Had a good day working on the machine
My fabricator supplied my handbrake brackets, postman supplied the brake pipes, my wife supplied the earl grey and i supplied the labour
Completed the rear disc setup. New Goodrich braided hoses, new copper pipes and the afore mentioned handbrake brackets were fitted.
Then made up two hoses for the oil cooler - from the thermostat to the radiator and back.
Tomorrow is measuring up time to sort out this wonky front nearside problem

Right oh - measurements taken....
nearside wheelarch:
forward gap to wheel - 25mm
rear gap to wheel - 0mm

off side wheelarch:
forward gap to wheel - 10mm
rear gap to wheel -20mm

nearside front to nearside rear - 1420mm
offside front to offside rear - 1435mm
nearside front to offside rear - 1580mm
offside front to nearside rear - 1580mm

So it appears that the car is 10mm out of true across the cross member - most likely due to nearside accident damage.

I plan to have fabricated a pair of camber compensation brackets as attached with enlarged slotted holes for moving the pivot arm back and forth by upto 15mm - see what I can get sorted - if not its to a jig it goes....

I have attached images of crumpled outer section of nearside arch - it will be replaced when bodyshop booking is made along with the usual two front wings and front panel. Wider bolt on arches being fitted so sections of the inner wing will be modified

Sounds like a cunning plan Andrew.
It might be easier to go that route than stick it on a jig and cause to much damage to the rest of the car.

So bracket drawn up - should allow enough alteration to get me rolling (quite literally - as it won't move at the moment!!)
Fabricator should turn it round for Wednesday.....


Got out of jail regarding the front nearside brake line that requires the suspension to be stripped down to install.......

I am preparing the car for the bolt on wide arches

As I had stated earlier- I'm considering the navy blue and yellow of the Oilo Fiat racing team

Does anyone know what yellow was used please?

I have a sample of positano yellow being made up - but I think the yellow used is a lighter shade

Any help please?

Not much factual out there:

http://www.zero-paints.com/Olio_Fiat__Yellow_and_Blue_Paint_Set_2x30ml--product--7572.html

http://www.131mirafiori.com/smf/index.php?topic=1176.15;wap2

Wow that's perfect
Thanks Again Peter!
Pantone 116C!

AndrewHarvey said:

Wow that's perfect
Thanks Again Peter!
Pantone 116C!

Click to expand...

Don't rely on it as Gospel Andrew....just my best guess off the internet.

NowI realise it must have been based on the colours on the can, if they still use those shades you could take a can in for analysis by the colour scanner.

You've turned me Andrew and I'm genuinely interested in this. I also think I'm beginning to know what you're like and don't you think that the yellow roof brings it all together?
Fiat_131_Abarth_001 by Peter Thompson, on Flickr
(Don't tell Andrew that I'm sneakily edging him towards having a yellow car).

so my adjustable top pivot brackets have arrived....
Will fit them along with the replacement damaged brake pipe.


I'm hopeful that the wheel is centralised - or at least enough to drive the beast.


Next up is to complete the oil cooler pipework.....its looking very fancy with the red and blue alloy fittings

andrewharvey said:

.....its looking very fancy with the red and blue alloy fittings

Click to expand...

Red??

fiat500 said:

You've turned me Andrew and I'm genuinely interested in this. I also think I'm beginning to know what you're like and don't you think that the yellow roof brings it all together?
[/I]

Click to expand...

I agree, yellow roof too.

Ahhh I'm pleased to find some support!! My wife isn't a fan of my "road racer" look
I have aerosol samples of both yellows in the post - will spray one arch extension each and see what I think - photos to follow
On the subject of the roof colour - I would like to remind you guys I have an original steel hardtop - in black & white checkered - with a black "works" type roof vent from the 1960's.........oooooh nice!!

brackets ready to fit....

Nicely made pair of brackets Andrew--but how are you planning to retain the caster angle on the king-pin carriers (9 deg. +/- 1 deg. on the 500)?

The brackets replicate the camber compensating brackets for lowered suspension as sold by Ricambio and our European cousins (for now) but give me the small amount of fore and aft required to square up the wheelbase
What caster angle adjustment will I need? How is it set on the standard car?

I guess I can shim one end of pivot arm bolt or the other?? Just as standard??

Good day fitting the bracket to hopefully to move the nearside wheel forward 15mm.....
Had good fun and had to cut a few bits but it is a success ! it has moved the wheel forward exactly as planned. Fitted new brake line at the same time.
Moving the pivot forward has not effected the bottom connection onto the indepedant arm - alignment is good.
God those pivot studs are made of chocolate....
Now for the off side..


If the gentleman visiting sunday morning doesnt want all my spares - is there anything you my friends would like at a "mates rates" kind of deal - before the enevitable Ebay frenzy....?

Hi Andrew;
Glad to see, and hear, that you have managed to pull the n/s wheel forward enough to solve your problem. As I have mentioned in previous correspondence, I am interested in your oil pressure gauge and oil temperature gauge---what would you want for them?

Hi Tom
I'll pull them out - check them out and get back to you
Haven't had the chance to check the ones fitted work yet!!

Hi Andrew,

you mentioned a while ago that you have some 80mm bore cylinder head gaskets spare?? Have you found them yet?? Let me know if you have please. Your car is coming along nicely - you'll get to end just keep plugging away!!

Ian.