Project 3P, Part 10: a Progress Report (Fiat 128 3P Restoration)

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In many ways, progress on P3P has stalled as I wait for my panel man to fabricate and weld in a new sill patch and a brace for the luggage compartment.  This hasn't totally halted all work, though; there's been some painting - the standard spare wheel and Fiat jack, of all things - plus the hatchback has benefitted from having its lock fixed and a new gas strut fitted.


The 13” spare - effectively a space-saver compared to the car’s current 185/60R14-shod Alfa wineglasses that are too big to fit into the engine bay - was a sorry, rusty-looking affair until it got an enthusiastic going over with a wire wheel, some sandpaper and several coats of "marigold" paint.   I will admit that I'm quite taken with the colour-coded jack-top, too; it also works quite well with the yellow timing belt cover.  


Handy under-bonnet storage!

In what's the first backward step in P3P's restoration, the hatchback lock gave up the ghost a week or so back and refused to admit the key.  I suspect that it got jarred, scrambling the tumbler, when the hatch got dropped too often, from too high, a result of there being no bounce left in the gas strut.  More of that later ... .

The fix was provided by Tasmanian Locksmiths*, 115 Harrington Street, Hobart (Ph:  03 6234 3727), and was all done within a few hours of dropping the faulty item off.  All up and with three additional keys cut - a spare for the doors and hatch, ignition and fuel cap - the latter being an unusual profile - the job cost a very reasonable $77.00.  I've used this business before; they have a good range of blanks for Italian cars and they don't mind having a crack at potentially tricky assignments.  


Now that strut!  After sifting through literally dozens of eBay ads for replacement items (almost certainly made in China and very likely rubbish), I came across several on-line listings for regassing services.  Taking a punt on which locally-based operator to go with, I chose Strut Re-Gas, Hobart** (6249 3652 / 0419 359 941).  It's a mobile operation, which meant that owner / operator Lester came to me - or, more accurately, my house, seeing I was at work - and assessed my strut to see if it could be salvaged.  


It turned out that mine was too far gone.  However, that wasn't a problem; Lester was able to supply a new cylinder onto which he grafted the correct swivel ends, all for $55.00, including GST.  I'm yet to meet the man but I have settled the invoice!  I'm very, very happy with the service.  

Proudly erect and pointing skyward!  Prompt, efficient and very competitively priced service.  Thanks, Lester!


Yet to come on P3P:  I visit Clark Rubber to source new hatch, rear window and door seals; Steve the upholsterer is hopefully able to find some fabric to repair the driver's seat, as well as sew up a torn seam on the rear; the rust repairs are finalised; and then, just maybe, we go for a respray!  I'm thinking Ford Focus RS red might be nice.





U M P H

(uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.)

iPhone images.

* & ** No, I'm not sponsored by either company.









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