Author Topic: Fiat 500 D restoration (Read 7412 times)

phreak97 · « **on:** June 11, 2008, 03:31:24 PM »

somebody is giving me a fiat 500 for free!!

but,
it hasnt got an engine or gearbox, and it's been living in a paddock with some cows for a few years:P
i havnt seen it yet, and i've been told it has alot of rust, but for a fiat 500, i'd be prepared to learn how to do bodywork.

i already have an engine and a heap of gearbox bits that were going to go into one of the two 126 bodies i have now.. so if i can get this 500, ill probably put it all into that instead.

phreak97 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 15, 2008, 01:33:23 PM »

the engine and gearbox i'll be putting in will be 126 ones.. is there anything i need to know? someone said the axles were a different length.. is that true?

thanks

ChrisRLewis · « **Reply #2 on:** June 15, 2008, 01:49:35 PM »

Check this site out
http://www.fiat500clubsa.com/niki-swaps.html

phreak97 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 15, 2008, 04:28:17 PM »

hahaha, that's my local club, i'm a member. the site is so horrible however that i never knew the articles section had anything remotely useful at all.
thanks!

phreak97 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 24, 2008, 03:00:20 PM »

is there a bolt-on solution to the engine mount? or do i have to drill and weld?

also, a 500 gearbox has come up on ebay au, i'll do my best to win it. is it really important to have the larger drive blocks at the end of the axles? i dont want to swap all that stuff over if i dont have to. the 650 engine isnt THAT much more powerful is it?

ChrisRLewis · « **Reply #5 on:** June 24, 2008, 11:24:31 PM »

you can use the standard 500 swing arm engine bracket mounting setup if you prefer!
The fiat500clubsa does not mention this, which is a bit misleading!

phreak97 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 25, 2008, 04:47:39 AM »

yeah, theres a couple of pictures later in the guide which show 650 engines with the swing arm mount, which is why i asked. but youre right, it doesnt say anywhere that it's possible.

i'll do that, it'll be alot easier.

phreak97 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 05, 2008, 11:50:32 AM »

i got it!

i was told it was "Very rusty", and they werent wrong, the right runner on the drivers seat was scraping on the ground, it'd fallen through the floor!

well, i wanted to learn how to weld, so i guess this is how i'm going to do it!

heres a few pics:

http://s189.photobucket.com/albums/z234/phreak97/Bambino/

i think it's a D. it looks like to make it a half length sunroof fiat just spot welded a crossmember in then clipped on a roof. is that correct? (theres four clips inside then some screws at the back it looks like.. or is it actually an N with a hard top on it? probably thats just how they did the D.

whats the best place to buy body bits from online? i'd have to freight it over to australia though. i need as much of the floor as can be bought premade, plus a front boot (luggage compartment) lid, as that one's fairly ruined. i'm happy to pay the price for new bits if theyre available, itll be worth it in the end.

what structural areas should i pay attention to under the car, and how would i go about repairing them if rusted through?

do these cars have a seperate chassis? im thinking no.

EDIT:

definately a D, i just found the chassis number by sanding off some layers of paint.. the id plate is gone. anyone know how to tell what year a 500 is by the chassis number?

just stripped out most of the interior, the whole car is pretty much held together by the roof and a bit of metal under each door.. the floor is rusted through the whole way round the front.

is this car possible to restore? a 5 year timeline is fine, if i know it's possible.

i've added pictures of the rust to the gallery.
http://s189.photobucket.com/albums/z234/phreak97/Bambino/

ANOTHER EDIT:

after having a closer look at it, i was feeling pretty down, i didnt think it was looking possible, but now i've been looking on axel gerstl, and it looks like the majority of the rusted parts are available there. but i need somebody to help me order, i dont know the names of alot of things. if anyone is willing to help me, please pm me with an msn, aim, yahoo, or icq id. it'd be really really appreciated.

phreak97 · « **Reply #8 on:** September 08, 2008, 05:45:13 AM »

well, i've just ordered a thousand bucks worth of floor and sills, damn this stuff is expensive.. i decided to buy local as i've never shipped items that large before, and i'd rather just pay the extra for the convenience.

more saving up to do before i can buy a welder and grinder though..

JamesY · « **Reply #9 on:** September 08, 2008, 09:59:40 PM »

Blimey mate, that really is crusty! I've had less rusty Fords than that

Glad you're going to restore it, although looks like a really tough first project to learn bodywork and welding on. Any chance you could do an evening course at a local college to practice?

Good luck and remember to post piccies

James

phreak97 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 09, 2008, 03:22:09 AM »

i would like to do a welding course, i tried to look it up a while ago but didnt have much luck, they all seemed to be really far away from where i live.

ill definitely take photos as i go along, there wont be any progress for a while though, i dont have enough money left in my savings account to buy a welder, the panels cost alot more than i thought.

JamesY · « **Reply #11 on:** September 09, 2008, 09:42:46 PM »

I did a night course at a local college to learn how to mig weld. But many people are self taught and several hours practising and you'll be able to make a good strong weld.

There's always help at hand at:

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/index.php

Good luck with the project - use the time whilst you're saving up to plot and scheme!

James

ger · « **Reply #12 on:** November 06, 2008, 09:19:39 AM »

seen worse !

Just finished my 500L, www.dropshots.com/ger

You can get all parts, I used http://www.fiat500ricambi.nl/en/index.html?lmd=39088.452419 in the Netherlands

Cheers
Gerry

phreak97 · « **Reply #13 on:** November 06, 2008, 11:44:30 AM »

far out, nice work there! my budget is very limited at the moment, i originally planned a 5 year restoration, but i think it's going to be more than that. i still dont want to give up though!
i want to go overseas next year, so my money is going towards that for now.

nrg19uk · « **Reply #14 on:** November 06, 2008, 06:33:27 PM »

wow you have your work cut out there!! save up and get the car dipped in a acid bath or media/sand blasted it removes the thin rust and all the paint which will give you a good solid platform to start from.

good luck and keep us posted