My Second Fiat - The Runner

[wachuko]

Jaime,
I had the same problem with the vent windows. The PO replaced the window seals and neither of them would fully close because the rubber seal was just a little bit bigger than the original. I also looked into the original locks but after hearing all of the stories about them popping off or chipping the window I decided to go with these...



Not really convenient if you open the vent windows allot (which I don't) but they keep the window nice and tight. You can find them through some of our vendors on the site but they seem to always be sold out. I got these off of Ebay for about $5 plus shipping. They're actually marketed for the vent windows on a old school VW Bug.

Rick

Rick,

No plans here to be opening them often. That actually looks like a better alternative for me. Out to search for a set! I might just glue the original units for looks and leave them in the open position and use these to lock them in place... Thank you!

EDIT: Found a few places that have them:

http://www.amazon.com/Cooled-Beetle-Ven ... B001D5WV08

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Air-Cool ... 563ae1561e

A set ordered!!

[dzyfngrs]

Same issue here with the Vent Window locks. I think I've used my third tube of rear view mirror adhesive. And it's always the passenger side. The trick to the last time I did this was to clean off the contact area of the lock and the adhesive thoroughly. Then I used 200 grit sandpaper to scuff up the contact point of the lock and a little section of the glass. So far so good and it's still original to the car.

Jaime, don't forget to post a picture of the new locks on the car.
Cheers!

[stefhahn]

Ciao Altogether,
Well, I don't like the looks of the Beetle vent window locks too much.... I have found these recently: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT - this should be it? Keeping the original locks (and looks ) but replacing the part that falls off -
Edit:
I did surf round a bit through Fiat500 parts dealers in Italy and did find them in Italy for a fraction of the price I could get them in the UK - see: http://www.500mania.biz/pages/detarting.php?id=123 - I did order a set of two and will report back.

ciao,
Stefan

[wachuko]

Ciao Altogether,
Well, I don't like the looks of the Beetle vent window locks too much.... I have found these recently: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT - this should be it? Keeping the original locks (and looks ) but replacing the part that falls off -
Edit:
I did surf round a bit through Fiat500 parts dealers in Italy and did find them in Italy for a fraction of the price I could get them in the UK - see: http://www.500mania.biz/pages/detarting.php?id=123 - I did order a set of two and will report back.

ciao,
Stefan

Stefan,

Let us know how those work. That looks like an even better alternative. I will hold off on gluing anything at this point and just use the ones I ordered as a temporary solution until you provide the feedback on those units.

Well done!

[Snoopy]

@stefhahn very interesting...

[courtenay]

I'd like to see how these things acutally attach to the window. I can't seem to visualize how they work.

[wachuko]

I'd like to see how these things acutally attach to the window. I can't seem to visualize how they work.

From the description: It is a U shaped bracket. The window fits inside it and the Quarter Light Catch attaches to it. So similar in concept to the VW one, only that instead of using that black nut with the metal tab you install your original mechanism to it...

[wachuko]

Could not spend time with the car this last few days, between my wife's birthday (April fools day... yeah...) and the children in spring break there was not time to spend in the garage.

I did manage 1/2 hour that I used to dismantle the driver's seat back . The seat back internals have some rust but not that bad. Nothing a good wire brush, some acid and then some POR15 can't fix. Seat pan is another story. That one is badly rusted so I will use the bottom seat pan from the parts car.

I did not find any bends on the driver seat back. The problem was that the two nuts that are welded, to hold the tilt mechanism, had come loose... I will weld those back, reinforce the welds as per some photos I got from this site, and put them back together.

A few photos:











Seat bottom pan is rusted enough that I will not try to fix it and instead use the one from the parts car. Rails, on the other hand, are great, so those will get reused.

[Fiat88]

Could not spend time with the car this last few days, between my wife's birthday (April fools day... yeah...) and the children in spring break there was not time to spend in the garage.

I did manage 1/2 hour that I used to dismantle the driver's seat back . The seat back internals have some rust but not that bad. Nothing a good wire brush, some acid and then some POR15 can't fix. Seat pan is another story. That one is badly rusted so I will use the bottom seat pan from the parts car.

I did not find any bends on the driver seat back. The problem was that the two nuts that are welded, to hold the tilt mechanism, had come loose... I will weld those back, reinforce the welds as per some photos I got from this site, and put them back together.

A few photos:











Seat bottom pan is rusted enough that I will not try to fix it and instead use the one from the parts car. Rails, on the other hand, are great, so those will get reused.

you got me remembering when I did my seat pans with those pics...have fun

[wachuko]

Removed the seat bottom pan from the parts car... better condition. I will finish cleaning it, and get it ready.





Work in progress cleaning...











JB Weld is my friend... I use some tape to serve as mold and pour some JB-Weld around the rusted areas to reinforce it or make the area that is missing... some rust neutralizer to the other areas and on goes the POR15. Should come out looking as good as new.

[wachuko]

Time to take out the welder... I fixed both seat backs. One will just sit in the garage as a spare...









And just to remind you all what it looked like... before:





After:





Covers back in place... now it looks like a seat!







One down... passenger and rear seat to go...

[BEEK]

this is so very interesting, i used to this exact work day in and day out for 20 years. salvaged over 1000 spiders, and many other fiat and lancias. rebuilt 50+ spiders and sold them in the atlanta area. wife used to tell me i had to grow up and get a real job!

[wachuko]

this is so very interesting, i used to this exact work day in and day out for 20 years. salvaged over 1000 spiders, and many other fiat and lancias. rebuilt 50+ spiders and sold them in the atlanta area. wife used to tell me i had to grow up and get a real job!

Randy, I know that for you, at the time, it was work. For me, that would have been so cool. Good thing you never grew up

[wachuko]

Jaime,
I had the same problem with the vent windows. The PO replaced the window seals and neither of them would fully close because the rubber seal was just a little bit bigger than the original. I also looked into the original locks but after hearing all of the stories about them popping off or chipping the window I decided to go with these...



Not really convenient if you open the vent windows allot (which I don't) but they keep the window nice and tight. You can find them through some of our vendors on the site but they seem to always be sold out. I got these off of Ebay for about $5 plus shipping. They're actually marketed for the vent windows on a old school VW Bug.

Rick

Rick,

Got them. Don't mind the door panel and how dirty the car is... working on it, as soon as I am done with the major stuff I will polish all the chrome, clean the glass, and will get a new set of door panels.

Feedback - they work as a temporary fix. After looking at what Stefan posted I want to get those... for now, this will do.

[Foster48x]

I agree. I think I like the ones Stefan posted also.