falconvan
Well-known member
This looks great, Bob! Dont know how I missed this thread before but Im watching now.
Fiat, Second Time Around
- Thread starter bob w
- Start date
Help Support Rat Rods Rule:
bob w
Still crazy after all these years!
Back on page 18 of this thread I showed the door gap I think is unacceptable. Mulled over ways to make a smaller, uniform gap. A chunk of parking brake line was laying on a shelf. The flexible braided steel line is about 3/16" in diameter. It was taped to the door top and coated with Vaseline which works as a mold release.
bob w
Still crazy after all these years!
With the door closed, Duraglass (Bondo with short strand fiberglass in it) was forced into the gap and allowed to set up.
The door opened easily because of the Vaseline. A fair amount of careful sanding was required to complete the gap reduction.
bob w
Still crazy after all these years!
Here's the result. I'm satisfied with this gap.
Trapper John
New member
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2011
- Messages
- 1
Awesome!
Bob
This is what true hot rod building is all about. Way back, I built a 1950 Fiat coupe. I used a 409 rescued from a B Altered Anglia which had graduated to a 427.
The body shape changed slightly in 1950 and I replaced the old steel front end with an narrowed Anglia one piece fiberglass that was left over from a local business who used to make them. No money to buy a 400 turbo, so I used a plenitiful and cheap chrysler torqueflite which I mated to the 409 with home made adaptors. As the chrysler trans was so long, I ended up with an 11" drive shaft! Amazing, the whole package worked. I had a push button set up in a raised aluminum cast tunnel console that was pretty neat. I ran it on the street as well, using old Mickey Thomson grooved slicks. Rear end was an early chev narrowed with cut and welded axles. This was another item rescued from an early funny car build.
Seeing your thread brought back many memories. My car was much more "back yard" than yours. I am truley impressed with what you have accomplished in a basic garage. Congratulations. You are an inspiration!
John
Bob
This is what true hot rod building is all about. Way back, I built a 1950 Fiat coupe. I used a 409 rescued from a B Altered Anglia which had graduated to a 427.
The body shape changed slightly in 1950 and I replaced the old steel front end with an narrowed Anglia one piece fiberglass that was left over from a local business who used to make them. No money to buy a 400 turbo, so I used a plenitiful and cheap chrysler torqueflite which I mated to the 409 with home made adaptors. As the chrysler trans was so long, I ended up with an 11" drive shaft! Amazing, the whole package worked. I had a push button set up in a raised aluminum cast tunnel console that was pretty neat. I ran it on the street as well, using old Mickey Thomson grooved slicks. Rear end was an early chev narrowed with cut and welded axles. This was another item rescued from an early funny car build.
Seeing your thread brought back many memories. My car was much more "back yard" than yours. I am truley impressed with what you have accomplished in a basic garage. Congratulations. You are an inspiration!
John
zzrodder
It ain't grey hair, it's chrome!
Bada boom, bada bing, bondo to the rescue !!
Nice job !
Nice job !
bob w
Still crazy after all these years!
Looks like the gas filler has to come partially through the rear window.
Trapper John, I enjoyed your story about building the Fiat. Sure wish I could have found a steel body for this project. But you use what you have. Back in the mid-60's I had an Anglia Panel (Thames) with a 332" sbc with a torqeflite. The plan was to make it a clutchflite when money was available. But an encounter with the guardrail at half track ended all that.
Yep, zz, I don't have to feel sheepish about putting Bondo on fiberglass. And it sculpts just like clay.
bob w
Still crazy after all these years!
Not much room to route the filler.
I 'spose when I look in the rear view mirrior I'll think I'm being tailgated by a gas cap.
bob w
Still crazy after all these years!
Got a set of T Bucket heaers from Speedway and dug some header mufflers out of the garage attic. Got to make a few adjustments and alterations but it should work ok. Gonna be an ankle burner unless a heat shield is added.
rainman
Rough Rodder
Why not use a regular fuel cell cap, and make the back window tilt out?
Just a thought, personally I'm not feeling the cap in the widow trick! ha ha
Looking great love the headers, body is killer!
Todd
He's just one of them Rusty-Chainers!
Do a 90 out of the tank, then a section of straight, use the 45 to come upunder the window in the back panel.
rainman
Rough Rodder
GJunktionMike
Something's wrong with that boy!
Can you turn it to the passenger side under you roll cage and get it out in back of door?
bob w
Still crazy after all these years!
I tried a number if different routings of the gas filler tube. Nothing worked out for me. So, back to square one. I make a back glass out of polycarbonate and bolted it in. Later it will be installed with large head 3/16" pop rivets. More of a competition look. The blue protective film is still on the window.
Took a chunk of 14 gauge aluminum and made a mounting plate for the flip top cap. I might paint the cap and mounting plate body color to make it "disappear".
In its previous life a windshield was installed with rubber molding. It fit poorly and I was afraid it would blow into my lap.
The next task is to build a recessed flange around a revised windshield opening, out of fiberglass. That will provide a secure windshield mounting surface.
zzrodder
It ain't grey hair, it's chrome!
Here I come, dollar short and a day late.... Did you keep the piece you cut out for the window ?? If the filler could have been jogged over to the center, you could have done a split window something like a 40 ford or VW.......[P
Did you keep the piece you cut out for the window ?? If the filler could have been jogged over to the center, you could have done a split window something like a 40 ford or VW.......[P
bob w
Still crazy after all these years!
Because of the elevation of the gas tank, the angle of the back of the body and the intrusion of roll cage tubes I didn't have many options. A friend has a flat fill tube into his tank and it takes forever to fill with gas. I didn't want that problem. For now, I'm sticking with what I've got. I could trim the mounting plate to make it less obvious.
Lot of problems to resolve when building such a small car.
GJunktionMike
Something's wrong with that boy!
I could trim the mounting plate to make it less obvious.
Depending on paint color for the the fiat. Paint the mounting plate red get a pin stripper to letter in " death juice goes here [ddd"
Depending on paint color for the the fiat. Paint the mounting plate red get a pin stripper to letter in " death juice goes here [ddd"
