1990 Fiat 126 BIS

[dadandlad]

Nice work
Reading through your posts I have just realised I have used the wrong oil in my gearbox, for some reason which im sure I read on here I used 5W40 semi synthetic engine oil 

[Gadge]

5w/40 

[Crusader]

Gadge - It's that time 

dadandlad - Yes you're right, I also read on here someone putting 5W40 semi synthetic in the gearbox. However I read afterwards that they struggled to get gears when hot and reverted back. Hope that helps.

Update time on the little BIS.

Firstly I got the fuel tank back from my Sandblaster.


Rightly or wrongly I made the decision not to spray it or get it powder coated. Instead I decided to give it a good few coats of Hammerite Smooth. Came out quite well so I was happy.


Then it was a matter of getting the full length braided fuel lines fitted on to the tank.

You may remember before I had only joined them to the old lines before I decided to remove the tank. Now they are full length.

Tank back in to the car (which was grief lying on the floor on my back) fuel lines plummed in. Air filter fitted and filled up with 15W40 Mineral oil. Fresh coolant bled and here is how it's all looking.

Got this little air filter replacement sticker. I couldn't get the period correct sticker so the Fiat emblem is wrong. However it does the job.

Then with on a few turns from the fresh 077 battery I was greeted with this:



Thanks all for looking, as usual all comments welcomed and appreciated.

[Gadge]

Fantastic work   it makes it all worth it when it fires up and runs :

When I did my tank (I bought a brand new one) I didn't have much faith in the standard black coating that they thinly apply at the factory so I rubbed it down and applied frost chassis black paint all over then gave the top half (the bit you can't see when fitted) with underbody seal but I'm overkill   Hammerite will be just fine  

[Bambino126]

I was even more overkill! 

I bought a brand new fuel tank to start with, and then gave the outside 3 coats of POR15 paint, and then gave the inside 2 coats of POR15  fuel tank sealer.

That isn't gonna rust!

[Crusader]

Gadge - Yes mate it certainly does. I've very little experience with these engines. It's so easy to start from cold with the choke working now thanks to that little plastic connector. However, when it's cold it's so quiet. When it warms up its a little tappy. Is this normal for these engines? Or is it my fail not checking and adjusting the tappets? That's great attention to detail with your fuel tank buddy.

Bambino126 - That's just mental, the tank will last longer than the car 

Ok so it's time for another update on the BIS and I'm pleased to say it's a fairly big one.

I got it back down on the ground and showed it daylight for the first time in months.



However it was looking absolutely filthy and in need of a real deep clean. Here's a close up of the roof.

Out with the snow foam as per usual.

Whilst I was letting the foam do it's thing, I turned my attention to the plastic bumpers. I thoroughly cleaned them, then I treated them to some of the Boiled Linseed oil treatment. As you can see from this picture the difference to the treated and untreated.

Then after a few hours under the RUPES polisher the little BIS was looking much better.


Here's the roof and how it looks after all the polishing.

The plan tomorrow is to put some of the trims back on including the bumpers.

Thanks all for looking.

[Crusader]

Anyway, time for today's update. First thing was, you may notice that I still have the hole cut out in the sill. I haven't got the welder out yet. There was a passed repair on the o/s/r sill that I really wasn't happy about. So I bit the bullet, got the angle grinder out and cut out the repair.

Here's the piece I cut out. See if you can see what I was worried about.

Yup, you guessed it. Here's the opposite side of the removed panel. Your standard MOT repair panel welded over the rusty hole.

I'll weld both sides up soon by making plates that fit inside the gap and not overlapping.

I also cracked on with putting the car back together. Put the trims and bumpers back on. The BIS is starting to look back how it should again.




Thanks all for looking and hope you like the updates. All comments welcomed and appreciated.

[Gadge]

You've made that paint work look like new! 

[Crusader]

Cheers Gadge, my RUPES was the best investment ever!! If you have a straight surface to play with it really brings the shine out.

Made a cheeky little collage of the engine bay when I got it and compared to now.

[Gadge]

Wow that's amazing!  how did you manage that without taking it out?

[Crusader]

Gadge - Yes, magic isn't it! Just shows Barry Scott is right, Cillit Bang and the dirt is gone. 

Time for a little update.

Had Roy 'The dent guy' round today. Needed a few dents repairing on some of the cars including the little BIS. Never had any paint less dent repairs done before. It's a skill that I greatly respect.
This is Roy with a bigger collection of rods and hammers I've ever seen.

This is one of the dents in the front wing, it looked like it was caused by the door check strap breaking at some point and the door connecting with the front wing. So here is the dent, which unfortunately it has cracked the paint.

Then this is after Roys magic. With a little paint touch up you'll never notice it. Really pleased with his work.

[Crusader]

 

Update time for the little BIS. An update that I am particularly proud of please to be bringing you.

You may remember on the first page that I removed the interior from the BIS. The seats were very dirty and the material was really worn out.

I mentioned having them retrimmed. Well I had a good look at the car and drew up some plans. I wanted a more classic look. The BIS doesn't have the nicest seats compared to the earlier cars but they are more comfortable. So what do you think to these?



The material is a sacking type texture, it's a little rough to the touch. The grey is to compliment the darker grey of the rest of the interior. The dashpad and plastic trims. The stitching has been done in a more classic effect. The headrests have been permanently removed from the seats too.

Door cards to match.

Rear bench seats as well. The material on the back upright I've noticed needs pulling up straight but otherwise they're really good quality.

All opinions welcomed and appreciated. What do you all reckon?

[Gadge]

I think they look amazing mate : the best cloth seats I've seen in fact 

[Piotross]

nice material, looking oldschool

[dombooth]

They're gorgeous! How much did they cost if you don't mind me asking?