So - this is my first Fiat. Decided to get a fun car for our new start after moving to California. I found this car through a Craigslist ad on our drive from PA to CA. Two days after getting to California - I bought a Fiat. Mechanically, the car was (almost) sound and I saw this as a daily driver - with a small interior project.




After enjoying the car for a few weeks (and getting to learn the 32ADFA carburetor with the water choke ), I decided to lift up the floor mats and see what shape the carpeting was in. Bad - almost threadbare and barely recognizable as black carpeting. So I decided to pull up the carpeting and I found more bad news - rust in the floor pans. Up front by the feet, along the sides near the seat mounts, and behind the front seats.




So with a putty knife and heat gun - I started scraping off the multiple layers of DynaMat / undercoating.


Then I used a wire-wheel in an angle grinder to start getting down to the metal.


Then I used a rapid stripping wheel to get the surface clean.


I'm slowly getting there - taking breaks from this and diving into the electrical system.


Hopefully, some more supplies with arrive soon and I can then go onto the next step and keep updating this thread.

lol, welcome to my world.

Good luck buddy. Solidarity.

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... 30&t=25501

Did you buy it in CA? Have you dealt with getting it smogged? You may want to go change course and go down that road first!

wizard124 wrote:Did you buy it in CA? Have you dealt with getting it smogged? You may want to go change course and go down that road first!

I bought it in Rocklin - and it was already smogged less than 90 days before the sale. Thanks for the heads up, but I lucked out on that one - I've heard that can be a real pain in the butt and wallet.

MrJD wrote:lol, welcome to my world.

Good luck buddy. Solidarity.

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... 30&t=25501

Wow MrJD, just wow... That is quite the project. More power to you for:
A - Not quitting after finding it
B - Doing the work yourself
C - Not running the VIN through some super secret database and tracking down the b-tards that did that 'work'

That being said and all due respect - I hope my story does not go that way.

OK - finally got some more time in on the project. Was able to get the interior down to the bare steel on the floors - then cut out the rust, and started matching the floor pan patches. Now I have a lot of respect for metals working with leather shot bags and english wheels. Once all of the patches were made, I de-greased the metal and etched/prepped for the POR-15.

A second coat later, and we're looking good.


Then I used sheet metal screws and automotive seam sealer to put in my metal patches. Once the seam sealer was cured, I removed the screws and pop-riveted the patches and one more coat of POR-15 over the patch areas.


Next, I started in on the FatMat/RattleTrap installation. I was able to get most of the stuff down in one day - but my hands were tired after all that rolling. Just have to finish up with the smaller trim pieces.



Hopefully this week I can get the EZ-Cool installed and then I can start diving into the electrical system. I've been reading up on the items to look for and things to fix (brown wire, adding relays for wipers and lights). I'm just glad to be done grinding for a while.

Gone crazy... NOT
looking fantastic!!
Keep up the good work!

That is pissah work!

Fat Mat and EZ Cool? I don't understand.

You do know that almost all the heat that gets thrown off into the cabin eminates from the trans tunnel? Be sure it is well insulated before you put the lower console back in.

RRoller123 wrote:That is pissah work!

Yup! Wicked pissah !!

Where did you get the insulation? You happy with it? How much did you need?

MrJD wrote:Where did you get the insulation? You happy with it? How much did you need?

I got my FatMat from Amazonhttp://amzn.com/B003TUNRGM - 1 roll
The item I bought from Amazon included a knife and roller

I got the EZ Cool from ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-X-10-EZ-Cool- ... 1188664575 - 1 roll


I have 99% of the FatMat done, I was able to do my front floors up 10-12" up past the floor (where your heels go), the transmission tunnel, the sides of the door sills, back foot-wells, and the back seat area (I did not wrap around the back seat rests) -- and I still have enough to do the doors (I'm still debating on this - need to see the door-cards when they come in).

I haven't done the EZ Cool yet - but I was planning on maybe doubling up around the transmission (lower console area) and just doing the foot-wells (front and back) - then see what I have left.

My in-laws are in right now - but I'm hoping next weekend to be able to dive into this a bit more.

Overall - I'm happy the stuff so far - but I haven't driven my car either for 4 months

Great progress!
I'll be tackling this same project in the near future. Keeping my fingers crossed that i dont come across any serious rust. I have Hushmat for my installation. I still need to find a roller. Any do overs or tips you can pass along?

You're planning on putting ezcool on top of the fatmat? That isn't kinda overkill?

wizard124 wrote:Great progress!
I'll be tackling this same project in the near future. Keeping my fingers crossed that i dont come across any serious rust. I have Hushmat for my installation. I still need to find a roller. Any do overs or tips you can pass along?

For rust issues:
I found that using the paint stripping wheels in an angle grinder works best for 99% of the car - then you have to sand and wire brush the other areas by hand. I bought some metal etching fluid at HomeDepot for about $16 http://www.homedepot.com/p/Klean-Strip- ... /100406369
I used an orange-based degreaser then the metal etcher - then 2 coats of POR-15. I would suggest your get some gloves and wear an long-sleeved old shirt. POR-15 is hard to get off skin. I had to use some carburetor cleaner - and that didn't even get it all.

As for the sound dampening material:
Make sure the material is warm - place it in the sun for a while before working with it or - I found to be helpful - if you have a heatgun or hairdryer - lightly warm the material to get it pliable - then cut off a piece and try to fit it in the area you want (keep the backing on for this part) and then make your trims from there. I found that doing smaller strips (5-7inches wide) works best in complex areas.

Then take off the backing and start placing the strip in place - start rolling from one end to the other to remove the air bubbles.

Other than that - just take your time and good luck - the stuff is pretty sticky so, you want to make sure you get it in the right spot the first time.