Fiat Fiorino Van

[Burnside]

Fiat Fiorino by zenithfivenine, on Flickr

 

Here's a 127 Fiorino for you.

 

 

Great picture hopefully are old Fiorino can avoid the same fait!

 

 

I remember my work had a 127 Fiorino van when I started there in 1995, E817PMS

 

It was pretty shagged out by then so a blue donor van E798MSX that had been in a side smash was purchased for its engine and some panels.

 

The engine only lasted 6 more months before dying of top end failure. I still have the front grille.

 

Well fingers crossed the engine and box have been ok on are Fiorino. Will need the engine mounts and a cambelt soon that I'd mentioned soon already. I just hope it stays that way and we can do somthing about sorting the bodywork.

If I had the cash or skills I'd really like to put a Uno turbo engine and keep the rest original looking an have myself a rapido van.

 

 

Mussolini's revenge is manifold.

 

K?

[plasticvandan]

My dad had an original 127 Fiorino in about 1995/6, it was pretty rusty then,tape over the bottom of the doors etc,think it was an 85 model,for some reason when i was younger (me and my sister would be bunged in the back of it on the wheel arches!) i absolutely loved that van and cried when my dad sold it.I think it only lasted another year or so.Always vowed that if i ever saw one again (i havent since then!) that i must try and own it,but a look on howmanyleft suggests there are none at all on the road,and a grand total of 7 on sorn!.

 

Have a few pics of the beast somewhere,will try and get them uploaded

[Burnside]

My dad had an original 127 Fiorino in about 1995/6, it was pretty rusty then,tape over the bottom of the doors etc,think it was an 85 model,for some reason when i was younger (me and my sister would be bunged in the back of it on the wheel arches!) i absolutely loved that van and cried when my dad sold it.I think it only lasted another year or so.Always vowed that if i ever saw one again (i havent since then!) that i must try and own it,but a look on howmanyleft suggests there are none at all on the road,and a grand total of 7 on sorn!.

 

Have a few pics of the beast somewhere,will try and get them uploaded

 

If you got some pictures of it that would be great. The only van I've owned myself is a K reg Renault Extra 1.6D 575 in white. Was a shed bodywise and funny enough gaffer tape was keeping the windscreen attached to it, but the rest such as the engine and interior was great. Sold it for £25 after it failed the MOT because of personal reasons and regret it alot. Wouldn't mind another one at some point.

[Burnside]

Right then not much of a update other than my dads made one round trip of 40 miles in it to collect some old pallets and wood for his fire in it and the van being used as a tempory storage for it at the moment.

Am still after a passanger headlight and some rustfree or near to rust free front doors if anybody knows of some etc. I'll be most greatfull but this is on a shoestring budget though.

 

I had found someone down in Essex breaking a mk2 Uno 5dr with some tidy doors as Im sure they will fit only trouble is they dont have the swage line that follows on from the clamshell bonnet like the Fiorino doors do so not sure if that will look a little crap? Plus money being tight I've got to find the cash to get myself down there and pick them up too!

[Tayne]

Can't really add much to this...

 

 

Apart from pictures of useful Fiats I saw in Chile a few years ago.

 

Fiat Fiorino by Tayne, on Flickr

 

Fiat Strada by Tayne, on Flickr

 

Fiat Strada pickup by Tayne, on Flickr

 

Fiat UNO Estate by Tayne, on Flickr

 

Fiat UNO Estate by Tayne, on Flickr

[wuvvum]

Here's a cheap wheelchair conversion for sale on t'Bay:

 

[tooSavvy]

Here's a cheap wheelchair conversion for sale on t'Bay:

 

 

LINKIE:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiat-wheelcha ... 2c6d24d872

 

tooSavvy

[Mr_Bo11ox]

The picture itself is a 'linkie'!

[Burnside]

Sorry for the lack of replies chaps been busy with some work and also having a lorry driver hit the Vauxhall Movano that I been driving this week in Brum. Anyway thanks for the pictures Tayne and the link to ebay wuvvum / tooSavvy but are lack of cash and space means a complete spares Van isn't possible right now but that maybe the best way to go about getting it sorted out propley I think due to lack of secondhand spare parts. There is a red Fiorino on there for spares or repair that ends today that would have been a ideal doner too but hopefully I can sort somthing out before summer is over though it hasn't started yet.

