Fiat Fiorino Van

[Rusty_Rocket]

Nigel- exactly the same problem we have had. The Fiorino seems to need the 'box with the single rod at the bottom,  going in horizontally (like a Mini gearbox). All the ones we saw/ have are different and use a more complicated linkage.

Yours looks great Burnside, hope you have success with the breakers.

[Burnside]

I don't find parts especially difficult, more tiresome, frankly. But I kinda guess I'm used to obscure parts hunting.

 

If you're worried by the clutch cable, send the spare to Speedy Cables, based in South Wales someplace. Easy to track down, anyway. They'll make you up a copy pretty much overnight, although they aren't that cheap!

 

I just intend to use mine as a parts hauler, and a learning curve on diesels,visible I know nothing about them, and I've a truly obscure diesel to start on next summer.

 

I guess I've been fairly lucky with most of my other / previous cars in that there spares availibilty are still pretty good at the moment. Like you say it takes alot more digging around an sometimes a bit of improvisation though sometimes it's frustrating it can also be fun.

 

Thank's for the tip with regards to Speedy Cables I'll make a note of that. I've gotta be honest I've learn't alot more about Fiorinos in these past two years than what I thought I knew to start with and I can't say I'm too up on theres Diesel engines either. Though handly my brother used to work in a Fiat Parts Department so he has helped me out alot.

 

At the moment the Fiorino is being used as my daily and for general fetching and moving odds an sods about when needed.

 

Good luck with the other Diesel project as well sounds very interesting.

 

 

 

Nigel- exactly the same problem we have had. The Fiorino seems to need the 'box with the single rod at the bottom,  going in horizontally (like a Mini gearbox). All the ones we saw/ have are different and use a more complicated linkage.

Yours looks great Burnside, hope you have success with the breakers.

 

 

Im not sure what gear linkage are Fiorino van has, guessing it be the more complicated one. Could the Uno Diesel or the early Tipo Diesel use the same setup prehaps though I admit there can't be many left if any?

 

Thank's I'll keep you posted on my trip to Notts if I spot any Fiorino Diesels for breaking in the future I'll be sure to post it up on here.

[catsinthewelder]

It looks great, well done for persevering with it.

 

That fade out strip reminds me of my old Tipo.

[plasticvandan]

I promise I will try and scan some photos of my dads C reg 127 Fiorino this week,and when you see the state of it c.1996 you will think he was the original autoshiter!

[Burnside]

I promise I will try and scan some photos of my dads C reg 127 Fiorino this week,and when you see the state of it c.1996 you will think he was the original autoshiter!

 

That would be great if you could plasticvandan. Remenber there being a E reg 127 Fiorino van left on someones driveway when I was learning to drive, used to go pass it every now and then after I'd passed thinking I should ask about it but sadly it disapeared before I plucked up the courage to ask.

[Burnside]

It looks great, well done for persevering with it.

 

That fade out strip reminds me of my old Tipo.

 

My dad put the fade out stripe to jazz it up when it was new! Though if I get the front doors sorted do I try pulling the rest off and risk taking the paint with it as it's been on there for 15 years.

[Burnside]

Little update.

 

Wednesday I had a ride out over to near Mansfield, Notts in our Fiorino to get some parts from a 95 N reg Red Fiorino Disability Van that had been listed for breaking on Ebay a few weeks ago.

 

Well after a longer journey than planned due to traffic I spent about 3 hours taking various bits off it. The main thing I went for were the rear doors but they were in worse condition than I would have liked.

With lots of dents mainly an some rust starting to break through the seams at the bases but least it had the lower doors left unlike ours!

 

Parts brought:

 

Pair of front headlights and indicators.

 

Pair of rear bumper corners.

 

Washer bottle pump.

 

Front wiper motor and arm + trims bits that cover it.

 

The rear doors with some of the trim and one rear window still attached.

 

Front door sill trims.

 

Glovebox lid.

 

X4 Full Fiat centre caps. Not needed for are version but had anyway.

 

Plastic Battary tray and clamp.

 

Some front door trim clips + front armrests.

 

Interior switch panel for rear fogs and heated rear windows.

 

Total £90! OK so some bits aren't A1 but for that I'm happy most of it's just as backup spares apart from the doors which badly need addressing like the front doors anyway and least I've saved some rare spares from the crusher.

 

Problem was by about 3pm I had enough and wanted to get going before the rush hour traffic so paid up and went now I've been thinking should I have got some other parts of it too. Namely the fusebox for instance as one of old Uno's had electrical issues that was solved by getting a replacement so was thinking I should have got that as a spare now.

 

So can't decided if to make another 149 mile round trip or not?

 

By the way this Van had a good pair of front doors and the original windscreen plus four wheels with useable tyres too so if anybody after some let me know asap as this guy going to be crushing it next week most likely Monday.

