fiat 128 barn find Bad Ass car on a budget part 1

Part 1 of a budget refurb on a fiat 128, we turn this beautiful classic into a Bad Ass machine without spending a fortune!! www.woods911.com

[@a5-30-31cts]

I had a 1971 128 (from 1971-1982 - 11 yrs, 192,000 miles - my first car as a 16 yr old in 1971). 1,116cc, 80 x 55mm bore/stroke, 4 speed, transverse 4 cyl. California car. white, steering on left.. Loved it dearly. small exterior, but tonnes of room. The 128 is like a cat on the turns (especially on curves) - like it's on rails. Transverse rear leaf spring creates weird rear tire wear, but man, it really hooks up on the turns!! Looks unassuming, but definitely Ferrari influenced. Because it had only 55 horses, it seemed like I was always on the gas, and learned to brake less and less. Remember FWD cornering method- almost the reverse of rear wheel technique - that is approach on inside of turn, then slam on gas to pull the front end into the direction of turn and drift to outside on exit. (I bought used tires so I could finish them off on my favorite roads. Went through Dunlop, Bridgestone, Goodyear, Pirelli, Firestone, etc. .) The 128 is tire sensitive. It came with very sticky Conti 145/60 radials (but in the end, the ideal tire was the 155/60 Michelins X's). I tried 165 (to calm engine on freeway (60mph = almost 3,500-4,000 rpm) but a 165 tire is too tall and hits body on back), -With short 55mm (Ferrari style) stroke, engine loved to rev, but 80mm bore, combustion not that great and demanded 91+ octane. Pinging/knocking eventually burnt 2 exhaust valves. (Tried messing with timing in order to reduce pinging and demand for premium gas, but retardation lost power and fuel efficiency, so it was a cat & mouse game and eventually ended up back at factory setting. By the 11th year, nearly 200k miles and bazillion revs later, the bottom end needed a full on bore job and new rings. Gotta change oil regularly (every 3,000-4,000 miles). Tried 20-50w Valvoline racing oil, but that was no good (short life cycle) - use Castrol 10-40 instead. Consumes plugs. Stay with recommended plugs (I tried hotter and cooler plugs but bad results). Watch for: cracked rubber pipe between gas filler tube and tank, crank windows falling down, cracked/split CV boots, cracked distributor cap (causes all but 1 cylinder to fire), swollen radiator hoses, worn bushings on steering rack (rack and pinion), front and rear wheel bearings, . Pulled head off 4 times (mainly to remove carbon build up), pulled off engine once (put the 200 lb cast iron bottom end in the trunk of a Honda, dropped tranny twice. (Note: use recommended torque on engine mount bolts! - Twice the engine came loose on the freeway and fell onto the support beam with oil pan just 2" off the ground!). Other Fiat owners reported lots of electrical gremlins but knock on wood, my 128 never had too many electrical related issues (instead it seemed to have everything else! ("FIAT" = "Fix it again Tony"). But it's so simple, like a toy. Great for learning (got a Haynes Manual). Thanks for the Video! I really miss that 128!

[@dindinbre]

I drive a Yugo 1.1, it is basically Fiat 128 but smaller. Yes, those engines have electrical gremlins and performance can seriously vary on how good ignition and valves are set up. People who constantly talk crap about those cars did not care to set them up properly.

[@stephenpick5279]

My first new car I bought while in the forces in Germany Only 19 years old in 1975, and it was the same colour , bright yellow Never lost it in a car park that's for sure Thanks for posting brought back many memories, me and the wife went all over with it

[@derektaylor3086]

Bought one in 1971, drove it back from Cyprus. Smashing to drive, but boy did it rust.

[@chezsnailez]

The Snailie 'family truckster' in the late-'70s/early-'80s. Amazed you got that started so soon after its slumber...