[Burnside]

Sorry for the lack of replies chaps been busy with some work and also having a lorry driver hit the Vauxhall Movano that I been driving this week in Brum. Anyway thanks for the pictures Tayne and the link to ebay wuvvum / tooSavvy but are lack of cash and space means a complete spares Van isn't possible right now but that maybe the best way to go about getting it sorted out propley I think due to lack of secondhand spare parts. There is a red Fiorino on there for spares or repair that ends today that would have been a ideal doner too but hopefully I can sort somthing out before summer is over though it hasn't started yet.

[Micrashed]

On my way home from the Mill, singing away to Freddie Le Grand I saw this, stopped, turned around and took this photograph for your viewing pleasure gents.

 

 

As result I was late home, the marital tea was burned and the wife has left me saying it was the last straw that I put her cooking second to a rusty Fiat. The things I do for Autoshite gentlemen.

[Wilko220]

We love you for it though. What a great spot!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

That was on eBay a couple of weeks ago, made about £900 I think

[Burnside]

As result I was late home, the marital tea was burned and the wife has left me saying it was the last straw that I put her cooking second to a rusty Fiat. The things I do for Autoshite gentlemen.

Appricate the dedication to the cause! Hope the local takeaway was open. As Mr_Bo11ox said this looks the same one that ended on ebay for £810.22 to be precise! As I still have it saved on there at the mo. Though it had some aftermarket alloys on it then. Looks like someone has fitted 14 Inch steel wheels with Punto MK2 trims instead.

 

Still no updates but now the snow has cleared I will try and start searching the local breakers that I know in search of parts etc. Still could do with a passanger headlight at least before the next mot in May so if anyone see a van breaking etc then let me know.

[Burnside]

Not much of an update with this other than my dad had gave it a bloody good wash and polish which has slightly improved it's appearance! The tax and mot have now expired so as my dad has brought yet another van he doesn't need. A cheap 06 Ford Connect to keep the 03 Vauxhall Combo and Fiorino company. It will be a while now before we get the Fiorino re mot'd I should think. Though it certainly won't mean it be left or forgot about.

 

Gives my chance to try and get some work and maybe help get the old badboy back on the road. Am still desperate to find a passanger headlight so if anybody see a van/ pickup one of these breaking please message me as I would really like to get that sorted at least for now.

 

Have also mentioned it in the wanted post of course. Unlikely to be much developments soon as I've said but will keep you all posted as an when things change.

 

Have a set of MK1 punto 55s wheel trims that look like they will fit the rims on the van as they are different rims to are MK1 Uno which these trims don't fit well to. Though saying that as my brother fitted some genuine accessory alloys to the Uno could maybe fit the trims from that but my dad would no doubt prefer the silver steel rim look. He has already repainted the rims in his typical fashion.

 

Dads hey?

[Burnside]

Remember this thread anyone? Yes I nearly forgot we had a sad looking Fiat Fiorino sat on my dads driveway too. I'm embarrassed to say it still isn't on the road after nearly 2 years!

 

Well since then some progress has been made such as replacing the front headlights and indicators. Not cheap either and my brother fixing the interior clock so you can actually see the time now.

 

Then spent what seams a life time of slowly working my way round the Van treating the many untreated rust scabs and chips on the paintwork last year. Still got the front edge of the bonnet and the cab part of the roof to do now.  

 

An as the Cavalier failed the Mot in Feb on some serious rust on the inner and outer sill and with a couple of other things to address as well. It going to have stay off the road till I can get some money together to get it done right. So I've turned my attention after a chat with a friend back to the Fiorino as he going to try and help / do all the hard work to hopefully get to a Mot able state I hope. 

 

So Job's to do is the next to none working rear brakes / handbrake and sorting out some rust holes on the sill plus remove and sort some badly welded plates that have been done for a previous Mot and reinstate the drain holes they have also welded up so there no drainage holes at all! Epic skills or what?  

[dollywobbler]

Nice. I do like repair work that ruins the vehicle. Good luck getting it sorted.

[Burnside]

Nice. I do like repair work that ruins the vehicle. Good luck getting it sorted.

 

Thanks, It's sadly a very good indicator of the level of skills they had with everything else they touched by the looks of it. I'm heading round there shortly to do a bit of tiding up on a few bits and pieces so I'll try and remember to grab a few photo's of there handy work. 