[nigel bickle]

favorit van1.bmp

 

Here it is..Welding should be completed by Crimble, hopefully (a good bit more than expected), followed by a large bout of tinkring to fix a multitude of silly but time cosuming issues, before its first fail early Spring.

if I like it enough, I'll make it lovely, later...

[Burnside]

Little update spent last Sunday tackling the small job of changing the oil and filter. Was time well spent as the oil was filthy even though it wasn't due yet so glad I did it. Hopefully over regular oil changes in the future will clean it out a bit.

 

Annoyingly the front windscreen has decided to commit sucide by cracking on the nearside for no particular reason? So going to have to sort that one out now soonish. So do I bother getting a secondhand one or do I stump up for a new one?  As it doesn't look like our insurance policy my dad has taken out covers windscreen replacements.

[Burnside]

Doesn't time fly when your having fun? 

 

Well a update on where we at with the little Fiorino van in the last 9 months. As mentioned last time the windscreen cracked down the passanger corner and needed replacing. As it wasn't covered on the insurance we decided to wait till near the Mot in April till replacing it. My brother kindly paid out for it for at around £170! Ouch. Turned out that AA windcreeens who fitted the last one less than 5 years before were to blame due to there shit abilites in fitting it. So cheers AA for that! 

 

The Van sailed through the Mot but not before the rather sad looking front doors made of tape were replaced, with some slighty better examples. I couldn't bare to send it for another Mot in that state plus it was embarrasing having to stop and retape the doors when it came off. The repalcement doors had been painted grey under the side trim and some minor rust in the rear corners were holes once sanded. 

 

Hadn't got alot of choice as Fiorino doors are almost none existant now so a friend repaired both rear edges with some carefull welding. So I finished them off with some quick repairs with Hycote rattle cans in Bianco 249 which aren't a A1 finish along with my seamsealer atempts on the back edges but considering they were done in a back garden in less thasn ideal weather they turned out ok. 

 

The front edge of the drivers door will need a weld repair in the future which didn't show up annoyingly till I flatted it back for painting but as the Mot was so close I hadn't got time to sort it out. 

 

I cheated and got a garage to help me swap the doors over though I stripped all the interior panels etc off and just left them to swap over the windows and door lock plus window winder motors over. 

 

Had a right game getting the windows in both doors aligned in the runners correctly but hopefully after a few attempts they seam ok now. Just had to replace one scraper moulding that didn't survive the removal process. Luckly Fiat still supply these at the minute but cost £33. 

 

Then the Van went possibly for it first ever trip down to the Big Smoke near Kings Cross station with my Uncle for a day's work and did me proud not bad for a 16 year old Fiat van that nearly ended up being scrapped. 

 

The following month saw it heading down to Bracknell to see my best mate and combine a vist to Brooklands Motor Museam for a Auto Italia event and to meet up with the new owners of our MK2 Uno 1.0 i.e we sold at the start of the year. 

 

Also saved a Lancia Fluvia from rolling away into another Lancia on the banked track while walking round so quite a eventfull trip!

 

Best part of the day was getting some pictures of the Fiorino on the banked track. Ok it's no Uno Turbo etc but who cares? Well some tools in some chaved up Punto were heckling but bet they didn't get some Italians go up to them and telling them how great it was to see a old Fiat that's even a rare sight in Italy on the road and saying how nice it is to see someone keeping a older Van on the road. 

 

I'm crap with uploading pictures but will try and add some of Brooklands etc when I can get someone at home to give me a hand.

 

Well the Vans had another oil change last month and has been put to work again recently for my Dad as a builders van again and also towed his probmatic Transit Connect 3 times too. 

 

Since then I've been a bit paranoid about the gearbox so asked my Dad if he knew when the gearbox oil was last changed. Turns out it never has been changed in 16 years so that's getting sorted. Fiat say it ZC90 but googling up has located a post on the Fiat forum that states that SAE 80W/90 which is more avalible will be ok? 

 

The Alternator gave up last weekend so after alot of back and forths with various motor factors etc I'm getting a recon one for £99. So it's at the garage awaiting the replacement to arrive and will have the gear oil change too. 

 

Hope to get it back next week as I've got no wheels now except for my BMX bike. 

[plasticvandan]

To keep the thread going,here's my dads Fiorino s promised on page 2

[HillmanImp]

I saw one if these rotting on a driveway in Carlisle the other week. If parts are needed, let me know and I can give you the location but cant guarantee that he will sell as he looks like a hoarder.

[Burnside]

To keep the thread going,here's my dads Fiorino s promised on page 2

IMG_20160207_185712_hdr_kindlephoto-23710157.jpg

 

Great picture, Thank's for sharing that. I've got a set of them lookalike Astra MK3 trims too!

