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| 1973 FIAT 124 SPORT SPIDER |
| I became the owner of this car due to a debt owed to me for a cash loan to a close relative. I kinda fell for this little car and thought it would a great hobby to learn how to work on it and hopefully restore it to a decent presentable condition. I would love to be able to get this little car on the road, justforthefunofitnow, and slowly make improvements. Regretfully, I am not skilled in auto mechanics or restorations. This will be a HUGE learning process, but I am willing to learn. Repairs/checks(prior to parking it a few years ago): * Transmission - 2nd gear fixed & added new fluid (thanks DAD) * Alternator - checked good (took it to an auto parts store to check) * Starter - replaced brushes (thanks honey) * Radiator - repaired (took it to a radiator shop) * I believe there were more, but they escape me at the moment (will add at a later date) Repairs (Completed myself in 2002): * Fuel Sending Unit - cleaned gunk out of tubing and replaced filter with screen and clamp * Fuel Tank - Removed/Sanded/Degreased & Pressure Washed inside/Painted/Reinstalled * Grounds/Connections - cleaning/replacing and applying dielectric grease (still in process) * Console/dash wiring - tracing wiring (still in process) Immediate Repairs Needed: * Major Rust and Rust Holes (pics)(presently trying to decide if too much to repair) * Replace Water Pump (holding off - 'til rust problem decided on) * Electrical Battery Drain - work in process (on hold - 'til rust problem decided on) * Re-wire console switches -work in process (on hold - 'til rust problem decided on) * Repair Floor - area that was cut out under center console to add transmission fluid (on hold...) * Convertible Top & frame - replace (holding off - 'til all of above completed) * Tires - 4 New Replacements + 1 Spare (holding off - 'til all of above completed) * Brake Light Lenses - replace (holding off - 'til all of above completed) * Minor Rust Spots - sand and prime (holding off - 'til all of above completed) Repairs to make later: * Seats - Replace or Recover (later - no big hurry) * Dashboard - Replace or Recover (later - no big hurry) * Consoles - Replace or Recover (later - no big hurry) * New Paint Job (later - no big hurry) * New Wheels (later - no big hurry) * I'm sure others are lurking...I just haven't come across them yet or they don't concern me as much as the other repairs do I drove this car for a short time a few summers back, which was really great, before parking it due to an electrical battery drain. Just this year (2002), I started cleaning grounds and applying dielectrical grease and was planning on replacing any bad connections found. It now has 4 dry rotted tires and is sitting up on blocks/jackstands. While trying to crank it one day, I found I had a problem with fuel not reaching the carb. I found that the fuel filter inside the tank was clogged and in bad shape along with the tubing being clogged with a black greasy "dirt-like" gunk. After thoroughly cleaning the tube out, I replaced the filter with a piece of aluminum screen and a clamp. Afterwards, I removed the fuel tank, degreased & pressure washed it out, sanded, primed & painted it and reinstalled it. Afterwards, I'd never seen this car crank so good. It felt GREAT knowing I had actually figured it out and fixed it. It used to be very hard to start... now, I know why. The message board at www.fiatspider.com was helpful, along with a great ebay seller which I had been corresponding with while waiting on my fiat manual to arrive that I had purchased from him. Together, they were able to get me started in the right direction to eliminate other problems which could have been the cause of my fuel problem and suggested I use the aluminum screen and clamp in place of the sock-like filter inside tank. THANKS TO ALL THAT TOOK THE TIME TO GIVE THEIR ADVICE AND SUGGESTIONS!!! That great feeling didn't last long though... cause after running for a few minutes, I saw antifreeze/water dripping from the water pump from behind the pully. Well I figured this could be replaced fairly easy enough... but before I got back to the grounds/connections cleaning, I vacuumed out the car and noticed the passenger side flooring had rusted completely thru at three of the four corners of the seat and also along the floor near the door rail, which seems pretty fragile around the gaping hole. After further investigating, I found that the front tire well areas had rust holes in two places and on both sides.. I don't know how wide any of these rusted areas are since I haven't poked thru much of it. I think I'm afraid it won't end. (pics) My heart sank after seeing this...cause from my reading of rust on the message boards, this could be a major problem. Now, I'm seeking advice on this rust problem to see if it's in critical areas which would cause the car to be unsafe and/or too costly to fix. RESULTS PENDING! 04/28/02 Ok, I did it...well, sort of. I removed the seats, carpet, isulation, tar coating, and skin (j/k on the skin). I found a lot more than I thought I would (including a few choice words). The rust looks pretty bad in both floor pans, but i believe we will try to fix them. I still have a lot of sanding and cutting out of rusted areas to do. Then, hubby can get pieces of scrap metal from work, which will cut the costs of fixing the floors. He said he'd teach me to weld...which I think is cool. Although he's been a weldor for 25 yrs., he doesn't own a welder yet. So we'll probably opt to renting a mig melder once everthing else is done and ready. This will not be a rush, rush to finish project...especially since it will be a learn as I go project. Still a lot of work and research to do. First of many questions: * Metal thickness to use? * Patch holes or whole floor? * Precautions? * What dummy put drain holes in floor and then filled them with tar? * What else might I find? More questions to follow, I'm sure Well, it's time to put our daughter through college...decided to sell my old rust bucket. GuessI'll have to look for another after our daughter sets out on her own. |
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| SOLD |