My TwinAir Fiat 500 failed its MOT test

Lots of little finishing touches to the Fiat 500 TwinAir in this video. Had a bit of a mare with the bodywork. Took her for an MOT and that went...kinda well...
This is probably the last video that you'll see of Tina. Got a new project coming next week that I'm very excited to show you.
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Rolling toolbox (great for at-home mechanics): amzn.to/36BiC5Y
Oil catch pan: amzn.to/35n3Hvm
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GoPro Hero 10: amzn.to/3NuMKQW
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Magnetic mounting system for GoPro: amzn.to/3JVf78P
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[@davefreeman7989]

i am a retired mechanic and really enjoy the positive way you approach every job you take on , ive worked along side qualified people who dont have half the expertise you have ! keep on having fun , because at 66 i hate working on cars ! all the best

[@KenFullman]

OMG That makes me feel old. 1993 is "retro"? I was already in my forties in 1993. So I still consider the 1990s as "recent"

[@itsmephil2255]

Just bingewatching a load of your vlogs Awesome channel

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Cheers, Phil

[@itsmephil2255]

@@NotEconomicallyViable keep the videos coming

[@marcduthie4327]

Body work looks fine. Good on you for having a go.

[@ZeroGravityShisha]

I know im very late to the party, but when i read that title in the playlist.. i thought all your hard work was for naught. After realising this is the last video of this series, i thought oh no, he gave up? But watching it to the end... it was a exhaust leak, that's very lucky :) I remember starting the same when working on cars, in the driveway, in the sand, 18yo with a broken BMW and not a clue what a Torx 25 was... And now i've engineswapped every classic car i've owned! (classic = late 80's - 90's) I'll see what recent uploads you made, just to see what improvements your wrenching made :)

[@MrPabsUk]

That my cousins garage! lol... You are so close with that paint, it definitely could be wet sanded further & compounded in properly. Its such a fine line between not enough, just right & too much, especially with clearcoat, you`ll pick it up over time though! When you`re flatting or machine polishing, you have to be careful not to go through on the edges. Speaking of which, your polishing technique needs a bit of work, you need it to use it flatter & slower (maybe mask the raised bits & edges to prevent you going through & do them by hand after), & use a bit of water in a spray bottle to keep the paint cool when compounding. Also, I usually leave it 24 hours to harden before doing any wet sanding or polishing. Keep going though bud!

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

It's a great garage! Can't see myself going anywhere else unless I have to. Always get a great service.

[@maxvannieuwpoort9687]

unbelievable job that it only failed MOT on an exhaust thingy and all the rest of is was good! congrats,

[@darenguthrie2070]

Just brought a mini after watching you keep doing what you are doing top fella

[@spyder2001]

Hi, fairly new subscriber here. Just watched the entire series - even though i dont have a fiat and i have no intention on engine swapping a car! Really enjoyable. Dont feel disheartened on the body work side of things and dont give up either! I am restoring a Vespa at the moment (in my garden) and i have been watching videos from 'Paint Society' here on KZbin. they show how to get decent results from rattle cans in less than ideal conditions. I suppose they have hot weather on their side... but i'll be using a heat gund to aid drying times. Keep up the good work, looking forward to whats coming next!

[@neilhampson2843]

Keep going with your body work, as you say a Its,patience game. Always have another job on the go, then you won't keep playing with your paint, (ask me how I know). Leave things to dry over night if you can. Getting a good finish from a can is difficult at the best of times. Working outside in damp or cold weather is never a going to be good, but as I have found to my cost doing it in the kitchen is also not so healthy, when the wife catches you. Keep up the good work. Can't wait for the next one. Is it the Audi you bought?

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Cheers for that advice, Neil. It's not the Audi I bought. That's still in storage whilst I gather up a load of parts for it - got some big plans for it that'll push my skills right to the limit.

[@projectclark123]

Mate you have done really well please keep it up you have come so far

[@christianolssontravels]

Driving my big Jaguar S type as a daily but looking more and more getting the twinair 500 as a daily and the Jag on weekends. There´s nothing wrong with my Jag but as a Italia nerd these are fantastic. Nice channel, I wish all the best and it´s nice to see that 500! :-) Don´t forget that the finer wetsanding needs a bit more time and lots of water otherwise some of the scratches from the coarser wetsanding shines thru when buffing.

[@josephjohnstone7667]

Even more wet sanding and buffing should bring that bumper back 😁. It's surprising how tough clear coat is to sanding and stuff. Hopefully the coupé is a Rover, I've always found them easy to work on 😁

[@paultaylor9652]

Lovely Jubbly video, I'd of left the paint fot at least a day before wet sanding Nino and then polished it on the car. Looking forward to the next project.

[@Toby_the_Glen]

Knowing ATS I'm amazed they didn't tell you the whole exhaust needed changing. As well as four new tyres and shocks!

