one rubber washer inside the mirror to finaly make it "solid fit" but in my opinion was worth few minutes.
Looks fine in comparisement with standard plastic black one and made me happy for a few minutes tonight.
Here we go, getting there but due to loads of work these steps are very small and long periods between them. This weekend I have a plan to replace the engine with the chrome one built to order. Will post effects if i will get mange this.
Mirror:
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/42427_100_4333_122_150lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/42429_100_4334_122_426lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/42431_100_4335_122_152lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/42433_100_4336_122_196lo.jpg)
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jan looks looks superb!!
i know how you feel, working on your car in the evenings is therapeutic!
you did a good job on those steel wheels
Chris
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Hi Jan
You can't beat a nice chrome (or stainless) mirror. I can't stand the plastic ones on an early car! Soon got rid of mine!
Forgive me, but I thought you sold the little Satsuma? I'm also loving the wheels. Mine need doing before the summer
but I don't need the expense of a pro job. Any tips 4 diy?
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Well, today with HUGE help of Lad (or more honest with small help of mine) we put our patient to the heart surgery :P and replace my current engine with custom made polished one. It was a regular job until it came to fit new engine mount.... Jezzzzz, we both try I suppose for 45 minutes and finaly we discovered engine bracket has different tread!!! Man, it was so annoying. But as I had other one we swaped it and it worked out well.
After few other small problems we eventually got it done and trust me - there is nothing better to so brand new engine filled with fresh oil up and running sweet. Due to a really proper job done by an engine builder now my 126 runs better than new one! No kidding, amazing effect.
As we had an engine out 126 got:
- brand new full clutch,
- brand new clutch bearing,
- new clutch cable adjuster,
- solid sport exhaust (from previous engine - sound dogs bolloks)
- new engine mount,
- complete new engine with literally all parts NEW.
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/96720_0_122_486lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/96723_1_122_383lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/96725_2_122_392lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/96729_3_122_41lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/96732_4_122_1109lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/96734_5_122_354lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/96737_6_122_359lo.jpg)
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Some more pictures from today, day light. I did put some chrome valves cups and colour coded plastic screws for both rear lights. Slowly slowly I am almost done from visual and mechanical point of view... outside. Then the time will come for inside. Plus registration will be done this week if i am lucky.
Looks lovley. One more time THANKS to Lad [-/
PS: made a movie how new engine works as difference between average one and this is just HUGE when you watch it and listen to it. Will update with link to youtube when uploaded.
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/66887_100_4400_122_747lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/66902_100_4401_122_247lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/66917_100_4402_122_74lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/66933_100_4404_122_1086lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/66948_100_4405_122_121lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/66963_100_4407_122_72lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/66979_100_4408_122_77lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/66996_100_4411_122_4lo.jpg)
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:eek: WOW
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Now that is a minter Jan. Keep up the good work.
Kamil
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Spectacular :D
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Here we go with you tube. Mind it is on a full choke as it was cold and i had no time to wait until it warms up but want to make a short movie and tuck it in my small garage :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbV4Ljs1OBs
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ORANGE MOVIE STAR? :o :D what is it being filmed for?
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ORANGE MOVIE STAR? :o :D what is it being filmed for?
http://club126uk.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=4395.0
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ORANGE MOVIE STAR? :o :D what is it being filmed for?
http://club126uk.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=4395.0
Thanks
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Today 126 got full set of original engine bay stickers (did my best to find out where they going as it is in italian and only one also in english). I also fit rubber pad on an accerelator pedal and two brand new pipes for heating and air intake will wait until weekend to be fitted. Also Michael will sandblast tow engine bay covers (one above an exhaust and one under the engine, will paint them black and screw them in.
Plus long awaited screen wsher bag will go in place. And then I will have to say - it is more or less finished :D :D :D :D
BIG DAY IN WEEKEND AND IF WEATHER WILL ALLOW I WILL HAVE A RIDE IN MY COMPLETLY DONE 126 [-/
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/09845_100_4413_122_488lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/09858_100_4414_122_53lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/09872_100_4415_122_694lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/09886_100_4416_122_567lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/09911_100_4417_122_508lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/09922_100_4418_122_71lo.jpg)
PS: I just did insure 126 with Footman James but these new regulations over there are cosmic - you cannot have it on a classic policy anymore if it is not registered in the UK. So I had to take modern policy (twice more expensive) with possibility to cancel within 14 days for a fee of £25.50!!
It means basicly I will have to registered 126 with DVLA, cancel policy paying fee and get a new one classic one. B***x.
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I also got hold of one very old ABARTH badge for a engine lid. So far I am not sure where I am going to stick it but looks very nice.
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/14907_100_4419_122_64lo.jpg)
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Thats a beauty mate, love the colour!
Steve
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Your orange Fiat is getting even better - Lovely. It is becoming a museum piece.
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Ok, two covers sandblasted this morning, painted, dryed and fitted. So from engine bay point of view my 126 is finished and I have to say looks good to me (original stickers set was applied as well) plus few nice details. Now engine needs a good clean and polish but this will happend tomorrow. Ech, like that look now :)
Took it for a ride as it was dry and sunny - goeas like a rocket, sound like a rocket :D :D :D [-/
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/91530_1_122_529lo.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/91533_2_122_1031lo.jpg)
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(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/91538_4_122_589lo.jpg)
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were the sandblasters good? might end up taking some parts to them soon.
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Very nice and honest people. They did the best job they could but quality of wheels I took (for polonez) was average itself so I am very pleased with effect. And quite cheal as for 4 14" wheels (lot of job to blast them) + two covers for 126 they charged me £40 all together.
Covers looks fantastic. Thanks for a tip michael.
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REGISTERED :) LJH752W
So my 126 is British now :D
(http://i751.photobucket.com/albums/xx151/Jan-in-UK/1.jpg)
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And look at that a 500 coming the other way! :D
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The subject is frozen. It is a pity because the car was worthy of presenting and describing further modifications and history. What's up in Your 126p?
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Amazing! Lovely colour! Hehe!
I'm on a mission to get my Satzuma looking as swish as yours Jan! :D