What did you do to your X1/9 today ?

First real drive of the year, and first REAL DRIVE since 1987 for this sleeping diamond in the rough! Of course the maiden voyage is to Dunn Brother's Coffee Shop after a splash of fresh non-oxy. #maidendrive #rebirth #fiatx19 #carsandcoffee #carsovercovid #vinyardautoclub
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Replaced the original steelies with a set of CD58’s 185/60 on the rear 165/60 on the front. Huge improvement in the looks and handling
 

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Replaced the original steelies with a set of CD58’s 185/60 on the rear 165/60 on the front. Huge improvement in the looks and handling
Looks like an exotic with those period wheels, decals and that interior. Lucious.
 
Is that computer alignment equipment? Reasonable price?
Very reasonable for the time and experience applied.
Tech really knew his way around a Fiat too. Wrote a series of numbers of down of how he would set up a nice street driver. Then we [both] looked it up in the computer...dead nuts on numbers recommended by Fiat.
 
Very reasonable for the time and experience applied.
Tech really knew his way around a Fiat too. Wrote a series of numbers of down of how he would set up a nice street driver. Then we [both] looked it up in the computer...dead nuts on numbers recommended by Fiat.
Cool. A chain, or an individual shop? It’s probably time I look at having mine done, but there aren’t many places I know who do cars this old…
 
Cool. A chain, or an individual shop? It’s probably time I look at having mine done, but there aren’t many places I know who do cars this old…
A place called "Point S" tire and alignment. They are a chain in the west. No idea if anywhere else. Nice folks, and not scared of our cars.
Great looking X. Interesting bumper. Source, please?
Made them. Not difficult. Took a blade bumper into a local Machine shop and had them bend me a couple 2 foot sections of mild steel in the same shape. Mig'd it all together after careful fitting, snugged up to the body. A little rubber "c-channel" along the edges seals the deal. Easy-peasy. No skill, just time consuming.

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I re-torqued the freshly renewed head on my salvation '78 today. Put about 22 miles and half dozen start-ups on it for it's initial "bed-in". Purchased the crows foot spanner from Midwest Bayless for the job. Was mostly painless short of needing to relocate the carb inorder to situate the wrench. 6 of the 10 bolts were still dead-on for torque setting (69ftlb), but I was surprised to see the other ones between 15-20 ftlb loose. Now, I've never done this before... Is this unusual?

Ciao!
 

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Picked up a pair of nice Miata seats for the ‘87 since it didn’t come with any. Just test fitted today and will get the seat rails worked out next weekend.
I am looking for new seats for my 128 SL. Miata seats are looking good so they may be an option. But are they reclinable so people can enter the back seat?
 
Installed new door mirrors.

These are a Chinese copy of the Vitalone California, right down to the "made in Italy" on the base casting. 😄 Top of door mounting so maximum droop is at the correct level. I think the size and style of these fit the X perfectly.

The mirrors themselves look to be good quality with a cast aluminum base. The mounting hardware though was not even close to adequate. Mounting screws look to be wood screws, and the gasket was 5mm too short. Complained about the gasket and got a $10 refund off of the $41 purchase price.

Cut a new gasket out of 2mm rubber sheet. Drilled out the bases for 4mm bolts. Used a "B" drill bit and 4mm rivnuts.

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Went for a drive, first of the year... And forgot to check out the view from the mirrors! Isn't that the first rule of Italian driving? 😁

Roy
 

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Installed new door mirrors.

These are a Chinese copy of the Vitalone California, right down to the "made in Italy" on the base casting. 😄 Top of door mounting so maximum droop is at the correct level. I think the size and style of these fit the X perfectly.

The mirrors themselves look to be good quality with a cast aluminum base. The mounting hardware though was not even close to adequate. Mounting screws look to be wood screws, and the gasket was 5mm too short. Complained about the gasket and got a $10 refund off of the $41 purchase price.

Cut a new gasket out of 2mm rubber sheet. Drilled out the bases for 4mm bolts. Used a "B" drill bit and 4mm rivnuts.

View attachment 72120

Went for a drive, first of the year... And forgot to check out the view from the mirrors! Isn't that the first rule of Italian driving? 😁

Roy
Those mirrors and ATS wheels look great. Congrats on getting it out. Our weather is finally changing, we hope for the season so the salt will soon be gone from our roads. We did have a huge storm earlier this week which likely did take care of the salt.
 
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