[@Alexander_l322]

Kwik fit tired to sell me a new manifold cat and full exhaust and the only thing wrong with the exhaust was it needed a new gasket between the joint on the down pipe to middle pipe. £500 they wanted for a £5 part and ten mins to fit it.

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

I know that a lot of these big chains can be a bit ropey, but you do get some good people working in them. These guys did well and I have nothing to complain about.

[@alancooper7062]

Just a point , never touch the paintwork with your hands prior to spraying after cleaning with wax and grease remover, the paint will be affected where you touch it because of grease on your skin > love the videos ,

[@TheDervMan]

I’m with you in the Fiat 500’s/Ford KA’s, so much fun to drive, like a go kart 😎

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Exactly

[@goxy287]

You're a proper madlad mate, great job

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Thanks, Goran 🙌🏻

[@johncallaghan4616]

Great job Nino, and certain that she’ll fly the retest. Agree with Hugh on the ‘blending’ comment, but if you’re sending her to the shop to get all body bits sorted this time then just keep that advice in the bank for now. Finally got to changing the Oil in my ‘12 500c 1.4 this morning after the sump plug crush washers finally arrived (the joys of living 6,000 miles from Blighty and having to wait 2 weeks for a 2p part (couldn’t be bothered annealing)) - simple enough job, save that all Forums said it was a paper filter located to the left of the block when it was actually right at the bottom and a proper case filter. The Oil that came out was blacker than when it originally came out of the Earth, so WELL overdue! Even on my 6.5” rhino ramps access was cramped, so feeling your pain ! Really looking forward to the Coupe, and am certain Tina will fly out the door Keep ‘em comin’ JCHK

[@neilaaitchison4473]

Well done mate your doing great .iam sure it will fly through its mot retest.can't wait see your new project car I love 90s cars to .

[@williamkrusejr1846]

I just went back and watched your video on tie rod ends to see how you did, i'm having the same problem on 2004 mini cooper. Probably going to cut them off.

[@alanparkinson5724]

You did good job on engine and bodywork great videos

[@david_de_sousa]

On your test drive route thought the route looked familiar but dismissed it, then the garage you took to is next to where my abarth spent it’s Christmas! Loving the videos, also like to have a go myself but lots less confidence than you 😂

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Haha someone else commented that their cousin is the owner of that garage. Just shows what a small world it is! You only get the confidence by giving it a go in the first place - just give a couple of small jobs a go and work up from there 👍🏻

[@david_de_sousa]

@@NotEconomicallyViable I’m fine with discs, pads and odd starter motor but wouldn’t dream of clutch or engine job lol

[@michaelsimms76]

Body work is 90 % prep work ,get that right and the rest will follow keep at it you will soon be turning out great repairs and saving a fortune.

[@GoWstingray]

Another well done mate! From the angle i saw that bumper, it looked more like a paint reaction, rather than the orange peel effect, like pin holes. It might of needed a layer of stopper a very fine filler, it would explain the matt finish, as if you think about how light reflects hitting lots of tiny holes will cause a dull effect. I don't blame you for not doing body work, its like plastering a wall, looks easy enough to have a go, but really its a art form and hats off to body shop technicians! When you were talking about the next car, I was thinking, Nino should do a modern classic, then you said it lol! Its not a Peugeot 309 GTI is it hehe cant wait to see what you have.

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Haha I tried plastering once and all that happened was the plaster kept sliding off the trowel onto the floor 😅 It's not a 309GTi, it's a bit more German than that. I've said too much now... 😬

[@GoWstingray]

@@NotEconomicallyViable ummm very interesting, very interesting indeed. Umm e30 or golf? Can't wait haha. I only said 309 GTI as I have one lol there's never any content for them, always shadowed by its little brother the 205 ha

[@Megalocade]

I hate clear coating, put too little on it orange peals put to much on it drips, I did a full respray of my old Toyota MR2 the base coat went on lovely, I clear coated it which was fine I only had one drip on the front wing I put 5 to 6 coats of clear coat on and it dried out orange pealy, so let it dry for a few weeks then took a polisher to it and some cutting compound and my god that came out like glass, really glad I didn't put to much on in one go I remember spraying my old Mondeo door once first time ever and it was drip mania lol also I can't recommend enough the need for a compressor and a gravity fed spray gun, rattle cans are good for small areas but large areas like bumpers the spray gun will cover in seconds with out lines its one of the best investments I've made.

[@EssexSilvering]

You needed G3 Cutting compound, forget Meguiars polish ... If you had of used the G3 followed by a polish of your choice, it would of shined like new ;-) .... If you was to buy a cheap small compressor and a spray gun, you won't need to do all this rubbing/flattening because with a decent spray gun you don't get any orange peel at all so perfect results every time, practice makes perfect! .... As for the old cars, I love them too, old school cars, Capri's, Cortina's, Escorts etc .... But they cost a fortune unfortunately so looking forward to your next project ;-)

[@davidsjenkins281]

Great video keep up with the good 👍😊

[@hughwetherall]

Take the masking and paper off and spray clear coat past were you fixed the repair. Sand lightly into the good side. Hope that helps.

