General Fiat 500F rejuvenation

[1500500]

I have the same time problem:
Demanding job 65 miles from home
Home with 6 young children
Multiple projects
Limited funds

I think you are doing well with 6 kids. I have two and that is plenty. At least we can all fit in the 500. Though I do dream of the day when we can drive in convoy with the 500, 850 and 1500. At 9 and 7 there's still a few years until they get their licence but not too long,

 

[1500500]

Hi i recently came across some videos on you tube about soda blasting as i needed to clean the carb and did'nt want hours of scrubbing with a toothbrush so i made one,using a 10mm plastic tube,an airgun slotted into the tube about 8cm from the outlet and a very high pressure(i used my mates commercial workshop) this was the result

I bought a blaster for $40 and a tub of soda. So will give it a try on the fiddly areas around the edges. It's coming into winter here so
The carby looks really good.

 

[1500500]

I tried on a spare door that has less dents than my yellow one, but it sits higher than it should. The line on the side is 5mm higher than the front and back quarter panels and it just scrapes the roof when it shuts.

After much thought I have decided to remove the hinge pins, grind the bottom of the hinges that are welded to the door a few mm then put the pins back in with washers as spacers at the top.

 

[1500500]

I trimmed the lower edge of the door hinges today. I now have a door that lines up and shuts better than ever before. I put a bit of white paint on to highlight the line and am happy with the result.

[/url]Fiat 500 F by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]Fiat 500 F by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]Fiat 500 F by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]Fiat 500 F by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]

In the process I discovered the panel behind the drivers door was in about 5mm from the edge of the door. It has had a small hit at some stage I started straightening it.... what else will i find under the thin veneer of yellow.

[/url]Fiat 500 F by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[stevehg]

That's a pain, looks like you've got some panel beating and a a light skim, once you've got the kilo of filler off.

 

[Luxe]

Looks good!

 

[1500500]

Thanks. I am so much happier with the door fit.

What started as a rejuvenation could turn into restoration once I've taken all the paint off and fixed up why lies beneath. But in the long run I think it is worth the effort.

I really should stick with my black interior but the other day I saw van der lan has a nice light blue with white seat cover set and door trims...

That's the problem with these web shops with pictures. They just keep giving us ideas.

 

[telemike4]

I was thinking, Geoff, that you were getting a bit carried away with what was just to be a few front panels.

 

[1500500]

A friend popped around the other day a commented that I'll never have nothing to do.
It's just a shame that I can't bring the car into the nice warm family room. Doing the engine was a bit easier....

Found a few more little dents behind the yellow...

 

[stevehg]

At least access behind in this spot is easy.

 

[AndrewHarvey]

do you have any more pictures of the cut down hinge that i could peruse?
I need to carry out the same operation

 

[1500500]

do you have any more pictures of the cut down hinge that i could peruse?
I need to carry out the same operation

That is the only one I took

I used a sliding set sqare to mark the line on each hinge. And a thin cutting wheel on the angle grinder.

 

[1500500]

Not much to report, but removed the pedal box and choke/starter levers in a few spare moments yesterday.

[/URL]Fiat 500F by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/img]

[/URL]Fiat 500F by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/img]

 

[1500500]

I was too distracted watching our giant gum tree getting chopped down... That was the last of many tall branches - three days work. Glad I wasn't up that tree.

 

[1500500]

I decided to use paint stripper on the big flat surfaces. Experimented with a small patch on the roof today.

I didn't put it on thick enough to get through all of the primer, so know better for next time.

It it quieter and less messy than blasting or using a strip disc on the angle grinder so over winter I will gradually do as much as I can get to.

Seeing Sean driving Franko in the countryside, and hearing the engine made me miss driving my car. It got me out in the garage again.

I really want it ready to paint at the start of Spring....

[/url]Fiat 500F by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]Fiat 500F by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[1500500]

A bit more paint stripping today and yesterday. The luggage compartment had a few more layers of old paint to get through but nearly there.

The roof is not so bad and only takes two goes to get the bulk off, followed by a light rub down with wet scotch bright.

[/url]Fiat 500F by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]Fiat 500F by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]Fiat 500F by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]Fiat 500F by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]Fiat 500F by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]Fiat 500F by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]Fiat 500F by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[1500500]

Almost got through the weekend without doing anything but swapping the 500 and 850 positions in the garage but once the kids were asleep, I headed out at about 9:30pm into the 2 Degrees warmth to strip all of the glass and trim off the front doors.

I am not really looking forward to putting it all back, apart from knowing the the paint job will be so much better than if I had tried to mask around the trims. At least I will be able to refer to the forum when it comes to refitting.

[/url]Fiat 500F by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]Fiat 500F by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]Fiat 500F by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]Fiat 500F by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]Fiat 500F by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]Fiat 500F by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[g500]

Looks great Geoff, picked my F in yellow up the other day, Oddly my partner called him Luigi, it was originally dark blue, I mentioned my intention to turn Luigi back to his original blue and she said it won't be luigi anymore! Can't win!

Well i will as I'll turn it blue, but anyhow!

Look forward to seeing your progress.

 

[fiat500]

Looks great Geoff, picked my F in yellow up the other day, Oddly my partner called him Luigi,

Look forward to seeing your progress.

He's probably not called Luigi anyway; did you ask the previous owners?
My Bluebell the campervan will still be called that whatever colour she ends up. It's all part of the fun.

 

[1500500]

He's probably not called Luigi anyway; did you ask the previous owners?
My Bluebell the campervan will still be called that whatever colour she ends up. It's all part of the fun.

How do you like this for a for a colour scheme?

Another cold night this time in the carport so the paint stripper fumes didn't knock me out. 2 degrees again.