Technical Project Little Blue - an introduction (and cry for help)

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Technical Project Little Blue - an introduction (and cry for help)

All good! It just sat on the jack while the tyre was getting done. I'm a long way from getting underneath (productively)!

Brakes seem like a good place to start, thanks. I'll find that Hayes manual and see if I can learn while doing.
 
Argh. Poking around and...
Well this could be the cause of the putt putt at idle / roaring sound at speed. I assume this would have a definite impact on performance.
A pretty significant crack there, clearly a weak point as the muffler seems to hang at that point and cause stress on the join when bouncing.

I could get it welded perhaps but I'm wondering if anyone in Aus knows a good supplier for the exhaust locally and I should try for a new one? I fear that shipping an exhaust from one of the European suppliers would cost a mint.
 

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Argh. Poking around and...
Well this could be the cause of the putt putt at idle / roaring sound at speed. I assume this would have a definite impact on performance.
A pretty significant crack there, clearly a weak point as the muffler seems to hang at that point and cause stress on the join when bouncing.

I could get it welded perhaps but I'm wondering if anyone in Aus knows a good supplier for the exhaust locally and I should try for a new one? I fear that shipping an exhaust from one of the European suppliers would cost a mint.

Hi

The cheapest way to get an exhaust would be through axel gerstl in Germany

You also need the mounts that attach to the side of the engine.

Postage is only about 10 days and very good value

You can also pick up some other odds and ends and they can come in the same box

The webshop is easy to use

Look around the car make a list and then put in an order

If the total including shipping is less than 1000 you don't have to pay tax.

Cheers

Geoff
 
Thanks Geoff I hadn't come across axel gerst.
I'd been looking at passione.

I'm slowly making a list and seeing what's required.
I'll have to seek some shopping advice from the forum at some point I think! It's hard to know what could be missing or needs replacement. Plus the question as to how far you take the resto - can't afford much!
 
When I replaced my original engine with a 650(695) I kept all of the parts. I still have the exhaust which I think is OK. I don't know for sure because the original engine was basically worn out and never ran.

My car is a 500F and if someone can tell me whether the exhaust is the same as a 500D, you can have it.

Chris
 
My car is a 500F and if someone can tell me whether the exhaust is the same as a 500D, you can have it.
Chris

Chris that's stupendously kind.
I was digging into the forums trying to recall where I'd seen them compared and based on this thread it seems it might fit?
https://www.fiatforum.com/500-classic/352776-new-exhaust-muffler.html?352776=#post3504632

Just as I get into the swing of the project I'm going away but perhaps if you're not in a rush we could work something out when I get back to see if it might fit. It would be amazing if so!
Jeremy
 
Happy to help.

Over the years I've restored quite a few cars and received a lot of help from all over the world. As they say 'what goes around, comes around' but in a good way this time.

I'll also be away - from early August until late September.

In the meantime I'll try to find out if the D & F exhausts are interchangeable.

Chris
 
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I'll send a PM!
Hard to tell as Ricambio sells them as interchangeable between the models, as does Axel, but passione sells a D/N specific one. Though it looks like they might still fit in the same spots where it matters.
 
D&F exhausts are interchangeable....
if you wanted to be picky N&D exhausts are different, the main box is actually cylindrical rather than the later pressed design, it makes little difference to performance...

does your d have the Original engine?
 
engine number stamped into block near front pulley
will be
Fiat 110.000 for an N engine
Fiat 10D.000 for a D engine
Fiat 110F.000 for F/L/R
126 something for 126 engines
 
Hi again Jeremy,

I am glad that it arrived safely and in one piece.

Yep, you do have a D engine.

When I took it for its test drive here in NZ for you, I only got about 50 yards down the road before it ran out of petrol, so there probably wasn't enough fuel in it to leak out of the fuel lines. I can tell you that is is quite easy to push!

I am happy that it found a good home and I am sure that you will have many happy miles in it and hours under it!

Chris
 
Thanks folks again, for all the help. Just amazed how helpful people are and enjoying sharing my car and seeing what others are doing.

Hope no one minds me adding some pics as she is now, in the hope that a transformation occurs somewhere along this thread. There's a few things to do!
 

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What a bit of elbow grease can do!
First pic is as she arrived. My wife was a little concerned at what I'd bought into... "soooo, how much did you pay for this?"

A solid afternoon and she looks a world better. Thanks to bigvtwin96 for convincing me that the chrome work wasn't a lost cause.

Managed to knock the bumper back into shape and some metal polish and a couple of hours later all the chrome on the back looks great. Not new but pretty tidy.

Plan is now to do the same to all the door handles and the chrome strips down the side and bonnet - I could replace them with new pretty cheaply but then they would clash with the patina I've got going on with the paint! ...question is are they easily removed for polishing?
 

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all we ask is that someone over there (or under) fills a container with this old little RHD rust buckets and ships them here..
Sean (Fiat500) has a nice jig and can make good work of them....
so we can have a few more of these early cars here...

You guys down under seem to have far toooo many for my liking.

Now take the plunge and whip that roof off......
 
Hi

I think strips and door handles tail light surrounds and number plate light are aluminium so if you buy autosol aluminium polish they will come up like new. You might get away with not removing them. I didn't need to. They go black while the polish is going on but a buff with a clean cloth brings out the shine.

Cheers
Geoff
 
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Sean (Franko500) has a nice jig and can make good work of them....
so we can have a few more of these early cars here...

:D:D:D

PS. Leave the roof on...I've had a cabriolet Austin in the past and the number of times it's really appropriate to use an open-topped car are limited.....Oh....I see you're in Australia....whip it off then!:eek:
 
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You guys down under seem to have far toooo many for my liking.

Now take the plunge and whip that roof off......


Aha well my little one arrived on a crate too! with thanks to the forum for pointing me in the direction of trademe NZ and looigi for his inspection from afar. I've never managed to spot one on the road here, even the old 2CVs or minis outstrip them. And so I feel v lucky!

As for the roof, it sure is tempting! I read somewhere on here someone's de-roofing project. Got a long way to go from replacing brake hoses and polishing metal to that though!

Next step is to see if I can change out the exhaust myself, and trouble shoot the knocking while running ?bearings and tapping when brakes applied ?brakes.
 
I am sure that a few members would be more than willing to travel to assist you for a week or two (obviously when it is your summer :) ) in exchange for a few of these old cars to try to redress the balance of the location of these cars......

roof removal is a bit of unbolting, removing a cross brace and relocating or adding some other mount points.... Sean is doing this.... ok a new roof and a few extras has to be purchased... but I doubt many are daily drivers (ok Peter "Murph" uses his more than most). But then you will get to see the nice sunshade you can use...
I will try to post a pic at some point.. (I'm not in the UK to post a pic)... very rare accessory... that allows you to drive the car roof open but protects you from the scorching heat (obviously not designed for the uk.
 
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