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May 19, 2012 12:32:55 GMT
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Contents. Page 1. Intro & [b ]The Doctors[/b] cool Hillclimb video Page 2. Wiring Page 3. More wiring Addition to the fleet Alternator upgrade Trial fitting of Maserati alloys Impulse paintjob! Page 4. Hillclimb X1/9 at Castle combe (Thanks to Speedman) VW Turbo powered beast (Thanks to damagecontrol) And the start of the weldathon Page 5. More welding, bumper removal. Page 6. TiffX1/9s X1/9 Welding finale Engine bay wiring MSD/Crane cams ignition Facet fuel pump Mystery wiring, Weber 34 DATR carb rebuild Dynamat soundproofing Headlamp removal and getting it running again! Page 7 More headlamps and door seals In the beginning... Finally got some pics of my latest ebay impulse buy! Everything I know about cars told me... ' don't buy anything other than Japanese makes!
Never buy a FIAT, it will break!
don't buy cars from ebay just because they are near to you and only have 4 minutes left!
don't buy cars that have not ran in 4 years!
The Mrs will take the huff if you turn up with that, and you cant cook!'That aside, I couldn't think of any reason not to stick a bid in! So here it is...    Yeah! I know, a bit 'merchant Ivory'! ;D It drove back fine, apart from the bonnet badge flying off and cracking the windscreen. Oh, and the dodgy electrics giving me the choice between wipers or headlights. I've given it a check over and (at the risk of tempting fate) and its not that bad. Sure, it needs a bit of welding and a couple of bits and the electrics redesigned but it genuinely is a hoot to drive. Wasn't too impressed with the UK owners club but the U.S. owners forum appears full of experts and hardcore fans. Anyway, off on holiday for 2 weeks. I'll get something done when I get back! ;D ;D ;D |
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May 19, 2012 13:09:37 GMT
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Can't go wrong at £25 Though
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"No............I think I'll stick with the Maxi"
Arther Daley
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May 19, 2012 13:20:26 GMT
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Had one of these many (many) moons ago. They are a great car to sling around. I fear welding may be involved but worth it for the grin factor. Enjoy.
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14 Audi A3 Sportback - Easy driver
05 Audi TT MK1 3.2 DSG - Damn quick
73 Triumph 2000 - Needs work
03 Range Rover 4.4 V8 petrol. Had to get it out of my system.
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May 19, 2012 17:30:40 GMT
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If it was cheap, it's worth a shot. It has floors, so has potential  but welding is likely to be the main task. It looks workable otherwise, and is a good addition to RR as I can't recall any other threads on the tiny Fiat. |
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May 19, 2012 18:10:03 GMT
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Impressive wiring loom!!! I've not had a fiat X1/9 but I can imagine that being the standard factory arrangement.
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1974 Lancia Beta Saloon
1975 Mazda 929 Coupé
1986 Mazda 929 Wagon
1979 Mazda 929 Hardtop
1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica
1977 Toyota Carina TA14
1989 Subaru 1800 Wagon
1982 Hyundai Pony 1200TL 2-dr
1985 Hyundai Pony 1200 GL
1986 Maserati 425 Biturbo
1992 Rover 214 SEi 5-dr
2000 Rover 45 V6 Club
1994 Peugeot 205 'Junior' Diesel
1988 Volvo 760 Turbodiesel Saloon
1992 Talbot Express Autosleeper Rambler
2003 Renault Laguna SPEARS OR REAPERS
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May 19, 2012 20:08:13 GMT
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Upon my return (and 'cos the Mrs was in the cream puff) I had a look thru the forums.
Electrical problems and welding were the re-occuring themes so these were the first things I checked.
As far as I can see it needs a patch on the passenger sill and one inside the front boot, thats it!
Windscreen surround is ok, door checks ok, strut tops, inner wings, wheelarches and floors are all solid and metal!
The wiring however...
Its had 6 previous owners and I'm guessing each one has added their own bit to the wiring. By the looks of it none of them were autoelectricians but one or two were definitly butchers! LOL!
