The return of the Invisible Car.
Discussion
The final Polycarbonate window is fitted. 
Only used one tube of Tigerseal in the end. A major improvement from last years one tube per window effort. The gaps between the pacenote portal slide bearings allows any rain water to drain through to the bottom of the door and out of the factory drain holes. In a traditonal slide the water sits there and isn't pleasant after a while.
Now I need to sort out (decide on) an engine conversion and other performance upgrades.
Just looking at cooling solutions if I decide to go for a turbo.
Only used one tube of Tigerseal in the end. A major improvement from last years one tube per window effort. The gaps between the pacenote portal slide bearings allows any rain water to drain through to the bottom of the door and out of the factory drain holes. In a traditonal slide the water sits there and isn't pleasant after a while.
Now I need to sort out (decide on) an engine conversion and other performance upgrades.
Just looking at cooling solutions if I decide to go for a turbo.
Had a look at these guys website.
http://www.torqueitalia.com/index.asp
I like the idea of the 2.5 conversion for the Coupe 20VT and the quarter mile times posted are very impressive. I'd be after free power now. The biggest problem with the Fiat Coupe is the weight. When I had my Coupe I wanted to take the bonnet, wings, bootlid and doors off so I could make GRP molds and put the dead cow bum holders on eBay. Sadly I was made redundant and had to sell the car before I could do much more than basic tuning. I estimated that I could get about 20-25% of the cars weight reduced giving better bhp/Ton.
"Give a car more power and it will be quicker in a straight line. Make a car lighter and it will be quicker everywhere" Colin Chapman.
http://www.torqueitalia.com/index.asp
I like the idea of the 2.5 conversion for the Coupe 20VT and the quarter mile times posted are very impressive. I'd be after free power now. The biggest problem with the Fiat Coupe is the weight. When I had my Coupe I wanted to take the bonnet, wings, bootlid and doors off so I could make GRP molds and put the dead cow bum holders on eBay. Sadly I was made redundant and had to sell the car before I could do much more than basic tuning. I estimated that I could get about 20-25% of the cars weight reduced giving better bhp/Ton.
"Give a car more power and it will be quicker in a straight line. Make a car lighter and it will be quicker everywhere" Colin Chapman.
ts' who held me back...
More weight reduction for the Fiat today. From this....
...to this.
I do however have some sad news. We have a casualty of war. Half way through cutting the pannel out of the passenger door "Dave" the grinder slowed down and started doing this....
....after twelve years of use and abuse through think and thin (metal) I thought the bushes I bought years ago finally needed replacing.
Job done in s few minutes and "Dave" the grinder was back to full speed. Only now chucking bigger sparks out of the sides and bellowing smoke.
The new all singing and dancing variable speed grinder, cutter, polisher and wire brush thingy finished the door in a matter of seconds. The Fiat may have won the battle "Dave II" and I won the war. Also got some pre-shaped metal in case I need a bonnet bulge for any engine height issues later.
Purple paint update. The suplyer who made the paint I used on the BMW last year is no longer in business so if I don't have enough for the Fiat I may need an alternative. Hmmmmmm how about Powder blue (PPG 12163)
Topaz (orange) (PPG 60812) and some Navy Blue pinstriping?
...to this.
I do however have some sad news. We have a casualty of war. Half way through cutting the pannel out of the passenger door "Dave" the grinder slowed down and started doing this....
....after twelve years of use and abuse through think and thin (metal) I thought the bushes I bought years ago finally needed replacing.
Job done in s few minutes and "Dave" the grinder was back to full speed. Only now chucking bigger sparks out of the sides and bellowing smoke.
The new all singing and dancing variable speed grinder, cutter, polisher and wire brush thingy finished the door in a matter of seconds. The Fiat may have won the battle "Dave II" and I won the war. Also got some pre-shaped metal in case I need a bonnet bulge for any engine height issues later.
