sorry all but yes this topic again, I did see another post some years ago but it didn't help


I have brought a full conversion kit and trying to fit to my 1973 restored 500


Are there any pictures kicking around of the kit fitted as just can't see how the brackets fit to the bulk head
I presume you have to drill 4 or 6 holes but what about datum points?????


Any help info or pictures would be great and feel free to PM me or post to this thread or email at


[email protected]


I am in Nuneaton so if anyone local can shed some light on this then please do


If I can sort this then I will take and post pictures for future reference


Thanks in advance


Mike

Would a picture of a 126 set up be of any help?

FIAT126 said:

Would a picture of a 126 set up be of any help?

Click to expand...

Yes please


Feel free to email it to me


Thanks


Mike

I have also received some pictures of the conversion fitted


I will however be taking pictures myself of the following


1) Steering rack conversion


2) Front suspension conversion

3) Rear disc brake conversion


Not sure if a blog would be better???????

some help showing your experiences with these mods would be heavenly....

Look on the web site:- '1963d resto with 126'. Follow the pages down (it has about 7) and you will see some pictures Roger's restoration of his 500. he has fitted rack-and-pinion steering to his car and the pictures very clearly show the mounts and location of the mounts.

Hi all, been a while since I posted. Been an up hill struggle but can finally see light at the end of a very long tunnel.

If anyone ever needs advice on modifying a classic 500 do feel free to PM me

This car has all the goodies

Have you removed the gutters? It looks strangely smart.:thumbup:

smilesoffun said:

Hi all, been a while since I posted. Been an up hill struggle but can finally see light at the end of a very long tunnel.

If anyone ever needs advice on modifying a classic 500 do feel free to PM me

This car has all the goodies

Click to expand...

Do I spy a VW engine?

Or even a Steyr Puch engine?

Please tell me about the steering rack replacement - welded or bolted?
I'm considering keeping the 500 column and joining it to the 126 part

Hay guy's

Thanks for the comments

Yes the gutters have been removed to give it a smooth look

The engine is from a Steyr Puch and has been enlarged from 695cc to 750cc using VW parts
Should eat an Abarth for dinner

All parts are new are rebuilt

As for the steering rack conversion this along with the coilovers is NOT easy and you must be handy with the scanners

I had to heavily modify the front chassis legs (early cars don't have them) that allowed me to fit the front crossmember

The rack conversion requires

126 coulm
126 RHD rack
126 rack mounts those are rare so I used Ford Escort
Custom made rack mounts ( rack to body)

Then the fun begins with getting it all to fit as all holes have to be marked and drilled

I also had to cut and lengthen the coupling that joins the column and rack

Also a word of warning

NOTHING FITS AND EVERYTHING WILL NEED MODIFYING even if the trader selling the parts tells you differently take it from me nothing fits

This especially applies to the rear disc conversion and the green halfsfaft UJ joints

A word on the latter

I could not take the free play from the rear wheel bearings and in the end after 4 shafts and 4 crush bearings spacers had to be made and fitted

Forgot to say feel free to look at the photo album of the car on my facebook page (Michael foster Jnr)

Hi Mike, can I ask where you got your rack conversion from? I have a supposedly "bolt in" kit from Ricambio UK which I plan to install when I get space back in my garage to work on the car.

I also have a bolt on kit for the steering rack conversion. Issues of concern are the positioning seems to have no information available
- I know that it does require a new hole to be cut in the bulkhead as it is offset and uses a UJ to connect to the column - but I have no dimensions....
Secondly if you want to keep the 500 column/steering connection you will need to join the 126 column to the 500 and make a support bracket bolted through the bulkhead where the ventilation tube passes - once more there are only photos available
The London based specialists weld the brackets rather than bolt them - and charge £650 labour.....or £1100 including parts
I'm undecided what way to go.....if I balls it up.....?

Thanks Andrew. Seems as though another "just bolts straight in" part is anything but that. I'll get the car moving on the current steering and save the rack job for a rainy day!

Seems like the best option
I'm tempted to have a more detailed look in the spring....if I don't like the look of it - the pros can do it!