Technical Project Paolo

[Franko500]

Funny you saying that, my L also had some alloy side lights. All thought they were different to my D ones. Unfortunately they were in too poor condition to reuse as they would have been far better than the plastic type.
Possibly they changed over to the steel pedal box soon after your 500 was produced.

 

[Paolo66]

Cant find a pedal box on the parts sites but the bushes are marked as N/D

 

[Franko500]

maybe here lies the answer?
must have been then end of the line

 

[IanEmery]

maybe here lies the answer?
must have been then end of the line

Well found Sean, it goes to show the importance of good information; there are so many instances where components from a previous model are carried forward.

The cast pedal box is another example of the fabulously detailed parts on the early cars

 

[jjacob]

Maybe this will help some. From 500N parts manual.
John

 

[Vitesse]

Mine is also 66 and is alloy. Try as I might I couldn't get it dismantled. I couldn't get the pin out and decided, unusually for me, probably best left alone before I did any damage. TBH I can't even remember why I dismantling it? Probably to free it from patina.

 

[Paolo66]

Can not find a pedal box anywhere, either alloy or steel. Found the bushes on Motobambino which says its for N/D and early F. As 1965 was the change over I guess mine and Tony's are classed as early F
500N/D/F - BR0084A

Pedal box bush kit for the Fiat 500N/D and early 500F

 

[fiat500]

Probably to free it from patina.[/QUOTE
PATINA
That keyword rang all the alarms up here.
As is rapidly being exposed, my love of "patina" is based more on a disinclination to do all that much to my car bits or spend any money. So when I "restored" Murf (I hesitate to call it that among this hallowed company), I didn't even think about removing the surface-rusted pedal box, never mind painting it or examining it for wear.
I wasn't even aware of the alloy one as my 1969 500 is the oldest example I've ever owned. A nice detail to have, as Ian observed, but hardly in the most showy location on the car!

 

[IanEmery]

Ah ha, Peter, but sometimes it is enough to know it is there without the need to show it off

 

[fiat500]

Ah ha, Peter, but sometimes it is enough to know it is there without the need to show it off

True of many things in life Ian......:spin:

 

[IanEmery]

True of many things in life Ian......:spin:

: So true. Glad you saw the meaning. My tongue was firmly in my cheek when it was written

 

[Paolo66]

Some before and after photos

Clean, clean, clean

 

[Franko500]

someone's been busy!

 

[Paolo66]

Pedal box all installed now. Refurbished the brake pressure switch. I know you can get new ones for a few euros but they are all spade connectors and I like the fact that this one is an original with bullet connectors

 

[Paolo66]

Didn't think fitting the brake lines would be such a challenge but it ended up being just that. Trying to get everything lined up and out of the way of other things proved tricky. Also dont know which pipe goes where in the kit. Got a really small pipe and havent got a clue where thats supposed to go. Got the first front pipe in and hopefully work out the rest as I go along. Also got one door catch on just to break up the monotany. And yes I was sad enough to polish up the screws!

 

[Bleeding Knuckles]

Didn't think fitting the brake lines would be such a challenge but it ended up being just that. Trying to get everything lined up and out of the way of other things proved tricky. Also dont know which pipe goes where in the kit. Got a really small pipe and havent got a clue where thats supposed to go. Got the first front pipe in and hopefully work out the rest as I go along. Also got one door catch on just to break up the monotany. And yes I was sad enough to polish up the screws!
View attachment 175877View attachment 175878View attachment 175879View attachment 175880View attachment 175881View attachment 175882View attachment 175883

Hi Paolo, Just a thought, but as you are fitting your brake lines at the moment can you tell me if the 500/126 flexible pipe fittings are the same size across other models with similar size wheels in the fiat range?

Ian.

 

[Paolo66]

Wouldnt know about other fiats Ian. These fittings are M10 x 1.5

 

[Bleeding Knuckles]

Sorry Paolo, should explain better - I have discs on the front and they could have come from one of the following x1/9, 127, 128 etc I'm looking at fitting braided pipes, but cannot purchase a type 'kit' because the rear pipes are from a 126!!! so apparent dissimilar fittings??????

Ian.

 

[Paolo66]

Sorry cant help you there Ian. Dont have any experience of disc brakes.
Damian

 

[AndrewHarvey]

I also found the UK supplied brake pipe kit was of a very poor standard - with none of the lengths being correct