What did you do to your X1/9 today ?

Both sides now done, I think I’ll just seal the back of the relays with Waxoyl now it’s all together. If one fails they are not expensive to replace and I don’t do a lot of night driving anyhow. The 40 year old headlight motor relays seem to be ok, touch wood!
 
Hi, no, on the x19 there is a connector between the H4 bulb connection and the loom I just plugged wires into that connection. Its the white connector in the photo below...

 
Today? No actually yesterday 10-6-19

  1. Hunted down issue relating to non-functioning cabin light. In-line fuse holder had been MacGyver'd with a 'fake' fuse (see thread in workshop).
  2. Replaced fuel injection pump fuse when I damaged it after opening fuse holder
  3. Replaced broken voltmeter gauge in instrument cluster
  4. Replaced the pretzel that was doubling as the speedometer needle with a nice, straight one.
  5. Replaced burned out '73' bulb behind heater fan switch with a LED
  6. Replaced windshield wiper fluid line with non-petrified tubing
  7. Discovered wiper fluid reservoir is cracked, researching two-part epoxy vs plastic welding fix
  8. Took measurements, serious about homemade door cards....wish me luck
 
Coupefan said:
Discovered wiper fluid reservoir is cracked, researching two-part epoxy vs plastic welding fix
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Unfortunately epoxy will not work, it is too rigid when cured and will separate from the plastic. I've never tried plastic welding but it sounds like a better option. However in my experiences, attempts to repair cracked plastic tanks have never been satisfactory. Please let us know if you try the welding technique and how well it holds up over time.
 
Drove the X into work for the last time this season. She goes into "storage" tonight. Projects for the winter are: #1 hook heat back up! yeah it was a bit chilly this morning with no heat. when I did the swap, I didnt hook the heater up as the honda uses a bypass system where as the fiat is an open close. yes I know it probably would have been fine, but I am putting in a remote diverter that they sell for semis. #2 suspension, either going coil overs anf bigfoot plates or just the bigfoot plates, havent decided. #3 Engine. Still stuck between turbo or just bigger (B20 vtec is a popular frankenstien motor). Leaning B20 as it will be cheaper and more reliable even if I can get way more power with a turbo. #4 possibly front brake swap. #5 finish rear wing. that project stalled a bit.
Well it was a great season with only one time I was stranded briefly. I learned that a 10 amp fuse was a bit too small for the fuel pump. Only made it to one event because of rain and timing. there are 3 this weekend but my wife has her class reunion saturday :(

Odie
1979 X powered by a stock B16a
 
Dr.Jeff said:
Unfortunately epoxy will not work, it is too rigid when cured and will separate from the plastic. I've never tried plastic welding but it sounds like a better option. However in my experiences, attempts to repair cracked plastic tanks have never been satisfactory. Please let us know if you try the welding technique and how well it holds up over time.
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Jeff, I have a radiator tank that would make for a wonderful case study in using epoxy to seal a crack. While on a canyon run, I started leaking coolant in the Malibu area, luckily I made it home. An acquaintance suggested using a two part epoxy he liked to repair his model airplanes with. So I purchased a kit from the hobby store. Mixed it, poured it in, let it cure. That was 1992. It's ugly in there, but it's been holding ever since. So, the store is out of business. I don't talk to the guy anymore and I don't remember what the product brand was. All I remember was, being a two part, it produced an exothermic reaction. I thought the tank might melt during the curing process. Whatever it was, it works (worked) quite well. I'm hesitant to try just any epoxy off the shelf.

I think I'll give the plastic welding a try first. I have plastic welding kit somewhere around here.
 