Its had a proper alarm at one time that has failed. Rather than removing the wiring and fixing the problem its been bodged round. Whoever done the bodging only had red wire!
After this someone has fitted a cheapo immobiliser which has also failed and been disconnected.
For some reason it also has 2 foglight switches, 2 heated rear screen switches and 3 dash light switches. Alarmingly they are all connected, i've just not figured out what they are connected to!
At some point someone cared enough to fit an electric fuel pump, unfortunately they used an old Jaguar one with points in it! That'll be going!
I'm going for the 'rip all the bodges out and properly fix the original faults' approach.
The interior fusebox has a good 1/2" of water in it. I'll be fitting a nice modern blade fusebox and the leak should be fixed or slowed down when the new windscreen goes in.
The U.S. forum has instructions on upgrading the wiring to give a full 12volts to the headlights and wipers which I'll be doing.
Apparently the Land Rover 65amp alternator fits after a pulley swap. On ebay these alternator s are £10 cheaper than the puny 45 amp one currently fitted!
I'll be knocking up some sort of electronic ignition too. I'm sure the Uno dizzy fits and practical classics has a bit about it this month so should be able to sort something out. The only kit I've found specifically for it is the Lumenition kit at £115, no-one else seems to do them.
Anyway, the shopping list is growing day by day...
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May 19, 2012 20:12:26 GMT
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Very cool car mister, love the bonnet and headlamp shape of these.
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Smiler
Posted a lot
I no longer own anything FWD! Or with less than 6 cylinders, or 2.5ltrs! :)
Posts: 2,492
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May 19, 2012 23:34:10 GMT
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That's certainly going to keep you busy, but you'll also certainly be exclusive at any car show you might venture to!
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www.Auto-tat.co.uk'96 Range Rover P38 DSE (daily driver) '71 Reliant Scimitar SE5 GTE 3.0ltr Jag V6 Conversion '79 Reliant Scimitar SE6A 3.0ltr 24valve Omega Conversion '85 Escort Cabrio 2.0 Zetec - Sold '91 BMW 525i - Sold '82 Cortina 2.9i Ghia Cosworth - Sold '72 VW Campervan - Sold '65 LandRover 88" - Sold
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Nice one,
Love these little FIAT's
Keep the updates coming,
Bookmarked,
:-) :-)
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BMW E39 525i Sport
BMW E46 320d Sport Touring (now sold on.)
BMW E30 325 Touring (now sold on.)
BMW E30 320 Cabriolet (Project car - currently for sale.)
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Out of curiousity how tall are you? I'm 6ft and got sorta in one once, but then couldn't get my right leg in haha....
Would.love an x19 got a hamkering for.something Italian or Japanese atm....
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The Doctor
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 3,449
Club RR Member Number: 48
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nice!  I'm just going to leave this here: |
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May 20, 2012 13:40:22 GMT
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great car. Keep up the good work & keep posting progress on the car.
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Honda Civic EK3
Ford Capri III 2.3S
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Clement
Europe
ambitious but rubbish
Posts: 2,095
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May 20, 2012 20:34:49 GMT
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That video made my day. The car, the sound, the road, the driving skills...
Good luck for sorting out the electrics... Be brave!
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Back! Had plenty time to plan things out from the comfort of my sunlounger in scorching Gran Canaria! ;D ;D ;D
Have to save up a bit to get the shiney bits for its MOT (Shock absorbers, brakes, windscreen etc.) so the biggest low buck projects are the rattle can black respray and sorting the electrics.
Paints not going to stop it getting a ticket so sparks it is!
Rear lights, charging system & dash lights don't work. There are unexplained switches (heated rear screen x2 etc.) Suspect security (a dead alarm and hastily fitted immobiliser) to work thru and remove. That should put everything back the way FIAT intended.
That in turn leads to another problem. The X1/9 is one of the cars that earned FIAT their reputation for half arsed electrics. The alternator is underpowered and the wiring loom is badly designed soaking up more voltage. On top of this the car has had 31 years of moisture seeping in to connections and earth points.
X1/9 owners club UK reckon the 60 amp Lucas alternator from the 80s Diesel Land rover fits with a pulley change. On ebay they are cheaper than a recon X1/9 45amp one. Thats on the shopping list.