[@ImissSaganCarl]

Great video. Great little car. My father had a 128 Station Wagon. I have found memories of it and I remember it vividly. The dash and steering wheel in your car is exactly the same as my father's, but on the other side. I still remember the first day we went to pick up the car, brand new, from the dealer in Toronto. I'm now at a point where I would like to buy one like you did and drive it just for fun. Thanks for the video.

[@donkeythong3862]

This was my first car mid 80s , loved its nimble handling and decent speed at high revs.

[@eldabasa]

Driving this car is fun, Egypt had assembly line till late 90s of (nasr 128), with some update of 1.3 litte and 6 speed transmission including reverse, new dashboard and headlights

[@danielboguse4249]

I had a 74 with a 1300cc engine. It was great in the snow and had allot of roon inside and in the trunk. Now i have a 81 131 Brava rust free California car.

[@Lennon578]

Fiat cars are so underrated

[@ahmedfathy731]

Although They are so good and reliable

[@nicnak4475]

Sold a few of these in the 70's and they went really well ! engine was brilliantly engineered, shame about the bodywork though, yours looks amazingly good !

[@ag2938]

Wunderbar das der 128 nach 38 Jahren noch läuft, Super.

[@mountainjustice]

I loved my fiat 128. Roger garage in Norwood Ohio kept it running good

[@jas4925]

My dad had a 76 128 1300 in the us in the early 80's. He worked as a pipe fitter and at the jobsite a steel beam went through the windshield smashing it. He had to stop driving it because this was when fiat had just left the us. To fix it would have been more than what it was worth a replacement had to come from Italy. Always had dreams of fixing it up when I got my license they were such neat cars.

[@gastonmartintripodi2561]

Conngratulations .....that was piece of history in europe ...but also nowadays in argentina we still use them

[@davidfuith2995]

Bought one new in '72. Brilliant design, but NOT designed for (1) US roads, (2) Minnesota winters, or (3) Untrained local Fiat franchise mechanics who bent a seal on the bell housing of the transmission when the car was 3 months old, and couldn't find a replacement part in this country. Other highlights included the left rear brake assembly falling to the ground upon application of the parking brake, and the door locks freezing repeatedly. Car lasted 5 years - miraculously. I was thrilled to be rid of it, but still remember that fast steering and general sporty nature. I wish I could take a spin in one today.

[@ciaran8306]

Brilliant story David, thanks for watching :-)

[@DONphantasmo]

I wish we can find some old classic Fiats like that one, here in the U.S. I grew up in Egypt and my best childhood memories are of these up and down the streets of Cairo. This is a great little car, and I hope it stays on the road for a long time...

[@Schyler__Parker]

DONphantasmo just found a farm field with about 6 of these in great shape

[@affara1]

Im from Egypt and i have the same car and the same color .i can take u in a trip with it😁

[@gerrywhelan7426]

Brilliant little car & so much better than the awful Ritmo that tried to replace it.

[@Maggiolino45cv]

Bellissima auto la prima serie!!!!!

[@mindoza44]

back from the times when fiats were cars of great character. i owned 2 fiat 128s many years ago.fantastic fun to drive with unburstable engine. mine sadly succumbed to serious rot in the floorpan. scrapped age 9 years.

[@chunkychunks857]

1972, my first car ever, bought it whilst living in the Netherlands, my wife and I toured all over Europe in it and it only broke down twice, both within walking distance of the house.

[@ciaran8306]

Great story :-) thanks for sharing!!

[@giandujavettorello6184]

Fiat 128: great car! 😉👍

[@VantagePointVideoGarage]

I love the cars you're working with. Just subscribed, looking forward to some quattro updates.

[@ciaran8306]

Hey mate, thanks a lot! I will be uploading lots more vids really soon!!

[@stoker20]

Mine looked like that one. Really fun to drive.

[@mohamadnaserosman6136]

How i wish i can get hold of a fiat 128. It was my first car. Bought second hand a 1975 model in 1978. Can hardly find any in Malaysia now.

