Barchetta Lefty’s B - Progress Topic

[LeftyGreg]

That is so true, it may be old school, but you can’t beat the forum way in my opinion

 

[Barchetta Bloke 440]

That is so true, it may be old school, but you can’t beat the forum way in my opinion

It's such a shame that many marque forums have disappeared , due to lack of use .

Luckily FIAT forum , covering all models seems to keep busy enough .

Many of the Ford forums I used to be on have disappeared without trace .

 

[s130]

It's such a shame that many marque forums have disappeared , due to lack of use .

Luckily FIAT forum , covering all models seems to keep busy enough .

Many of the Ford forums I used to be on have disappeared without trace .

Well forums are not old school IMHO. They are, when run and working correctly current school. Old school would be news groups.

Facebook, Twitter and other non forum based social online media are generally just gossip/chat columns.

For years I was not on Facebook but opened an account because of TWO specific reasons. A very small NZ private group for specific vehicle and another very small group for some users of a piece of software I wrote. With no offence to either of these Facebook groups I could just as easily totally go back to where I was when I was not on Facebook. This year I think I've looked at Facebook only 4 or 5 times.

Were Fiat Forum to go Facebook only then I would have to make a decision.

"Exit Stage Left" or "Exit Stage Right"

 

[LeftyGreg]

Do you ever wish you hadn’t started something?

So, today, the plan was 2 front shock absorbers & cv boots

Decided replacing all the cv boots was too much of a pain in the @%5£ job, so went for the quick glue up one

Wasn’t to bad, but found that I have it got the right tool for the ear clamps, so have temporarily used cable ties until the clamp tool gets delivered
Will see how the boot lasts with the glued seam and update in a few weeks

Both front shocks were really bad when I got them off, they were like a piston with no resistance in either direction, totally different from the new ones

Both fitted, was a challenge with some of the bolts really not wanting to come out, even though the nuts were removed and the bolts should just push out

But, both done and took the b for a quick test drive, no banging or noises, and much better over the speed ramps on my street

 

[Wiltshire Chris]

Wasn’t to bad, but found that I have it got the right tool for the ear clamps

Must be some synergy between Wiltshire and Essex. I changed my split steering gaiter just now and couldn't find any angle that I could get pliers in to tighten the clip. Managed to get it on pretty tight with fingers (the grip from those rock climbing years is useful for something) but I am wondering whether to get one of those remote action clamp tools - that or a jubilee clip.

 

[s130]

Well Lefty it sounds/looks like you are getting there slowly.

I'm pleased / relieved that the universal CV boot would have appeared to work for you and substantially reduced the aggravation and time. That said you must check it in a 100 to 200 miles to check all the glued seems are still intact.

Whilst universal boots may seem a "cop out" sometimes, like with your struts, springs, .... and CV boots then you have to tackle the major items first with new, patch up other items semi-professionally (e.g. universal CV boot) and then come back to tackle those "cop out" items as required. Often those cop-out items outlast the car or your ownership.

Anyway great news that you are making good progress and thank you for the ongoing reports/updates.

 

[LeftyGreg]

Must be some synergy between Wiltshire and Essex. I changed my split steering gaiter just now and couldn't find any angle that I could get pliers in to tighten the clip. Managed to get it on pretty tight with fingers (the grip from those rock climbing years is useful for something) but I am wondering whether to get one of those remote action clamp tools - that or a jubilee clip.

I didn’t have the space for a jubilee clip as the ABS sensor is too close.

Have ordered a tool from Amazon

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SPEEDWOX-Standard-Pincers-Crimping-Vanadium/dp/B08HH2BF2M

 

[LeftyGreg]

Well Lefty it sounds/looks like you are getting there slowly.

I'm pleased / relieved that the universal CV boot would have appeared to work for you and substantially reduced the aggravation and time. That said you must check it in a 100 to 200 miles to check all the glued seems are still intact.

Whilst universal boots may seem a "cop out" sometimes, like with your struts, springs, .... and CV boots then you have to tackle the major items first with new, patch up other items semi-professionally (e.g. universal CV boot) and then come back to tackle those "cop out" items as required. Often those cop-out items outlast the car or your ownership.

Anyway great news that you are making good progress and thank you for the ongoing reports/updates.

The best news is that it is now street legal, so I can drive it

The bad news is that the weather here has been really bad recently, so not had much chance to drive it

I want to take it somewhere with a decent bit of scenery and take some good pictures of it somewhere other than on my driveway

 

[LeftyGreg]

Better weather today, so took the b out for a bit of a blast

 

[s130]

Now please do not take offence.

Wife has her "B" (which I also drive) and when we see other open top NON Italian cars we say TART! but NEVER EVER to a "B" driver. But your Mazda Head Hoops and skirts (I've never seen a "B" with skirts) are tempting me to say tart (note the lower case and no exclamation)

No, joking aside your "B" is looking very good and cool. I'm really pleased you have got her back on the road where she should be and now you have the legal time and space to address all those items that you want to.

Well done to you. (you tart)

 

[LeftyGreg]

Now please do not take offence.

Wife has her "B" (which I also drive) and when we see other open top NON Italian cars we say TART! but NEVER EVER to a "B" driver. But your Mazda Head Hoops and skirts (I've never seen a "B" with skirts) are tempting me to say tart (note the lower case and no exclamation)

No, joking aside your "B" is looking very good and cool. I'm really pleased you have got her back on the road where she should be and now you have the legal time and space to address all those items that you want to.

Well done to you. (you tart)

No offence taken.

Please remember that I am an accidental owner of this b and anything non standard was the choice of my brother.

It once had a full kit including front spoiler, but, he broke that years ago going too fast over a speed ramp!



With that coming off, it has left a load of black mastic which held it on there which is going to be a total nightmare to get off, but, I will do it some time.



Personally, I do not like the rear spoiler, it also has a crack in it. However, I haven’t looked at what will be there if I take it off as there may be mounting holes.

The skirts I don’t think look too bad, but, on their own will look stupid, so am likely to also look at how they are fitted. If they too are on with black mastic, they might stay on there!

 

[pablopablo]

Which brake calipers did you fit? Refurbed or new?

 

[LeftyGreg]

Which brake calipers did you fit? Refurbed or new?

Personally, I would never go refurb on brake parts. Got new Ridex ones from www.buycarparts.co.uk



I think they took a couple of weeks to get here, even though the website is a co.uk one, the parts came from Germany

 

[pablopablo]

Thanks, I've used a similar site here. I think they are basically all Autodoc

 

[Wiltshire Chris]

Thanks, I've used a similar site here. I think they are basically all Autodoc

That made me smile. Yes, you google for a part. Find several hits for suppliers whose sites, on inspection, all look very similar, so you pick one.

Then, on that site there's a huge list of manufacturers for the part whose pictures all look the same, those that don't are out of stock.

I suspect there is just one rack of Barchetta parts somewhere in Germany behind all of this facade of choice.

 

[LeftyGreg]

After a lot of deliberation, I have now decided to sell my Barchetta

Barchetta - 1995 Barchetta in Grigio Steel

1995 Fiat Barchetta 1.8 16v 2 door convertible in Grigio Steel. A rare and collectible classic car with only around 300 licensed in the UK. Left hand drive. MOT - June 2024, 90,000 miles. Leather interior, electric windows, drivers airbag...

www.fiatforum.com

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306258921625

Thank you to everybody who has helped me with this over the last 2 years or so