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General Fiat 500F rejuvenation
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General Fiat 500F rejuvenation
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Decided to start removing the right rear panel - so far so good. No major rust hidden unederneath.
I took the main area off then carefully cut slices down to where the spot welds are.
Bent them back then wiggled them so the old metal tore around the weld. This seemed to work quite well.
[/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]
[/url]Fiat 500f by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]
[/url]Fiat 500f by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]
I took the main area off then carefully cut slices down to where the spot welds are.
Bent them back then wiggled them so the old metal tore around the weld. This seemed to work quite well.
I like your methodical approach. As if the Australian climate didn't have enough in its favour already, look at how well it treats a Fiat 500. That lack of corrosion is amazing. 
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I like your methodical approach. As if the Australian climate didn't have enough in its favour already, look at how well it treats a Fiat 500. That lack of corrosion is amazing.
I think I have a very lucky car that did not take too many trips to the coast. Cars from coastal towns do not last as well as the country folk.
The tip for removing the panel was passed to me from a Sydney Fiat 500 restorer.
Hi Geoff,
When I want to remove a panel, I either use a spotweld cutter/drill (there's different types) or grind the metal wafer thin at the spotwelds so that it can be prised free without distorting the mounting flange.
I've had bad luck with the factory applied primer on replacement panels. One body expert told me it was only to prevent rust on panels in storage/transit.
I remember removing the old beige primer that original Fiat panels came coated with and finding little spidery lines of rust underneath!
So unless the paint used is a modern etch primer, I think I'd play it safe and remove it. Seeing as you've stripped all the other panels and will be doing a full respray, it would be calamitous if the black primer? failed later.
I'm curious as to why you decided to replace the rear quarter panel rather than repair the damage, didn't look too bad to me, or am I missing something?
Best of luck with the rebuild,
Al.
When I want to remove a panel, I either use a spotweld cutter/drill (there's different types) or grind the metal wafer thin at the spotwelds so that it can be prised free without distorting the mounting flange.
I've had bad luck with the factory applied primer on replacement panels. One body expert told me it was only to prevent rust on panels in storage/transit.
I remember removing the old beige primer that original Fiat panels came coated with and finding little spidery lines of rust underneath!
So unless the paint used is a modern etch primer, I think I'd play it safe and remove it. Seeing as you've stripped all the other panels and will be doing a full respray, it would be calamitous if the black primer? failed later.
I'm curious as to why you decided to replace the rear quarter panel rather than repair the damage, didn't look too bad to me, or am I missing something?
Best of luck with the rebuild,
Al.
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Hi Geoff,
When I want to remove a panel, I either use a spotweld cutter/drill (there's different types) or grind the metal wafer thin at the spotwelds so that it can be prised free without distorting the mounting flange.
I've had bad luck with the factory applied primer on replacement panels. One body expert told me it was only to prevent rust on panels in storage/transit.
I remember removing the old beige primer that original Fiat panels came coated with and finding little spidery lines of rust underneath!
So unless the paint used is a modern etch primer, I think I'd play it safe and remove it. Seeing as you've stripped all the other panels and will be doing a full respray, it would be calamitous if the black primer? failed later.
I'm curious as to why you decided to replace the rear quarter panel rather than repair the damage, didn't look too bad to me, or am I missing something?
Best of luck with the rebuild,
Al.
Thanks for the extra info.
The panel was damaged from front to back including being split along the edge close to the door.
There would have been quite a bit of work to get it right and based on the amount of filler that was on it when I removed the paint I decided a new panel would give me a better result.
Cheers
Geoff
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I was a bit reluctant to get started but having seen what others on the forum have done, my job seems almost trivial...
I have been away but hope to get more done this weekend.
Cheers
Geoff
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Finished unpicking all of the spotwelds yesterday. So I could see better, I marked all of the spots, then cut slices again, just behind each spot. I then thinned down each spot weld before wiggling them off. It took a while but I'm happy.
I then clamped the new panel on for a rough first look to see where the best joining areas will be at the top. It is quite different behind the side window so may do the join below that area.
I also think I will join it below the seam that goes around the top corner, rather than unsettling the original seam.
[/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]
[/url]Fiat 500F by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]
I then clamped the new panel on for a rough first look to see where the best joining areas will be at the top. It is quite different behind the side window so may do the join below that area.
I also think I will join it below the seam that goes around the top corner, rather than unsettling the original seam.
im in qld and have a 500 with 12 engine just got it registered 2 weeks ago after i rescued it from a scrap yard -8 years later all done -would like to keep intouch but i find this website awkward -my email addy is [email protected] --cheers breno
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Well I have done all the welding of the new panel and started smoothing out the body, but busy working on it and not taking photos.
I am hoping to do some more and to even get some primer on it by mid January
Fingers crossed....
I am hoping to do some more and to even get some primer on it by mid January
Fingers crossed....
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Finally back to it after Christmas etc
Sanding sanding sanding.....
I did patch up a big hole in the dash where a previous owner put in a cigarette lighter So that's better
I won't be taking it to the Fiat Nationals in March?
It was over 40 Celsius today so couldn't do too much after lunch. Same forecast for tomorrow
Sanding sanding sanding.....
I did patch up a big hole in the dash where a previous owner put in a cigarette lighter So that's better
I won't be taking it to the Fiat Nationals in March?
It was over 40 Celsius today so couldn't do too much after lunch. Same forecast for tomorrow
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Paolo66
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You've got the opposite problem to me Geoff. I was in the garage today with a heater and thermals and after a couple of hours couldn't feel my fingers and toes. Every time I picked up a spanner it was like handling an icicle!
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I am impressed by your dedication.
My challenge is to try and get some paint on the car before the cold sets in... Mid March would be good.
I originally wanted the car finished by 9 March for the Fiat Nationals but that isn't happening. And AutoItalia Canberra is on 2 April so might only be able to display my engine.
Today was not as bad as yesterday and I was able to do more Sanding....
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Mid March - not getting much done so cheered myself up by ordering a new red/ white interior from overseas. It's on the way.
Autoitalia Canberra is on 2 April, celebrating 60 years since the Bambino launch. There are a good number heading down from Sydney and I will be driving a friend's car as he will be away.
Autoitalia Canberra is on 2 April, celebrating 60 years since the Bambino launch. There are a good number heading down from Sydney and I will be driving a friend's car as he will be away.
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With the intention to display my rebuilt engine at Autoitalia Canberra next Sunday I decided it was time to tackle fitting the exhaust.
Being a 500 crank case bored out for 650 barrels, I bought a 650 head and exhaust system, with the corresponding larger mounts
I found the I had to cut off some of the new lower mount so it would sit flush against the crank case. Once that was done it all pulled up quite nicely.
Being a 500 crank case bored out for 650 barrels, I bought a 650 head and exhaust system, with the corresponding larger mounts
I found the I had to cut off some of the new lower mount so it would sit flush against the crank case. Once that was done it all pulled up quite nicely.
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Hi Geoff,
Awesome work so far!
In this picture have you filled the left rear panel yourself? I have a depression (no creases or obvious dents) that looks very similar, between the door aperture and the rear arch, and I'm struggling to achieve the correct contour. I've tried blocking, using a ruler, and also using a flexible pad. I thought it looked OK yesterday until I put a light coat of primer on to protect the bare metal and it looks awful. Do you have any tips for a complete bodywork novice? I have never done any filling (besides walls in my house)
Thanks,
Katie
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