X19.webforums.org has an excellent wiring mod to give battery voltage directly to the starting circuit and headlamp relays. It involves wiring in extra fuses so I'm gonna replace the existing (waterlogged) fusebox and run my new circuits neatly thru it. Apart from the improvements the mod will give me, upgrading from a soaking ceramic fusebox to a watertight blade fuse one should help. I'll treat the engine to a new thicker earth strap and replace/clean up all the earth connections while I'm at it.
Final electrical concern is the fuel pump. I might leave this one until after the MOT as its still working (at present). The X1/9 is fitted with a cooling fan for the carb. It has a permanant live connection and is a common cause of battery drain problems. Most people fit electric pumps and use the fans wiring.
Someone has fitted an electric fuel pump to mine but has used 'other wiring' and has used a sh*tty old Jag pump. I want to do away with the cooling fan, connect the pump properly and fit an electric pump that doesnt have its own set of points!
Work, pics and tales of woe coming soon...
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Oh, forgot to say! Going to do my own electronic ignition too.
None of the major brands does a kit for the X1/9, those that do want lots of money for their kits.
The early Uno turbo dizzy is an option as its physically the same engine. Problem there is you need the trigger box too and I think the advance wont suit my non turbo engine.
I'm gonna convert the original dizzy myself. Practical classics showed how to do it using VW/Bosch parts but I'll have a rake about the breakers to see what I can get. I'd like a nice more modern dry coil too.
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,971
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Excellent stuff - bookmarked as I reckon I'll learn something
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brave brave man!best of luck with it ,sounds like your going to build it like fiat should have done in the first place
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passmethegun
Part of things
"A closed mouth gathers no feet"
Posts: 58
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You should give megajolt a look if you're not too afraid of soldering (with a FIAT X1/9 I'm guessing you're not)
I built mine for approx 100bucks and it worked a treat!
Good luck!
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pass me the gun and ask me again........
Manta 400R Coupe (in lots of bits)
Manta Exclusive Coupe (in less bits)
BMW 320d (one big bit) |
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Immobiliser, stereo wiring, cheap 80s speakers and alarm removed, wiring connected as FIAT intended. Checked it and it starts as before! ;D
I've only temporarily connected everything as I intend replacing some of the big block connectors, earth tags and carrying out the 'brown wire mod' (but I forgot to grab some decent gauge wire today!)
Have also established the heated rear screen, dash indicator and switch on the centre console work an are connected as they should be. There is an extra heated rear screen switch near the handbrake which has been added to some original wiring. I'm not sure what its connected to but it has no influence on the heated screen, interior light or running of the car. I couldnt trace it back as its wiring continues backwards under the carpet. 'Stanley blade carpet terror' imminent! ;D
Also managed to remove the seats. They are held in the runners by a big coil spring either side. You unhook the spring and slide them all the way forward out of the runners. I read all sorts of horror stories about removing the spring, sticking in the runners, seat backs snapping on removal etc. but they came out ok. Big spring is no more fierce than a brake shoe spring and after working the seats back and forward a few times they slid out quite easily. Found £1.06 into the bargain! ;D ;D ;D
I want to recolour the seats, they are full leather (apparently quite rare?) but they are white which I don't like. I was gonna buy one of those leather recolouring kits classics specialists sell. The ones that restore and condition the leather as they go but I want to give the seats a good clean first. Anyone any recommendations? I (the Mrs.) has some leather wipes we got to clean the sofa but I don't think they are strong enough. Will I get away with soapy water? Perhaps some kitchen cleaner spray? don't want to damage or dry out the leather.
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Passmethegun!
Would love to have a go with megajolt and megasquirt systems. I've looked into it all before and its on my 'things to do' list but gonna have a go at the electronic dizzy until I have a bit more cash to do a proper engine.
Should be able to save a bit of time and work as FIAT used this engine with fuel injection etc. right up to the FIAT Tipo etc.
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but welding is likely to be the main task. It looks workable otherwise, and is a good addition to RR as I can't recall any other threads on the tiny Fiat.
