General OK, so now show us yours!

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General OK, so now show us yours!

Hi, new to the forum.

I have owned 2 Classic 500Ls for many years.

My blue one I started to restore in 1986, I did all the panel work, and since then it has been stored, ready to be finished.

It has original floor engine and gearbox.

I have now started to finish it and get it back on the road. It micro blistered after the first paint job which stalled the restoration.

I put a battery on it last week and it still runs well, which was a great boost.

When that is done, I can start on the red one, which has sat for many years but is still sound.

I now realise that there are far more spares available now, so finishing will be a whole lot easier, and viable due to the final value.

At least the kids will have one each to use, if I can insure them.

H-A
 

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From my motorbike crazy brother, I think the term refers to a 500cc racing bike designed and built by the Italian firm ?Gilera around WWII.
The head containing the overhead valves, unlike many old fashioned side valve engines of the time, was secured to the block using 8 bolts in a similar fashion to the 500cc engines in our little Fiats.
Please correct me or expand on this explanation if necessary.
Regards,
Chris
 
If you look at your door they are bolted to frame with 4 bolts(every hinge). 8 /door, 16 together. Later F models have 2 bolts, 4/door.
I don't know how the amount of this ones, but the first F (1965) models are these ones.

Jake
 
8 /door, 16 together. Later F models have 2 bolts, 4/door

You know the saying that 'you learn something new everyday' - well it's true! I love those little details
 
Hi,

New round here. My girlfriend has fallen in love with Fiat 500s, so after looking at a few we have just purchased the 'bean'. So called because it kind of looks like a baked one in its dark coral red, and it's short for bambino. Seems to have stuck!

It's a '72 500L with 1 owner from new and 46000 miles. Apparently more or less full service history, but the paperwork is currently being hunted for by the previous owner's family. Not been on the road in 13 years, and some grot, but not too much fortunately. Seems mostly original and we got it going after cleaning out the fuel tank, changing ignition parts and setting the points etc.

I have got a couple of questions though:

It doesn't have an L style wheel - any ideas why?
The fuel filler cap appears it should be a bayonet type one - again, why?
The engine runs fine at tick-over, but won't accelerate smoothly. Changing the leads tomorrow, and will go clean the fuel pump and carb strainers. Any other suggestions peculiar to these carbs please let me know!

It has brakes and a clutch and it seems to start well. Off to the body shop in January - have started saving!

Chris
 

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Hi and welcome (y)

I think you should do the basic checkings for your engine.
1.Take of the carb and clean it carefully (new gaskets). The carb may cause this kind of running problems.
2.Check the air filter
3.Change at least the motor oil and check transmission oil.
4.Check the valve clearences and change the spark plugs.
5.Check the distributor cap for wear, renew is necessary.
6.Check also the points for wear, should be clean.

e:noticed that you have renewed the ingition parts

Hope these helps.
 
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Thanks,

Yesterday was a good day. Changed the plug leads, re-checked the points and rechecked the static timing after a bit of previous brain fade...

Reattached the air filter pipe to the carb and the oil recirculation pipe too. It started and ran much better! Adjusted the distributor to give good RPM at large throttle openings. Drove it around, but it was still way down on power.

Fitted a new air intake hose and voila! Good power, good RPM and pick-up.

So, theories:

Think the carb and fuel pump were/are partially gummed up, so repeated spraying and leaving with cleaner has probably helped a little. Running it without the air filter apparatus was probably causing it to run very lean which is why it wouldn't rev when the throttle was opened, again probably exacerbated by gunged up carb jets. Each intervention yesterday has probably restricted the air supply one notch further and now it's not (too) lean.

So next steps: 1) find the strobe to set the dynamic advance at 18 BTDC.
2) Dig the colourtune out and see if it's still lean at WOT, and adjust idle as per the book.

The car is going off for some bodywork in Jan, and I will give the carb and fuel pump and good strip and clean then.

Have a question though: bought a new rubber air intake / elephant hose and it is kinking really badly. Have it right down on the engine intake and as far up on the body as I can, but it seems to be about 6 inches too long. Has anyone else experienced this?

Thanks for your help.

Chris
 
Christmas parade on Dec. 22 in the small town I live in close to Nashville, Tennessee. My son and I were in the parade with the Fiat.
John
 

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hello all, ah a classic 500 section heres my 1972 500 and my 2012 500 regards to all g kelshaw
 

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Hi All,
Here is our little Paolo! We've only had him a couple of months and bought him from Nathan at fiat500classic.co.uk. A good guy to go to for parts or advice. We have just taken delivery of a recon 650cc engine and syncro gearbox and I hope to have these fitted and running over Easter.

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I have just received 3 Fiat 500's today from New Zealand. I have owned the Yellow 500F for 22 years and bought it fom the original owner with 16,000miles, it now has 30,000miles and has now come to live with me and my family in Australia! Some of you might recognise the car as the one on the cover of the "Bambina" book by Todd Niall. As the container was coming anyway I decided to bring a couple of cousins along for the ride to make the journey over less lonely for my little Luigi!
 

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Here's my 1973 Fiat 500R, which I bought in 2009 and carried out a rolling renovation to the bodywork, brakes, steering and all the oily bits. I've kept it standard, except for electronic ignition, a 28 IMB carb and 5J alloys, and is used all year round. It always attracts great interest at local classic shows.

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It shares garage space with a 1973 BMW 2002 which I acquired two years ago which only required new brakes and servos to make it a dependable runner,

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and with my Jaguar XJ-S V12 coupe. I've had this car for eleven years, and am only the second owner. Maintaining it is time consuming, as space is very limited, and I spend more time removing parts just to get to the bit I want than actually doing the repair. A real Grand Tourer - it took us to Italy a few years ago, mostly at three figure speeds, with no problems.

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Being retired is great!
 
Hello.

Newbie to this forum. Here's a shot of my new, 1970, 500. It's been imported from Hungary and is in fine fettle. However, I'm going to strip it down and rebuild it.

This will be a surprise birthday present for my O/H.

While I'm here, the first of many questions. What size is the rear number plate? I've got the car registered and today I received the number plate authorisation certificate. So, I'd like to get the plates made up.

Thanks.

 
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