 

Hopefully when Vin on here with his 127 Fiorino Van gets it back on the road. I can get a picture of the two together. 

[Burnside]

I saw one if these rotting on a driveway in Carlisle the other week. If parts are needed, let me know and I can give you the location but cant guarantee that he will sell as he looks like a hoarder.

 

Thank's for that I'll keep it in mind as always thinking of a few more spares for the van that will would be ideal long term. Though can't afford to spend much on it after this alternator fitted for a while as got a rusty Vauxhall being made less rusty at the moment!

[sheffcortinacentre]

Got the following new (fiorino)pattern bits if any good to you

 

Clutch plate & bearing £5, brake pads x2 sets £10.

127 ohv stat housing £20

 

Some mk1 uno bits too

[dollywobbler]

There is one of these locally. Has had a front ender and has now just been parked up to rot next to an early Mk3 Cavalier. What a sodding waste.

[Burnside]

There is one of these locally. Has had a front ender and has now just been parked up to rot next to an early Mk3 Cavalier. What a sodding waste.

 

That's a shame think I saw one with front end damage for sale earlier in the year on Gumtree. They had a bump then stupidly tried driving it home without strapping the bonnet down which then flipped up and hit the windscreen!

 

Could be the same one prehaps? I won't ask about the MK3 Cavalier in case it's better than mine! 

[Burnside]

Got the following new (fiorino)pattern bits if any good to you

 

Clutch plate & bearing £5, brake pads x2 sets £10.

127 ohv stat housing £20

 

Some mk1 uno bits too

 

Thank's for the mention is the Clutch and brake pads for suitable for the later Uno based Fiorino 1.7 TD like ours or are they for the earlier 127 based Fiorino like Vins? 

 

My brother got the MK1 Uno 45 Breeze what parts did you have? 

[sheffcortinacentre]

Only the 127 version, will pm you the uno list Mon.

[Split_Pin]

I still have an immaculate grille for a 127 Fiorino in my loft that I robbed off a scrapper that was being cannibalised at my work over 20 years ago.

[Burnside]

Right then, Though I'd try and add some much needed pictures of our Fiorino who turned 16 years old last month. To show where we at and what / where we been so far in 2016!

 

Starting with the dreaded rusty and duck taped front doors. If rust gives you nightmares best look away now.

 

These are only a few but believe me there wasn't much holding the inner and outer skins togther.

 

 

original

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bellow are the front replacement doors after my poor DIY seam sealer attemps to the lower skins followed by the Hycoat Bianco spray can effort on damp grass in March, proper Autoshite style?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The last two pictures above are of the Fiorino on the day I collected it from having the front doors fitted by the garage for me. At this stage it still awaiting me to refit the door cards and interior trim pieces along with hours of fun trying to adjust the glass guides.

 

The passanger outer scraper moulding hadn't survived removal so was replaced with a new one at £33 from Fiat. Ouch and was a really pitta to fit correctly too!

 

As mentioned previously I missed a bit of rust on the drivers front door near the front edge by the side trim which despite my best efforts at the time is starting to reappear so will need cutting out a job I hope to get sorted before too long.

 

Below was our little day trip to Kings Cross back in April to help my Uncle, proof the Fiorino can still do some graft when needed. I suspect that was the first time it's ever been over London in it's life so quite chuffed about it even if it did mean me getting up at 5.30am to do so.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally bellow is the Fiorino visting Auto Italia at Brooklands back in May pictured on the famous bank circuit.

 

My pictures don't show how steep it was parked up on the banking though but am pleased that we got chance to take some great shots of it looking good at last.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Felly Magic]

Looking seriously nice there, well done

[dollywobbler]

Brilliant. Are you going to ditch the remaining side graphics or is there a danger that they're structural now?

[Burnside]

Looking seriously nice there, well done

 

Thanks, got asked last month if it been resprayed! It's looking really tidy now, especially when it compared to the first pictures I posted. It still needs further bodywork at some point ideally but as a rolling project on a budget it's doing well for 162k 16 year old builders van so hopefully I can keep on improving it.

 

 

Brilliant. Are you going to ditch the remaining side graphics or is there a danger that they're structural now?

 

Erm, that's a good point. To be honest I was fully intending on removing them once I had the doors fitted but the trouble is they been on there since it was nearly new and the Fiat paint chips so easily on it etc. I'm worried that If I remove them now after 16 years, there a good chance some paint may be pulled off with them. Which I could do without the hassle of.

 

Besides it's my Dads fault as he put them on in the first place so maybe they should just stay as it's part of it's family history for the time being.

 

My Dad would like to have it resprayed Fiat Racing Red with some nice weller style wheels and sport it up a bit etc but as it's mainly my Van now and I pay for the repairs and nobody has the cash to put towards a decent respary it's staying as Fiat intended.