Purple paint update. The suplyer who made the paint I used on the BMW last year is no longer in business so if I don't have enough for the Fiat I may need an alternative. Hmmmmmm how about Powder blue (PPG 12163)
Topaz (orange) (PPG 60812) and some Navy Blue pinstriping?
Got a photoshop my Fiat thread going as well and someone suggested I went for Gulf Racing colours. 
Then I did this with MS Paint....
...and have these on my eBay watch list.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Cellulose-Car-Body-Paint-RAL...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Cellulose-Car-Body-Paint-RAL...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12mm-Dark-Blue-Vinyl-Stripe-...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GULF-logo-decal-2-stickers-2...
It's a chunk of budget but......
Then I did this with MS Paint....
...and have these on my eBay watch list.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Cellulose-Car-Body-Paint-RAL...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Cellulose-Car-Body-Paint-RAL...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12mm-Dark-Blue-Vinyl-Stripe-...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GULF-logo-decal-2-stickers-2...
It's a chunk of budget but......
A whole £5 spent yesterday on these....
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
A pair of round motorcycle lights with H4 bulbs. Part of my radical ratiator plan.
Edited due to copywrite issues.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
A pair of round motorcycle lights with H4 bulbs. Part of my radical ratiator plan.
Edited due to copywrite issues.
Edited by Liquid Knight on Wednesday 2nd March 19:26
So the drivers seat is out and the last bolt was easier than the others.....
Lucky I didn't crash the car eh?
This is how it should look(ish).
The thing I love about Cinquecento seats is how the slide frame unbolts from the tilt frame.
Just a simple set of brackets and the Aluminium seat will be mounted (after family taxi run in the Rover).
Lucky I didn't crash the car eh?
This is how it should look(ish).
The thing I love about Cinquecento seats is how the slide frame unbolts from the tilt frame.
Just a simple set of brackets and the Aluminium seat will be mounted (after family taxi run in the Rover).
So today I drilled four holes into the subframe (I used a tape measure two days in a row!?!).
Inversted £0.64 on four flush fit bolts (how did I get Tiger Seal on the roof of the car?)....
...and I now have a business looking office again.
Sadly the shoulder straps are too short so I used the lap strap for the photo's obviously this is neither health of safe enough for track use so I'll see if I can get the spare Luke harness from last year back from (van of death) Kev'.
There wasn't anywhere to put the centre (wedgy) strap (yet) but Fiat have two bolt holes in the floor ready for the waist straps.
I do need to make a pair of brackets to drop the steering colum about an Inch now I'm sat on the floor. I was worried that the brakes would need upgrading, rear disc conversion and my Coupe Brembo's up front but the car now stops like I've hit a tree. Before I get my spray gun out I need to do the engine swap, get my guy from Lotus (dad) to look at the suspension, wide arches to fit round a set of wheels (hopefully from the donor car), bonnet modification to fit around the engine and headlight conversion for the radiator/intercooler/charge cooler (oh and decide n/a, turbo or supercharger as well).
Inversted £0.64 on four flush fit bolts (how did I get Tiger Seal on the roof of the car?)....
...and I now have a business looking office again.
Sadly the shoulder straps are too short so I used the lap strap for the photo's obviously this is neither health of safe enough for track use so I'll see if I can get the spare Luke harness from last year back from (van of death) Kev'.
There wasn't anywhere to put the centre (wedgy) strap (yet) but Fiat have two bolt holes in the floor ready for the waist straps.
I do need to make a pair of brackets to drop the steering colum about an Inch now I'm sat on the floor. I was worried that the brakes would need upgrading, rear disc conversion and my Coupe Brembo's up front but the car now stops like I've hit a tree. Before I get my spray gun out I need to do the engine swap, get my guy from Lotus (dad) to look at the suspension, wide arches to fit round a set of wheels (hopefully from the donor car), bonnet modification to fit around the engine and headlight conversion for the radiator/intercooler/charge cooler (oh and decide n/a, turbo or supercharger as well).
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