[JohnyMac]

Colleagues,
I have an Abarth 124. Attached are 2 photos of 1. corrosion on a major arm of the soft top and 2. rust on the pedestal/rests the soft top sits against when down. Both sides have the same issue.

Has anyone else had this issue?
Can anyone assist me in finding the part numbers of the relevant parts so I can look to replacing please?
Of particular concern is, are the corroded soft top main arms available (and replaceable) separately from the rest of the soft top mechanism?
Is the rusted part available (and replaceable) separately from what I think is probably the roll cage?

I am in far north Queensland, Australia and none of the body shops up this way want to touch the car, as they have next to no experience on Fiats, despite them being MX5 based. They are simply not prepared to take the risk.

Many thanks,

 

[BGcAnAdA]

Mate, ya be waltzin matilda bout half an hour past the billabong I reckon. Ok enough of my aussie slang that i got from a song.
Check moparlonlineparts.com and input your info. All parts numbers are there.

 

[JohnyMac]

Thank you Bg.
Very disappointing on a 4 year old car.

 

[pikeman]

It’s unacceptable for these parts to require replacement. Is there a way to refinish them? It can’t be worse than this! After 16 years my MX5 didn’t have these issues in a similar location.
best regards
Pete

 

[mtnghost]

Technically you could remove, sandblast, and use some quality paint shop properly seal them. I feel this would be a better option, as the originals are prone to the same conditions. It’s just a matter of time.

 

[Brody]

I'd be tempted to carefully brush on a phosphate rust converter such as Ospho. It will turn the flaky orange iron oxide to hard black iron phosphate. Then you can carefully paint black with a small artist's brush and some black Rustoleum or possibly spray some marine corrosion inhibitor into a tuna fish can and use a small brush to coat the area before the inhibitor carrier dries up.

 

[Brody]

By the way, you might want to think about cleaning out your convertible top drain filters before you end up with water in the floor.

 

[TX_Bandit]

On the topic of rust. I've been working on my car, underneath the car and underneath the dashboard. The chassis was nicely rust free, however, under the dash many of the metal brackets were developing rust. What the heck? Its not like the interior has ever even been damp! What kind of cheap recycled beer cans did Fiat/Mazda use? Here is the support bracket behind the lower dash panel on the passenger side:

I'n going to sand off the rust and put a coat of paint on these parts. If your curious, the red A10 box is a DVR for the 360 birds eye camera system I recently installed to go with the new android head unit. Monitors the car even when its parked.

 

[mtnghost]

On the topic of rust. I've been working on my car, underneath the car and underneath the dashboard. The chassis was nicely rust free, however, under the dash many of the metal brackets were developing rust. What the heck? Its not like the interior has ever even been damp! What kind of cheap recycled beer cans did Fiat/Mazda use? Here is the support bracket behind the lower dash panel on the passenger side:
View attachment 98033
I'n going to sand off the rust and put a coat of paint on these parts. If your curious, the red A10 box is a DVR for the 360 birds eye camera system I recently installed to go with the new android head unit. Monitors the car even when its parked.

Japanese cars, specifically Mazda has always been this way. They get that surface rust and it just stops at that. My rx7, Miata, and 929 were all like that.

 

[JohnyMac]

Thanks everyone for your guidance. The parts corroding and rusting are not available as separate items, and are part of the folding top mechanism. Therefore, in order to repair the corrosion and rust (by whatever means) and then repaint, the entire soft top needs to come off.

 

[mtnghost]

Thanks everyone for your guidance. The parts corroding and rusting are not available as separate items, and are part of the folding top mechanism. Therefore, in order to repair the corrosion and rust (by whatever means) and then repaint, the entire soft top needs to come off.

Hand sand and paint seems like your only other option then. If you can see it you should be able to access it. Good luck