Gonna be pulling the radiator...some progress with pics

[SLOSpider]

If your that far along then I would recommend that you do the seals. If your not up for it then I would take it to a shop and have it done. Here is what mine looked like tonight and the hardest part was getting the rusted crank nut off.







Cleaned up and ready to install, best to use fine sandpaper or emery cloth and polish up the shafts where the seals ride and a coat of grease:




Also best to go ahead and get a gasket Kit and redo the front cover gaskets and you'll have all the other gaskets you need for later on $60.00 and about $7.00 per seal.

[Fiat88]

Thanks for the pics SLOspider. I'll see if one of my neighbors whose an ex-mechanic could give me a hand with the timing belt and seals. Otherwise, I'll just replace the radiator hoses and other stuff I intended to do and then bring it to my regular mechanic to have the timing belt and seals done.

Unless, their are any NY-NJ guys who want to come over and help or I'll drive to you!

[NJFIAT1981]

We might be ble to help you out. Let me check and see who's available. You'll have to get it here and your buying the lunch

[majicwrench]

I'm not a huge fan of sanding on the shaft, just clean em up good. New they have a polished look, not sanded.

And when installing seals, lube them with whatever they are sealing. In this case, engine oil, not grease.
Keith

[Exit98]

We might be ble to help you out. Let me check and see who's available. You'll have to get it here and your buying the lunch

George, count me in, schedule permitting.

I'll help, I need all the practice I can get before tackling mine.

Button the car up and bring it down here from Queens.

[Fiat88]

That would be great guys! Ever since I switched over to driving my vw golf to school the fiat doesn't have plates. So, my father's going to be getting classic insurance and plates in his name probably this month, since I don't think they give classic insurance to people under 25 and I'm just 21, so maybe we can schedule something next month?

What's a good day for me and my father to drive up and where exactly in Jersey are you guys?

I'll have my father buy you guys lunch!

[NJFIAT1981]

Hi Fiat 88,
We are having our monthly breakfast/bull session at Mastoris on Sunday the 11th at Mastoris on rt 130 in Bordentown, NJ. If your available and can hack the ride all the way from Queens come on down and meet our small but growing group. Not sure yet how many are coming. At least 4 I know of. Hopefully more. Bring pics of your Fiat. George

[NJFIAT1981]

PS. Replacing my gas tank and filter tomorrow. Installing a interior on the 81 after breakfast on Sunday. Care to watch?

[DoctorPDR]

I'm stripping the rust and paint on the fan surround to repaint. What kind of paint should I use, maybe engine paint? The radiator looks ok but the metal overflow tube is pretty rusty, might need to see if a radiator shop could put one in and I gotta get one of those tools to bend back some of the radiator fins.

Don't paint it. If you are going to go through all of that, powder coat it. It is more durable. I have powder coated many parts on my car. Check out my Website located below my signature and that will give you an idea of what my radiator fan shroud looks like. Still looks like the day I powder coated it.

[DoctorPDR]

I'm stripping the rust and paint on the fan surround to repaint. What kind of paint should I use, maybe engine paint? The radiator looks ok but the metal overflow tube is pretty rusty, might need to see if a radiator shop could put one in and I gotta get one of those tools to bend back some of the radiator fins.

Don't paint it. If you are going to go through all of that labor, have it powder coated. It's more durable than paint. I have powder coated many parts on my car including my fan shroud. Still looks like the day I did it. Feel free to check it out. Just click the link below my signature and that will take you to the website.

[azygoustoyou]

Just don't powder coat the radiator. The paint that is used for the radiators are thinner than normal paint so heat can be transferred. Powder coating wouldn't let it breathe.

[Fiat88]

Just don't powder coat the radiator. The paint that is used for the radiators are thinner than normal paint so heat can be transferred. Powder coating wouldn't let it breathe.

I bought some black radiator paint from eastwood. I might just spray the fan surround with silver engine paint.

[azygoustoyou]

I did the same thing. I sprayed my fan shroud silver also. Then looked at it. I ended of spraying it black. I'll see if I have a pic of the silver.
I didn't save one.

[SLOSpider]

I opted for the Blacked Out option: