Mr FIAT - Your #1 source for vintage car parts
image.jpg

Cinquecento Show Car Build

Overview Gallery Discussion

Introduction

Hi all!

After really enjoying reading other people's threads, I thought I might just have a crack at it myself! the aim will be to build a show car from my completely stock cinq sporting :)

I bought the car for mere peanuts! Though it has many niggles that reflect the price I paid, eg. Broken seat, needs service, no service history etc etc.......

So here we go!

On the way back from Manchester the car decided it preferred to run at 130 Celsius :bang: upon further inspection the rad was seriously past it, and the expansion cap wasn't doing its job of keeping the coolant in the system :( but these are cheap fixes and I fixed it all in the same day ;)

And here it is within an hour of getting it back (y)

image.jpg

New radiator (from a sei) new expansion cap (from a sei) and all new hoses (from a sei). Thank you seicento :D

Anyway I'll probably post every few days, hope its a decent read ;)
  • Like
Reactions: blu73
Click to expand...
Thanks :) I reckon it's getting there.

It's on spax 40mm lowering springs, so it's kind of low. The springs are fairly soft however, so when you sit in it, it gets a whole lot lower. The front is slightly lower than the back, but the car actually looks level. I never really figured that one out, but when looking at the car the were fitted to before, it sits the same, so I'm not too fussed.

Also, I'm fairly tall, and engine work already hurts my back! Any lower and I swear I won't be able to get back up.... :p
 
Last edited:
Well, most of it's pretty much together :) Within the last couple of days it's had a radiator, a front bumper, and set a of pressed plates. It still needs a bit of tidying up, a polish, and a couple of things sorting amongst other things. But the majority of the hard work is done!

I'd say the pictures are slightly flattering. The paint isn't that good, and there are definitely more dents ;)

abarth16.jpg


abarth10.jpg


Not too shabby anyway (y)
 
Update time.

MOT is booked for friday, im hopeful it'll pass, but I have my doubts. Here are a couple of problems i'm having:

-Washer bottle won't hold any water.
-"Pinging" noise from rear suspension, or clinking, something along those lines.
-Using the handbrake causes the rear brakes to drag slightly, i reckon the mechanisms are sticking a bit.

On the other hand, she drives well, brakes well, and handles very well (y)

It's amazing that after owning this car for 11 months, this is the first time i've driven it. It's a fantastic little car, and a hell of a lot of fun :)
 
Right, a couple of problems have arisen.

- A "clattering" noise coming from the rear, passenger side. It only happens when going over bumps.
- Fairly violent vibrations from the engine when revs are low and under load, eg setting off or reversing. But this could be normal I guess.

Help would be much appreciated!
 
Luckily, I have a spare mount on standby!

It'd make a good explanation for issue number 2, the first issue (quite literally) sounds sort of like metal hitting metal, eg. Clinking, or a clattering noise. It sounds it's coming from the rear, but it could be my hearing playing tricks.

I've got to adjust the handbrake anyway, so when I'm underneath the car I'll give it a good going over with a bar.

I'll report back on Wednesday (y)
 
pull on the rear wheels whilst the car is on the floor, to check the bushes on the rear arms
 
Thanks for that tip :)

It actually failed it's MOT last Friday, these issues didn't cause it to fail, they've just been annoying me.

It failed on the handbrake, and an imbalance on one axle (the rear). So in other words, the drums need adjusting.

I only need to get it through this test, and then I'll be swapping to discs, so does anyone have a quick fix to get it through? I can't figure out how the drums adjust either.
 
Razman said:
Luckily, I have a spare mount on standby!

It'd make a good explanation for issue number 2, the first issue (quite literally) sounds sort of like metal hitting metal, eg. Clinking, or a clattering noise. It sounds it's coming from the rear, but it could be my hearing playing tricks.

I've got to adjust the handbrake anyway, so when I'm underneath the car I'll give it a good going over with a bar.

I'll report back on Wednesday (y)
Click to expand...

When mine snapped, it sounded like it was from the rear too, half think maybe at least some of the clonking i could hear was the exhaust moving about and coming into contact with things as the engine swung backwards and forwards on it's front two mounts
 
Razman said:
Thanks for that tip :)

It actually failed it's MOT last Friday, these issues didn't cause it to fail, they've just been annoying me.

It failed on the handbrake, and an imbalance on one axle (the rear). So in other words, the drums need adjusting.

you cant adjust the drum mate, you need to adjust the shoes or handbrake cable.

do you know what the braking powers were? you may need a wheel cylinder
Click to expand...
 
Okay thanks for your help guys, I've sorted it now :)

MOT - Passed!

Tax - Done!

Driving test - Passed!

Insurance - Paid! (Was only £940, and I'm 17.)

The clonking was indeed the rear gearbox mount, which has been replaced with another mount and a poly insert too. The rear arm bushes were absolutely f*****! That certainly didn't help. I'm going to be using my spare 2 trailing arms, and replacing the bushes on them with polybushes, and swapping the drums to discs. I already have all the parts, so I've just got to get it done now (y)
 
Nope. Fully comp, with legal, and breakdown cover.

Only catch is it must be a lump payment, not monthly. I really struggled to stump up that sort of cash!

Car is going well by the way guys. The brakes are absolutely phenomenal! It is quite capable in the corners and does okay on the straights, but could do with a little more oomph. The head from my new engine is being ported this weekend, so I'm one step closer to finishing that :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

351SPIDER
  • Vehicle
124 Spider (Classic) Sacrilegious build.
Replies
5
Views
1K
RedAbarthMTA
RedAbarthMTA
Franco91
  • Vehicle
500 (Classic) Newbie 500L classic owner (progress photos extensive build)
Replies
7
Views
2K
Franco91
Franco91
B
  • Vehicle
Panda (Classic) Project: PandaBeer
Replies
4
Views
467
BeerThePanda
B
6
  • Vehicle
Coupe Fiat Coupe LE - Build Thread!
Replies
12
Views
3K
theparrottbros
T
D
  • Vehicle
Punto (Mk2/2b) Budget Track Car Build Thread MK2 - Project SaladBoy
2
Replies
22
Views
3K
davidandrews88
D
Back
Top