I've had the car in the shop for a few weeks, but didn't get around to posting photos until now. A mechanic in Sicily has torn my 499cc apart and is rebuilding it - including machining the cyclinders & head.

more photos...

Stopped by the mechanic today to see how the motor is coming along. Lots of new parts:

vvatc,
What was the reason for the rebuild and are you also doing the gearbox/diff while they are out of the car?
Chris

Bambino said:

vvatc,
What was the reason for the rebuild and are you also doing the gearbox/diff while they are out of the car?
Chris

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Not doing the gearbox.

I was driving to church one Sunday morning when my spark plug ejected from the engine still attached to the plug wire. I limped home on one cyclider and had the mechanic across the street bore out the plug threads and insert a bushing. When he was done, there was a nasty knocking sound - as if it were about to throw a rod. Since I'm moving back to the States soon, and I'm sure there aren't many old Italian mechanics on the other side of the pond who could do such a re-build, I decided to have it done here.

Ouch - I've seen one spit out an oil dipstick but not a spark plug. That plus the knock are certainly good enough reasons to rebuild the engine. Was there any evidence in the head as to why the plug dislodged so violently?
Chris

Bambino said:

Ouch - I've seen one spit out an oil dipstick but not a spark plug. That plus the knock are certainly good enough reasons to rebuild the engine. Was there any evidence in the head as to why the plug dislodged so violently?
Chris

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When I removed the head, it *looked* ok, but was very scorn. I'm hoping that the knocking was the cause of the plug getting ejected and not as a result of me limping home on one cyclinder (only a few miles, but still.) So far I'm up to about €900 and that's just parts. We'll see...

900 Euro......yowsa...better start making daily caffe runs to him, hope he does you right.....it still better not be faster than mine when he's done.

kcjeeves said:

900 Euro......yowsa

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I know. Couldn't have come at a worse time. The machine work was the most expensive. Hopefully, it will be done next week. I'd like to drive it for a couple weeks before shipping...in case there's something he needs to tweak.

Buon Giorno vvatc,
Where in Sicily are you? I pretty much had the same done to my engine before I left there in '07 and havent had to touch my Engine at all. Your rebuild looks great. Where in the states are you returning to?

vvatc said:

So far I'm up to about €900 and that's just parts. We'll see...

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That's about 50 euros per horsepower .....
Still, if they are fine Italian horses, it's worth it.

Buono nuovo anno,
Chris

LOW500 said:

Buon Giorno vvatc,
Where in Sicily are you? I pretty much had the same done to my engine before I left there in '07 and havent had to touch my Engine at all. Your rebuild looks great. Where in the states are you returning to?

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I'm near Catania at NAS Sigonella. I'm headed to Maryland.

Bambino said:

That's about 50 euros per horsepower .....
Still, if they are fine Italian horses, it's worth it.

Buono nuovo anno,
Chris

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Grazie...buon anno!

vvatc said:

I'm near Catania

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I was in Sicily in 2007 and while visiting Catania I attended a small concours held in the piazza. I've attached a photo.

Chris

Looks like a good time. I wish I would have bought my 500 a few years ago. Not only to have the time I need to fix it up, but to meet-up with a local Fiat club for shows like this. I intend to show my 500 in the States in a few years. I would like it to be in really nice condition first.

Where are you located? Your profile says "down under." I was in Freemantle (sp?) and then Sydney for a few days each back in early 1997.

I live on the eastern sea coast of Australia about 100km north of Brisbane (the capital city of the state of Queensland) in an area known as the Sunshine Coast. The population here is about 300,000 and includes a coastal resort called Noosa at the northern end. Noosa seems to be fairly well known overseas.

My wife and I travel to Italy quite regularly as we have Italian friends. We were there last September/October and spent most of our time in the north.

My Bambino is currently undergoing some rather extensive work. I've stripped it completely and had the shell delivered to a local body works that specialise in restoration. It was in 'original' condition when I purchased it and although it ran well, it was fairly tired, so I decided to restore it. I hope to get it back soon and start the long process of rebuilding. It's a great little car and brings a smile to the faces of all who see it - for that reason alone, it's worth saving from the ravages of time.

Chris

looking at Noosa on Google Maps. Nice looking town. I wish I had done some traveling when I was there. I did get to see much of Sydney and hung out in a bar in "the Rocks". At least I think that's what the area was called. Lots of old taverns.

I plan to restore the body on mine as well. But not for several years. I retire from the military in about 18 months...so maybe after I settle into a decent job and have the time & money. I'm thinking 4 or 5 years. Until then, I can drive by the new Fiat dealers and wave when they start selling in the States next year.

Update:

I stopped by the mechanic today. He was using an abrasive paste to grind the valves into the head to ensure a perfect fit. He was using a small wood handled tool which resembled a screw driver with a suction cup on the tip. He had placed the suction cup on the top of the valve and was twisiting it in place on the head using the paste. Unbelievable! Those of you who know how to rebuild engines probably think it's no big deal. I had never seen that before and was wishing I had brought my boys to show them and had remembered my camera!

I was glad to see him finally assembling the motor and doing such work by hand. My wife could only see dollar signs when we finally pay for the labor costs. LOL!

Pray that it's finished by Monday so I can drive it for a week before I ship her off to the States.

a couple more photos...

having a coffee down the street with the wife, seating the valves, and my mechanic with his son.

Many years ago, the first engine I rebuilt was a 4 cylinder 1200cc motor out of a Toyota Corolla. I was taught then to lap valves using the same technique as you describe above and though I haven't rebuilt an engine for a while now, I would still use the same technique today.

At least with a 2 cylinder car you only have 4 valves to lap.

Did you end up buying a new cylinder head or did you get the old one repaired? It's hard to tell from the picture.

Chris

Bambino said:

Many years ago, the first engine I rebuilt was a 4 cylinder 1200cc motor out of a Toyota Corolla. I was taught then to lap valves using the same technique as you describe above and though I haven't rebuilt an engine for a while now, I would still use the same technique today.

At least with a 2 cylinder car you only have 4 valves to lap.

Did you end up buying a new cylinder head or did you get the old one repaired? It's hard to tell from the picture.

Chris

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I can remember rebuilding a motor from a 1955 Willy's with my Dad, but it had the original flat-head 4-cyclinder so we didn't do any seating of the valves. I don't think we did any valve, piston or cylinder work. Just removed the head and had it shaved.

The head from my Autobianchi is the original. My mechanic took it into the town of Catania to a machine shop and had it cleaned up.

Looking forward to picking it up this week!