[Burnside]

 

Little update spent a fun Friday afternoon poking / scraping off rust and then the bits that haven't holed I've started to grind/ killrust

the areas before a coat of Hammerite Antirust primer. Finding loads of little rust patches that need doing everywhere so could be here to

Xmas! I'll try and just do the main areas for now in order to help it through the Mot.

 

My Friend been over this week and as there are no sills made for the Fiorino, we used a pattern Uno sill that the Van is based upon.

Cut out the section's we needed an he welded it into place.

 

I know I've said it already but I'll get some pictures up soon. Rear brakes are proving a right pitta at the moment but I'll get onto that

next time. Hopefully weather depending we are round there tomorrow afternoon so we can take a look at the passenger side and see how good / bad

It is. Look's better than the drivers side but who knows?

[twosmoke300]

There are two of these of gum tree in cornwall for 100 quid each . One motd but poorly engine and one no mot but sweet motor

[Burnside]

There are two of these of gum tree in cornwall for 100 quid each . One motd but poorly engine and one no mot but sweet motor

Sounds like a bargain for someone! Hope they both find a good home, sadly we maxed out are vehicle space here already but as these are getting such a rare sight now and specific RHD Fiorino spares are no longer available hardly from Fiat anymore a spares van would be useful.  

[Burnside]

Long time no updates till now! Well for some reason some pictures have gone walkies and Flicker being a pain in arse so haven't got all pictures up I wanted off there but here are some of where we upto now.

 

 

Back of Drivers rear sill drain hole welded over as previously mentioned as it had previously failed the mot for having a hole here? Morons or what there were 3 other drain holes weldeded over so 2 both sides along the rear which hadn't surprisingly caused as much rust as we expected thankfully.

 

 

Another area needing attention along the drivers sill under the front door. Looked like someone had performed a careless jacking maneuver. Cheers!

 

 

 

Are beautifull drivers sill platch repair is removed. Had two patches welded over each other togther with the old rusty holed sill still underneath .

 

 

One of many dranage bungs removed and rust delt with wire brush attachment on a drill prior to killrust and painting. This one didn't make it so weldage was requried.

 

 

 

 

Inside the drivers side rear arch tub. The top righthand pic show's a patch of rust that turned into a hole so as my mate couldn't get at it with his welder and it wasn't structural I got the rust out of it ans stuck a small plate over it and painted it.

 

 

This bit on both sides of rear arch tubs looked quite bad close up but thankfully cleaned up ok prior to painting.

 

 

Bonus pic of it up on the air a mixture of axle stands and timber were used with supporting the Fiorino while I spent countless hours / days / weeks underneath wire brushing the worse parts.

Then the killrust then the painting. A mixture of paints have been used but I've used 3 tins of Hammerite antii rust paint and a tin of Hammerite white plus one tin of Ispoon zinc 182 primer so far.

 

 

As mentioned nobody makes sills for the Fiorino but as it based on the Uno I brought a drivers side 3 dr Uno sill and my friend cut the sections out we needed.

 

 

 

Pictures of the passanger sill welded up one small hole appeared inbetween rubbing them down prior to painting so as it was a 5p hole I filled it in so I could get it through the Mot as my friend was too busy at the time to come over and weld it. Is starting to bubble up now so will need sorting at some point.

 

 

The rear brakes what a pita. The new replacement pins / springs that came in the fitting kit don't. Nice one Delph so used the old one's that were still useable.

 

I repainted the backing plates and drums. Then we fitted new wheel cylinders and rear shoes as back brakes well didn't to be fair.

 

 

The Fiorino finally back on four wheels at last. First time in nearly 3 months it could be moved down my dads drive.

 

 

 

Well that was the start of April so after trying and failing to fit a rear aftermarket exhaust rubber as the original one was snapped I booked the Fiorino van in for the dreaded Mot.

Me and my dad change the oil + filter the weekend before and the air filter.

 

Got them to fit the exhaust rubber as by then I just had enough of working underneath it in all weathers by then.

 

They gave it a pre Mot to save me the fee after I explained it was it first Mot in 2 years. It failed but only on the rear brakes. It turned out after alot of head scratching by me and my friend and one chap at the garage going in a sulk when it failed the brake test again after we tried adjusting the brakes again that the problem was the rear handbrake cable was seized.

