Friday, January 29, 2010

A blast from the past



Here is an old Fiat that my dad bought for me when I returned to the city in 2002 after living in NY. This car stranded me more than a few times. I remember one time pushing it down Treat St. to my friends driveway who happened to live nearby. Some homies hanging out on a nearby stoop had a good laugh watching me push this thing down the street. I ended up selling it on ebay to an old guy in the Florida Keys who had survived a heart attack and wanted to relive his youth. I imagine him driving down an ocean highway into the sunset with the top down.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

New gauges



New analog gauges, I ran an oil line back to the engine for the oil gauge, some will notice the centigrade water temp gauge.
Posted by Picasa

Dogs are ready


The two helper dogs are ready even if the 600 isn't
Posted by Picasa

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Ken Rowe's land speed record at Bonneville


Ken Rowe and friend with their 600's


Ken Rowe long time SoCal rear engine Fiat tuner and some vintage Fiat photos. He provided the info that led to our 903 engine. He still holds speed records with Fiats.
Posted by Picasa

Monday, January 25, 2010

My old spider wheel

I got some more mileage out of my old
spider wheel, finally got the right hub from
MrFiat/Fiatinc in Atlanta Ga. (he is also on Ebay), it's about an inch
less in diameter, I thought the original was
a little too bus like, though I'm sure you will get an argument about that from my daughter!
Posted by Picasa

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Clockwise crank seal

Oil seals have to be changed out to correct rotation
Thanks to Joe at Joe's Fiat Service in Redwood City Ca.
for that tip. I would have put the wrong one in and had oil pouring out again!
Posted by Picasa

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Italian ghosts

Brooks St.
Oakland, Ca.

Remote oil filter


I changed the location for the remote oil filter, I got some 90 degree
NPT pipe fittings with flare ends, I will have room to install an oil cooler
down the line

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Fuel pump block off plate


600 water pump modifications

I enlarged the hole on the block to give more water flow and made a spacer out of 3/16" aluminum for the new gasket to ride on, the bolt holes on the new pump had to be enlarged as well. Now all the pulleys line up and one belt can be used. See photos below.

A112/Fiat 127 Water pump for the 600







Posted by Picasa

Car love started with my grandfather


Back in 1921 my grandfather started Saul motor company in Pelican Rapids Minnesota, selling Fords and later Lincoln's and Mercury's. During the worst of the depression he sold out to a local man and went on an extended holiday car trip in a Hupmobile, eventually arriving in Florida and living there for a time. After several years he came back to Minnesota and bought back the dealership and moved to Crookston Mn. My father took over in 1956 when grandpa passed and continued until the late 60's when he sold out and got into truck business selling Mack's. During the 60's I hung around the dealership and worked in the body shop during summer breaks, I remember the change from lead to bondo and how we balanced tires on the car. I still remember riding around in a Ford model T for the 4th of July parade. Anyway I couldn't shake the love of cars and especially foreign cars much to my fathers chagrin.
Posted by Picasa

Cheapo delux gauges

Cheap analog gauges from Summit Racing $21 bucks
Posted by Picasa

A112/Fiat 127 water pump

Nice compact counter clockwise rotation
water pump $79 bucks from Rock auto, via England
included 2 day shipping!
Posted by Picasa

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Throttle linkage

I used a mountain bike brake part for the throttle cable housing
and the original 903 valve cover, I bent the throttle housing at the firewall
so it points more in line with the cable holder.
Posted by Picasa

850 thermostat holder

There are two kinds of thermostat
covers, the up pointing one is needed
to match up with the origianl 600 radiator,
I also had the cut off the radiator pipe about 1"
The heater hose spout was capped off and may be used
for a front radiator later.
Posted by Picasa

Oil sender for analog gauge

This homemade sender will work
with the idiot light and an analog gauge
Posted by Picasa

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Fiat 600 remote oil filter location

Tentative oil filter location
I may get some 45 degree
fittings and mount it on
the firewall
Posted by Picasa

Monday, January 4, 2010

Fiat 600 with 903 engine and header


The 903 is in.
I had to modify the left side engine bay to fit header.
The reverse rotation crank gear set had to be shimmed
out about 17mm for the crank pulley, I used the old crank
chain pulley cut down.
I will mount the remote oil filter, and 180 degree U pipe to the header
collector so the muffler is pointed in the right direction.
Also the starter has to be modified to fit with out hitting the
850 pressure plate.
Posted by Picasa

903 is in!

It took all of about 45min.
to get the engine in,
ancillaries such as water pump
remote oil filter and header
will require some fabrication.
An A112 pump is on the way
via England and ordered from Rock
Auto.
Posted by Picasa

Saturday, January 2, 2010

We made the SF Chronicle!


Me and the Colorado Fiat new years day
click the title to read more...

Pierce manifild velocity stack covers

Here are the covers I am using for filtering
on the 40MM IDF carbs, purchased from
Pierce manifold in California.
Posted by Picasa

MOTHERF#&@#!!!


This is what happened to my front quarter panel on the street in front of my house. No note or paint left behind just a pretty bad hit. Every time I see it I get really bummed out.