Fiat 126p how to proceed?

[Memmeddu]

Hi everyone after a long night of thinking about how to proceed with my rusty FSM
I figured out an idea.
So the situation is.
My 126p is currently here

In our land in the middle of nowhere.
Off grid solar panels not enough for a welder but enough for power tools and lighting.
Conditions are most likely catastrophic after seeing the bonnet in those days

Floor panels seem good
Roof too is good
Doors should be 99% good
Now my idea is getting it strip down completely or almost leaving the wheels on just in case
Brace the structure and start to drill all the spot welds.
Remove the rotten panels trying to save them (if I can save them it's better for my strict budget)
Front end it should remain the driving shell only and it would not be that hard to remove it.
The windshield and rear window are my priority.
Once stripped down to the bare shell without the damaged panels take a decision save it or scrap it.

 

[GRW]

That picture looks to be a water trap area, so likely to be worse than other places. That area looks very repairable even to a very poor hobby welder like myself (much wetter climate here, and we get to see much more rust).

You might be pleasantly surprised

 

[Hotstuff]

Looking forward to seeing how you get on without things that most of us take for granted.

Good luck and do keep us posted.

 

[Memmeddu]

That picture looks to be a water trap area, so likely to be worse than other places. That area looks very repairable even to a very poor hobby welder like myself (much wetter climate here, and we get to see much more rust).

You might be pleasantly surprised

Yes it's a water trap,
Water get in there from the roof top goes down and beneath bonnet because a rubber gasket is missing.
I surely have to cut the whole section to remove the rust and rebuild the corners.

I'm pretty sure that it would be worst that it looks

 

[Memmeddu]

Spent few hours removed the seats , moquette and scraped the insulation form the floor panels

Driver side destroyed

Passenger side nothing terrible

All around

Pillars too got damaged

 

[roofman]

I think that car has had it

 

[johnik]

as above, deffo looks like it,s past it,s sell by date, any better ones kicking around ?

 

[Memmeddu]

I think that car has had it

as above, deffo looks like it,s past it,s sell by date, any better ones kicking around ?

I agree
There are few of them in similar conditions kicking on 1300 euro price tag too much expensive.
Good conditions one are around 3 4k but most of them are in the same conditions but made pretty.
Now that one is already beyond repair, but it's an opportunity too.
Had a little chat with my brother and he made me discover that I can make simple panels on my own.
Floor panels I can make them out of 2 or 2.5mm sheets so it would not corrode as easy but stiffen the overall structure too
Box section under the doors.
Or even a tubular frame to make a sort of concealed roll cage (without the x behind the seats.
The conditions give me few options for making it little safer.
I still have to remove all the interiors, and remove the rotten panels

 

[Smallfry]

Here is a photo of my 1957 Wolseley 1500. I thought that was bad enough.

What is the replacement panel situation for the 126 ? The windscreen surround and A posts would be a concern, but TBH, IMO it is a bit too far gone. Surely you must be able to get a better shell or car ?

 

[Memmeddu]

Here is a photo of my 1957 Wolseley 1500. I thought that was bad enough.

What is the replacement panel situation for the 126 ? The windscreen surround and A posts would be a concern, but TBH, IMO it is a bit too far gone. Surely you must be able to get a better shell or car ?

View attachment 478920

Expensive as hell
I have windshield and rear window panels
Door opening and inner frame panels too

 

[Smallfry]

Expensive as hell
I have windshield and rear window panels
Door opening and inner frame panels too

OK, well thats good. It is the visible panelwork that is hard to get right.

As a replacement vehicle or shell is not viable, I guess you will take some of the rusty panels off, and see what is underneath. Then decide.

It is easy for us to say forget it, but I know what its like when you have feeling in your heart for it.

 

[Blobber]

In the UK we have to deal with that sort of rust all the time
If you're attached to the car and time is not a problem get stuck in, panel making would be a good skill to learn

 

[weldingnovice]

You've not had a transit van then I take it.

 

[GRW]

You've not had a transit van then I take it.

Or an LDV Convoy (the reason I tried to learn to weld in the first place. A welder should be part of the standard issue toolkit with an LDV or Transit )

 

[Smallfry]

Or an LDV Convoy (the reason I tried to learn to weld in the first place. A welder should be part of the standard issue toolkit with an LDV or Transit )

You would need a generator too, or how on earth would you use it on the hard shoulder ? Or do you wait for the AA to show up with theirs ?

 

[GRW]

You would need a generator too, or how on earth would you use it on the hard shoulder ? Or do you wait for the AA to show up with theirs ?

Even LDV's don't disintegrate so fast that you can't drive to somewhere with Leccy when you find some new rust

 

[Melvyn Best]

 

[Memmeddu]

View attachment 479232

Surely needed to clean it up

 

[ian f]

if your time is free anything can be saved with an hammer, flipper, rounded wide chisel and welder cortina estate

 

[Memmeddu]

if your time is free anything can be saved with an hammer, flipper, rounded wide chisel and welder cortina estate

View attachment 479265

Amazed by your thread, I have to try to make my own panels