Coupefan said:
Mixed it, poured it in, let it cure.
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That sounds like possibly a inside sealant, similar to the fuel tank sealers you can get? They coat the entire inside to seal off any rust pinholes in steel fuel tanks. Maybe something like you described might work. I was thinking you were referring to the typical epoxy glues from any store. I know from experience those won't work - at least not long term. I've never tried plastic welding so I'll be interested to hear what you find with it. Hopefully the wiper fluid thank walls are thick enough. Please start a new thread on the repair, with pictures if possible, so we can follow the outcome.
 
autox19 said:
Drove the X into work for the last time this season. She goes into "storage" tonight. Projects for the winter are: #1 hook heat back up! yeah it was a bit chilly this morning with no heat. when I did the swap, I didnt hook the heater up as the honda uses a bypass system where as the fiat is an open close. yes I know it probably would have been fine, but I am putting in a remote diverter that they sell for semis. #2 suspension, either going coil overs anf bigfoot plates or just the bigfoot plates, havent decided. #3 Engine. Still stuck between turbo or just bigger (B20 vtec is a popular frankenstien motor). Leaning B20 as it will be cheaper and more reliable even if I can get way more power with a turbo. #4 possibly front brake swap. #5 finish rear wing. that project stalled a bit.
Well it was a great season with only one time I was stranded briefly. I learned that a 10 amp fuse was a bit too small for the fuel pump. Only made it to one event because of rain and timing. there are 3 this weekend but my wife has her class reunion saturday :(

Odie
1979 X powered by a stock B16a
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Oh come on! I drive my X until the first salt drops, don’t be a whimp!

I like the projects on the books. Even more of a ripsnorter on the way.
 
kmead said:
Oh come on! I drive my X until the first salt drops, don’t be a whimp!

I like the projects on the books. Even more of a ripsnorter on the way.
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yeah well today was sunny, so it came with me again:) I wish I didnt have things going on this weekend, I wanted to do at least one event this year! I could really use the $50 a month I get when it is in "storage" insurance rather than plpd. Plus knowing I cant drive it makes it easier to start working on it. I find it hard to start a project on a working car that I could be driving instead ;)

Odie
 
Some cosmetic spray paint tidying up, been bugging me for a while. Wiper arms where rusting and peeling paint and the rear plate lights had been sprayed previously but where chipped around the edges. Original these where chrome effect but there’s hardly any left so spray paint it is. Also the Aluminium 2mm plate arrived today so I can crack on and make a new distributor base plate.....





 
NEG said:
Some cosmetic spray paint tidying up, been bugging me for a while. Wiper arms where rusting and peeling paint and the rear plate lights had been sprayed previously but where chipped around the edges. Original these where chrome effect but there’s hardly any left so spray paint it is.
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It's always good to tidy up, but please consider that the rare and unique identity of the Lido is very much its chrome bits. New paint is always preferable to rust and decay, but please promise us that someday soon you'll send those items out to a chrome platers' shop. If real chroming is prohibitively expensive (due to environmental concerns, chroming in the USA is dying fast) where you are, what about that dipping process that I saw on a Wheeler Dealers episode on TV, or that "spray chrome" process?
 
Thanks Dan, the wiper arms where originally black, the Corello lights are plastic. There are specialist here that can chrome effect plastic so at some point I’ll get it done.
 
I always wait until the last minute for somewhat major changes. Here's the new custom door cards I'm working on. Made of ABS skin covers that previously resided on a medical laser system (hey, reuse and repurpose). They have a nice grain, I may or may not cover them with vinyl at some point. Right now, it's just a fitment exercise. You can see the spray painted cut-out locations from the template I used.

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Coupefan said:
They have a nice grain
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That is a nice finish. Most textured ABS finishes are just a rough wrinkle look, but this is more of a real animal hide look. I'd use it as is and not cover it. ABS sheet works great for such things, but it can get a little expensive if you need several large panels. Great to get some that you can repurpose like that.
 
I tightened up the throttle linkage... Its crazy how much less sloppy the car feels with a throttle that moves smooth and doesn't have an inch a play in it...
 
I came across an original Fiat service and warranty book which gives the recommended repair times for various X1/9 jobs. How many of us have replaced a clutch in 3.8hrs, or replaced a master cylinder in 1.1hrs!!
 
speedy fiat said:
How many of us have replaced a clutch in 3.8hrs, or replaced a master cylinder in 1.1hrs!!
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Although keep in mind that was when the cars were still new. Therefore no rusted or frozen hardware or fittings to contend with. Also things were not old and brittle, breaking as you touch them. Plus everything wasn't all greasy and a big mess to clean before you even start work. These are the sorts of problems that make jobs so much more difficult and time consuming.

However now that I think about it, maybe all those problems DID exist even when the cars were still new! :D
 
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