Katie B said:

The engine will be put on eBay complete with videos of it running etc.

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You're doing well Katie, but the plan above mystifies me; so why's that?
All the best, Peter

fiat500 said:

You're doing well Katie, but the plan above mystifies me; so why's that?
All the best, Peter

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I want to put a 126 engine and box in and will need the space in the garage so need it gone as soon poss.

Hi ya - remember that the driveshafts are too long from a 126 and that your replacement engine may have some ancillaries missing... if possible buy one before selling the old....there's not a strong demand for 500 power trains

AndrewHarvey said:

Hi ya - remember that the driveshafts are too long from a 126 and that your replacement engine may have some ancillaries missing... if possible buy one before selling the old....there's not a strong demand for 500 power trains

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Thanks Andrew. The new engine comes with driveshafts to fit but it's a good point. Maybe I should hang on to it before the new one arrives.

Progress

Engine out

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Engine removal went pretty well. I think the hardest part was freeing the throttle cable from the bracket with the split pin. It required 3 hands and a mirror! Also found that the rear engine mount was cracked where the spring attaches. Lots of bolts and cables need replacing but that was to be expected

Nice paint job

So what's your plan? Same colour ? Standard looking car ?

AndrewHarvey said:

So what's your plan? Same colour ? Standard looking car ?

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The plan is to make it look like it just came out of the factory. It will be standard besides a 125 engine and gearbox and maybe a few subtle little tweaks.
I'm changing the colour but haven't decided which to go for but I'd like to stick with an original fiat 500 colour.
I'm hoping that my other half and I can do all the work ourselves but neither of us have restored a car before so that will probably depend on what we find under the paint.

Progress this week...

Started to clean up the boot and remove the seam sealant to check the condition of the panels. Looks good so far. Also started to remove the sealant and sound matting on the flooring.
Today the fuel tank got striped and treated. It has been primed to stop rusting but this will be sanded back and primed properly once the materials arrive.

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Hiya - the third picture showing pocked marked corrosion looks a bit iffy if I'm honest.
Be careful of spending time and money on a tank that maybe trouble ahead.
If the corrosion is deep enough ditch it as a leaking fuel tank ix not what you'd need. A replacement is £125......painted shiny black....

AndrewHarvey said:

Hiya - the third picture showing pocked marked corrosion looks a bit iffy if I'm honest.

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Wise words from Andrew. I'm a tight-fisted chancer and tried to get away with slightly worse corrosion, cleaned-up well and repaired using epoxy putty etc. After a couple of months' use, the stink of petrol indicated that I needed a new tank.

I have a FACTORY workshop manual for the 500--if you would like copies of the pages relating to chassis measurements and suspension angles, contact me direct with your address and I will put them into the post to you (or, if you wish as I am only about 28 miles from you, bring them over)
Did you get my e-mail regarding the fact that I have some details of the 2nd rotisserie that I was chasing on your behalf? Again, if you contact me I will let you have all the info that I have on both of the rotisseries that I was trying to find info on.

Hi Katie;
looking at some of your earlier messages, are you planning to retain your old gearbox or fit a 126 gearbox as well as a 126 engine? If you retain the original gearbox you will need to change the bell housing on the gearbox as the 500 bell-housing will NOT fit onto a 126 engine (among other things, different starter location). I can supply a source for 126 bell-housings.