Beni
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2005
- Messages
- 1,420
- Car(s)
- too many
Two years ago I was looking for a fun car, it had to be cheap to buy and run, fun to drive, good looking and easy to work on, so that with a little help I could do every work myself. I also wanted something extraordinary, and not just some pretty body on a "normal" chassis.
Well, not sure how the X1/9 came in, but after seeing and hearing one on the highway I was sure I needed one.
I met a great guy who had several, lots of spare parts and even more knowledge. He not only helped me with looking for a car to buy, but also taught me car mechanics.
Shortly after I located my car in the northern part of germany. It wasn't in the greates shape and stood in a moist garage for 4 years, but there were some additional parts and the engine was already tuned and had double carbs installed.
Also, I wanted a car to learn on, so it wasn't meant to be in perfect condition.
This is what it looked like when we picked it up:
http://img347.imageshack.**/img347/3263/00212313qo7.jpg
http://img211.imageshack.**/img211/1125/cimg1746zu6.jpg
It turned out it was pretty rusty at some parts, but nothing really serious.
Here it is on the first day of work, ripping everything out...
http://img215.imageshack.**/img215/9339/cimg17862qn8.jpg
The engine was running, just the distributor stopped working after some time. The engine bay was a mess, though.
http://img214.imageshack.**/img214/1091/cimg0135lo8.jpg
Besides that, the master brake and clutch cylinders were leaking, everything else was pretty much ok.
Some welding later, we passed the examination and it was street legal again:
http://img218.imageshack.**/img218/2980/cimg2035vp2.jpg
http://img205.imageshack.**/img205/8426/003ex9.jpg
The lower part of the body was brown-metallic, never a fan of that, so I painted it matte-black, maybe not to everyone?s taste, but I really like it. The rims were in need of new paint aswell, polishing was not an option, as they are magnesium, so I painted them black aswell.
After about 2 moths the engine broke down, all the standing wasn?t too healthy, so I swapped in a regular one. I also changed the quad exhaust to a singular one.
Drove it all the way to Italy and back that summer without a problem.
http://img207.imageshack.**/img207/1793/00122go0.jpg
Some weeks after that, a connector melted, so the electrics didn?t work. It was easy to fix, but the electrics remain the biggest weakness besides the rust.
After a winter in the garage it was a great 2nd. Season with it this year. Unfortunately I hadn?t had as much time to work on it as I wished.
I changed the wing mirrors, only one and an older model. The car was lowered a bit, the original dampers were worn anyways and some minor body work was done. It?s still a work-in-progress, but that?s what it was meant to be.
http://img213.imageshack.**/img213/7875/00422tp6.jpg
http://img213.imageshack.**/img213/4355/001hq3.jpg
For next season my plans are to do some more important bodywork, fix up the interior, replace the gearbox and install the tuned engine again.
I still haven?t decided wether I should keep the colour or respray it in another one.
Right now, it?s in the garage again, waiting for spring, in the meantime my little Fiesta is in business again.
http://img223.imageshack.**/img223/4197/cimg5353uo2.jpg
It?s my everyday car in summer and as long as you don?t need to move more than 2 persons it?s great, there?s even enough space for luggage in the front, you might almost call it practical. But it?s still loud and rough enough to be alive. It ain?t no highway cruiser.
Can?t wait till April to take it out of the garage again?
Well, not sure how the X1/9 came in, but after seeing and hearing one on the highway I was sure I needed one.
I met a great guy who had several, lots of spare parts and even more knowledge. He not only helped me with looking for a car to buy, but also taught me car mechanics.
Shortly after I located my car in the northern part of germany. It wasn't in the greates shape and stood in a moist garage for 4 years, but there were some additional parts and the engine was already tuned and had double carbs installed.
Also, I wanted a car to learn on, so it wasn't meant to be in perfect condition.
This is what it looked like when we picked it up:
http://img347.imageshack.**/img347/3263/00212313qo7.jpg
http://img211.imageshack.**/img211/1125/cimg1746zu6.jpg
It turned out it was pretty rusty at some parts, but nothing really serious.
Here it is on the first day of work, ripping everything out...
http://img215.imageshack.**/img215/9339/cimg17862qn8.jpg
The engine was running, just the distributor stopped working after some time. The engine bay was a mess, though.
http://img214.imageshack.**/img214/1091/cimg0135lo8.jpg
Besides that, the master brake and clutch cylinders were leaking, everything else was pretty much ok.
Some welding later, we passed the examination and it was street legal again:
http://img218.imageshack.**/img218/2980/cimg2035vp2.jpg
http://img205.imageshack.**/img205/8426/003ex9.jpg
The lower part of the body was brown-metallic, never a fan of that, so I painted it matte-black, maybe not to everyone?s taste, but I really like it. The rims were in need of new paint aswell, polishing was not an option, as they are magnesium, so I painted them black aswell.
After about 2 moths the engine broke down, all the standing wasn?t too healthy, so I swapped in a regular one. I also changed the quad exhaust to a singular one.
Drove it all the way to Italy and back that summer without a problem.
http://img207.imageshack.**/img207/1793/00122go0.jpg
Some weeks after that, a connector melted, so the electrics didn?t work. It was easy to fix, but the electrics remain the biggest weakness besides the rust.
After a winter in the garage it was a great 2nd. Season with it this year. Unfortunately I hadn?t had as much time to work on it as I wished.
I changed the wing mirrors, only one and an older model. The car was lowered a bit, the original dampers were worn anyways and some minor body work was done. It?s still a work-in-progress, but that?s what it was meant to be.
http://img213.imageshack.**/img213/7875/00422tp6.jpg
http://img213.imageshack.**/img213/4355/001hq3.jpg
For next season my plans are to do some more important bodywork, fix up the interior, replace the gearbox and install the tuned engine again.
I still haven?t decided wether I should keep the colour or respray it in another one.
Right now, it?s in the garage again, waiting for spring, in the meantime my little Fiesta is in business again.
http://img223.imageshack.**/img223/4197/cimg5353uo2.jpg
It?s my everyday car in summer and as long as you don?t need to move more than 2 persons it?s great, there?s even enough space for luggage in the front, you might almost call it practical. But it?s still loud and rough enough to be alive. It ain?t no highway cruiser.
Can?t wait till April to take it out of the garage again?
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