Have searched this but found nothing.
Where does the tool kit live ?
Where does the tool kit live ?
General Tool Kit
- Thread starter David Britton
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General Tool Kit
If you can't find the toolkit, maybe your question should have been 'where is the toolkit hidden'? 
Iirc, it's usually clipped to the front inner wing beside the vehicle jack. The tools are usually housed in a grey plastic box.
No doubt someone here will soon post pics of where it's located.
Al.
Iirc, it's usually clipped to the front inner wing beside the vehicle jack. The tools are usually housed in a grey plastic box.
No doubt someone here will soon post pics of where it's located.
Al.
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OP
OP
? Reading my post back I can see where you're coming from !!
The Beast came with no tool kit so I purchased an old one which came looking old and minus the small box spanner. Box spanner was replaced.
Have looked on many owners pics trying to find it but to no avail. So did what any self respecting man would do give up and ask eventually.
Pictures would be fantastic
Many thanks ?
The Beast came with no tool kit so I purchased an old one which came looking old and minus the small box spanner. Box spanner was replaced.
Have looked on many owners pics trying to find it but to no avail. So did what any self respecting man would do give up and ask eventually.
Pictures would be fantastic
Many thanks ?
The familiar grey plastic Fiat tool box was a generic item for many models and the contents varied from model to model. I have had loads of them over the years for 500, 126 & 850 cars and never seen one of the little box spanners ghosted into the internal moulding. The correct contents for each model are shown in the original handbook.
OP
OP
Didn't come with original handbook but did come with Fiat 500 Shop Manual!Which was nice
Second pic shows there should be cutting pliers! Don't know where they would fit? So please forgive me if I have ghosted a small box spanner which might be incorrect into the tool kit. It fills all the gaps in the kit.
Tool kit should be above fuel tank but loose not tied down ?
Second pic shows there should be cutting pliers! Don't know where they would fit? So please forgive me if I have ghosted a small box spanner which might be incorrect into the tool kit. It fills all the gaps in the kit.
Tool kit should be above fuel tank but loose not tied down ?
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The contents of the kits may have varied over the years and models. I have recollection of pliers in one of mine but no memory of a small box spanner despite this being pictured in the box.
The reference to a toolkit above the fuel tank in your manual may be to the early 500s as it is word for word what I have in a tatty 110 owners handbook from 1959.
Axel Gerstl list replacement straps both for the toolkit and the jack. They have a diagram showing the jack held in with two straps but there seems to be only one place they could be hooked on my car. I think the toolkit and the jack would have been strapped together.
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Alfadeke21
Member
The best place to store the toolbox is in the centre of the spare wheel (if it is stowed outer rim to the front). There is a good space left to store tow rope(!) toolbox and any other items/spares you consider essential. And they don’t rattle around.
There is a small box spanner. I suspect the reason people don’t remember them is because they always seems to go missing! I think most of the ones on eBay I have seen, it’s missing. No pliers in my one either. You know me I do like a bit of originality.
I agree I think the reference about stowing it above the tank is reference to the early ‘prototype’ models
As it mentions a bag as well.
There is a small box spanner. I suspect the reason people don’t remember them is because they always seems to go missing! I think most of the ones on eBay I have seen, it’s missing. No pliers in my one either. You know me I do like a bit of originality.
I agree I think the reference about stowing it above the tank is reference to the early ‘prototype’ models
...and there it is...brand new as well....they also sell the hessian bag if you have a liking for those experimental early cars.
https://www.ricambio.co.uk/original-box-spanner-classic-fiat-500-126-600-850-900
Bigvtwin996
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...and there it is...brand new as well....they also sell the hessian bag if you have a liking for those experimental early cars.
https://www.ricambio.co.uk/original-box-spanner-classic-fiat-500-126-600-850-900
I was going to comment when I read "tatty 110"
I think generally as mentioned once Fiat had decided to "Mass Produce" the 500 based on the success of the Prototypi's they also had to mass produce the tool kit, rather than equip the Modern 500s with the hand stitched environmentally friendly tool roll containing a selection of hand forged quality tools, the kit was brought into line with the other cars in their range and using a moulded non-recyclable case with a sprinkling of rough cast tools as that would satisfy the masses.....
Fayray
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original box spanner present in my kit, amazingly. As to where it goes; I studied many photos and this seems to be the spot. It's not anchored by anything and there doesn't seem to be an option to do so. However, I like Alfadeke21's suggestion of hiding it in the spare wheel.
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I've worked on Fiats from the 60's - 80's and have never seen a pliers of any type in the car's toolkit, but all have had the little 8 x 10mm box spanner with the T-bar (the ends of which are crimped/squashed? to prevent it falling out). Also there were 2 styles of wheelbrace, one type had a large screwdriver end and was designed for removing pressed-on hub caps (chrome or stainless steel) on cars so-equipped, other type is like your wheelbrace , plain end for cars without hub-caps or bolted on hub-caps. Also there were 2 lengths of plug spanner supplied, your's seems to be the longer type.
