[the mole]

Dear Sonu great job! do ensure that the connection of suspension members to body or chassis is checked thoroughly before you get the car on the road. It can be of great inconvenience if they pull themselves off the body/chassis in the middle of no where owing to rust! I had a episode like this when I drove my Mercedes all the way to Gujrat, and four heavy men sat at the back. Cant really blame the car but the cause was rust which is the big enemy in Mumbai. Again good job!

[Drkannant]

Hi Sonu

Good job Sonu ! Nice to see the car shaping up fine.

I too am in the process of completely redoing the engine of my millecento. Finally sourced all the OE spares from various places. Thanks for your help anyway. Will post the pictures of the engine spares and the work in progress in my thread soon.

Good luck & happy restoration mate

[ariesonu]

The engine was worked upon & new head was installed at a workshop at Opera house. This workshop had done splendid job on BROWNIE's engine too




New timing chain & water pump being installed.












During the course of resto I found out that a steering setup known as "XLONO" is better & heavy duty & will take load of the type of tyres I wanted on her.


The entire brake setup was RENEWED, New drums, new lines, new cylinders et all.




The custom made RADIATOR

Originally Posted by the mole

Dear Sonu great job! do ensure that the connection of suspension members to body or chassis is checked thoroughly before you get the car on the road. Again good job!

Though have paid special attention to points where leaf springs, shockers and front chassis got connected to body but your point is definitely noted.

Originally Posted by Drkannant

Hi Sonu
Good job Sonu ! Nice to see the car shaping up fine.
I too am in the process of completely redoing the engine of my millecento. Will post the pictures of the engine spares and the work in progress in my thread soon. Good luck & happy restoration mate

Thanks Doc. It is fun to shop for spares and would have done that happily.

Originally Posted by RGK

Excellent effort Sonu & Team (am I right ). The replacement of front chassis is really a good move. It will make sure the vibrations are very minimal.

Thanks RGK; Its only me who is paying the bills but will take a bow on behalf of every person involved with this resto, directly & indirectly, and now that includes YOU too. So yes its a team effort.

Regards-Sonu

[Shubhendra]

Originally Posted by ariesonu

During the course of resto I found out that a steering setup known as "XLONO" is better & heavy duty & will take load of the type of tyres I wanted on her.

Brand is XLO and was widely used in LHD jeeps as well.


Shubhendra Singh

[DHABHAR.BEHRAM]

Dear Sonu - under-floor as seen in the photographs is far from OK. Please get it corrected. Rust is seen in many nooks and corners. Where is the exhaust manifold of the S1? In the new engine, regular manifold is fitted. Oh, come on now yaar! .

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

[ariesonu]

Originally Posted by DHABHAR.BEHRAM

Dear Sonu - under-floor as seen in the photographs is far from OK. Please get it corrected. Rust is seen in many nooks and corners. Where is the exhaust manifold of the S1? In the new engine, regular manifold is fitted. Oh, come on now yaar! .
Best regards, Behram Dhabhar

The underside photos were taken before we removed the old engine.
As I have mentioned earlier. AUTOMECH will be building a custom SS exhaust for car in coming few weeks.

The make up:
I missed to mention about preparation of car for her final shade and this is shortly before we plonked the engine:
The "BARE" metal. There was a moment when I thought of going for transparent color coat. She looked so METALLIC

Well this is as NAKED as it can get.







It is from here that she started getting 3M putty coats and lots & lots of sanding.
At some places you can see the soldering material that is used by company to fill the JOINTS of different panels during assembly line production.

I had to travel to unknown shores and by the time I came back the car was almost completed. There were some paint blemishes and some careless points but all taken care by end of the project:

NEXT: The almost COMPLETE car.

[FINTAIL]

Originally Posted by ariesonu

The underside photos were taken before we removed the old engine.
NEXT: The almost COMPLETE car.

Do I notice a Standard-Triumph Herald parked behind the FIAT, undergoing a similar restoration?

[condor]

What's the plan for the tail lights ? Looks like you have got that section filled up with a metal sheet

[ariesonu]

Originally Posted by FINTAIL

Do I notice a Standard-Triumph Herald parked behind the FIAT, undergoing a similar restoration?

She was also restored from ground-up & finally painted in dark leaf-green color. IMO, very nicely done car.
Am told that she is collection of SH, Amby & few bikes that are being sent to UNITED of the STATES.

Originally Posted by condor

What's the plan for the tail lights ? Looks like you have got that section filled up with a metal sheet

I had set of original spoon type taillights:

Fitting in progress

Regards-Sonu

[Stanher]

Originally Posted by ariesonu

She was also restored from ground-up & finally painted in dark leaf-green color. IMO, very nicely done car.
Am told that she is collection of SH, Amby & few bikes that are being sent to UNITED of the STATES.

Sorry for going - any pics. of her AFTER she was restored?
Or even before? Did she have an "ADY" number?

[ariesonu]

Originally Posted by Stanher

Sorry for going - any pics. of her AFTER she was restored? Or even before? Did she have an "ADY" number?

Sorry but none.

Regards-Sonu

[ACM]

Sonu

We already see the completed vehicle in your Image Avatar. Looks mouth watering. Keen to see the interiors. Superb work till date.

[ariesonu]

The car was completed by 06 July but some small issues needed last minute attention:
The final polish on paint job at few places was below par.
I wanted few extra points, like 12V charging point between front seats.
We had still not been able to procure proper window winders.
The wheel spacer, new wheel lug nuts were being manufactured to order.
The run tests done.

Ultimately on 08th July, a beautiful rainy day, I decided to take her home & then make list of PHASE 2 mods:

She drove perfect all the way to my house, Distance of 33 Miles as per its ODOMETER with AC running all the way.
There are some niggles when putting her in NEUTRAL & also at low RPMs. I think the run-in of engine will sort out these issues.
For now am enjoying her to core with minimum of 4 kms drive everyday after office.

Feast your eyes gentlemen.
Engine bay photos in next update (good things come to those who wait)































Enjoying the warmth of her senior sibling.


The pickup at red lights can shame SWIFT.
The seats & seat belts are from Chevy Optra & has more settings than I can remember.
The alloys are from PUNTO 90HP & I got a steal deal on them.
The steering wheel has some rough edges and will be soon replaced by something more pleasing to eyes.
I will NOT be putting bumpers on her.

Phase 2 mods are planned after monsoons and mainly are:
AUTOMECH custom exhaust.
Performance air filter.
Rally spec camshaft &/or Carb setup. Purely for MORE power purpose only.

Once that one, she will surely be HYPER FIAT as I like to call her.

Regards-Sonu.

[ram_hyundai]

This one was superb.Since you have one in original set up good to see a modded one. Are the tires upgraded? The gun metal finish of alloys jell well with red. Think of gun metal head lamp rings and the portion around the tail lamps also.

[ACM]

Hey Sonu,

Loved it overall.

Didn't like the front grill (Prefer original later years one in Chrome), Bonnet & Dickey Latches and the rear all red tail lights, But that is just my personal choice even or a Hyper fiat. Steering you are already changing.

Loved the colour and the finish, the Alloys & Tyres and the Dash. Am looking forward to the engine.

Feel the Bumpers are required from both legality & looks point of view, though even without them it does look quite cool.

Superb, congrats.