My Fiat Topolino is a Flip Top now

Hey Bob, That Little Pizza Wagon is beginning to look really GOOD!!! I know that it has been a number of years but that will fade when you pull the trigger.........Jeff

 

Thanks Jeff. I hope to continue to make progress with the Fiat and can't wait to pull the trigger.

 

molto bello !

 

You are making serious progress on this one. What end of upstate NY are you in? I go to Oswego on a regular basis for the Supermodifieds and will keep an eye out for this little rocket coming up the road.

 

Lookin' real good!

 

Sorry to get sidetracked here,but where did you get that belt drive setup in the pic?That is super clean and effective.Would love to run that on a project I'm working on!

Scott


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Damn.It copied the WRONG pic...lol!


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Powershifter,
The belt setup is from Jones Racing Products 610-847-2028
they carry alot of different configurations for all kinds of pulley setups. Should be able to find them online also. They are very helpfull and informative.

 

Awesome!Thanks for the info.
Ps:The Topo is looking killer.Cant wait to see it sideways and roasting the tires!


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Thanks TFoch

 

Cant wait to see it sideways and roasting the tires!


Ha Ha Me either

 

Your car is super cool. You might want to add gas springs. They are pretty inexpensive and you can get them with up to several hundred pounds of force and in all different strokes. I have used them recently on a Murphy bed I built and it makes the lift almost effortless. You can buy them from McMaster Carr and others. http://www.mcmaster.com/#gas-springs/=nahhj8

 

Thanks, I will look into them.
Bob

 

AWESOME build! So refreshing !

Glenn

 

Thanks AHOTROD. Great looking coupe you have there also. Love the stance.

 

Thought I would take a few minutes to update on the Fiat. I had planned to have more done by now but had a little accident and broke a vertibrea in my neck. So the closest thing to working on the car has been sitting and looking at it in the shop. That has giving me alot of time to do some pondering about the lack of wheelbase and the lack of interior leg room. I am planning on legthening the ch***is and body about 10 inches. That will allow me to run it at most NHRA dragstrips as it will meet the minimum wheelbase rule and it will increase room inside for peddles. It will also move the engine and ****** forward several inches. I will update the progress as I get into it once my neck is healed up.

 

Here's to a speedy recovery ! I like the thinking of making it more race able in other venues, thinking the same with my Henry J ch***is.

 

Thanks Phil. Sometimes you never know what life will throw at you. The Doc say's 6 weeks in the neck brace and then physical therapy. At this time it looks like no surgery.(thank Goodness) Good luck racing tomorrow hope everyone is safe and have fun.

 

Uh, I won't be racing, no engine in the J

 

what happened?

 

Mate, I hope that heals nice and quick for you. I know what it's like to be sidelined with a broken back, don't get tempted to start working on the Topo. Smart people (And I'm not one) take the time to heal and work hard on any rehab they need!
Good luck.

Doc.

PS; Would you mind if we asked how you did it?

 

Sorry to hear you had an "little accident"...hope you get on the mend soon.
car will be there ,when you get better.
Rick

 

scroll towards the bottom of the page

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=629626&page=10


Like I said here's to a speedy recovery and not getting to bored.

 

Damn Bob, Sorry to hear about the injury. I hope that you are young cause it is not any fun when you hit your mid 60's.
Hang in there and follow Doctors Orders. The car will be waiting on you and I like the "Stretch Idea" as it sounds like a Win Win situation.
Will keep checking on your Build Thread........................ Get Well !!! Jeff

 

Well, I finally got a clean bill of health from my Doctor. After several weeks the broken vertebra has healed up nicely. The good news is no surgery or therapy. Now I am setting my sites on stretching the Fiat. I thought I would have to cut the frame to add the extra, but I should have enough room on the front of the frame to slide the axle and front suspension forward. That is the easy part. The harder and more challenging part will be adding to the tapered hood and nose and make it look correct. I'll get some pictures posted as the project progresses.
Happy thanksgiving,
Bob

 

Take it easy and don't hurt yourself again. Your doing a great job!

 

here is a couple pic's of what I am attempting to do by extending the front axle forward 10 inches. I am also planning on moving the engine forward 3 inches and down 1-2 inches. We'll see how it plays out. First thing I will be doing is ordering longer bars for the front 4-link to get the axle were it needs to be before I can make the upper shock mounts.

 

Spent some time tonight working on the front end. Cut and welded in a new cross member on the front of the frame. This is were the Shocks will mount to. You can see in the pic's how I am planning to extend the shock brackets and make another dropped piece tubing to weld the brackets to. Shocks should be at a 10 degree angle. It also looks like the wheelbase should be out to about 91 1/2". Going to have the fabrication shop that did the rollcage bend up the down tubes and hope to have them welded in this week.

 

Had some time over the holiday weekend so while waiting for the front end parts to come in. I finished welding up the wheelie bar mounts then primed, painted and cleared the rear and 4-link bars.
Saturday the bars for the front 4-link showed up. Unfortunately, they were the wrong size. Sent them back today and the new ones should be here midweek.

 

Also got the bars bent for the front down tubes and upper shock mounts.