Hello all, this is a bit of an appeal!

I want to get one of my tatty but on-the-road Fiat X1/9s dressed up as a Dallara "tribute" in time for Auto Italia Day at Brooklands on May 5th. I have asked Callum/Retro Power if they can help, but they are busy and can't fit me in in time.

I have decided I can do the mechanical bits (coilovers and brakes) but I don't have the wherewithal, space or ability to remove the original steel wings and fit the GRP ones. This involves drilling spot welds to remove the wings, trimming back the inner wings and gluing on the GRP, followed by a matte black vinyl wrap (or blackboard paint!).

I don't want a concours car, I'm happy for a "quick and dirty" job, with a view to tidying it up in the fullness of time.

If anyone knows a bodyshop in the Midlands who might be interested, or if anyone wants a bit of work, please let me know. I could even fit the GRP myself if someone can get the steel ones off for me!

Callum, if I minimised the scope of work just to removing the steel wings and fitting the GRP, what do you think?

Thanks and regards

Rachael

I'd be happy to give that a go if you were a bit closer.

Although how hard can taking some wings off be? all you need is an electric drill and one of these bits then tidy up with an angle grinder ....

Well, I would have a go myself but I would have to do it in the back garden, as my garage is full of Lancia. The back garden is rather full of X1/9s too, so there isn't much room! I would post a pic but my work computer nanny won't let me access the photos.

Also, as I'm much better at sitting on my a*se in an office these days, I'm happy to pay someone to do the nasty itchy GRP work!

My first response would have been the Retropower peeps - but as you've tried them. Have you looked up any of the classic car restroration people - i know its not classic restoration but its similar skills. No experience of any in the midlands to suggest someone unfortunately.

If you do decide to do it in the garden, you can get gazebo's quite cheap this time of year ........ at least it would be covered during the work.

Pics of the kit (with thanks to CASCU) and the car in question, for those that have asked. The kit is actually 4 separate wings and the front valance, they are just put together for the photo...

are the rear wings overwings or do the rears need cuting off? how much of the initial stripping could you do, i bumpers lights etc?

Front and rear wings need cutting off, leaving a flange along the top to fix to. The bumpers come off very easily (and go in the bloody bin). Below is my other X1/9 project, which is undergoing similar but more radical changes. This shows the rear wing removed. I'm thinking it might be simpler to not remove the B pillar skin, but have a joint along the bottom of the little vent you can see in the earlier pics. I'm also thinking of just using self-tappers to attach the wings, VW/Audi style, bedding them on foam strips.

as with all these types of projects my major concern would be what ends up getting revealed once the old metal is removed.

How good are the kit mouldings do they need much trimming? also how heavy are they? somebody kits can be really thin and a pain to do without damaging them

[Edited on 20/2/12 by snakebelly]

The car is on the road, with £400 worth of welding by the PO late last year for the MOT. There shouldn't be any real horrors under the wings. I'm not overly worried anyway, especially if the GRP wings were screwed on. The car will be getting some much more serious work done in the fullness of time. I just wanted it looking something like for Auto Italia.

If you've got the room and gear to change the coil overs and brakes, surely it's not too much bother to split the wings off? All you need is a drill and I can even lend you a set of spot weld bits. Shouldn't take much more than an afternoon to do once all the bumpers and so on are out the way.

Well, it is getting a bit silly in the garden and as I said I can do some things. But to be honest, being a 52 year old biddy I just don't fancy it! I would rather give someone beer vouchers to help.

Whats the red car on the right????

That's the Karma, my excuse for being here.

Oooooooooooooooo .............. I like!

They are pretty rare, I'm fairly sure Jabs on here is the same Jabs who posts on the (sadly virtually dead) Karma forum.