500 (Classic) Long time coming!

[fiat500]

So I didn’t keep this thread updated with the engine build, my apologies. I did take some more photos and it is all done and working fine so when I get a bit of time in the near future I’ll update what I ended up doing.

Today’s post is inspired by Malcolm having a trip out on the open road yesterday, his first journey in 40 years! All seemed reasonably ok, the suspension geometry needs looked at but now he’s mobile I can take him to my favoured professional who have the relevant equipment. I think I’ll have to rebuild the steering box as now it’s had a trip out there’s a drip, the folly of trusting all was well when I fitted it but being as it hadn’t done anything for so long the seals are likely rock hard. Has anyone had experience of overhauling the steering box? Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Anyway, here he is outside my house yesterdayView attachment 473916

He's looking great. Fantastic to be back on the road. What a pity that the cold, wet and windy season is on the doorstep.
I have dismantled a steering box. The hardest part was to remove the castellated adjuster. I adapted a half-inch drive socket to remove it. Here's the link; it should give you some clues how to approach it.

Rebuilding the Steering Box | FIAT 500 (Classic)

Although I’ve been involved with Fiat 500’s for almost 40 years and I’ve been restoring and driving Murf since 2009, I haven’t ever needed to mess about with the steering box; in fact, I have always found the steering on my car to be very precise and the box does not leak oil, even after 50...

www.fiatforum.com

 

[MalcolmfromMoffat]

He's looking great. Fantastic to be back on the road. What a pity that the cold, wet and windy season is on the doorstep.
I have dismantled a steering box. The hardest part was to remove the castellated adjuster. I adapted a half-inch drive socket to remove it. Here's the link; it should give you some clues how to approach it.

Rebuilding the Steering Box | FIAT 500 (Classic)

Although I’ve been involved with Fiat 500’s for almost 40 years and I’ve been restoring and driving Murf since 2009, I haven’t ever needed to mess about with the steering box; in fact, I have always found the steering on my car to be very precise and the box does not leak oil, even after 50...

www.fiatforum.com

Yes, my timing isn’t great with winter just round the corner. I had to dodge downpours yesterday. I’m watching weather reports with a new heightened interest

I think I might have the correct Fiat tool for the castellated nut, I dug it out of my stash tonight and need to offer it up to be sure but fingers crossed. I have a read through your link, thank you.

 

[Help help]

I can relate completely to this restoration, I have had my car for 35 years I stripped it to a bare shell and it went to a specialist to have all the panel work done about 23 yrs ago and remarkably it is still there and I intend to get the car back home in the New year.

Where did all that time go

This thread has inspired me !!

 

[Help help]

Yes, my timing isn’t great with winter just round the corner. I had to dodge downpours yesterday. I’m watching weather reports with a new heightened interest

I think I might have the correct Fiat tool for the castellated nut, I dug it out of my stash tonight and need to offer it up to be sure but fingers crossed. I have a read through your link, thank you.

Fantastic thread and very inspiring, Well done to have achieved such a superb result !

 

[fiat500]

I can relate completely to this restoration, I have had my car for 35 years I stripped it to a bare shell and it went to a specialist to have all the panel work done about 23 yrs ago and remarkably it is still there and I intend to get the car back home in the New year.

Where did all that time go

This thread has inspired me !!

Do it! Do it! Do it!

 

[MalcolmfromMoffat]

Fantastic thread and very inspiring, Well done to have achieved such a superb result !

Thanks for the complements.

Yeah, I left it far too long but better late than never. The beauty of these 500’s is pretty much all the parts you’d ever want are easily available (hope you’ve got your wiper assembly if your car is RHD!) and once you get stuck in it should come together pretty quick. I had to wax a fair bit of cash on parts but I’d lost a lot in a fire many years ago. Get it rolling I’d advise, thats a great motivation. Don’t be shy, start a rebuild thread, the guy’s round here will help you.

