My Fiat Topolino is a Flip Top now

Here is another update, today I set the engine and tranny in so I can fab the mounts. It sure does simplify things with the body up and out of the way. It is really exciting to see things slowly coming together.

 

In 1937 Fiat was the number one selling foreign car in the USA!

 

I like it, and FORD powered too!!

 

Yep, thats what my Dad has always had. Everything from 271 hypo's to 427 sideoilers. So I decided to stick with what I know.

 

cool little gasser i almost bought one a few years ago but the wanted way too much for it the way is was

 

I don't know but,you want to talk differant : Bob,Mark and I. Three Fiats and not one with a bellybutton engine! one with a Hemmi,one with a Ford,one with a Cadillac and all three are real steel!

 

Very cool, whats the wheelbase of the fiat?

 

It is a very short 80". From the front of the engine to the end of the tranny is 60". It's almost like putting 10lbs. in a 5lb. box.

 

looks great Bob!!!!!!!!! but come on, who ya kiddin!!!!!!!!!!????????????!!!
10 lbs in a 5 lb box???ya should see one with either a hemi or caddy mill in it!!!!!!!!!! 50 lbs in a 3 lb box would be a good comparision hahahhahahahah,,,,,,,,...besides Bob, you got all that room in that furgone...Wayne, tell him!!!!

seriously, Bob's furgone and Wayne's topo are both running fenders and stock wheelbase...me, i'm running a 28 model A frame shortened...and i'm damn near a full 10 " longer in the wheelbase due to the lack of fenders...my front axel is right under the bottom of the grille........

 

I put the engine in as low as I could the other day but found there were problems with driveshaft room, interior room, header clearance, oil filter clearance ect, ect,ect. So I decided to move the engine forward and up over the front axle. Now I'm alot happier with all the clearance issues. Heres a few pic's .

 

I thought I would update this old thread. This winter I found a little time to get the drivetrain setup. Engine plate is in, tranny mount, driveshaft hoop and driveshaft shortened. Having the body up out of the way sure does make it a pleasure to work on.

 

that's goin to be one baddass little handful. Have you thought about color? awesome fab & thought ...bitchin!

 

Thanks Gary, I have had a great response from everyone liking my little project. Rollcage will be next and then on to the steering.
Bob

 

Thought I would do a little update on the Fiats progress. Over the summer I aquired a old uhaul trailer that was in very bad shape. Unfortuneately I didn't get any before pictures. The back of the trailer was to high off the ground to load the car, so I had a beaver tail built and the trailer sandblasted and painted. The car fits real nice. Can't wait to load the car up and take it to the drags someday.

 

A customer of mine stopped in my shop. Since he owns a 41 willy's we always talk about our cars. He asked me what I was going to do about the steering. I told him I would like to put a rack and pinion in it but it was going to be pretty costly to have a rack custom made for the narrow little Fiat.
Two days later he called me back and said he found a rack on ebay that was very narrow. I ended up buying it and it looks pretty good. It's a Appleton rack. I believe they are used alot for oval track and road racing. At the widest point it is 19" wide. which fits nice because the it is only 35" king pin to king pin.
Made up an aluminum bracket out of .050 guage to use as a template for the steel bracket. Did a little test fit tonight. first out of cardboard then aluminum. Have to pick up some steel plate to make the final bracket.

 

Finally got the rack tacked in place. Turns real nice,decided to change the design of the bracket for a better look. Had to do a little extra bracing behind the bracket because it would twist a little as the wheels were turned.

 

that's just bad to the bone

 

Thanks

 

Very interesting. The rack looks nice and unobtrusive.

 

Hi Bob:
Car coming along great. That rack is meaty looking, nice.
Think you can make it to the inaugural Gold Cup this August !?
http://www.gasserracingseries.com/
Maybe your Dad could come with the Opel also?? That would be nice to see you guys there.
Heres to Spring soon. Thanks for photos.
Luke

 

Hi Tarlo:

Hows the car coming? Hope alls well your way. Dang with the floods and storm you guys have been getting hit this year.
Someday hope to visit Aus. Beautiful country.
good luck
Luke

 

Hi Luke,
Thanks, the Fiat is coming along slower than I had hoped. Money has been a little tight. Trying to finish the engine so it can be run on the dyno. Hope fully later this year I can get the roll cage installed.
We will probably run the Opel mostly at Lebannon Valley. Although we have talked about making a trip to run a event in the Gasser Gangs Modified Gas class. Hopefully we can make one time. Depends on the price of gas.
Good hearing from you,
Bob

 

Thanks Tarlo,
My 12 year old son visited Australia this past summer for two weeks. He spent some time in Sydney and most of the trip in Brisbane. I am kinda glad he went when he did. With all the terrible flooding I am glad he missed that.
Keep us posted on your Fiats progress.
Bob

 

Howdy Bob:
Hey maybe you cant get money for the Car you would like but thats ok. Still looks great.
Hope fully see you at Empire. Mark the August date in your calendar.
Need fuel cell powered haulers...
Luke

 

Holy Shit, that is one frickin awsome ride! I love it!!!

 

Thanks Louie. Love the Gold Digger it is just right

 

Jees that's a tight turning radius ! The car looks great, try and make that Gold Cup if ya can, I'll be doing the same.

 

Swade,
Will ya be bringing the Henry J to run? The pic's are of my friends J that is for sale.

 

Sure trying like hell to get it there. It's out at a fab shop now getting the 9 in. ladder bar package install and the roll bar reworked. The engine is done and the trans is in the back of my truck waiting to get dropped off at the rebuilders. I still need to do headers, radiator, fuel cell and cut the wheel radius as far as fab work. Non fab work is install the windshield and all that other.
My pile of parts is less, pile of money is less and still a few months to spread out the rest...lol

I was talking to your buddy about that car at Lancaster one year.

 

I thought I would update my old thread. Well after alot of thought I decided to not make the body flip up. I mainly did it to mock up the drive train so I didn't have to take the body on off as most of the time I was working by myself. Have the engine done and dynoed. also sandblasteed the doors, fenders, nose and hood vents. Planning on doing the body next. Currently saving money to get the roll cage built and then I will beable to move onto the steering and finishing up the chassis. Hope you like it so far.
Bob