Save up to 15% with Adrian Flux insurance!
CIMG44651.JPG

X1/9 X1/9 retoration

Overview Gallery Discussion
Click to expand...
Looks in good condition how much work does it require, My 1984 model is having lots of welding work done to it I have become a bit of an expert in fabricating bits and bobs eg. boot corners,new boot floor with pressed ridges. What I've found is the sealant strips around the front all rot out if you get some aluminium about 5-6mm thick you can cut the shape of the channels out and beat them out of the steel quite easily using a coal chisel or similar, the aluminium can be cut with a wood blade in a jigsaw just use some oil on the blade so the ally won't stick to the blade.
 
Hi,

There is quite a bit of work to do, at the moment it is in bits. I've checked over every inch of the body work there is a fair bit of metal work to do and a lot of bodged jobs to sort out.

Luckily I'm in no hurry so I wont be doing any bodge jobs myself.

The main job for welding will be on the lower sections near the front windscreen. I thought I would have a problem with the main water cooling pipes running under the central chassis they seem to be in very good condition.

However I do have a problem with the rear wishbones, the main ball joints are completely shot so I'll have to source some new ball joints unfortunately they are a bit expensive but the car is going nowhere until this is sorted.

I'll post more pictures later.
 
Hi,

Here are a few pictures of the X'y starting to get stripped down.




The inside stripped of its seats and carpet looks very solid so far.



The spare wheel well is also solid no real major signs of rust.



Unfortunately this was one of the bodge jobs I found after removing the rear air vents to the engine bay. It looks like most of the wheel arch near this section will require a new section.



After a closer inspection it looks like the rear wiring loom will need to be replaced, one for the winter nights me thinks!
 
Hi,

Here are a few more items stripped down ready for some work.



The engine removed is not in too bad a condition but it will be stripped down and rebuilt over the winter months.



This is the carburettor cooling fan stripped ready for testing and a re-paint.



Managed to removed the O/S rear wishbone arm unfortunately the ball joints are shot.



The wishbone arm in bits took the hub to a garage to remove the bearings.



Both of the rear struts removed going to check these over may need to purchase new ones I'll just have to wait and see.

I'll add more as I progress, all helpful tips are welcome.
 
Looks a bit worse than mine but seems to have gone in pretty much the same places, I have a tip for anyone who has pitted steel bit is not severe enough to want to rip out and that is to use an 1/8th drill bit in a dremmel or air die grinder to remove all the rust.
Use a small jobber drill bit it works a treat.

Good luck with the restoration I might even get around to posting some pictures myself one day!
 
This is look familiar! Looking good, keep the photos coming!!

Where are you based?
 
Hi,
We've done a bit more this weekend and found a few more jobs to do, was not expecting this one never mind we'll just have to add this to the list.

See what you think!!

We stripped it down to bare metal and cut out some of the nasty welding (bodge job) and removed about 5mm of plastic filler both sides, must have been involved in a collision some time ago. We'll have to put this right before we go any further.

https://www.fiatforum.com/gallery/data/500/thumbs/CIMG4835.JPG
https://www.fiatforum.com/gallery/data/500/thumbs/CIMG4837.JPG
https://www.fiatforum.com/gallery/data/500/thumbs/CIMG4839.JPG
https://www.fiatforum.com/gallery/data/500/thumbs/CIMG4845.JPG
 
That looks like fun! Is it me or does everyone else get a great feeling when attacking steel with a grinder!!!!
I see you have a set of dollies in the pictures ready for action I can't wait to see pictures when you get going on the welding that's my favorite bit.
Don't know how experienced you are but here is a tip for everyone when welding always have an airline blower (if you have one) at hand near where your welding so you can cool the steel to minimize warping and more importantly put small fires out as waxoil ect soon gets a good hold.

Keep up the good work.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

fiat abarth
  • Vehicle
X1/9 X1/9 Gran Finale 1.3 i.e Turbo
Replies
4
Views
849
fiat abarth
fiat abarth
C
  • Vehicle
X1/9 Fiat X1/9 Restoration
Replies
3
Views
1K
chaf
C
F
  • Vehicle
Barchetta SE '99
Replies
0
Views
80
Feszi155
F
N
  • Vehicle
Ducato Autotrail Cheyenne 969SE
Replies
0
Views
100
NigelNovice
N
N
  • Vehicle
Ducato Autotrail Cheyenne 969 SE
Replies
3
Views
321
NigelNovice
N
Back
Top