[@Super-650]

That Meguiars polishing compound is next to useless, you would get a far better result using a 501/502 cutting compound. I personally have only used the 501 with excellent results.

[@AndrewAkaHrun]

I watched the whole series about Fiat and I now understand why Scotty was so right about this car being piece of crap. Still entertaining to see all the process. Thanks for detailed explanations. Love your videos. Subscribed!

[@Love500]

Glad to see I’m not the only one that names their Fiat 500s 🤣🤣

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Haha. Tina the TwinAir has a good ring to it. I can't claim to have come up with that name - it was all my missus

[@Ribeirasacra]

the blue shape in your community post if correct shows a rear spoiler. I reckon it is a Honda Civic

[@mikedavies5084]

Great video

[@garage2roomessexgarageconv858]

Im a Chelmsford boy as well

[@nickdhurt]

I think I live around 300 meters from where this was filmed :)

[@lee-kp2gy]

after u done with clear lacquer u can put it in the fridge and it won't go hard

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Ahh that's good to know 👍🏻

[@MyJon64]

Vauxhall Calibra? Probably not, they started production in 1989. 90's cars are some of the best! The days before Ecu's or ridiculously completed electronics

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

It's not a Calibra, although I do have very fond memories of a Turbo 4x4 frequently ripping around my estate when I was growing up

[@MiracleMitch]

MR2 fits the bill and the shape with plenty around and plenty of parts? Rover 220 coupé, rarer so less parts availability but right shape?

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

It's not an MR2...but you're right - it definitely fits the bill. And I'm going to keep my eye out for one for the future. Not a Rover either...

[@GT380man]

Daft question, given you’re some hundreds in at least, why not keep it for a year? Obviously, I can see this was a year ago. But honestly, you’ve done above and beyond level of courageous getting stuck in, I can hardly believe how well you’ve done, hats off to you. Impressed by that 2K clearcoat. Nothing like that existed when, as a poverty-stricken student, I was fighting a losing battle against the demon rust.

[@williamkrusejr1846]

What are your thoughts on fixing another Mini you do have experience with them,and did fine work on it.

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

I'd do another Mini for sure - as you say I now have experience with them. But the reality of the situation is that I just have to buy what's available at the time and close to me. If that ends up being another Mini at some point then great 👍🏻

[@androot69]

Cans are the worst way to spray. I get almost no orange peal when using a spray gun.

[@stumac869]

Older cars may be simpler to work on but wait until you hit a seized nut or bolt which you need to remove....

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

You sound like that comes from experience lol 😅

[@antonioseifert2574]

next time go with 800 grit then 1000 and then you can polish , it will be much more easier to remove orange peal

[@themadcoachman]

Vw Sirocco?

[@johnoakley7177]

I bet you`ve bought a SAAB 900, I wanted one too......

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

It's not a Saab. Would love one though

[@michaelcaton9358]

Less crack addled raccoon with this clear coat!!! Lol!

[@themadcoachman]

It's an Aston Martin DB7 NEXT ??

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Close...it's a DB5...scalextric version lol

[@Alexander_l322]

The new car is either a BMW e36 coupe or it’s a Fiat coupe. Tell me I’m wrong 🙂

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

You're wrong 😬😬 But your first guess is fairly close...

[@finleyplympton]

will tina stay ?

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Not sure yet. Ideally I'd keep her, but I just don't have enough space for all these cars to hang around.

[@finleyplympton]

@@NotEconomicallyViable Give it back to her owner

[@pauljackson1069]

Paint is fine for a car of its age and value.

[@bizbot1655]

Don't feel bad about bodywork stuff. I've been into car restoration for the past 32 years and don't have the patience for it either. I absolutely hate it. I see it like this...you have a 50/50 chance of getting it right. It either comes out great or looks like shit. I'd rather do heavy engine/transmission or front end grunt work any day over bodywork. Personally, I think what you did there turns out better than typical for your situation.

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Agreed 100%

[@bizbot1655]

@@NotEconomicallyViable As someone once told me, body work is an art, not a skill, and I'm no artist.

[@whatsdavedone104]

Rover 200 coupe.....in red 🤷

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

I've had a lot of people guess a Rover 200 coupe. Close...ish, but not quite

[@whatsdavedone104]

@@NotEconomicallyViable close...ish....is it blue 😀

[@mikejacobs3864]

I've got 4 OEM matching hub caps off a 2012 model it you want them (no charge) looking at your test drive I'm only a couple of miles away from you. Message me if you want them.

[@ollieb9875]

Have you gone and bought a Mazda.. 😱😂

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

I haven't haha. Although I'm not completely opposed to the idea - they fit the bill very well for a beginner project car

[@markwhiting4669]

It’s a Nova 😂🤣😂🤣

[@rimax82]

BMW 3 Series

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Not too far off with that guess

[@allanwilliams1325]

Never take a car to ATS for a Mot. They Are A Rip Off