Fiat frame rail project

[gjonsey]

Hey everyone!
I have a '76 124, that I've been restoring for the last 3 years. If you remember the brown one with a YouTube channel, that's me.

I'm now in Texas, and am about to leave for Alabama. Last year, I attempted to install the engine, but put the engine crossmember in backwards. When put in the correct way, one of the studs on the frame rail started spinning.
After about a dozen calls to shops across all of Texas, I found one to do the job; Vintage Motor Sports, in Dripping Springs, Texas.

I'll post all the pictures I have every few days, so you guys can see the progress made!
This link will take you to the first few pics, where you can see the issue.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... sp=sharing

[wetminkey]

I just got my '79 back after alignment, and a recent, much smaller, framerail repair. Mine involved both framerail bottoms, where the crossmember-attachment studs protrude - mine was cracked and the studs spun. Repaired with plate, and both framerails adapted to vertical "through-bolts", to hold the crossmember.
Yours' will require a bit more repair, but the "through-bolt" idea, may be one to consider for crossmember attachment.
Best of luck with your repairs! Todd.

[gjonsey]

Hey Todd,

I wish I would have heard about your through bolt idea a year ago!
I'm actually going to grab the Fiat in the next week or two, and I can only pray that I won't have to deal with this issue again in my lifetime.

Did your shop welt the bolt on the top, or just let it free hang?

Happy trails,
-Garret

[wetminkey]

Sorry to be slow at my response.
The pair of bolts on each side are welded to the plate into a "U" bolt shape,...plate on top with bolts welded at right angles to the plate. The bolts of the 'assembly' drop down, through the framerail, and the crossmember bolts to those threads. Mine are long enough to 'double-nut', to prevent the nuts from loosening.