[100kmph]

Hi all members, moderators and guests! I have decided to restore our 1966 Fiat 1100D to bring it back to its former glory. Yesterday during a short drive a moron driving a Mahindra Maxximo pickup banged the Fiat and fled the spot immediately. Also couldn't note its number. But it left us with a sad mood for the whole day.
Anyways, the door edges had started to rust, the paint had started to chip and the body work had begun to show its age. The seats and the door cards have also started to show their age. So left the car at a friendly neighbourhood garage to start the work. As a result we had to prepone the restoration by a few momths. The work done prior to the accident include:

1. Timing Chain
2. Replacement head 2nd hand
3. Spark plugs
4. Cross bearing
5. The drive shaft had to be replaced as the cross bearing for the old model could not be found.
6. Bleeding of brakes and drum cleaning
7. Top up of steering oil with ep 140
8. Tappet adjustment etc.

Now we have decided to change the colour of the car. Please opine on the choice of colour.
Now some snaps of the car after the accident:

[100kmph]

Update
Paid a visit to the garage today. Now the lights, side aluminium beadings, seats have been stripped. Will keep you updated with photos as the restoration progresses.
The front windshield has also been dislocated due to the impact. A minor leak in the radiator could be repaired by brazing.
Note: Fiat gurus, please have your say and comments

[Technocrat]

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[samsag12]

Thats a serious damage to the front end but nothing that can't be repaired/replaced.
An experienced garage can easily fix the car. Please ensure the strength & alignment of chassis especially the lower cross member. From the pic. upper cross member has to be replaced as its twisted quite badly.

Regarding the color, its a personal choice. Are you planning on period correct shade or fancy any modern day color ?

Do share some WIP pics of the car so that Fiat gurus here can guide you in the right direction.

BTW I hope all the occupants are safe.

[FINTAIL]

Hey! That car looks very, very similar to our 1972 1100D PYS5775/MMU5324.

That said, look out for the positive sides of things! Let this accident actually be an excuse for restoration!

Salvage what is possible, i.e the Lucas 700 headlamps etc.

In my opinion, this shade of green is best for a 1100D, PYS5775 is been in in this shade from day 1.

Salvage the cross members from another car. Lastly, more pics are needed.

Cheers!

[100kmph]

Originally Posted by samsag12

Please ensure the strength & alignment of chassis especially the lower cross member. From the pic. upper cross member has to be replaced as its twisted quite badly.

Regarding the color, its a personal choice. Are you planning on period correct shade or fancy any modern day color ?

BTW I hope all the occupants are safe.

Originally Posted by FINTAIL

That said, look out for the positive sides of things! Let this accident actually be an excuse for restoration![/b]

Salvage what is possible, i.e the Lucas 700 headlamps etc.

In my opinion, this shade of green is best for a 1100D, PYS5775 is been in in this shade from day 1.
. Lastly, more pics are needed.

Cheers!

Thanks for your kind words.
The cross-member is repairable and will be salvaged. As for the Lucas 700 headlamps, the reflector on the right side is pretty badly rusted. Searching for another pair. In the worst case, I may have to go for the lumax headlamps. The left fender will be repaired, but the panel in which the indicators and headlamps sit has to go.
An aluminium 2nd hand griil would be nice from the early delights. The bumper which was previously painted black will either be painted black or body coloured. The running boards and the door sills will be replaced because of some rust holes.
The front and rear glasses have been opened. There are quite a few rust holes which have to be mended. As for the colour it is desirable to go for a period shade rather than some fancy one. Will also consider the dual tone options.
Now adding some pics of the WIP:

[FINTAIL]

I repeat! This car & PYS5775 are almost twins. That said PYS5775 still has the original steering wheel. However, NO original monogrammes are present on our 1100D.

How about more details, and also, pics prior to the accident?

Cheers!

[100kmph]

Originally Posted by FINTAIL

How about more details, and also, pics prior to the accident?

Cheers!

Thanks for your interest in this restoration thread. Now posting some more pics of the car under repair:

The running board had developed rust holes. So it had to go.

