General Ok Help!

[RobbieDunne]

Ok, So I bought what I taught was a nice solid little Irish 68 500F It had a folder of over 8k worth of parts and work with it. So altough I could see a few little bits I taught this would be a nice little job to remove crusty bits and have a nice running restro. Sadly if I ever get my hads on the "Artist" that sculped the filler and fiberglass I will have a few choice words.

So basically I'm up to inner and outer sills both sides and new rear arch and part or full floor (depends on what you guys tell me).
So I was wondering as its bin a while since I had one what way does the floors and inner sills go togather. Are they single or double skined? Its just bin hacked so much I can't tell.

Thanks,

Robbie

 

[Bambino]

Robbie,
Sorry to hear this.
If you post some photos of the car, those that know about body restoration (not me) will have a better idea of the extent of the repairs required.
Chris

 

[RogerNZ]

Hi Robbie, the floors are a single layer of steel. The sills are three layers, made up of the inner sill (essentially a box section, so 2 layers) and the outer sill (one layer). If you look at my thread "500d resto with 126" (sticky above) you'll see the work I have done to date on replacing the floor and sills on my car. I am sorry to say that in my experience it is the front panel and batter tray panel that rust first, so these may also be poor on your car. That said, they are relatively easy to replace so may already have been fixed. Sills, floors and wheel arches take more work, so are more tempting for people to 'bodge' with filler....
You can also look around on you tube - search 500 restoration etc - where there are quite a few videos and photo stories of people doing panel work on these cars. I found them quite useful in terms of the type of work that may be required.
Good luck!
Cheers Roger

 

[the hobbler]

Hi Robbie;
Sorry to hear that you have bought a 'bit of a pup'--kneecapping is too good for these sort of people!--try the u-tube site 'u-tube abarth 1.5' this is admittadly the engine-build part of their site, but it is part of a 6-part series of films on how to rstore an old 500. As alredy mentioned, hunt around and you will find quite a few sites regarding 500 restoration. One company that I have come across, very easy to do business with and very 'prpoer' is:- Van Der Laan' in Holland. I am advised that their panels fit very well. All the business that I have have done with Leo Van Der Laan has been very easy. The best site for them is:- Van Der Laan Fiat 500 parts--it is in English and very easy to follow. Hope this helps, all the best with the project

 

[RobbieDunne]

Thanks guys,

I feel abit stupid to be honest as I should have really striped the car almost before buying but withe folder of work and parts I taught it couldnt be that bad. It had gotten two floors, sills, rear coroners and two wings and a front.

But as I found to my detrament they never painted the back of any of the parts fitted and they rotted from inside out!

And I kinda new that the battery tray n front were weak points so when these were good I taught the rest of the car wouldnt be bad. I had a good pok and all seemed good. But it was all fiber glass and polyfiller.

I had already welded in a rear corner when the other problems started to rear there heads.

I'l have a look at does thanks

Robbie

 

[RobbieDunne]

Hi all,

So I have aload of parts coming for this and Murphy's Law a guy here in Dublin has a store full of parts! And yes had pritty much everything I needed. I spoke to him and he is a nice fella and into the 500 himself. So if you need parts in Ireland you could save a few bob on shipping.

Just wish the club here had of known but they are just not that active.

Robbie

 

[RobbieDunne]

Ok,

So wedding out of the way so getting back to the 500. I done a bit more striping and had a question you guys might be able to help me with. Being this has turned out to be a full on restro and my first to this extent I'm abit lost. I ordered new inner sill repair panels (the part just before the rear wheel) and its getting two floors and inner and outter sills. But due to how badly patched the inner parts were done I've very little to reference it to. I done the usual google search but just can't get a good view.

So anyone got a good picture/diagram of how this should fit togather?

Any help would be great thanks,

Robbie