Fiat 500 Clutch Adjustment
August 30, 2024
Here is what Jonn has been up to with our 1963 Fiat 500: Investigate clutch issue. Has been fine but clutch went over the weekend.
1963 Fiat 500
Number Plate Light
August 19, 2024
Jonn has been investigating why the rear number plate light on our 1963 Fiat 500 was not working. He found that a small wire had
Fiat 500 Engine Back In
August 14, 2024
Jonn has been refitting the engine to our 1963 Fiat 500. Here are his notes: Get car on ramp. Prepare for refitting engine. Clean engine
Engine Reassembly
August 12, 2024
Jonn has been reassembling the engine of our 1963 Fiat 500. Here are his notes: Start to reassemble engine. Clean all parts not already cleaned
Fiat 500 Engine
July 31, 2024
Jonn has been stripping the engine of our 1963 Fiat 500. When looking to fit a new starter motor, Jonn found that a suspected missing
Inspection of the 1963 Fiat 500
July 24, 2024
Our technician Jon has been tasked with taking a look at our this beautiful 1963 Fiat 500 which has come in with a quite the
New Arrivals – 1963 Fiat 500 & 1973 Rover P5 Coupe
July 22, 2024
Our Pettistree workshops have welcomed 2 new additions this afternoon. The first, is this beautiful 1963 Fiat 500 which belongs to a long time client
Fiat 500 Clutch Adjustment
August 30, 2024
Here is what Jonn has been up to with our 1963 Fiat 500:
Investigate clutch issue. Has been fine but clutch went over the weekend. Inspect. Found clutch cable adjuster out of adjustment. Re adjust cable and check. Fit lock nut to clutch cable. Remove cover and inspect while John operates. All looks OK now adjustment correct. Carry out test around yard and all seems fine. Refit cover. Quick spanner check on starter and gearbox bolts. Carry out another drive around yard. Ok. Let customer take and try.
Number Plate Light
August 19, 2024
Jonn has been investigating why the rear number plate light on our 1963 Fiat 500 was not working. He found that a small wire had been twisted around a screw as an earth. Jonn removed the light, made an earth wire, and attached it to the bulb holder.
Once everything was refitted, it all worked perfectly.
Fiat 500 Engine Back In
August 14, 2024
Jonn has been refitting the engine to our 1963 Fiat 500. Here are his notes:
Get car on ramp. Prepare for refitting engine. Clean engine bay and place engine at rear ready for installation.
With assistance refit engine to car. Bolt up gearbox mountings. Route cables and wires and start making connections. Refit rear member bumper and boot lid. Secure rear engine mount. Raise in air and reconnect driveshafts and access starter cable.connect and set/adjust cables to, choke, throttle, starter and clutch. Check choke operation and throttle operation, ok. Adjust clutch cable and starter cable. Refill with oil. Connect battery and disconnect ht coil lead. Crank engine over for approx 1 min. Reconnect ht lead and start car. 1st flick of key. Allow to idle for a few minsand switchnoff. Check and top up oil. Adjust timing tom10btdc and lock distributor. Take outside run and and carry out road test. Stop and adjust clutch a bit more and return to workshop.
Visually check for leaks, ok. Carry out quick nut and bolt check and recheck oil level, ok. Car starts ok every time so not necessary to fit electric fuel pump at this stage. Let customer comeand drive and let me know if all ok.
Engine Reassembly
August 12, 2024
Jonn has been reassembling the engine of our 1963 Fiat 500. Here are his notes:
Start to reassemble engine. Clean all parts not already cleaned during build process. Use manual for torque settings.
Continue engine assemble. Fit new rear main oil seal and fit flywheel and clutch. Adjust valve clearances and fit rocker cover. Start refitting fan housings. Found 1 exhaust elbow cracked and welded so order new.
Continue fitting covers. Make and fit new studs for dynamo pulley. Fit gearbox but 1 starter motor holt hole not quite aligned where weld repair is. Remove gearbox and elongate hole and refit. Fit new starter and ducting for fan.
Fiat 500 Engine
July 31, 2024
Jonn has been stripping the engine of our 1963 Fiat 500.
When looking to fit a new starter motor, Jonn found that a suspected missing bolt was actually only half missing! The remainder of the bolt had broken off in the block.
He went on to strip the engine – removing the head and barrels, studs, sump, and pistons.
The crank journals and big ends were checked before Jonn went on to remove the flywheel, which he thoroughly cleaned in the degreasing tank.
Inspection of the 1963 Fiat 500
July 24, 2024
Our technician Jon has been tasked with taking a look at our this beautiful 1963 Fiat 500 which has come in with a quite the noise according to its owner. Here is Jon’s report:
”Raise car on ramp and go through customers list of issues. Fit small circlip to offside wiper linkage beneath scuttle panel and test. Investigate starter issues. Check start pull cable. Cable moves but doesn’t engage starter. Inspect starter and found 1 bolt missing and starter motor insecure in Bell housing. Disconnect battery and remove starter. Found starter gear badly worn and requires replacement. Find new bolt that fits bellhousing when new starter arrives. Whilst in the air inspect underneath. Found gearbox/engine mount is loose and nut fallen off offside mount.”
With that, Jon has begun to carry out more inspections with the tyres and running gear along with some small repairs such as fitting a new bolt to secure the gearbox mount and the checking and topping up gearbox oil to the correct level. He also reshuffled some of the fuel lines around so as to not have it kink while in the car.
New Arrivals – 1963 Fiat 500 & 1973 Rover P5 Coupe
July 22, 2024
Our Pettistree workshops have welcomed 2 new additions this afternoon. The first, is this beautiful 1963 Fiat 500 which belongs to a long time client of ours. It’s come in for the team to get to the bottom of a few unwelcome noises with the car which the team will begin to get to the bottom of when the workshops open tomorrow morning.
Next up, is our 1973 Rover P5 Coupe which has come into the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ to be checked over by the workshop team to see what condition this fabulous 3.5-litre V8 classic saloon. We love these classic Rover’s here at our workshops so its always pleasure when another one comes through our workshop doors.
