Sun Prairie 72 Update: ROAD DAY!!!
Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2014 7:31 pm
Got all my yard chores done yesterday, so last evening and today I got to spend working on various parts/systems of the Fiat. Still no joy on the hazard flasher issue, but I have a pretty good idea what's wrong: switch AND flasher can, which means pulling the gauges out again 
.
On the positive side, got the tailights finished: gasketed, lens' on, and plastic interior covers bolted back on, with all circuits working:
Thanks to Steve, Alan, Csaba, and David L for all the help with parts, advice, and encouragement! I'm really happy with the tri-color look!
Moving back inside, worked most of today on final trims and tweaks to the new soft console. Had to do more trimming than I expected, since its dimensions were shorter in several areas than the original (especially the opening for the heater controls). But patience, lots of measuring tape, and a Dremel mounted zip tool resulted in this:
In the process, managed to fix the handbrake indicator light in the dash (bad ground at the switch: dremel and ignition file), remount the chrome shift lever and the new shift knob, new shifter insert for the console, and secured the console at all three factory mounts!
Went back in the house for fluids, and mentioned to Pat that I thought I'd work on the rear seatbelts for the rest of the afternoon. She did not hear "rear", and asked "Can we go for a ride after that?" Which got me thinking: a test run would be a good idea, and I just had to add the front belts, seats, reconnect the e-brake, and remount the right front tire. Managed to get all that done in about 90 minutes, and it came out looking like this:
Back in the house: "Want to go for a ride?" Answer:
6 mile loop through the neighborhood, handled quite nicely, great sounds from the exhaust, no suspicious vibrations, and much more comfy seats (than in the beginning). And...big grins the entire time!
Radio (Retrosound Model 2) arrives this week, so the mid-console ought to be in next weekend. Rear seats and seatbelts (yeah, never got to them), also this week. Then weatherstripping, final interior trim, and a safety check at my mechanic's place. Pick up the newly weatherstripped top frame in 2 weeks, then to the top shop for top and final boot fitting.
Keep plugging away at your projects! Road Day is worth it!!!
Neil
. On the positive side, got the tailights finished: gasketed, lens' on, and plastic interior covers bolted back on, with all circuits working:
Thanks to Steve, Alan, Csaba, and David L for all the help with parts, advice, and encouragement! I'm really happy with the tri-color look!
Moving back inside, worked most of today on final trims and tweaks to the new soft console. Had to do more trimming than I expected, since its dimensions were shorter in several areas than the original (especially the opening for the heater controls). But patience, lots of measuring tape, and a Dremel mounted zip tool resulted in this:
In the process, managed to fix the handbrake indicator light in the dash (bad ground at the switch: dremel and ignition file), remount the chrome shift lever and the new shift knob, new shifter insert for the console, and secured the console at all three factory mounts!
Went back in the house for fluids, and mentioned to Pat that I thought I'd work on the rear seatbelts for the rest of the afternoon. She did not hear "rear", and asked "Can we go for a ride after that?" Which got me thinking: a test run would be a good idea, and I just had to add the front belts, seats, reconnect the e-brake, and remount the right front tire. Managed to get all that done in about 90 minutes, and it came out looking like this:
Back in the house: "Want to go for a ride?" Answer:
6 mile loop through the neighborhood, handled quite nicely, great sounds from the exhaust, no suspicious vibrations, and much more comfy seats (than in the beginning). And...big grins the entire time!
Radio (Retrosound Model 2) arrives this week, so the mid-console ought to be in next weekend. Rear seats and seatbelts (yeah, never got to them), also this week. Then weatherstripping, final interior trim, and a safety check at my mechanic's place. Pick up the newly weatherstripped top frame in 2 weeks, then to the top shop for top and final boot fitting.
Keep plugging away at your projects! Road Day is worth it!!!
Neil