roof FIAT 500 1971 1.G Workshop Manual

CHAPTER 12
THE BODYWORK
12:1
12:2
12:3
12:4
12:5
12:6
12:7Bodywork finish
Interior and chrome cleaning
Door trim and accessories
Door handles and locks
Removing regulator and door glass
Removing windshield glass
Removing rear side windows12:8
12:9
12:10
12:11
12:12
12:13
12:14Removing rear window glass
Front compartment lid
Engine compartment lid
Folding top
Sun roof
Seats
Interior heater
12:1 Bodywork finish
Large scale repairs to body panels are best left to
expert panel beaters. Even small dents can be tricky, as too
much hammering will stretch the metal and make things
worse instead of better. Filling minor dents and scratches
is probably the best method of restoring the surface. The
touching up of paintwork is well within the powers of
most car owners, particularly as self-spraying cans of
paint in the correct colours are now readily available. It
must be remembered, however, that paint changes colour
w i t h age and it is better to spray a whole wing rather than
try to touch up a small area.
Before spraying it is essential to remove all traces of
wax polish with white spirit. More drastic treatment is
required if silicone polishes have been applied. Use a
primer surfacer or paste stopper according to the amount
of filling required, and when it is dry, rub it down with
400 grade Wet or Dry paper until the surface is smooth
and flush with the surrounding area. Spend time on
getting the best finish as this will control the final effect.
Apply the retouching paint, keeping it wet in the centre
and light and dry round the edges. After a few hours of
drying, use a cutting compound to remove the dry spray
and finish with liquid polish.
F500127
12:2 Interior and chrome cleaning
The cloth upholstery of the seating and the rear
compartment lining must be regularly cleaned to ensure
long life and preserve its attractive appearance. Any dust
or dirt that is blown into the car will settle on the uphol-
stery and will tend to wear the cloth causing an unsightly
appearance. It is recommended that the dust is wiped off
using either a vacuum cleaner or a stiff brush. To remove
ordinary soiling of the upholstery cloth proceed as
follows:
1 Using luke warm water and a neutral soap and a piece
of clean cloth wipe over the upholstery in the direction
of the nap.
2 Repeat the operation using a clean damp cloth and
warm water but no soap.
3 Allow the upholstery cloth to dry, use a stiff brush
against the direction of the upholstery nap to restore
its original fluffy look.
To obtain best results, any stains must be removed as
soon as possible otherwise as time passes they will
become more difficult, if not impossible to remove.
Certain stains require specific solvents and the instruc-
tions must be strictly adhered to.

12:11 Folding top
The f ol di n g top assembly comprises the following
items:
1 Imitation leather top w i t h vinylite back window.
2 Front end frame complete with two handles and
catches. A movable bow which slides on the frame
guide rails.
3 Three stiffening bows fixed by chrome plated buttons
and tipped with rubber blocks.
4 Front mouldings for t o p mounting on frame.
5 Rear moulding on top mounting engine cooling air
intake body panel.
6 Retaining strap for the roller stop.
The removal of the folding top is straightforward but
care should be taken on reassembly to the vehicle and the
following points should be noted:
1 The t o p rear moulding is secured by ten screws
consisting of six self-tapping screws and four standard
screws which are located as follows:
(a) One long self-tapping screw at each end.
(b) Two standard screws at centre.
(c) Two standard screws next to the long screws.
(d) Four self-tapping screws, two on each side
between the standard screws.
These screws also secure the upper end of the engine
air intake panel to body.
2 Having fixed the rear moulding spread the top across
t h e o p e n i n g . Ensure t h e pivoting bow is located
between the second and third stiffening bows. Using
special screws fix the frame rails to the upper inner
ends of the body side panels.
12:12 Sunroof
The 'new 500' sunroof model differs from the con-
vertible model in the arrangement of the top. The sunroof
comprises a rear metal panel and a front imitation leather
covering which acts as a collapsible top.
The weather strip surrounded back window is
located
on t h e rear metal panel and the following items are
cemented in place; plastic lining, foam rubber strip at
upper front end, and two rubber welts located on the
sides to prevent water ingress.
FIG 12:14 Folded top retaining strap
F500
133 FOLDED TOP STRAP
FOLDED TOP
FIG 12:15 Arrangement of rolled top. This should be
done carefully to prevent damaging the vinylite back
window. Roll must never obstruct engine air intake slots
FOLDING TOP LOCKING HANDLES
FIG 12:16 Sun Roof top in locked position
The rear metal panel is secured to the body shell by
means of four screws, four plain washers and four spring
washers and at the rear by means of nine self-tapping
screws which provide a mounting for the engine air
intake grill and gutter.
The collapsible top comprises the following items:
1 Imitation leather lining.
2 Metal frame with a front crossmember onto which the
control handles and top front latch strikers are fitted.
A movable bow riveted to the top lining and fitted with
rubber pads which rest on t h e t o p of t h e body.
3 Front moulding for the top lining mounting onto the
framing crossmember. FOLDED TOP STRAP

BOW
FIG 12:17 Sun Roof top in unlatched position
FIG 12:18 Diagrammatic view of car heating system
Key to Fig 12 :18 1 Thermostat controlling shutter 2 Shutter, engine cooling air outlet 3 Lever, heater hand control
4 Warm air outlet slots 5 Demister valve control knobs 6 Windshield demister diffusers
NOTE—The car may be also equipped, optionally, with a heating booster as shown in FIG 12:19
134
4 Rear moulding for the top lining mounting onto the
rear metal panel.
5 Top lining retaining strap which is secured to the front
end of t h e rear metal panel using a bridge bracket.
6 Bracket for strap which hooks up the top lining when
in the folded position.
Dismantling and reassembly is a straightforward
operation providing that careful note is made of the
location of all screws that are removed. To reassemble
it is suggested that the rear metal panel is mounted on
the body shell first. The collapsible top assembly is then
positioned and secured to the rear metal panel using eight
rivets. The top covering should be stretched to the closed
position and secured to both framing side arms to t h e
body shell wells using the special screws. 500F and L
models are similar, but with a single central sun roof latch:
t h e rear metal panel is no longer removable.
12:13 Seats
Front seats:
The front bucket seats comprise a one-piece tubular
frame covered with imitation leather or cloth padded