 

One handbrake cable later and me having one of the most stressfull waits at a Mot station ever I had a pass! In your face world.

 

There plenty left to do and had other problems to overcome. The new ariel I fitted had been snapped of by the Mot station so had to buy another. Should of had them about it but couldn't be arsed with the hassle as they just deny it anyway. So thank you for that.

 

A few days after passing the Mot the first real hill I drove up the radiator decided to blow sending antifreeze all over the bonnet and windscreen. The radiator was in a bad way already as it had stopleak put in it by dads friend before we had it back. Was hoping it would hold out for a while and had it on the to do list but the radiator was beyond help so we tried to find a new one.

 

No easy task as it turns out as the TD version like are one was only sold here for about 3 years and is diffrent to the na 1.7 model. Found a seller on Ebay with one for £175. Er no thanks.

 

Luckly I remenbered a place in Burton Upon Trent who is a Radiator specialist so one phone call later I had the last avalible Fiorino 1.7 TD Radiator there suppliers in the UK could find for £130.

 

With that fitted after I flushed out all the stop leak crap out of the expansion bottle along with fresh antifreeze and we were good to go again.

 

 

Here is the badboy a few weeks ago I've been using it daily complete with gaffer tape front doors at the minute due to the lack of metal behind them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plans are to sort out our pair of less rusty front secondhand doors we brought last year asap as the tape method not practical for UK winters.

 

Source some rust free or the least rusty pair of rear doors I can find as well sadly flicker gave up before I could show you the lack of the lower rear doors. Which is hinden from the front by the plastic trims.

 

Sort out some bits of trim and the rear door stays that don't. There no longer avalible so try and get my friend to weld the old ones up.

 

Engine seams to idle too fast but despite playing around with it can't seam to find out why?

 

One injector has got a slight bubbling but is ok for now.

 

The little plastic stuck on drip trays/ draft trim above the front door seals are broken and are silconed / glued back on and look a mess. Got some off a Uno but getting the old mess off is going to be a job for the summer maybe.

 

Ideally this van needs a respray though doubt it's in the budget sadly but hey you never know. Spent most of my spare time over the summer treating the millions of little rust chips / scabs as this van paint chips so easily and most of it has been left during my Dads friend ownership.  

 

More rust treating / painting undeneath but again thats next years job as had enough of it this year with tackling all the worse bits prior to the Mot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mr_Bo11ox]

X-reg, thats a late one, I think you could get a Doblo by then

[Burnside]

X-reg, thats a late one, I think you could get a Doblo by then

 

 

Yes pretty sure it could be one of the last Fiorinios though the oldest Doblo I could find from a quick internet search was a 2001 Y reg.

 

Have you still got the Fiorino Pickup by the way Mr Bol? Did you manage to get the headlight and rear light you needed?

 

Im going to speak to a chap up in Nottingham about a few parts off a Fiorino he breaking if he still has it so could ask him if you like.

 

 

I've edited the post above this with the pics to explain some of the work etc thats gone on in case people had missed it.

[Rusty_Rocket]

Great work, it looks very straight.

We have two pickups, a red '96 and a white '95. The red one is very clean/ low mileage and the white one is comprehensively knackered- probably only useful for spares now.

We struggle for spares too, good doors are very hard to find. The gear box in the red one jammed in reverse and the fault was a tiny internal spring that had broken- now nla.. had no choice but to find another early gearbox and wang it in complete.

[nigel bickle]

I don't think he does, no.......

 

It's currently mot'd and going through 'snagging'

 

To date, new alternator and belt, new starter and now new gearbox going in. Its a set of new glow plugs waiting fitment when it gets a pre winter service.

 

Prettier Fiat steels, powder coated roll bar thingy and hopefully a purpose made tonneau soon will make it more user friendly.

[vulgalour]

Lovely stuff.

[nigel bickle]

Here's the surprise.

 

1997 Fiat Fiorino 1.7 diesel gearbox, purchased from thief bay, doesn't fit my 1997 Fiat Fiorino 1.7 diesel.

 

All the bloody linkages are different, and I'm loathe to pull the box apart, so mucho budging, grinding, welding and assorted fettling yo fix it up.

 

Oh, and the clutch is borked. Completely. Happy days

 

 

[Burnside]

Great work, it looks very straight.

We have two pickups, a red '96 and a white '95. The red one is very clean/ low mileage and the white one is comprehensively knackered- probably only useful for spares now.

We struggle for spares too, good doors are very hard to find. The gear box in the red one jammed in reverse and the fault was a tiny internal spring that had broken- now nla.. had no choice but to find another early gearbox and wang it in complete.

 

Thanks, nice to know there are other people out there with Fiorinos and the Pickup is a real rarity. Its not in bad shape for a 15 year old ex Builders van with 156,000 though the pictures flatter it but I'm pleased with the progress.

 

Seams alot of parts are NLA sadly for Fiorinos such as all the Cables i.e clutch / bonnet cables though got a secondhad clutch cable through ebay earlier this year as a backup just in case. Exterior / interior trim / lights are mostly NLA from Fiat too and some basic service parts aren't such as filters but plenty of aftermarket avalible.

 

The big problem is that although Fiat carried on selling the Fiorino in Brazil up untill recently there goverment bans Diesel vehicles so they never made the 1.7 Diesels over there an the UK was probably there only RHD market too so Fiat have never bothered to keep or remanufacture many spare for UK spec Vehicles.  

 

Took me ages to find some half decent front doors was almost tempted to try and find some Uno 5 dr front doors but they don't have the same bodyline from the clamshell bonnet.

Paid £60 each plus postage for the bare doors which hurt and both still need repairs to the lower skin but ours are so far gone it was the best I could do.

 

Found someone who might have a pair of used rear doors though sound like there going to need rust repairs too so I'll have to see.

 

Pretty much all my parts have come from Ebay listings or the odd Ebay advert for dismantling a complete vehicle. Though at times this has proved frustrating trying to speak to the person breaking one due to them being for the want of a better word a complete tool!

 

 

Here's the surprise.

 

1997 Fiat Fiorino 1.7 diesel gearbox, purchased from thief bay, doesn't fit my 1997 Fiat Fiorino 1.7 diesel.

 

All the bloody linkages are different, and I'm loathe to pull the box apart, so mucho budging, grinding, welding and assorted fettling yo fix it up.

 

Oh, and the clutch is borked. Completely. Happy days

 

 

image.jpeg

 

 

I don't think he does, no.......

 

It's currently mot'd and going through 'snagging'

 

To date, new alternator and belt, new starter and now new gearbox going in. Its a set of new glow plugs waiting fitment when it gets a pre winter service.

 

Prettier Fiat steels, powder coated roll bar thingy and hopefully a purpose made tonneau soon will make it more user friendly.

 

So you have it now Mr Bickle?

 

What a nightmare! Yes it seams you got to tread carefully with bits for the Fiorinos as I've found out some parts that look identical aren't interchangeable and finding the right one's can be a pain.

 

I hope you get it sorted out ok and keep us posted with how you get on. 

 

I'm off hopefully Wednesday to get a few parts from a 1.4 disability van in Notts so if there any other bits your after I can take a look.

 

Just checked on the MotorHog.co.uk website and there showing 3 Fiorino Diesels breaking though all seam to be TD models.

 

Could try using the Fiat Forum as they have the Fiat Dealers Eper parts disc avalible to view on the site, you never know could help find some part numbers that could help track down any parts you need.

 

Funny enough you mention wheels as I have spotted some 4x98 weller steels earlier this year over on Retro Rides that I thought would look good on are Van but can't afford them though I've kept them in mind as they hadn't sold when I last checked.

 

The Alternator does now and again briefly flicker up the battary light at night but It seams ok so far so I'm keeping a eye on it. Looks a pain to change too. The ducting pipe from are Alternator was missing off are Van and being NLA I brought an appropriate brand new pipe from the Vauxhall show at Billing this year for £2.50 which was originally from a Combo Van I think.

 

I've noticed I've used the term NLA alot which does seam a rather common thing with owning a Fiorino with a parts / wish list but it all adds to the fun.

[Burnside]

Lovely stuff.

 

Cheers it's a slow progress on a limited budget but it's great to get my Dads old van back on the road again. I remenber him seeing it washed and polished for the first time in years just before it went for the Mot,  he was really thrilled to see it finally looking tidy again and not some rusty unused storage shed for his wood.