FIAT X1/9 Project *Pictureless update 14/7/13*

Can't go wrong at £25 Though

If it was cheap, it's worth a shot. It has floors, so has potential but welding is likely to be the main task. It looks workable otherwise, and is a good addition to RR as I can't recall any other threads on the tiny Fiat.

Upon my return (and 'cos the Mrs was in the cream puff) I had a look thru the forums.

Electrical problems and welding were the re-occuring themes so these were the first things I checked.

As far as I can see it needs a patch on the passenger sill and one inside the front boot, thats it!
Windscreen surround is ok, door checks ok, strut tops, inner wings, wheelarches and floors are all solid and metal!

The wiring however...
Its had 6 previous owners and I'm guessing each one has added their own bit to the wiring. By the looks of it none of them were autoelectricians but one or two were definitly butchers! LOL!

Its had a proper alarm at one time that has failed. Rather than removing the wiring and fixing the problem its been bodged round. Whoever done the bodging only had red wire!

After this someone has fitted a cheapo immobiliser which has also failed and been disconnected.

For some reason it also has 2 foglight switches, 2 heated rear screen switches and 3 dash light switches. Alarmingly they are all connected, i've just not figured out what they are connected to!

At some point someone cared enough to fit an electric fuel pump, unfortunately they used an old Jaguar one with points in it! That'll be going!

I'm going for the 'rip all the bodges out and properly fix the original faults' approach.

The interior fusebox has a good 1/2" of water in it. I'll be fitting a nice modern blade fusebox and the leak should be fixed or slowed down when the new windscreen goes in.

The U.S. forum has instructions on upgrading the wiring to give a full 12volts to the headlights and wipers which I'll be doing.

Apparently the Land Rover 65amp alternator fits after a pulley swap. On ebay these alternator s are £10 cheaper than the puny 45 amp one currently fitted!

I'll be knocking up some sort of electronic ignition too. I'm sure the Uno dizzy fits and practical classics has a bit about it this month so should be able to sort something out. The only kit I've found specifically for it is the Lumenition kit at £115, no-one else seems to do them.

Anyway, the shopping list is growing day by day...

That's certainly going to keep you busy, but you'll also certainly be exclusive at any car show you might venture to!

Out of curiousity how tall are you? I'm 6ft and got sorta in one once, but then couldn't get my right leg in haha....
Would.love an x19 got a hamkering for.something Italian or Japanese atm....

great car. Keep up the good work & keep posting progress on the car.

Back! Had plenty time to plan things out from the comfort of my sunlounger in scorching Gran Canaria! ;D ;D ;D

Have to save up a bit to get the shiney bits for its MOT (Shock absorbers, brakes, windscreen etc.) so the biggest low buck projects are the rattle can black respray and sorting the electrics.

Paints not going to stop it getting a ticket so sparks it is!

Rear lights, charging system & dash lights don't work. There are unexplained switches (heated rear screen x2 etc.) Suspect security (a dead alarm and hastily fitted immobiliser) to work thru and remove. That should put everything back the way FIAT intended.

That in turn leads to another problem. The X1/9 is one of the cars that earned FIAT their reputation for half arsed electrics. The alternator is underpowered and the wiring loom is badly designed soaking up more voltage. On top of this the car has had 31 years of moisture seeping in to connections and earth points.

X1/9 owners club UK reckon the 60 amp Lucas alternator from the 80s Diesel Land rover fits with a pulley change. On ebay they are cheaper than a recon X1/9 45amp one. Thats on the shopping list.

X19.webforums.org has an excellent wiring mod to give battery voltage directly to the starting circuit and headlamp relays. It involves wiring in extra fuses so I'm gonna replace the existing (waterlogged) fusebox and run my new circuits neatly thru it. Apart from the improvements the mod will give me, upgrading from a soaking ceramic fusebox to a watertight blade fuse one should help. I'll treat the engine to a new thicker earth strap and replace/clean up all the earth connections while I'm at it.

Final electrical concern is the fuel pump. I might leave this one until after the MOT as its still working (at present). The X1/9 is fitted with a cooling fan for the carb. It has a permanant live connection and is a common cause of battery drain problems. Most people fit electric pumps and use the fans wiring.
Someone has fitted an electric fuel pump to mine but has used 'other wiring' and has used a sh*tty old Jag pump. I want to do away with the cooling fan, connect the pump properly and fit an electric pump that doesnt have its own set of points!

Work, pics and tales of woe coming soon...

Excellent stuff - bookmarked as I reckon I'll learn something

You should give megajolt a look if you're not too afraid of soldering (with a FIAT X1/9 I'm guessing you're not)

I built mine for approx 100bucks and it worked a treat!

Good luck!