Hello from Richmond,VA fixing up a 75 1800

[richmondjefe]

if all goes well it will be in our garage on xmas day its at a friends house in plain sight.

[narfire]

Welcome.
Sounds like there is a story to this.....
Which Richmond are you from?
Chris

[richmondjefe]

I live in Midlothian. Wife for years has been pining for her old convertible from high school. So figured I would get 1 xmas gift. Found an 1800 on ebay in Georgia. which had been sitting for quite some time..when we took off the tires they quickly formed to the shape a D..paid 750 and at first i thought i had a pig, but she is turning more towards a gem everyday. After changing plugs, fuellines etc etc ...started right up..rust hear and there rotted hoses everywhere, but with my friend Charles help...by xmas we will be mechanically sound, will worry about the beauty later. She has no idea right now and I cannot wait til Xmas.

[124JOE]

what color was her high school car?
what color is this one?
and change the dif fluid.

[vandor]

Sounds like it will be quite a Christmas!

Be sure to change all the rubber hoses, break, fuel, etc.! Check the suspension bushings front and back, front ones will be worn out if they have not been replaced before.

[richmondjefe]

Thanks for the heads up ....high school was a primer brown mg...i think she just wants the top down

We are doing every hose ...hopefully electrical will be as easy and we are just a bunch of fuses and relays off and not a full rewiring job.

J

[vandor]

It's very unlikely that it needs to be rewired. It's usually bad grounds and poor connections that cause most of the problems.
Oh, and 'creative wiring' by the previous owners

[richmondjefe]

Good to know.

BTW.. This is the guy working on the car (I am still awaiting approval).

Spent 3 days reworking the body.. not perfect but better than the orignal work it came with.. working on floor pans now.

Car didnt start when we got it.. Not surprising since the spark plug wires were rusted to the coil.. etc..

BUT a new ignition later (Coil, Points, Rotor, Cap, Wires and Plugs), drained the oil gas, and an oil change later and the thing starts and purrs..

Have to replace belts, hoses, clamps, brake pads and lines, clutch cable and tires and then it should be ready to go.

Will post pictures soon..

A quick background, the reason it came to me was because I am always working on small, rusty, mid-70s european cars.. Opels So its not a big move to working on the Fiat.

[ez2wire]

Well as promised here are some before pics :

And Yes is was painted with a Brush (poorly at that).



















Thats what I started with..

Motor didnt start, brakes went to floor, broken clutch cable, leaking coolant and fuel, rusty and wornout front suspension to name the "few" mechanical issues.

This was a little less than a month ago or so.. Lets just say it is Unnecessary to let me know this was a marginal parts car that probably should have been left well enough alone. But I am also into Opels so call me a glutton for punishment.

[ez2wire]

Since then :

New fuel lines and Ignition Cap, Rotor, plugs, wires, coil and points and it runs.

Drained fluids (Gas, Oil, Coolant, rear, etc..)

Working on body - (Thanks to John in MD we got a new bow, doors, and cowl)



11 ! Coats of paint on fender..!





Also replaced the floor pans

Also new tires and shocks

Replaced all flex lines and pads on brake pads (Will be bleeding and testing brakes soon)

Also thanks to John new Water Pump, and seats, coming..

Have new upper control arms, tie rods, ball joints and center link along with timing belt coming as well.

Lot more to do.. I am hoping to get it under its own power so I can drive it to get painted at a friends house within a week or two. Spending about 4-5 hours a night on it and 8-12 hours on Sat.

Biggest issue is replacing the clutch cable, I am a big guy with big hands.. so its not going as easy as I would like.

Wish me luck..

[tartan18]

Very impressive progress. I also have a 1975 1800 and I'd love to be able to do some the things you've already accomplished but I am not anywhere as skilled as you are -- nor do I have any specialized body work tools. But I can learn a lot so do post additional pictures of your progress. I will live though it vicariously.

[richmondjefe]

Thanks.. But specialized body tools included a $100 Electric Orbital sander and a set of tin snips.. A box of cheap vinyl tiles (disposable bondo mixing palettes ). That and a lot of patience USC All-Metal (think JB Weld meets bondo) and bondo.. If you can do your own drywall you can do bodywork. fortunately most rust (other than floor boards) were solid with small rustholes and jersey rust (thin rust areas that look like they have been beaten with BBs). will post more pics soon.

[fiesta54]

I'm in midlothian too! Have you ever visited sportscar workshops on the boulevard? if not you should go check it out. They have about 9 124s in there right now.

[PoppyJoe]

Hey guys...

I live right up the road outside of C'ville - good luck with the project, and thanks for the tip about the place with the 124's. There's a parts place in Charlottesville that specialized in Fiats, etc. International Auto Parts. Google "Fiat Parts Charlottesville" to find them