The lower part of the wheel arches were quite badly rusted and would fall off with a gentle push. So new panels were welded

The portion of the A-pillars covered with the rubber beadings has shown its age. Its a result of "Tape it, paint it", the LHS A-pillar is beyond repair and will be replaced.

Will post the pre accident photos in a day or two as they are more than the maximum upload limit and will have to be edited.

[100kmph]

Originally Posted by 100kmph

Will post the pre accident photos in a day or two as they are more than the maximum upload limit and will have to be edited.

Now some pics of the car in its former glory




Update

Now the fender is almost repaired.
The panel in which the indicator and headlamps sit has been replaced with a new one.
The bonnet alignment is to be set correctly. I will try post the snaps tomorrow as I had forgotten to take pics today.

[FINTAIL]

Originally Posted by 100kmph

Thanks for your interest in this restoration thread. Now posting some more pics of the car under repair:

Sigh! I wish I could spend more time with 5775. Sadly, she is 800 kilometers away, in BYJ, while, I am in sitting in BYF. Geddit?

Jokes apart, good progress. I hope the colour is retained. Which carb does she run on?

Cheers!

[100kmph]

Originally Posted by FINTAIL

Sadly, she is 800 kilometers away, in BYJ, while, I am in sitting in BYF. Geddit?

Jokes apart, good progress. I hope the colour is retained. Which carb does she run on?

Cheers!

The car runs on a solex carb. Just could not decipher BYJ & BYF.

[FINTAIL]

Simple. BYJ=Nagpur, BYF=Poona.

BYF & BYJ are registeration numbers of the Fifties. Ah! Those were the days.

Cheers!

[100kmph]

Update
Some photos after welding and tinkering:




The new A-pillar


See the thickness of the filler

[FINTAIL]

Quality work is definitely being done!

However, tell the welding guy to put in more welds, and make them consistent. Some little, simple spot welding is not going to do.

He might become cross, as the welding rods get used up, but it is worth it, as Behramji puts it,

"There is only one way to do a thing, and that is the CORRECT way"

What paint do you intend to use? Also which shade do you intend to put her in?

I do sincerely hope that this sea-foam green paint shade is retained. It was present only on Delights, and also, seems apt for Delights, as a Delight simply looks the best in such a shade.

Also, when has the car been worked on before? The level of filler is abnormally thick.

Our 1100D is still on original paint, in the interiors. However, it recieved an external paint job in the late Nineties. However, it was not done properly, warranting a new paintjob shortly.

Also, quickly put a coat of primer.

Also, which car were the front panels salvaged from?

Cheers!

[100kmph]

Originally Posted by FINTAIL

Quality work is definitely being done!



What paint do you intend to use? Also which shade do you intend to put her in?

I do sincerely hope that this sea-foam green paint shade is retained. It was present only on Delights, and also, seems apt for Delights, as a Delight simply looks the best in such a shade.

Also, when has the car been worked on before? The level of filler is abnormally thick.

Our 1100D is still on original paint, in the interiors. However, it recieved an external paint job in the late Nineties. However, it was not done properly, warranting a new paintjob shortly.

Also, quickly put a coat of primer.

Also, which car were the front panels salvaged from?

Cheers!

The car was given a full body respray in 1996. Then in 2006 it was given a standing paint. The 1996 colour was a type of grey used on Godrej almirahs. It looked horrible, so changed the colour to PAL fern in 2006 which is till the present date.
As for the panels, they are not salvaged from any car. Most of the panels are tinkered, while the front one was a new one sourced by the mechanic with great difficulty.
The car will be primered as soon as the rubbing down is complete. For the time being the mechanic has but some old engine oil on the exposed metal to prevent oxidation which will be completely cleaned before the application of the primer.
As for the shade either a light blue or the same colour will be used. I have plans to paint the roof white.
As you said the welding needs to be properly done. I use a LED torch from behind the panels. If light is visible, then I tell the welder to close that portion by using filler rod and oxy acetylene gas.