Fiat Barchetta - Pictures and Restoration
Discussion
Managed a little bit more at the weekend but didn't get more than a couple of hours on it. Still, got the worst of the rusted inner arch out and left a nice clean, neat section to put new metal in
The remaining metal is better than it looks in the picture so a bit of wire brushing will have it clean again. Not until I've treated that bit of bubbling in the corner of the outer arch though
Cardboard template is underway. I'll make a metal structure that will replace all the missing metal which can be tacked, spot-welded and seam-welded as appropriate.
I've never done anything like this before so I'm just taking my time and making sure it's going to last...any tips or advice are welcome.
The remaining metal is better than it looks in the picture so a bit of wire brushing will have it clean again. Not until I've treated that bit of bubbling in the corner of the outer arch though
Cardboard template is underway. I'll make a metal structure that will replace all the missing metal which can be tacked, spot-welded and seam-welded as appropriate.
I've never done anything like this before so I'm just taking my time and making sure it's going to last...any tips or advice are welcome.
Hey all,
This project is still happening SLOOOOOOOOOOOWLY! The girl I moved in with when I started this is now my fiancé and we're busy planning our wedding
Progress has been slow but I'm still ticking along on it. Got the N/S rear arch nearly done. Terrible picture but this is it before I tidied up the welding.
I removed the floor-liner too, so that I could see the rust underneath. The passenger side (O/S) has been repaired in the past but doesn't look amazing so I might try and tidy that up. The drivers side looks like this
I'll get the power tools out and cut the rot away and have a go at repairing that over the next couple of weeks.
This project is still happening
SLOOOOOOOOOOOWLY! The girl I moved in with when I started this is now my fiancé and we're busy planning our wedding Progress has been slow but I'm still ticking along on it. Got the N/S rear arch nearly done. Terrible picture but this is it before I tidied up the welding.
I removed the floor-liner too, so that I could see the rust underneath. The passenger side (O/S) has been repaired in the past but doesn't look amazing so I might try and tidy that up. The drivers side looks like this
I'll get the power tools out and cut the rot away and have a go at repairing that over the next couple of weeks.
SUCH RUST! There was a strengthening panel, about the size of an A5 sheet which seemingly only served to trap water...drilled out the spot welds to leave this:
Cutting out the rotten panel:
Thought about leaving this hole and trying to pass it off as 'air conditioning' but thought better of it
Cereal boxes are perfect for making templates
A short while later:
Nearly there. My welder isn't the best but it's doing the job, just leaves a fair bit to tidy up after. Should have this arch finished in the next couple of days....then back to that floor!!
Cutting out the rotten panel:
Thought about leaving this hole and trying to pass it off as 'air conditioning' but thought better of it
Cereal boxes are perfect for making templates
A short while later:
Nearly there. My welder isn't the best but it's doing the job, just leaves a fair bit to tidy up after. Should have this arch finished in the next couple of days....then back to that floor!!
Happy Sunday everyone, the light nights and warm weather has done wonders for this project!
I masked the car up to paint....
...and a couple of coats of zinc weld-thru primer...
...but then looking more closely to the bits you can't see in these pics decided the lip in the wheel arch that I'd welded my replacement panel to was getting a bit thin, and the right thing to do was cut it out and replace it. More work but it'd always annoy if I didn't do it now.
Out with the grinder...and glad I took the trouble cos the outer skin is starting to corrode in the corner, as seen near the bottom of this pic. The spot welds were inconsistent, as you can see...
Better view of the rust
Zinc primer on inside of the outer skin, and will be cavity-waxed afterwards
New panel ready to weld in. 2mm steel so it's approx 1.9999mm thicker than what Fiat used originally
I'll definitely get the arch finished this week then onto the floor!
I masked the car up to paint....
...and a couple of coats of zinc weld-thru primer...
...but then looking more closely to the bits you can't see in these pics decided the lip in the wheel arch that I'd welded my replacement panel to was getting a bit thin, and the right thing to do was cut it out and replace it. More work but it'd always annoy if I didn't do it now.
Out with the grinder...and glad I took the trouble cos the outer skin is starting to corrode in the corner, as seen near the bottom of this pic. The spot welds were inconsistent, as you can see...
Better view of the rust
Zinc primer on inside of the outer skin, and will be cavity-waxed afterwards
New panel ready to weld in. 2mm steel so it's approx 1.9999mm thicker than what Fiat used originally
I'll definitely get the arch finished this week then onto the floor!
Evening all.
Wee update - the NS arch is finished. Paint still drying in these pics and need to go back to cut the hole for the drain pipe.
On to the offside. I patched up a little bit when I first got the car but after taking the paint off it looks pretty.....lightweight!
The lips for the panels that are mostly missing were a pain to get off with such limited access
But I've got most of it back to bare metal
Really hoping to get the welding done by the end of May but fully expect that to overrun...
Wee update - the NS arch is finished. Paint still drying in these pics and need to go back to cut the hole for the drain pipe.
On to the offside. I patched up a little bit when I first got the car but after taking the paint off it looks pretty.....lightweight!
The lips for the panels that are mostly missing were a pain to get off with such limited access
But I've got most of it back to bare metal
Really hoping to get the welding done by the end of May but fully expect that to overrun...
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff