I met up with a great guy last week who is building a 70hp 1960 ,D and has fitted tripod CV's
I think I'll see how I get on - they are not too big a job to change but do cost about 150 pounds

Has anyone fitted a steering rack conversion ? - I've read the story of one on here and would appreciate some info before in tackle it

Proietti's in London does it as regular item---have a word with Stef Proietti. Kelvyne Baker (Latifa Estates) down in Somerset can also do it.

My engine cover / boot lid was collected today along with a Slovenian sourced Fiat 600 engine cover.
My good friend has a large fabrication business and as a favour whilst I'm laid up is going to make me an engine cover shown earlier in my thread

just like this.............

From the threads I've read regarding steering rack up grade most people seem to of used the top half of the 500 steering column and the lower part of the 126 rack
I have no idea why and I am waiting to speak to someone about this issue
I have the rack and mounting brackets that bolt into place and the 126 column and lock assembly
Most of the images on this forum show a fabricated bracket to support column around where the air vent tube comes through the bulkhead - is the support under the dashboard not sufficient?

Hi Andrew;
I have not fitted rack-'n-pinion steering to my 500 (yet), although I have some of the parts to do it. It would seem that one of the problems is that whilst the 500 uses a 'straight' steering column, the 126 column is 'cranked' with a couple of u/j's in it--hence the reason for more support at the top of the column. It is a fairly serious mod, so my advice is---get somebody who REALLY knows what they are doing to carry out the mod (Stef Proietti or Kelvyne Baker)
Also, I note your comments re. the mods you are planning for a boot lid (aka engine cover)---the 600 engine cover is a lot larger than the 500 engine cover and hinges at the TOP. If your 600 engine cover comes with its hinges complete (both parts, the 'lid' part and the 'body' part) hang onto them--they are as rare as rocking horse poo because nobody makes them now.

Thanks Tom
I'm waiting for Steff to get back to me
The 600 lid is having the vents cut out and let into the existing 500 panel - my fabricators are top notch
I've also picked up some works arches - did you put piping or a grommet strip in when bolting yours?

Hi Andrew

I had bookmarked this a while ago, you may find it a useful quick scan...

http://forum.abarth-gmr.be/index.php/topic,4516.0.html

cheers, Steve

Hi Andy;
My (group 2) wheel arch extensions are bolted on using 5mm (shank size)
Button-head cap-head bolts (Car Builder Solutions, part number M525BUT) into riv-nuts embedded into the wing. I used 'U' channel rubber strip on the edge that is against the wing , to stop fretting. In the 'Car Builders Solutions' catalogue the part number of the strip I used is:- TRMU2--10mmx5mm. they do a slightly bigger size and a slightly smaller size, but the 10x5 worked just fine for me. I put a small fibre washer under the head of the screw. I will e-mail a picture of one of my wings in sit to you--what is the best e-mail address to send it to?

Thanks Steve for the link - loved some of the detail - going to go body coloured matched arches with chrome bead

Hi Tom thanks for that information - did you fit them yourself? Brave pills.....
Please send to my email address for work that you have
Regards
A

Back in the game!!
health restored - build completion on!
Please assist in attached photo

Which is the braided pipe out to cooler and which is return?

Regards

here it is....

Hi Andrew;
Delighted to hear that your health problems have been sorted. Before I worried about which pipe goes where, I would look at leading that HT lead and the oil-pipe well away from the exhaust--if you don't, you will find your car coming to a severe halt, either from lack of spark or lack of oil!

hi Tom
not ready to start it yet!!
Many checks before we fire up the beast!
So.....which of my pipes is the feed guys?

I haven't used these, but surely logic would say its the one that's furthest away that feeds the pump - and the one that exits the filter is the return.

cheers, Steve

will it make any difference?
most oil coolers are just fluid passing through a radiator which allows it to get cooled as it passes. Unless there is a one way valve in the system I cant see that it matters.

I have a remote thermostat and it is directional
Up to 85° the oil returns to engine - higher than that - through the cooler you go!

I haven't seen one of these close up myself. But presumably the oil is pumped through the filter from the pump? so I would have thought the feed would have been from the filter and then pumped back into the crankcase.


Also when would it be convenient for me to pop along and borrow those brake shoes to see if they make any difference?