[oldcars]

Keep the graphics, they look find because of the way they don't go over the wheelarch at the front they look fine.

[Burnside]

Thought I'd add a little update on our Fiorino. 

 

Well since the last time I posted up about the Van over a year ago. Not too much has changed.

 

It's been through the Mot again back in April. Which I had replaced in advance the Front Pads and Discs as both were very low and a lower arm, as the bush had gone. Passed 1st time with just a few advisories.

 

Then a few months later the drivers door side scraper moulding fell off. It hadn't really fitted back right since the front doors were swapped over. Didn't have a spare one annoyingly and ebay etc was no good. 

 

So my brother popped into a Fiat Dealer for me. The drivers side is NLA but the passanger side is. Taking a punt that both were identical, I got him to order the passenger side moulding at a cost of £33. 

 

Anyway after having a right faff trying to get the moulding to fit correctly back on, so it wouldn't fall off when I wound the window up. Which involved a lot a flat plastic trim tools and a small hook. It's on and fits fine so well pleased with that little job.

 

I've also for the time being removed the roof bars, as they were rusty and leaving rust streaks down the sides. Plus we hadn't had the need to use them since it been back on the road. Just about got the bolt's out, as they have been in 17 years. An have refitted the original bolts in the roof that my dad had stashed in a old mint tin. 

 

The Van's engine mounts have been on the to do list since we got the van back on the road. About September time I helped move some unwanted sand bags from my Grandads house. This was too much strain fully loaded on the mounts, so had to look into replacing them.

 

The left hand and right hand mounts were easily sourced through a Fiat specialist on ebay at £16.99 each. The rear mount proved more difficult to source, so had no choice but to get one through Fiat. 

 

Trouble was they wanted £201 ! 

 

So my brother managed to get the dealer to contact Fiat Directly via email, and after a week they wrote back and agreed to reduce it to a RRP of a £124. 

 

The Fiat Dealer ended up selling it to us for a £101 all in after vat. So not too bad in the end.  

 

Also on the to do list was the dipstick tube holder seal, which is a nice and awkward job as it jammed right in between the engine block and the inner wing. I tried replacing it myself last year and quickly found out that the engine mounts would need to come off and the engine would need shoving over to gain access. 

 

So I temporary sealed it as best I could. 

 

As the sump had now joined in on the fun, the Fiorino was leaving it's calling card everywhere I parked it. So decided to not use it much till I could afford to get the mounts and leaks fixed at a garage.

 

I've just got the Van back today and they had also found that the oil filter housing had a leak from another seal, after fixing the first two leaks. Only another £7.50 from Fiat this time. So along with the gasket's and mounts. It had a oil and filter change too as they were due.

 

Also I replaced the Glow Plugs myself last month as they had packed up suddenly. Real pain of a job to do but got there in the end.

 

Fingers crossed that little lot should see it through for another 12 months. 

 

As photobucket is rubbish. 

 

Here a few more photo's of the Fiorino taken this year. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Super tidy

[Zelandeth]

Don't recall ever seeing one of those before.  It's a really pleasingly proportioned little van I think, and looks to be very tidy for a small commercial vehicle of that age that's not had a nut and bolt restoration done!

[Burnside]

Super tidy

 

Thanks Mr B. The pictures do flatter slightly, as it doesn't show up all the touch up's to the paintwork as the paint chips easily. I can't complain though for a 17 year old Van, that has spent most it's life working in the building trade. 

 

I did get asked last year if it had been resprayed, by a nice bloke who asked me all about the Fiorino in a brand new Range Rover. Who said the best Van he ever had was his Perkins Maestro Van. 

 

I even washed it this evening to get all the Salt and dirt off despite the cold! 

[Burnside]

Don't recall ever seeing one of those before.  It's a really pleasingly proportioned little van I think, and looks to be very tidy for a small commercial vehicle of that age that's not had a nut and bolt restoration done!

 

Cheers.    There is still a small number about including the Pickup version. But they aren't as easy to find as say a Citroen C15. 

 

The extra height of the rear body certainly gives it an advantage over the equivalent Escort, which was one of the reasons my Dad brought it new. He could easily fit a Cement Mixer in the back sideways, and have just over half the load space left for anything else he needed. Which I tested out this year when we helped my Grandad lay a new base for a garden shed. 

 

The Van's only none original panels / paint are the front doors as previously mentioned due to rust. The rest has just been touched up due to stone chip damage etc. 

 

The rear doors do need welding or replacing as they are rotted out completely but the plastic trim hides it well for now. 

 

Engine and Gearbox are original on nearly a 168,000 as is most of the suspension and exhaust system. Hopefully I'm not tempting fate on jinxing that.