Is there any date of printing on your Fiat 500 Shop Manual, iirc, this date used to be on the last page before the rear cover?
Al.
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There is a small box spanner. I suspect the reason people don’t remember them is because they always seems to go missing! I think most of the ones on eBay I have seen, it’s missing. No pliers in my one either. You know me I do like a bit of originality.
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I suspect there's 2 reasons why these little 8 x 10mm box spanners go missing.
1. The 10mm end can be used to remove the idle jet for cleaning at the roadside (I seem to recall many here continue to have running problems often traceable to a clogged idle jet
). Also the 8mm end can be used on the points hold-down screws in order to adjust the gap at the roadside. I reckon that most motorists are so elated at having got their car running again at the roadside, that they just drive off, leaving the little box spanner behind on the road. 2. Believe it or not, this same little 8 x 10mmm box spanner was also included in certain classic Ferrari models' car toolkit - have you seen just how much a complete toolkit for e.g. a 250GTO, 330GTC,365GTB4 etc. sells for (or should I say is being asked for
). Admittedly the Ferrari issued item has Ferrari stamped on it's side, but that's a moot point - what was stamped once can be stamped again, iow, where there's a will, there's a way. :devil: So it could be that classic Ferrari Owners and Restorers have been stealing them out of any old Fiat toolkits they've encountered in the past. Al.
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RE:- Box Spanner
The box spanner is in the correct spot, but, for complete originality
(in my work,I used to have to check that all tools were present and correct, must have opened and checked 100's of these toolboxes when new and s/hand),
the box spanner needs to be rotated 90 degrees clockwise so that one end of T bar goes through the small cut-out/notch in the box near to the hinge - I realise this will look 'wrong' as it distorts the plastic mounting lugs for this tool - but that's how they were from the factory when new....
Re:- Location of Toolbox
Nearly all of the older Fiats I've seen did have some way to securely hold the toolkit box, in order to prevent rattles/possibly interfere with wiring.
I see what appears to a block of wood under the rubber strap.....
Have you tried checking if your toolbox, on it's side as you show it, will fit beside the jack in the space between the lifting arm pivot and the head/top of the jack. And if so, if the existing rubber strap will then fit over the jack and toolbox. It's possible that your rubber strap is not the original one, they used to perish and came in different lengths depending on model of car.
Depending on model, I seem to recall the toolbox fitting beside the jack on some models and on top of the jack on others, the length of the rubber strap usually gave a clue.
Consulting an original Owner's Handbook for your exact model and year would probably give the most accurate answer to where and how the toolbox should be located/secured.
My approach (I'm not a stickler for originality) would be to keep the original toolbox for shows (if you display your car) and for whenever you might sell the car. For normal driving I'd rather have a fabric/canvas tool-roll and carry better quality tools e.g. combination spanners in e.g. 8,10,13,17mm sizes, a couple of decent screwdrivers, plug spanner, combination pliers, small visegrips, roll of pvc tape, length of spare electric cable etc. A tool-roll can be squeezed in places where the original box cannot and will also prevent rattling of the tools. Don't forget that, often, there is unused space under the rear seat etc. where tools, spare parts can be stored if they're wrapped up.
Al.
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lazylobster
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Fayray
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Great info/explanations as ever Al. The strap holding the jack is not correct and also not long enough to go over the toolbox as well. I think, from memory, that I tried to mount the toolbox next to and on top of the jack in that location but it wouldn't work. But I could be remembering wrong so I'll check.
Just out of shot in that photo is an old vinyl knitting needle bag with a more comprehensive tool kit which likely contains everything except what I need should I break down
ps I'll be heading out shortly to put that box spanner in the correct position
.....in a strange twist of timing, I have a toolkit for sale on eBay at the moment and I keep meaning to offload sell a few other surplus items which I must get round to in the near future.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Classic-...102156?hash=item342205c24c:g:Y5UAAOSwsFJeRc8G
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Classic-...102156?hash=item342205c24c:g:Y5UAAOSwsFJeRc8G
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OP
OP
The Fiat 500 Shop Manual was reprinted in 1970 and is a mine of information for anyone who knows what they're looking for!!
My jack strap ? was fairly short and would not hold jack and tool kit.
I love the fact that as the car or parts changed there seems to be no record and information was passed by word of mouth. It becomes an enigma wrapped in a mystery hidden in a conundrum!
So many great replies to what I thought was a simple question
My jack strap ? was fairly short and would not hold jack and tool kit.
I love the fact that as the car or parts changed there seems to be no record and information was passed by word of mouth. It becomes an enigma wrapped in a mystery hidden in a conundrum!
So many great replies to what I thought was a simple question
I too, was thinking of
Al.
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