 

[MalcolmfromMoffat]

Some stuff related to the engine build that I didn’t post in sequence. Time has passed and some detail has likely faded from the memory but basically I went with a hone of my cylinders and a set of rings. It really would sit better with me if I’d bought new cylinders and pistons but having spent so much on the car in recent times I cheaped out. I had the cylinders honed at Blackpool Road and Rally, they won’t win any awards for pristine premises but they are well equipped and know their stuff. Good solid advice without the desire to empty my pockets, very fair. I also had the crank case vapour blasted locally to me, not something I’d do again as it took some serious cleaning afterwards to be sure I wasn’t going to trash the engine by missing some blasting residue. Soda blasting would have been better but nobody local to me does that and I didn’t fancy sending it out. Anyway, it all went back together with new rod bearings and a new crank main on the gearbox side ( didn’t like the look of the one that I dismantled off the engine, it was fine in reality but a little loose on the clearances). Obviously new seals and gaskets throughout, I’m very pleased that this has resulted in no leaks! I fitted a new clutch whilst it was apart, maybe it’s better adjusted on this assembly but there’s an improvement over how it was previously. The cylinder head escaped being skimmed, just dressed up a touch with a stone and cleaned of all carbon. Ended up staying with standard valves though the seating angle was touched up and a back cut done below that. The seats were recut with three angles as the factory efforts were poor to say the least. I had a tidy up of the ports, nothing too serious just cleaned up rather than enlarging them. The transition from seat to port was horrible from factory, nothing too serious any more. I might be tempted to have a go at a bigger valve head at some stage, I think fitting bigger seats would allow for a nicer port (there’d be more aluminium to play with). I haven’t done anything to the carb as yet, it needs it as there’s gains to be had but just for now I’m just happy it fires up on the button and idles off choke in short time. I’m a bit limited with pictures as mostly I was concentrating and covered in lube or sealing substances, anyway some tasters.

 

[Help help]

Outstanding work !

 

[fiat500]

Outstanding work !

I'll second that....a factory finish...better than factory finish!

 

[Help help]

Thanks for the complements.

Yeah, I left it far too long but better late than never. The beauty of these 500’s is pretty much all the parts you’d ever want are easily available (hope you’ve got your wiper assembly if your car is RHD!) and once you get stuck in it should come together pretty quick. I had to wax a fair bit of cash on parts but I’d lost a lot in a fire many years ago. Get it rolling I’d advise, thats a great motivation. Don’t be shy, start a rebuild thread, the guy’s round here will help you.

Hi Malcolm, i was wondering if you still have the dolly you made up for moving the shell about during the restoration as I would like to buy it if possible. Regards

 

[MalcolmfromMoffat]

You’re very welcome to it if you don’t mind me keeping the castors and pay the postage. It’s in two parts and a bit of an awkward shape but I’ll ratch it out tomorrow and see how it might be done.

 

[Help help]

You’re very welcome to it if you don’t mind me keeping the castors and pay the postage. It’s in two parts and a bit of an awkward shape but I’ll ratch it out tomorrow and see how it might be done.

That's great thank you, Let me know the size of castors so I can get the same ones, My car is on a 4 wheel market barrow which is fine for moving but useless for working on the shell. I don't see an option to Private message on here that might be due to me being a new member. I can forward my email and we can go from there.

Regards Gary.

 

[MalcolmfromMoffat]

Hi Gary, I’ve sent you a PM, let me know if you don’t see it.

 

[the hobbler]

Hi Gary, I’ve sent you a PM, let me know if you don’t see it.

I have just made myself an engine"lifting-trolley" which I have made from a slightly modified height-adjustable motor-bike stand. I had a couple of 3mm steel 'spreaders' welded onto each end of the bottom part to which I fitted a set of small castors---plain at the front end and 'braked'at the rear (more easily got at). I then put a small deck across the rear of the top using some aluminium angle bolted on (so that I can remove it if required).The''deck'is so that when I pull the engine out,the trolley comes with it. Being that it is height adjustable, it can also be used as a (low) work surface. I had my son 'powder-coat' the lower part after the spreaders had been fitted, so that it still looked smart. The top part (where the engine will sit) had a rubber cover glued on to it (standard). Makes it much easier to remove/refit the engine than with a jack