My Fiat Topolino is a Flip Top now

Very nice!

 

That looks sharp!

 

Looks great! Now you just need to figure out a pair of restraint cables to hold the frontend at full open. I use station wagon tailgate or truck tailgate cables on both of my steel frontends to stop them at the point I wanted.

 

I really like the flip!!

 

Great ingenuity! Flips and gives you room to work. Looks great!

 

Thanks Mark,
I'm not sure on the front clip weight. The hood and fenders with the hinged bracing weights about 60 lbs.The engine maybe 460 lbs. The frame, front axle, shocks, wheels and tires I would guess 250 lbs.
So my guess would be about 750 - 800 lbs. give or take.

 

Thanks guys,
Having so much support is a great motivator. The next step will be to make new bracing for the hood, some type of support for the hood as it flips and radiator mounts. I will keep everyone posted of the progress.
Thanks again,
Bob

 

I had a problem with the flip nose, as the nose tilted down the inner fenderwell would flex and keep the nose from closing tight to the body line. To remedy the problem I decided to make 3/4" bracing to run inside the hood and nose, cut out the problem fenderwells and weld the tubing in place tying it into the hinge bracing. In order to weld it in place I had to pull out the engine and ****** so I could sit in the engine compartment to weld and fit the pieces.

 

It was a tough fit getting the engine out. I had moved it ahead and down when I made it longer. The valve covers hit the down tubes so I had to remove them.

 

and here are the extra supports tacked in place.

 

Nice work on the supports! Should be very ridged now.

 

Thanks,
I still have more bracing to add. The hood is very light but you would be very surprised how much it would flex.

 

Ive honestly never seen one of these before. The front end looks like a fancy Willys!

 

Your consistency in overcoming one problem after another is commendable. Thats one of the reasons I dig this thread so much. Plus, I'm learning, and no doubt others are too from the issues that come up, and thats a good thing.

 

The Sedan Deliveries are really rare here in the U.S. I only know of one other steel bodied car in the states. They are most often found through Europe, but still pretty rare there because not many made it through WWII.

 

Thanks Eli,
It seems to never end sometimes, but I think my progress is finally heading in the right direction. Believe me, I am learning too.

 

I wondered how far ya had run the tilt braces...I know that the small center section at the bottom of the nose piece is very thin....started to ask but ......inner fenders are over rated.....nothing better then looking past the tires and seeing a fire breathing monster

 

Looking good! For me the fab work is the fun part. Finishing the project is not something I look forward to. When I'm finished I have to find another project.

 

I think the fact that the front end is so light adds to the flexing issues. My little Austin's steel frontend is light enough that I can stand in front of the grille and grab both wheelwells and pick the whole thing up to put it on. It also flexed a lot when I first ***embled it, and I had to brace it, but still try to keep the bracing light, and to a minimum to avoid cramping a tight engine bay even further. I can still pick it up alone, but now that it's painted I always get help if it needs to come completely off just to avoid damage to the paint.
Just a tip for when you get to the wiring part! Make sure when you put together the wiring harness to the frontend that you make up a plug style connector so you can unplug the frontend when removing it! I just took mine off yesterday and had to color code and cut the wiring. Before it goes back on I'll purchase a weatherproof plug to solder in so it wont need to be cut in the future!

 

Yah Mark, the inner fenders are good at holding in heat. Should help letting the air flow freely through the engine compartment and around the radiator.

 

A lot of people look at the fab work as "work". But I enjoy it so it is not like work at all. It is my unwind time to forget about everything else and just zone out on my car.

 

I can pick the nose and fenders off of mine also. It will weigh a little more once the rest of the bracing is in place. It flips up freely and smooth. I don't remember if I mentioned it but I did away with the slide out portion of the bracket, turns out it was not needed.
Also thanks for the tip on the wiring. Might save me some troubles later in the build.

 

Bob, This thread just keeps getting better. It is all a learning curve, on "the as you go" basis. You are doing a remarkable job and receiving self satisfaction in you skills. Still watching this one........................... Jeff

 

tonight I worked on the flip nose a little more. added braces to help keep the bracket that supports the hood from flexing.

 

I had to come up with a way to stop the hood when it tipped up. Without stops or cables the hood would flip until it hit the ground. I scratched my head for a while then went to check the box I keep some s**** metal pieces in. There sitting next to it were two trailer hitch pins that slide through to hold the hitch to the receiver. I liked the way they had a short curve and figured they might just work. Marked my cuts and made them fit equally on each side. The picture above shows before they catch the cross bar.

 

I welded them to the hinge so they turn with it until they catch the bar. The pic below shows were the hood stops. Hopefully enough room so I don't hit my head on the fenders when it's time to work on it.

Please never mind the messy shop behind the car. Been thrashing lately haven't had time to pick up. Kinda like the great and powerful Oz. "Never Mind the man behind the curtain".

 

Might want to go to your local electrical supply house and find some heat shrink tubing to slide over those new stops after it's all painted. Shrink them on and they'll keep from rubbing off the paint when you open the frontend.

 

The great and powerful oz has spoken hahahaha....I've always thought u spent too much time keeping the garage clean myself......if you're not too buisy, i'ld like to give u a buzz ..need to talk to u about rear coil overs Some time today

 

Got my phone on me all day.

 

Another great idea. Thank You