Christmas in February! Congrats Jeff!

Well the Title paperwork finally arrived today, only a month after the car, the luggage and some parts I ordered from Europe, including 15 square meters of Orange Velour material to redo the front seats and door panels later this year.

The material is from the original manufacturer of the material for the car, they are still in business and apparently ran a batch of the Orange and Blue Velour in 2024, they sold out of the Blue, but still had some of the Orange in stock. So I figured I better buy it while it is available.

So I have been busy replacing the fluids as I have no idea when the last time they were changed. So far I have changed the Engine Oil & filter, rear axle oil, and the brake fluid. I had an issue with the rear brakes locking up when I was pushing the old fluid thru using a one man brake bleeder (check valve). After about 5 pumps of the brake pedal the pedal and rear brakes locked up. After doing some research I found out the car has an early rear disc mechanical anti-lock system. It uses a shut off valve to cut off the fluid flow to the rear disc's when the rear suspension is unloaded. To prevent the rear brakes from locking up in panic stops, similar to the system used on 1990's pickup trucks. But the system uses linkage connected to torque arms thru linkage attached to the top of the lower control arms.

I had inadvertently simulated the conditions to shut off the pressure to the rear brakes, with the car jacked up and the rear suspension hanging full down. Also the brakes are plumbed differently than what I am used to. The front disc's use 2 piston calipers, and one piston on each side is plumbed to each side of the master cylinder. The rears are plumbed to the rear side of the master cylinder like I am used to.

Also I like that every fluid system has a drain plug (except the brakes of course) even the fuel tank. So it is easy to drain the rear axle, transmission, and cooling system. The cooling system has the normal radiator drain valve, but also has a drain plug in the lower radiator hose mounting outlet, and each side of the engine block.

I have also replaced the driver side power window motor, and the coolant temp sensor. So progress.

Edited March 27Mar 27 by cammerjeff

….and you are enjoying every minute of it! I think it’s cool that you have the exact interior material. Good for you Jeff!

Well I knew it would not be a one trip transaction at the Michigan Secretary of State to Title and Plate the Fiat. Went today and after proving the car was 25+ years old, so it does not need the original embossed EPA and customs clearance forms.

I have to have the original Title and Bill of sale, translated from French to English, that's $300 I didn't expect to have spend. Plus the car needs to be inspected for all safety equipment to be working.

And now the passenger side window motor quit working, . But I should have the paperwork translated tomorrow, and I have the needed inspection form. So maybe by the end of this week it will be legal to drive!. The clerk at the SOS said it is 50/50 that they will require the Speedo to be swapped out from a KPH to MPH unit. I sure hope not!

How easy would it be to get a new MPH speedometer for this car? I doubt there is a lot of them sitting on a shelf somewhere nearby. The safety inspection is expected, the translation of the title was a definite curveball though.

They did sell both the 4-Doors and Coupes in England, and the cluster is the same for the both from 71-77, so they do exist? But the odds of finding the one available for sale in the UK is pretty Slim. The ones sold in Australia would be in KPH I think.

I hope they don't insist on it being changed out, as the one I bid on BAT several years ago had a KPH cluster and was plated in IL. so titling it would not have been an issue.