Cinquecento Cinq Abarth Project 1.4 16v

[blu73]

Wow, stuff happened!! Good to see things happening. Keep us posted

 

[J333EVO]

Engine out, all suspension off, are fitted to roll jig or spit for some roasting to it’s belly.

 

[Duncan]

Nice to see the car getting some love, what's the plans? Just a refresh or some new upgrades along the way?

 

[J333EVO]

The initial plans are fix all the rot, get it road worthy again and then see where it takes us.

 

[J333EVO]

Some progress on rear inner arch drivers side. Not pretty but there’s no rust now and the integrity has returned.

Hole drivers side floor.

 

[crazySnublz]

Out of curiosity I have a few questions as I've been away a while and have limited time on my hands but,
Is this going to be road going at all?
Could you not find another selector housing that might have suited you're requirements better rather than modifying the original?
Why plug weld near the cage mounts etc over seam welding, as I'd be concerned of the forces acting there after strengthening the body with the cage?

 

[J333EVO]

I’m only just coming back to this after a while.

The car will be road legal, as it was before.

Gear change sleep for housing, we did it some 12 years ago and there was nothing available, I believe since the fever are some better looking solutions. Will we change it? No.

The welding is slightly agricultural as the various surface areas that had rotted proved challenging and if not for the roll jig we couldn’t have got to them, but areas were strengthen as per blue book rules. Emma’s Dad worked for Nissan Rally Europe back in the 70’s and 80’s on multiple WRC Safari Rally wins for Nissan with the 160J and Violet. Known as the toughest in the world, hopefully some of that knowledge will stand it well.

 

[J333EVO]

 

[blu73]

 

[J333EVO]

After 14 years this car has an MOT. The last MOT was 26th of May 2010 with the car having covered 62,035 miles. Today, the 3rd of September 2024 it has 63,657 miles an increase of 1623 miles.

Prior to the MOT, a couple of weeks back it spent a few hours on the rolling road at Northampton Motorsport mapping the Canems ECU. It made iirc about 105bhp which for a standard engine with just a tubular exhaust manifold, so the engine fits, isn’t bad at all. Goes pretty well with instant throttle pick up pulling all the way to soft limiter at 6500rpm. Pointless going above as rolling road showed torque dropped off rapidly higher up and 6 speed box keeps it in most useful powerband.

As the engine & gearbox was a new unused unit when fitted, and has now covered less than 2000 miles it may yield some more once it has got some use and loosened off a little.

As for plans now, unknown. Originally it was for track days, now there are so few left maybe it would be better going back to a more friendly environment set up.

 

[foxyemx]

She’s back on the road it’s been too long!