[@touyaaligier]

Great video! I have a 1979 here in Italy. I cant find part 2.........never came out?? :( . Thank you

[@joycegocastillo2390]

This is car is soooo strong

[@bluekiwi5181]

My dad wants to buy me one of these!

[@chaack70]

Did u change oil and old gas before starting and driving it? btw whats happening with ur quattro?

[@ciaran8306]

Hey bud, yes def changed the oil and fresh gas too. The quattro we are back working on and will do an update video in the next couple of weeks. I just bought an SWB quattro too. You can see it on my site woods911.com Thanks for watching :-)

[@milanmilosavljevic6920]

part 2 ?

[@markstopforth3775]

i had a 1978 one it was brill and fast for a 1100 cci wish i had not crashed it lol

[@michaelfox7802]

Man hope u still got dat Baby this girl she's bad ass if u just customize suspension & U really Dn't kn wt hak she can show ya lot loot fun dude u kn I had my grand Paps butt wish if still got it Anyways thxxx 4 dat clip doe

[@24augustus]

Hello. Thanks for the video. Do you know where I can find a Fiat 128 such as this in the UK? Been really looking to buy one!

[@gregvassilakos]

Did you change the timing belt? My mother had one. I vague recollection is that it had interference valves. A failed timing belt was big trouble.

[@riccardofranzolin9565]

128 forever

[@affara1]

From Egypt.. I have 128 and the same yellow color but its 1986 model

[@ollieoneill5961]

Sounds ruff . but great find . my first car to.

[@vassallo49]

I drove this car (4 doors) from 1976 to 1978.

[@KingTeamRacing]

Just bought one of these in Australia, keen for part 2?? What happened??

[@alastairwatson3201]

Where’s part 2? It’s only been four years since Part 1!

[@markstopforth7295]

what did you do with it

[@darrenwilson8042]

Pt 2 ??

[@Louis2282]

i had the 1100 , most would have crushed it , spent 6 months rebuilding it, plugs points and distributer cap all needed to be kept in perfect condition and then it went really well, hit a mk2 golf ! poor little fiat just folded

[@Louis2282]

then i bought a fiat 127, modified and put the 1100 engine in the 127, tight sqeeze, had to cut and weld drive shafts.

[@jamesrogers47]

I owned one of the same vintage. The transmission actually fell out of it.

[@user-qw8fe6wp7k]

Where is it the part 2 ?

[@nickyogorman1590]

Hope you put a new timing belt on it before starting..,..

[@ciaran8306]

Can I ask why this is of concern to you?

[@oliveroneill1388]

Accents are so funny .. a chearr. F.n. hell. That voice .. 😅

[@iDayno]

Cute little car, do you still have it?

[@ciaran8306]

Thanks. No I sold it unfortunately. Wish I'd kept it.

[@iDayno]

​@@ciaran8306 thanks for the reply, do you mind me asking how much for? I would like one but they don't really come up for sale.

[@iinerd]

Meravgliosa!

[@paulmeester5401]

Forza fiat

[@mindblast3901]

No Rust big Bonus

[@robbiebreen505]

Is it for sale?

[@ciaran8306]

Yes call me on 07908588962

[@nicksmith7550]

@@ciaran8306 Hi how much you're selling your Fiat?

[@fiat128fanclub4]

O.k. Fiat 128

[@Mladjasmilic]

Or simply buy Nasr 128. It is still made.

[@ciaran8306]

definitely, thanks for watching :-)

[@Mladjasmilic]

Woods911 There is also 3 door coupe made by Zastava (Yugo) - 101 Mediteran.

[@OdykKayne]

Any word on this little gem? :)

[@ciaran8306]

Yes Kody, I will give an update in the next month, Its coming along :-) Thanks for watching!!

[@OdykKayne]

Awesome! I love me some old FIATs, so looking forward to it! :)

[@TheGhost-gx5vd]

The fiat 128 engine and gearbox where great bodywork absolutely crap they rusted like no tomorrow as with all fiats back then they where made out of recycled metal which wasn't the best